217 Today: Wednesday, June 16, 2021

Wednesday, June 16, 2021

Today’s headlines:

  • Lawmakers headed back to Springfield for a couple of days in order to take a vote on massive legislation that would get Illinois on the path to 100% renewable energy by 2050. But a deal on major energy and climate legislation in Springfield appears to have fallen apart — at least for now.

  • The parent company of Chemtool is apologizing for a fire that continues to burn in northern Illinois. Seventy workers at the Rockton grease plant were evacuated safely Monday.

  • Local organizations are teaming up to help more people of color get the COVID-19 vaccine.

  • A large group of police supporters marched from the Champaign Police Department to Tuesday’s night’s city council meeting.

In today’s deep dive, with nearly half of Illinoisans fully vaccinated against COVID-19, some people are relishing a return to normalcy, while others are struggling with anxiety. A psychologist explains where this anxiety might come from and ways to cope with it. 

Reporting today contributed by Hannah Meisel, Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco, Farrah Anderson and Shahla Farzan.

Carolina Garibay

Carolina Garibay is a senior journalism student at the University of Illinois. She’s a senior producer for the Illinois Student Newsroom and regularly covers arts and culture, education, and social justice issues affecting local communities. Along with her work for WILL, she was also the buzz Editor at The Daily Illini and hosts an arts and culture radio talkshow on WPGU 107.1 F.M.