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217 Today

217 Today: Illinois requires public schools to teach LGBTQ+, Asian American and pre-enslavement Black history. Are teachers ready?
ByFarrah Anderson February 20, 2024

Tuesday, February 20, 2024 Today’s headlines: Illinois lawmakers are back in Springfield Tuesday with some potential fireworks overspending on the horizon. A new Illinois law allows gun owners to keep assault-style weapons if they disclosed them by January first. But state registration rates are low. Champaign County officials are raising money to attract an airline…

Read More 217 Today: Illinois requires public schools to teach LGBTQ+, Asian American and pre-enslavement Black history. Are teachers ready?
Education

Illinois now requires public schools to teach LGBTQ+, Asian American and pre-enslavement Black history. Are teachers ready?
ByEmily Hays February 20, 2024February 26, 2024

Over half of Illinois teachers say they are ready to fulfill new state history requirements, according to a University of Illinois survey.

Read More Illinois now requires public schools to teach LGBTQ+, Asian American and pre-enslavement Black history. Are teachers ready?
Agriculture

The feds sent letters to 44 states to fix SNAP application errors and inefficiencies
BySide Effects Public Media February 19, 2024February 19, 2024

The majority of states are not processing food assistance applications on time and making too many payment errors, according to the federal government. U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack sent a letter to the governors of 44 states earlier this month that are failing to meet federal standards when it comes to processing applications…

Read More The feds sent letters to 44 states to fix SNAP application errors and inefficiencies
217 Today

217 Today: One man’s re-entry charts a path for more formerly incarcerated people to buy homes
ByFarrah Anderson February 19, 2024February 19, 2024

Monday, February 19, 2024 Today’s headlines: Police have reclassified the shooting of Brandon Hardway as a homicide, following his death over the weekend. The federal government has sent out letters to the governors of 44 states this month, including Illinois, calling for them to improve efficiency for food assistance applications. Labor unions are targeting two…

Read More 217 Today: One man’s re-entry charts a path for more formerly incarcerated people to buy homes
Community | Criminal Justice

One man’s re-entry charts a path for more formerly incarcerated people to buy homes
ByFarrah Anderson February 19, 2024February 15, 2024

CHAMPAIGN — Anthony spent about half of his life in prison and just got out last year. It was a huge adjustment because so much had changed in the decades Anthony was incarcerated. “I hadn’t seen a cell phone in almost 30 years,” Anthony said. “Now in this new world, you can’t function without a…

Read More One man’s re-entry charts a path for more formerly incarcerated people to buy homes
Sports

Shannon scores 27 as No. 14 Illinois earns 1st victory at Maryland since 2011
ByAssociated Press February 18, 2024

Marcus Domask had 19 points for the Illinois, putting him over 2,000 points for his career, including four seasons at Southern Illinois.

Read More Shannon scores 27 as No. 14 Illinois earns 1st victory at Maryland since 2011
Community | Politics

Downtown Champaign bar manager dies nine days after shooting
ByJim Meadows February 18, 2024

Champaign Police are reclassifying the shooting of a downtown bar manager as a homicide, following the death of Brandon L. Hardway. The Champaign County Coroner’s office says the 45-year-old Hardway, of Champaign, died early Saturday at Carle Hospital, due to injuries he received in a shooting on the afternoon of February 8. Police say the shooting happened outside Hardway’s bar, Pour Brothers Craft Taproom, 40 E. University Avenue in downtown Champaign. Police say Hardway had come outside for a cigarette break, and was shot in the back.

Read More Downtown Champaign bar manager dies nine days after shooting
Politics

With influx of state and federal funding, Illinois looks to add enough chargers to support 1 million EVs
ByCapitol News Illinois February 17, 2024February 16, 2024

Illinois’ electric vehicle charging infrastructure is on pace to double this year, buoyed by an influx of state and federal dollars. The investments are aimed at supporting both federal and state environmental goals. The Biden Administration set the goal of EVs making up half of all U.S. vehicle sales by 2030. Under the Climate and…

Read More With influx of state and federal funding, Illinois looks to add enough chargers to support 1 million EVs
Criminal Justice

Donald Trump fraud verdict: $364 million penalty in civil fraud case
ByAssociated Press February 16, 2024

The Republican presidential front-runner testified Nov. 6 that his financial statements actually understated his net worth and that banks did their own research and were happy with his business.

Read More Donald Trump fraud verdict: $364 million penalty in civil fraud case
Agriculture

Aging farmers and fewer farms in the new agriculture census should be a ‘wake up call,’ says Vilsack
ByHarvest Public Media February 16, 2024

The average farmer in the U.S. is now 58 years old, according to the Census of Agriculture, released Tuesday. There are also fewer farms in the country than there were in the last census. The average age of farmers in the U.S. is continuing to increase while the number of farms declines, according to new…

Read More Aging farmers and fewer farms in the new agriculture census should be a ‘wake up call,’ says Vilsack
Politics

Here’s what research shows about how couples can thrive despite political differences
ByIllinois Student Newsroom February 16, 2024

As the 2024 election season approaches, political news coverage will rise — and with it, so might conflict between couples with differing political views. It’s something Emily Van Duyn is paying attention to. Van Duyn, an associate professor of communications at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, led a research study where she interviewed 67 individuals who are in…

Read More Here’s what research shows about how couples can thrive despite political differences
Environment | Weather

Winter Weather Advisory for Central Illinois: Friday 6am-6pm
ByIPM News February 16, 2024February 16, 2024

The National Weather Service in Lincoln issued a Winter Weather Advisory for central Illinois, including Champaign-Urbana, Danville and Decatur. Meteorologists are forecasting two to four inches of snow. Click below for the latest from meteorologists. Click here for the latest winter road conditions. Tweets by NWSLincolnIL

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217 Today

217 Today: Here’s what research shows about how couples can thrive despite political differences
ByStephanie Mosqueda February 16, 2024

Friday, February 16, 2024 Today’s headlines: The state of Illinois and Cook County are partnering to spend another $250 million to care for migrants being sent to Chicago. More than 150 people rallied with the Teamsters union outside of the Illinois Department of Transportation headquarters in Springfield. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker will give his State of…

Read More 217 Today: Here’s what research shows about how couples can thrive despite political differences
Criminal Justice | Politics

Ex-Illinois lawmaker abruptly pleads guilty to fraud and money laundering, halting federal trial
ByAssociated Press February 15, 2024February 15, 2024

McCann was a state senator from 2011 to 2019. He formed the Conservative Party of Illinois in 2018 to run for governor.

Read More Ex-Illinois lawmaker abruptly pleads guilty to fraud and money laundering, halting federal trial
Community | Health

How one science-backed program helps couples build strong romantic partnerships
ByIllinois Student Newsroom February 15, 2024

Emily Stenhoff and Spencer Strunic first met at a Sugar River Pizza in Madison, Wisconsin nearly five years ago. Today, the couple says they’re grateful for an online program that helped them strengthen their relationship and feel more equipped to tackle the challenges of marriage and parenting. Before they met, Emily and Spencer both said…

Read More How one science-backed program helps couples build strong romantic partnerships