217 Today: Incumbent Democrat Kwame Raoul faces Republican challenger Tom DeVore in IL Attorney General race

217 Today: Incumbent Democrat Kwame Raoul faces Republican challenger Tom DeVore in IL Attorney General race

Thursday, October 13, 2022 Today’s headlines: Illinois Congressman Adam Kinzinger is endorsing Democrats in several major races across the country. The head of a major business lobbying group in Illinois says the Workers’ Rights Amendment is a political ploy by Democrats to get the unions to vote on election day. Organizations and events that support…

217 Today: Illinois Treasurer candidates discuss taxes and the potential merger of the treasurer and comptroller offices

217 Today: Illinois Treasurer candidates discuss taxes and the potential merger of the treasurer and comptroller offices

Wednesday, October 12, 2022 Today’s headlines: An advocate for the effort to end cash bail in Illinois says the lawsuits filed to overturn the SAFE-T Act in Vermilion County and other communities are political, not legal, in nature. Urbana School District 116 is considering raising substitute teacher pay again this year to at least $150…

217 Today: 2nd District Republican candidate Thomas Lynch talks gun control and abortion ahead of the midterm election

217 Today: 2nd District Republican candidate Thomas Lynch talks gun control and abortion ahead of the midterm election

Tuesday, October 11, 2022 Today’s headlines: Conservative mega-donor Richard Uihlien has thrown another $13.9 million into the Illinois governor’s race. COVID-19 is spreading in Illinois at its lowest rate in months. But state public health officials are preparing for a possible surge in cases this fall and winter. Parents rallied at a Unit 4 Board…

217 Today: Pandemic learning places a greater strain on students with disabilities

217 Today: Pandemic learning places a greater strain on students with disabilities

Monday, October 10, 2022 Today’s headlines: University of Illinois researchers published a new database last week on police use of force across the state. The University of Illinois and Champaign Police Departments have made changes regarding who responds to calls in Campustown and the greater Champaign area. Defense again led the way for the Illinois…

217 Today: Jupiter String Quartet prepares for their first performance of the academic year

217 Today: Jupiter String Quartet prepares for their first performance of the academic year

Friday, October 7, 2022 Today’s headlines: The first televised debate for the 2022 Illinois governor’s race took place last night. Education was one of many topics that the 13th Congressional District candidates disagreed on during last night’s debate. An ongoing study done by University of Illinois faculty has found a new and improved COVID-19 test that…

217 Today: Changing landscape for abortion services leads to confusion among Midwest providers and patients

217 Today: Changing landscape for abortion services leads to confusion among Midwest providers and patients

Thursday, October 6, 2022 Today’s headlines: The two major party candidates for Illinois governor face off in front of a live audience tonight. Local homeless shelter C-U at Home has rejected an offer from the City of Champaign Township to buy its building near downtown Champaign. According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been…

217 Today: Illinois voters will decide whether to enshrine workers’ right to collectively bargain in the state constitution

217 Today: Illinois voters will decide whether to enshrine workers’ right to collectively bargain in the state constitution

Wednesday, October 5, 2022 Today’s headlines: The Illinois State Board of Education is taking suggestions from the public as it puts together a budget plan for the next school year. The Champaign group “Party for Socialism and Liberation” held a rally last Tuesday night to protest a regional pregnancy center they say pressures people not…

217 Today: Democrat candidate Nikki Budzinski discusses labor activism and uniting the 13th congressional district

217 Today: Democrat candidate Nikki Budzinski discusses labor activism and uniting the 13th congressional district

Tuesday, October 4, 2022 Today’s headlines: Planned Parenthood is launching its first mobile abortion clinic in the country, and it will start in southern Illinois. Governor JB Pritzker says he’s open to changes to the SAFE-T Act, which will end cash bail in the state. Over the weekend, local advocacy group Uniting Pride threw its…

217 Today: Because of low wages, some SNAP-Ed workers require those programs themselves

217 Today: Because of low wages, some SNAP-Ed workers require those programs themselves

Monday, October 3, 2022 Today’s headlines: The Old State Capitol in Springfield is now part of the National Underground Railroad Network of Freedom, which recognizes sites as “significant” to helping African Americans escape slavery. Uniting Pride held its annual pride parade and vendors fair this past weekend in downtown Urbana. In a few months, the…

217 Today: A new California program expands Medicaid beyond traditional healthcare

217 Today: A new California program expands Medicaid beyond traditional healthcare

Friday, September 30, 2022 Today’s headlines: Election officials across Illinois are getting flooded with letters from conspiracy theorists who say the 2020 presidential election was rigged. Former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar is endorsing Republican candidate Dan Brady for Secretary of State. Sept. 30 is the last day the public has the chance to provide input…

217 Today: Former WILL meteorologist reflects on his two decades at the station

217 Today: Former WILL meteorologist reflects on his two decades at the station

Thursday, September 29, 2022 Today’s headlines: Volunteers from Illinois are on the ground in southwest Florida, with more on the way, after Hurricane Ian made landfall on Wednesday. Illinois Democrats are signaling they’re willing to work more on the SAFE-T Act. Victims of the July 4th mass shooting in Highland Park have filed a set…

217 Today: Champaign Police say automated license plate readers are a tool to help officers’ investigations

217 Today: Champaign Police say automated license plate readers are a tool to help officers’ investigations

Wednesday, September 28, 2022 Today’s headlines: The state of Illinois is chipping away at its unemployment insurance debt. Immigrant advocates in Champaign-Urbana are preparing to receive migrants from Texas.  A University of Illinois student group committed to selling donated clothes to students at low prices has had its first thrift event of the school year….

217 Today: Republican candidate Regan Deering explains why she joined the competitive 13th congressional district race

217 Today: Republican candidate Regan Deering explains why she joined the competitive 13th congressional district race

Tuesday, September 27, 2022 Today’s headlines: An Illinois Republican lawmaker is trying to make bribery and intimidation by a public official a detainable offense. People spent 60 percent more on sports wagers last year in Illinois than the year prior, but the state’s chief fiscal officer says it’s not a budget fix. A coalition working to…

217 Today: WILL’s first development director discusses origins of the station’s fundraising

217 Today: WILL’s first development director discusses origins of the station’s fundraising

Monday, September 26, 2022 Today’s headlines: Illinois will sell $2.6 billion worth of corn and soybeans to Taiwan over the course of two years. The University of Illinois on Friday unveiled plans for a $250 million academic and research facility in the South Loop of Chicago. A team of researchers at the University of Illinois…

217 Today: Pygmalion performer Michael Mwenso talks childhood, musical background

217 Today: Pygmalion performer Michael Mwenso talks childhood, musical background

Friday, September 23, 2022 Today’s headlines: Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is calling for the resignation of two Democratic state senators embroiled in controversy. Illinois Republican lawmakers are pushing a bill in response to the fentanyl epidemic. A University of Illinois-based language justice collaborative is helping preserve Indigenous Mayan languages. The Fighting Illini football team dominated…