217 Today: How a hidden box of love letters became a historical memoir of WWII
In today’s deep dive, we’ll learn about a new memoir from local author Larry Schnell that explores the little-known role of music in war.
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Tariffs threaten to upend markets American farmers depend on
U.S. row crop farmers produce enormous quantities of food, and they depend on selling lots of it overseas. They thrive under free trade policies.
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Temporary layoffs announced by Stellantis are not expected to impact Belvidere workers
According to a company spokesperson, the layoffs will not affect the Belvidere assembly plant. It’s scheduled to re-open in 2027 to build a mid-size pickup truck.
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217 Today: What’s Happening in Champaign – Urbana Apr. 03 – Apr. 06
In today’s deep dive, we’ll learn about what is coming to Champaign County in the world of arts, culture and entertainment.
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How a hidden box of love letters became a historical memoir of WWII
In his new memoir, local author Larry Schnell writes about the discovery of these letters, which documents his parents’ love story — and also explores the little-known role of music in war.
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Trump announces sweeping new tariffs to promote US manufacturing, risking inflation and trade wars
President Donald Trump declared on Wednesday a 10% baseline tax on imports from all countries and higher tariff rates on dozens of nations that run trade surpluses with the United States.
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Pritzker hopes trade mission to Mexico sparks new investment despite tariffs
Gov. JB Pritzker wrapped up a four-day trip to Mexico City on Wednesday, hopeful a trade mission to Mexico will yield new economic development in Illinois, even as tariffs threaten the stability of the United States’ global trade.
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Severe storms moving through Central Illinois
A flood watch is in effect through Sunday morning for portions of central and east central Illinois, including Shelby, Coles, Douglas, Edgar and Moultrie Counties.
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Thousands of deceased donor kidneys are discarded. This organization hopes to revive them
Despite the long waitlists and organ shortages, around 9,000 kidneys from deceased donors last year were discarded due to perceived issues with their viability.
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Former U of I System president described as ‘trailblazer’ dies at 90
Stanley Ikenberry was named the youngest president in U of I history at 44 years old in 1979 and later returned to the presidency in an interim capacity.
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Champaign County April 2025 general election results
Sveral mail-in ballots are expected to arrive in the coming days. Those votes could be decisive in school board, city council and and mayoral races.
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Champaign Unit 4 school board begins to take shape as mail-in ballots remain to be counted
According to unofficial election results, Fatima Ahmed, Justin Michael Hendrix, Christy Arnold, Tony Bruno and Grace Kang have the most votes so far.
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Champaign voters have likely rejected referendum to fund Strides shelter, reelected Township Supervisor Kyle Patterson
The 24/7 low-barrier shelter in downtown Champaign primarily operates with temporary federal funding that officials say will run out by the end of the year.
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Illinois attorney general joins lawsuit against Trump public health care cuts
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, along with 21 other attorney generals and two governors, are suing U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his department over the abrupt termination of $11 billion in public health funding.
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Cory Booker breaks a 68-year-old Senate record with a 25-hour speech
Sen. Cory Booker spent a full day standing on the Senate floor, delivering an impassioned speech in protest of the Trump administration’s policies.
