217 Today: Parents struggle to find childcare in rural communities

217 Today: Parents struggle to find childcare in rural communities

Tuesday, February 14, 2023 Today’s headlines: A plan to move hundreds of migrants into a former K-Mart on Chicago’s Southwest Side is getting pushback from local officials. In February 2020, Visit Champaign County revealed Destination 2023 – a three-year plan to improve people’s experiences in Champaign County. Black male leaders visited Urbana classrooms on Monday…

217 Today: What Missouri’s new recreational marijuana sales mean for dispensaries across the river in Illinois

217 Today: What Missouri’s new recreational marijuana sales mean for dispensaries across the river in Illinois

Monday, February 13, 2023 Today’s headlines: One week ago, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit Turkey and Syria, destroying buildings and leaving more than 33,000 people dead. We learn about the local response.  Illinois State Senator Doris Turner is pushing for body cameras for emergency medical service workers two months after the death of a Springfield…

217 Today: Recess law boosts elementary students’ social-emotional learning

217 Today: Recess law boosts elementary students’ social-emotional learning

Wednesday, February 8, 2023 Today’s headlines: Four defendants in an upcoming federal corruption trial want to limit evidence against them. Tuesday was National Black HIV-AIDS Awareness Day, and a coalition of Black health equity advocates is calling on the Illinois Department of Public Health to do more. Republican Illinois congresswoman Mary Miller wants to stop…

217 Today: Increasing evictions in Midwest threaten public health

217 Today: Increasing evictions in Midwest threaten public health

Tuesday, February 7, 2023 Today’s headlines: The Illinois National Guard has a new major general…and one of his priorities is to foster diversity. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker is worried that education policies he opposes are trying to take root here. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is designing a social media platform to connect high…

217 Today: New Philadelphia designated as national park for being first town legally founded by an African American

217 Today: New Philadelphia designated as national park for being first town legally founded by an African American

Monday, February 6, 2023 Today’s headlines: With Medicaid pandemic protections ending March 31, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services predicts more than 300,000 residents could lose health insurance. Last year, a letter co-authored by a University of Illinois law professor was cited on the U.S. Senate floor during its debate on the Respect for…

217 Today: New reproductive health clinic to open in Champaign

217 Today: New reproductive health clinic to open in Champaign

Wednesday, February 1, 2023 Today’s headlines: An Illinois Appellate Court has narrowly upheld a decision that prevents the state’s assault weapons ban from taking effect in some places. The Old State Capitol in downtown Springfield is receiving a $15 million preservation investment. On Tuesday, the Illinois State Board of Education named Tony Sanders as its…

217 Today: Supreme Court ruling could reduce wetland protections

217 Today: Supreme Court ruling could reduce wetland protections

Tuesday, January 31, 2023 Today’s headlines: A survey of public schools across Illinois found nearly 4 out of 5 districts reported a shortage of teachers this year. A group of Illinois lawmakers and representatives from business and local government will study warehouse safety over the next two years. This is the first year elementary and…

217 Today: New Urbana bakery celebrates Mexican, Latin-American culture

217 Today: New Urbana bakery celebrates Mexican, Latin-American culture

Monday, January 30, 2023 Today’s headlines: Demonstrations broke out across the country over the beating death of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, including in Urbana. A bill sent to Gov. J.B. Pritzker would lift restrictions on Illinois residents who can’t change their names because of past crimes. The University of Illinois Police Department has reported several…

217 Today: New sensors to track workplace injuries raise privacy concerns

217 Today: New sensors to track workplace injuries raise privacy concerns

Wednesday, January 25, 2023 Today’s headlines: We remain under a winter storm warning from the National Weather Service until 6:00 p.m. Wednesday in much of east central Illinois. Gun rights advocates have now filed four lawsuits over Illinois’ new law banning assault weapons Plans to construct a CO2 pipeline through 13 Illinois counties have been…

217 Today January 24, 2023

217 Today: Reproductive rights 50 years after Roe v. Wade

Tuesday, January 24, 2023 Today’s headlines: After months of pushback, the Champaign Unit 4 school board has scaled back changes to its school choice system.  A new bill in Springfield would improve pay and training for an estimated 650,000 temporary workers who get their jobs through staffing agencies. A central Illinois lawmaker plans to sue…

217 Today: Does public school desegregation help close achievement gaps?

217 Today: Does public school desegregation help close achievement gaps?

Monday, January 23, 2023 Today’s headlines:  A judge in Effingham County has granted a pause on a new law that bans assault weapons in Illinois. Three candidates are on the April Fourth ballot for mayor of Champaign, including the current mayor, Deb Feinen. A new report from the Champaign Police Department says shooting incidents in…

217 Today: What’s behind the huge cost increase for eggs?

217 Today: What’s behind the huge cost increase for eggs?

Wednesday, January 18, 2023 Today’s headlines: Sixteen Illinois state lawmakers are standing up for a new assault weapons ban that has received fierce opposition from sheriffs across the state. A state Senator in central Illinois plans to introduce a bill to require voters to provide ID at the ballot box. Gas stoves are known to…

217 Today: Obstacles prevent many craft cannabis growers from opening

217 Today: Obstacles prevent many craft cannabis growers from opening

Tuesday, January 17, 2023 Today’s headlines: Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said the country is backsliding on voting rights 10 years after the Supreme Court decision to repeal parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Ten high schoolers from across Champaign County won scholarships on Monday in the name of Rev. Martin Luther…

217 Today: Penicillin shortage could endanger children with sickle cell disease

217 Today: Penicillin shortage could endanger children with sickle cell disease

Monday, January 16, 2023 Today’s headlines: Illinois lawmakers were unable to pass a measure to limit how much interest pawn brokers can charge in this month’s lame-duck session. The candidates on the April 4 ballot for mayor of Champaign have all been on the ballot before, including former mayor Don Gerard. Champaign County’s Martin Luther King,…

217 Today: Many Illinois sheriffs oppose new assault weapon ban

217 Today: Many Illinois sheriffs oppose new assault weapon ban

Friday, January 13, 2023 Today’s headlines: In their recent lame-duck session, Illinois lawmakers approved new spending including nearly $300 million to help asylum seekers. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker criticized several suburban and downstate sheriffs for their vows not to enforce the assault weapons ban he signed this week. There is a significant increase in food waste…