217 Today: Local athlete heads to Paris for his fourth Paralympic games

Brian Siemann prepares to race during the U.S. Paralympic Team Trials for Track and Field to qualify for the Paris 2024 Paralympics.

Thursday, August 1, 2024

Today’s headlines:

  • The University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign is offering $2,000 and meal tickets to returning students to move off campus.
  • A punk-rock reimagining of Lizzie Borden’s murder trial opens today at the Station Theater in Urbana.
  • More than a hundred protesters gathered at the Chicago hotel where former President Donald Trump was speaking before the National Association of Black Journalists.
  • Illinois lawmakers are introducing a bill they say will transform public higher education in the state.

In today’s deep dive, we’ll listen to a conversation with Paralympian Brian Siemann about the upcoming games and his journey to becoming an athlete.

217 Today is produced by Stephanie Mosqueda. Reporting today contributed by Emily Hays, Adelyn Mui, Michael Puente, Lisa Kurian Philip and Kimberly Schofield. 

 

Stephanie Mosqueda

Stephanie Mosqueda is a senior majoring in journalism at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with minors in Spanish and public relations. She is the 217 Today producer and a reporter for the Illinois Student Newsroom.