Thursday, February 12, 2026
Today’s headlines:
- Students at Danville High School organized a walkout early Wednesday morning to protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
- Champaign County’s new township supervisor says she’s committed to securing funding for Strides — the area’s only low-barrier shelter.
- A state lawmaker from Bloomington is not optimistic the legislature will be able to meet higher education’s request for more funding.
- Illinois has introduced a passport to help people explore the state’s history ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
In today’s deep dive, we’ll learn about what is coming to the Central Illinois area in the world of arts, culture and entertainment.
217 Today is produced by Giuliana Means. Reporting today contributed by Fernanda Romero, Arjun Thakkar, Eric Stock, Sam Naftzger, Adelyn Mui, and Kimberly Schofield.