217 Today: Norman Rockwell inspires an Illinois art exhibit through a modern lens
Friday, June 17, 2022 Today’s Headlines: The Illinois Department of Public Health is confident there will be plenty of COVID vaccines available for children under 5 once the CDC recommends them. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has signed a pair of measures into law that will give sexual assault victims more recourse. Police departments across the […]
217 Today: Miller and Davis compare conservative credentials in the 15th Congressional District primary
Thursday, June 16, 2022 Today’s headlines: Wednesday marked the 10th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program. However, it’s fate remains uncertain. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has signed a law requiring health insurance plans to cover continuous glucose monitors used by diabetes patients. One Champaign community leader is offering more than […]
217 Today: Sickle cell patients face systemic racism and a crippling disease
Wednesday, June 15, 2022 Today’s headlines: The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is relaunching a land conservation program for farmers, ranchers and other landowners in 68 counties. Caterpillar did not receive or request any incentives to relocate its world headquarters from Illinois to Texas.That’s according to a corporate spokesperson. Champaign is hosting its annual Juneteenth […]
217 Today: Producers say a crossbreed of cattle and buffalo provides the best of both
Tuesday, June 14, 2022 Today’s headlines: Likely Illinois Republican voters are still mostly in the dark about down-ballot races in the June 28th primary election. That’s according to a WBEZ-Chicago Sun-Times poll. Forecasters are advising you to take precautions as central and southern Illinois bake under high heat and humidity. This Sunday is Juneteenth, a […]
Alcohol use was a problem in the Midwest. Then the pandemic hit
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Nancy’s ex-husband had been sober for almost a decade when the pandemic hit. Not long into lockdown, she said his behavior changed. Nancy quickly tied it to drinking. “He would basically sleep all day and be up all night,” she said. Side Effects Public Media is only using Nancy’s first […]
The Kickapoo Rail Trail is coming to Ogden
URBANA — Construction on the next phase of the Kickapoo Rail will begin this month in the eastern Champaign County village of Ogden, the Champaign County Forest Preserve District announced Monday. The 1.5-mile stretch of trail for walking, running and bicycling will go from just west of the Ogden village limits to the Champaign-Vermilion County […]
Jazz legend Christian McBride is performing and teaching on the U of I campus this week
URBANA — It is a busy week of learning and performing for students in the jazz studies department on the University of Illinois Urbana campus. Listen to Brian Moline’s conversation with Dr. Barrington Coleman here. Jazz bassist Christian McBride and his bandmates have been teaching masterclasses on campus this week, leading up to a performance […]
217 Today: Higher ed expert discusses new budget’s impact on Illinois college students
Friday, April 22, 2022 Today’s headlines: Illinois has received its second bond rating upgrade in a year. Illinois is uniquely positioned to help mitigate the effects of climate change with carbon sequestration. A University of Illinois graduate is describing what it’s like to cover Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. About 40 protesters held a rally Thursday […]
Lyric Theatre Brings ‘Marriage of Figaro’ to the Krannert Center stage
URBANA — Lyric Theatre @ Illinois brings Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro” to the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in Urbana for three shows, starting Tuesday at 7:30pm. Lyric Theatre co-director Nathan Gunn is the stage director for this production, with Andrew Megill as conductor. Illinois Newsroom’s Brian Moline spoke with three actors performing […]
Whitman’s ‘persistence’ brings Shauna Green to Illinois as new WBB coach
CHAMPAIGN — Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman drove from Indianapolis to Dayton right after the Illinois men’s basketball team was eliminated from the Big Ten Tournament to talk to Shauna Green about the Illini women’s basketball job. He drove from Pittsburgh to Dayton to talk with Green and her family again about the position last […]
How Medicaid enrollment can disrupt the cycle of incarceration
COLUMBIA – Mo. — One of the first stops for people leaving prison in central Missouri is the Reentry Opportunity Center in Columbia. The center sees about 80 people a month who are in the process of putting their lives together after being incarcerated. According to the center’s program director, D’Markus Thomas-Brown, leaving prison often […]
Deon Thomas says this Illini men’s basketball team is “more well-rounded” than last year’s squad
URBANA — The Illinois men’s basketball team begins postseason play Friday with a Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal matchup against Indana. The Illini received several all-Big Ten honors this week, with center Kofi Cockburn unanimously named first-team all-conference, guard Trent Frazier named to the second team, and guard Alfonso Plummer garnering a third-team selection. Illinois Newsroom’s […]
The White House has a new plan for COVID-19 aimed at getting things back to normal
WASHINGTON — The White House is unveiling a new roadmap for the COVID-19 pandemic, one that envisions life going back to normal after two years of crisis, providing for people to get tested and treat the disease, while staying vigilant for new variants and outbreaks. “We are no longer going to let COVID-19 dictate how […]
Illinois Theatre adapts ‘The Whistleblower’ to fit COVID protocols and modern life
URBANA — Illinois Theatre’s production of “The Whistleblower” opens Friday night at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in Urbana. It’s an adaptation of the Henrik Ibsen play “Enemy of the People,” originally written in the 1880s. Illinois Newsroom’s Brian Moline spoke with the show’s director, Genesee Spridco. Listen to this interview here. She says […]
New ‘Jelani Day’ bill to require FBI involvement in cases where bodies remain unidentified
SPRINGFIELD — It’s been six months since Illinois State University graduate student Jelani Day went missing. His body was not found for nearly two weeks. Once found, Day’s remains went unidentified for three more weeks. State Sen. Elgie Sims, D-Chicago, says the process should not take so long. https://cpa.ds.npr.org/s402/audio/2022/02/jelani-superspot.mp3 Listen to this story here. “When […]