217 Today: Wednesday, July 21, 2021

217 Today: Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Wednesday, July 21, 2021 Today’s headlines: Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker is calling for stricter ethics measures as the Democratic incumbent mounts his re-election campaign. U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth says Congress needs to get the National Guard reimbursed for the half billion dollars it spent responding to the January 6 insurrection on Capitol Hill. The Urbana Park…

217 Today: Thursday, July 15, 2021

217 Today: Thursday, July 15, 2021

Thursday, July 15, 2021 Today’s headlines: An Urbana man faces multiple charges after allegedly ramming a stolen truck into the Champaign County jail Wednesday morning.  The Illinois General Assembly’s watchdog is resigning from her job, saying her calls for reform have gone unheeded. Car catalytic converter thefts have increased in Champaign-Urbana, and auto shop owners…

217 Today: Friday, July 9, 2021

217 Today: Friday, July 9, 2021

Friday, July 9, 2021 Today’s headlines: Provisions in a massive criminal justice reform bill pushed by Black Illinois lawmakers earlier this year began taking effect last week, but the state’s legislative Black Caucus has experienced fractures over something that didn’t end up in the law: ending qualified immunity for police officers. Millions of rural residents across the…

217 Today: Thursday, July 8, 2021

217 Today: Thursday, July 8, 2021

Thursday, July 8, 2021 Today’s headlines: Illinois’ first vaccine lottery drawings take place today, with $1 million dollars and three scholarships on the line. A pro-EV group is urging Illinois and other states to encourage more widespread adoption of electric buses and semis. Researchers in Fulton County are using image recognition technology to control invasive…

Illinois DCFS Enhances Training To Support LGBTQ+ Youth In Foster Care

Illinois DCFS Enhances Training To Support LGBTQ+ Youth In Foster Care

SPRINGFIELD — A 2019 study found that about 30% of youth living in foster care identify as LGBTQ+ compared to about 11% not in foster care. LGBTQ+ youth in care are also at higher risk for abuse and harassment.  To address this issue, the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services is enhancing training and…