217 Today: New hospital safety report gives Carle Foundation a ‘C’ and OSF Heart of Mary a ‘B’

217 Today: New hospital safety report gives Carle Foundation a ‘C’ and OSF Heart of Mary a ‘B’

November 9, 2023 Today’s headlines: President Joe Biden is speaking to United Auto Workers members in Belvidere today. Veterans Day is this weekend, and the state of Illinois is looking to honor veterans at home. Illinois state lawmakers are split over how to elect members to Chicago’s school board. In today’s deep dive, we’ll listen to…

217 Today: Insects hold our planet together — but they’re disappearing. A national study aims to learn more

217 Today: Insects hold our planet together — but they’re disappearing. A national study aims to learn more

November 8, 2023 Today’s headlines: Illinois lawmakers are demanding to know how the Department of Employment Security will recoup money paid out through fraudulent unemployment claims. With just days left in the fall legislative session, Republican lawmakers are urging their Democratic colleagues to preserve the Invest in Kids Act. Illinois lawmakers ordered an audit of the state-run…

217 Today: Nitrate levels in water are often higher in the rural Midwest. How does this affect health?

217 Today: Nitrate levels in water are often higher in the rural Midwest. How does this affect health?

November 3, 2023 Today’s headlines:  Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office says he had “positive” and “productive” conversations in Washington D.C. yesterday about the ongoing migrant crisis. The window to register high-powered, semi-automatic firearms with the state is soon closing but many Illinois gun owners say they’ll refuse to comply. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker is celebrating the…

217 Today: 1920s roar to life in Lippa musical’s ‘wild, wild party’ at Krannert Center

217 Today: 1920s roar to life in Lippa musical’s ‘wild, wild party’ at Krannert Center

November 2, 2023 Today’s headlines:  Many Venezuelan migrants are seeing snow for the first time while sheltering in or outside Chicago police stations. Illinois Congressman Darin LaHood supports a House Republican proposal to provide an additional fourteen billion dollars in aid for Israel. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker says the state legislature won’t be sending any…

217 Today: Urbana wins $2.9 million award against Stark Excavating of Bloomington over roadwork issues

217 Today: Urbana wins $2.9 million award against Stark Excavating of Bloomington over roadwork issues

November 1, 2023 Today’s headlines: A couple of Illinois lawmakers are hoping to combat digital threats as the use of Artificial Intelligence grows. A Dutch Electric Vehicle parts company is launching a new line of fast EV chargers that are built entirely in Illinois. “Uncle Joe Cannon” is a new student-created documentary that takes another…

217 Today: Teachers talk about the art of relationship-building in the classroom

217 Today: Teachers talk about the art of relationship-building in the classroom

October 27, 2023 Today’s headlines: Some people with developmental disabilities protested at the Illinois capitol this week as part of their push to be paid the same as everyone else. Substance use disorder — mainly overdosing on fentanyl — was a leading cause of death for pregnant people in Illinois in recent years. The Fighting…

217 Today: Celebrating ’90s Hip-Hop on stage in Urbana – a deep dive with director Aaron Muñoz

217 Today: Celebrating ’90s Hip-Hop on stage in Urbana – a deep dive with director Aaron Muñoz

October 26, 2023 Today’s headlines:  A measure to let Illinois legislative employees unionize has cleared the state House and is on its way to the Senate. Illinois lawmakers won’t be overriding Governor J.B. Pritzker’s veto of an energy bill. The final piece of property from the former Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul is now…

217 Today: Illinois is looking to overhaul how kids learn to read

217 Today: Illinois is looking to overhaul how kids learn to read

October 25, 2023 Today’s headlines: A measure that would allow Illinois legislative employees to unionize is moving forward at the statehouse. More pregnant people in Illinois are dying and most deaths may be preventable, according to a new report from the Illinois Department of Public Health. Chicago Public Schools is transitioning to an elected school board….

217 Today: Efforts to tag monarchs carry into a third decade — tracking the butterfly’s ‘amazing migration’

217 Today: Efforts to tag monarchs carry into a third decade — tracking the butterfly’s ‘amazing migration’

October 20, 2023 Today’s headlines: There’s a new deadline coming up for undocumented residents 65 or older who want health insurance through the state of Illinois. With just five months to go until the 2024 Presidential primaries, Illinois election authorities are tightening up security at the polls and online. Cook County leaders want to expand opioid…

217 Today: Comedian Carmen Christopher brings his stand-up comedy to Urbana

217 Today: Comedian Carmen Christopher brings his stand-up comedy to Urbana

October 19, 2023 Today’s headlines: The FBI is investigating whether last weekend’s murder of a 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy in suburban Plainfield is a federal hate crime. Illinois teachers want to make sure they get the support they need as the state revises a blueprint for how children are taught to read in school. Congress is…

217 Today: What was the impact of COVID on the Illinois teacher workforce? A new report examines what really happened

217 Today: What was the impact of COVID on the Illinois teacher workforce? A new report examines what really happened

October 18, 2023 Today’s headlines: Hundreds of students gathered outside JSM Living in Campustown on Tuesday. Some Cook County Board members are hoping to allocate an extra $5 million to services for domestic violence victims. Illinois now requires every public elementary and high school to teach about Black, Asian American and LGBTQ history In today’s deep…

217 Today: Plans for carbon dioxide pipelines raise safety concerns for small town responders in the Midwest

217 Today: Plans for carbon dioxide pipelines raise safety concerns for small town responders in the Midwest

October 13, 2023 Today’s headlines: A rally was held at the University of Illinois last night to show support for Palestine amid the ongoing conflict with Israel There’s a new push for a law that would require police to remove guns from the homes of accused domestic abusers. The Illinois House Speaker says it’s unlikely that…

217 Today: Mary Chapin Carpenter brings her best with latest music

217 Today: Mary Chapin Carpenter brings her best with latest music

October 12, 2023 Today’s headlines: The University of Illinois is condemning the “unspeakable brutality of the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israeli citizens.” The University of Illinois’ Homecoming race may close streets around Champaign-Urbana on Sunday morning. A traveling exhibit on the history of the Holocaust begins a month-long run at the Vermilion County Museum. Recently…

217 Today: Farm-based activities can support mental wellness. Why aren’t there more care farms in the U.S.?

217 Today: Farm-based activities can support mental wellness. Why aren’t there more care farms in the U.S.?

October 11, 2023 Today’s headlines:  Illinois political leaders are reiterating their support for Israel in the aftermath of the Hamas attacks last weekend that killed more than a thousand people. A new report shows Illinois’ population has remained steady over the last decade while gaining more higher-paid and foreign-born residents. The company that has proposed…

217 Today: CU Folk & Roots Festival returns with a focus on expanding the genre

217 Today: CU Folk & Roots Festival returns with a focus on expanding the genre

October 6, 2023 Today’s headlines: There’s a new biomedical research hub in Chicago. Illinois state senator Mike Simmons is trying to expand on a recently passed state law prohibiting public libraries from banning books. A new report seeks to get a better handle on the racial equity efforts happening at nonprofits around the state. Illinois…