217 Today: The rich history behind pumpkin and sweet potato pies
Tuesday, November 21, 2023 Today’s headlines: Holiday shopping season is well underway, and child safety advocates are warning of the dangers of certain gifts. Plans are in the works to construct a 2.3 mile rail trail in a rural area of Piatt County. Benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, increased last month. […]
217 Today: As Chicago struggles to shelter migrants, neighboring Oak Park steps in
Monday, November 20, 2023 Today’s headlines: The Illinois Commerce Commission has approved a more than $300 million dollar rate hike for Peoples Gas. Not all Jewish people agree with the actions of the Israeli military amid Israel’s ongoing attack on Gaza. The Fighting Illini men’s basketball won last night against the Southern Jaguars, 88-to-60. In […]
Urbana Police will consider hiring non-police staff for mental health, domestic violence calls
URBANA — The Urbana Police Department hired a national consulting firm this year to evaluate how the department works, including how — and if — officers should handle certain types of calls for service. The firm, BerryDunn, has worked with police departments throughout the U.S. to evaluate their processes and offer recommendations. One consideration is […]
217 Today: One trans Catholic reckons with his faith as the church shifts
Tuesday, November 14, 2023 Today’s headlines: The Cook County Health Department is teaming up with a statewide healthcare non-profit group to improve access to reproductive care. Bradley University president Stephen Standifird denies issues with banks or loans are the driving force behind looming academic cuts. The Fighting Illini host the number four overall Marquette Golden Eagles […]
217 Today: How does Illinois compare to other states on transgender rights?
Monday, November 13, 2023 Today’s headlines: Illinois lawmakers have approved a measure to give the people who transport cannabis from growers to sellers some breathing room. New laws passed this year in Illinois have enhanced the state’s status as a leader in protecting trans rights. The Fighting Illini football team defeated the Indiana Hoosiers Saturday […]
New documents show Rantoul Police Department cleared main officers of wrongdoing in 2023 fatal shootings
This story is part of a partnership focusing on police misconduct in Champaign County between the Champaign-Urbana Civic Police Data Project of the Invisible Institute, a Chicago-based nonprofit public accountability journalism organization, and IPM Newsroom, which provides news about Illinois & in-depth reporting on Agriculture, Education, the Environment, Health, and Politics, powered by Illinois Public […]
Emails reveal UIPD’s plan to use surveillance to monitor campus crime in real time
CHAMPAIGN — The University of Illinois Police Department has requested nearly a million dollars in federal funding to open a real-time crime center. The center would enable police officers to receive more information from a growing number of surveillance methods while responding to incidents, according to UIPD spokesperson Pat Wade. If the real-time operators find […]
217 Today: Small school districts want to offer their students as much as possible. To do that, many have to share
November 7, 2023 Today’s headlines: Illinois lawmakers head back to Springfield this week to finish up their fall veto session with several big issues still on the table. A Bishop Hill non-profit organization says there are major concerns about the condition of state-owned historic buildings at the western Illinois site. The Fighting Illini men’s basketball […]
217 Today: Federal bill aims to enhance school bus safety, but local districts worry about costs
Monday, November 6, 2023 Today’s headlines: Illinois Democrats are applauding yesterday’s federal appeals court ruling… upholding a state law banning assault-style firearms and high-capacity magazines. After the Dennis Lab School in Decatur closed because of structural issues, one parent decided to study whether the neighborhood wanted a new school. The Champaign County Environmental Stewards hosted its […]
217 Today: At this 124-year-old livestock show, kids steal the spotlight with their prize animals
Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Today’s headlines: The state’s annual public school report card shows students have largely caught up to where they were before the pandemic in reading, but are still struggling in math. Black students across Illinois grew their reading skills last year faster than any other group. Illinois taxpayers have been spending up […]
217 Today: Rockford Art Gallery Showcases African American Women’s History
Monday, October 30, 2023 Today’s headlines: A sheriff in northwest Illinois is defending a cop who joined an anti-government extremist group. A consortium of businesses, local governments and colleges has until the end of February to turn in an application that could bring tens of millions of federal dollars to central Illinois. Two student groups […]
217 Today: St. Louis groups seek to resettle Chicago migrants to boost workforce and population
Tuesday, October 24, 2023 Today’s headlines: Illinois lawmakers are heading back to Springfield Tuesday to address the governor’s vetoes. Lawmakers in Washington D.C. have a little more than two months to pass the 2023 farm bill. Governor J.B. Pritzker is with Arab American and Muslim groups to condemn what they say is a sharp increase in […]
217 Today: Native American tribe fights for clean drinking water
Monday, October 23, 2023 Today’s headlines: One Republican from Illinois’ congressional delegation is frustrated at his party’s inability to elect a new House speaker. Some Illinois lawmakers accepted campaign donations from red light camera companies even though they had just passed a bill to prohibit those contributions. A new facility at Parkland College in Champaign […]
217 Today: How the Israel-Hamas war affected one University of Illinois student
Tuesday, October 17, 2023 Today’s headlines: The killing of the 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy in the Southwest suburbs is sparking widespread condemnation among elected officials across Illinois. The FBI is reporting a recent rise in hate-crime incidents in the Chicago area and is opening a hate-crime investigation into the weekend stabbings of a suburban Muslim boy […]
217 Today: Schools invest in security and technology in case of shootings
Monday, October 16, 2023 Today’s headlines: The state of Illinois is investing an additional $10 million in Israeli government Bonds. New legislation in Springfield could change how cannabis gets from grow facilities to dispensaries. The Fighting Illini football team defeated the Maryland Terrapins 27-to-24 Saturday. More than 250 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign students were […]
