217 Today: ‘It was an old man’s sport’ – Celebrating 50 years of hip-hop

217 Today: ‘It was an old man’s sport’ – Celebrating 50 years of hip-hop

September 13, 2023 Today’s headlines: Teaching assistants and security officers with the Decatur School District 61 rallied on Tuesday for wages they say they can live on. Transgender Illinoisans must now seek permission to compete in high school sports. llinois’ new law meant to prevent book bans at schools and public libraries got some attention during…

217 Today: Ani DiFranco brings 30+ years of folk and feminism to Krannert’s Ellnora Guitar Festival

217 Today: Ani DiFranco brings 30+ years of folk and feminism to Krannert’s Ellnora Guitar Festival

September 8, 2023 Today’s headlines: Illinois’s two U.S. Senators are outraged over the hold on confirming and promoting members of the military and they blame one fellow Senator. More than 6 million individuals are living with Alzheimer’s in the United States and one organization is working to bring those numbers down. A royal member of a…

217 Today: Andy Summers combines love of photography and music in upcoming performance at Ellnora Guitar Festival

217 Today: Andy Summers combines love of photography and music in upcoming performance at Ellnora Guitar Festival

September 7, 2023 Today’s headlines: A lot of consumer products list ingredients that many haven’t heard of. If exposed during pregnancy – some of these chemicals could impact a child’s life. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker is confident the state will still be able to support vulnerable students as federal COVID relief money is exhausted next…

217 Today: What’s happening in Champaign-Urbana Sept. 7-10?

217 Today: What’s happening in Champaign-Urbana Sept. 7-10?

September 7, 2023 Today’s headlines: Named for its hundreds of labor strikes and scorching heat – the “Hot Labor Summer” is coming to a close – but the writer’s strike in Hollywood hasn’t. Arab-American groups are applauding a new Illinois law that will add a Middle Eastern or North African box under the “race” category…

217 Today: Dying and disabled Illinois prisoners kept behind bars, despite new medical release law

217 Today: Dying and disabled Illinois prisoners kept behind bars, despite new medical release law

Friday, Sept. 1, 2023 Today’s headlines: The Fighting Illini football team opens the season at Memorial Stadium this Saturday against the Toledo Rockets. New legislation aimed at bringing homelessness to “functional zero” is being implemented in Illinois – and Champaign County is no different. Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’s plan to cut down wait…

217 Today: Malina Moye brings her musicianship, message, and motivation to Krannert’s Ellnora Guitar Festival

217 Today: Malina Moye brings her musicianship, message, and motivation to Krannert’s Ellnora Guitar Festival

August 31, 2023 Today’s headlines: The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is currently in the process of creating its own nuclear reactors. Next week’s Ellnora Guitar Festival features performers like Andy Summers, formerly of The Police. Illinois’ House Republican leader doesn’t want current or former elected officials to be able to use campaign funds to pay for…

217 Today: Illinois Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski proposes bill to increase agricultural research funding

217 Today: Illinois Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski proposes bill to increase agricultural research funding

August 30, 2023 Today’s headlines: A community collaborative is working to assess the needs of people who are struggling to receive long-term care in Champaign County. Illinois’ governor is asking the Biden administration to allow the thousands of migrants in Chicago who are seeking asylum to hold jobs. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker announced more funding…

217 Today: Extreme heat highlights federal healthcare program for farmworkers

217 Today: Extreme heat highlights federal healthcare program for farmworkers

August 25, 2023 Today’s headlines: Some central Illinois schools are staying closed today as the heat wave continues. Illinois is the first state to pass a law giving rights and protections to young people that have found their calling as social media influencers. It only took a federal jury five hours to convict a top…

217 Today: Trumpeter James Vaughen spreads joy with music

217 Today: Trumpeter James Vaughen spreads joy with music

August 24, 2023 Today’s headlines: Champaign, Danville and Urbana Schools close Thursday due to heat. The University of Illinois has conducted research on how the effects of heat could be lessened in the future. University of Illinois graduate and actor Nick Offerman will return to campus this weekend to raise money for the U of I’s…

217 Today: How truancy lands some Illinois students in court

217 Today: How truancy lands some Illinois students in court

August 23, 2023 Today’s headlines: Decatur teaching assistants have been without a contract since June. The School Board for Urbana School District 116 has a new recommendation on what to do with Wiley Elementary School after it reopens. Planned Parenthood of Illinois says they are gearing up for more patients coming from Indiana as the…

217 Today: A planned Illinois bill would require lawyers for kids in police interrogations

217 Today: A planned Illinois bill would require lawyers for kids in police interrogations

August 18, 2023 Today’s headlines: A shelter for unhoused men is set to open later this month in Urbana and some residents are voicing concerns for their safety.  The head of Illinois’ Republican Party says there’s a key strategy they should embrace if they hope to win in Illinois. Another phase of Illinois’s largest road project…

217 Today: IPM Clef Notes Editor Katie Buzard sings on ‘Great Performances’

217 Today: IPM Clef Notes Editor Katie Buzard sings on ‘Great Performances’

August 17, 2023 Today’s headlines: One of the ramps feeding traffic to I-57 from I-74 is about to close for a long time. Urbana’s new police chief says he has many plans for the city’s future – in addition to what he’s already implemented. Illinois Democrats hope to use their resume of the past four-plus years to…

217 Today: Illinois now requires K-12 students to learn Native American history. What has to be in the lessons, and who is checking? 

217 Today: Illinois now requires K-12 students to learn Native American history. What has to be in the lessons, and who is checking? 

August 16, 2023 Today’s headlines:  Thomas Paine Elementary School is opening its doors for the first day of school today with its newly renovated and expanded facilities. Federal student loan borrowers will have to resume repayment this fall, after getting a break during COVID. Three former staff members of Northwestern University’s baseball team filed suit against…

217 Today: ‘It can implode and our families are suffering’: What are northern Illinois’ early childhood needs?

217 Today: ‘It can implode and our families are suffering’: What are northern Illinois’ early childhood needs?

August 15, 2023 Today’s headlines: Garden Hills Academy in Champaign re-opened as a pre-K-through-eight school — adding early childhood and middle school grades to the former elementary school. Governor JB Pritzker’s administration and the labor union AFSCME agreed last month to raise state employee wages by almost 18% over four years. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker says he’s…

217 Today: Peaches are in short supply this year after weather pitfalls in the Midwest and South

217 Today: Peaches are in short supply this year after weather pitfalls in the Midwest and South

August 14, 2023 Today’s headlines: Today is the first day of school for many children in central Illinois — and some are walking into new classrooms.  Democratic state officials are applauding the Illinois supreme court for its ruling on Friday upholding the state’s ban on semi-automatic firearms. U.S. Senator Dick Durbin says the latest revelations about…