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: Small school districts want to offer their students as much as possible. To do that, many have to share

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

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: 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: At this 124-year-old livestock show, kids steal the spotlight with their prize animals

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

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: 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: St. Louis groups seek to resettle Chicago migrants to boost workforce and population

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

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: 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…