217 Today — Nov. 24, 2020
Tuesday November 24, 2020 Today’s headlines: As the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Illinois continues to climb, the state health department is changing how it defines hospital capacity. The average cost of all the ingredients for a classic Thanksgiving meal is the lowest it’s been in a decade, despite the economic fallout of the COVID-19 […]
217 Today — Nov. 20, 2020
Friday November 20, 2020 Today’s headlines: Governor JB Pritzker yesterday called on longtime Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan to resign if he won’t appear in public and answer questions about a bribery scheme. Illinois state health officials are continuing to urge residents to stay home for the holidays and avoid large indoor gatherings of any kind. They […]
Pritzker’s Daily COVID-19 Briefing Full Transcript And Audio — Nov. 18, 2020
Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Dr. Ngozi Ezike are holding daily COVID-19 press briefings as cases and hospitalizations in Illinois reach record highs. Read and listen to the latest update from the governor’s office on new cases, phased re-opening and closings of different regions and the state’s ongoing pandemic response. You can watch the most recent […]
Where Can You Get Tested for COVID-19 In Central Illinois?
For health questions about COVID-19, call the Illinois Department of Public Health hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov. IDPH has also compiled a list of testing sites across the state, including information on testing eligibility and contact information. Public testing sites offer free testing regardless of insurance, with no need for a doctor’s referral. Illinois […]
Voters And Officials Report Smooth Election Day In Central Illinois
Editor’s note: These stories were reported by University of Illinois journalism students, with coverage coordinated by College Of Media journalism professor Chris Evans and professional journalists at Illinois Public Media. UPDATED Wednesday at 1:30 a.m.: Thousands of Mail-In Ballots Being Counted In Champaign County URBANA – Champaign County’s chief elections officer, County Clerk Aaron Ammons, says […]
217 Today — Nov. 6, 2020
Friday November 6, 2020 Today’s headlines: Some high-powered Democrats are calling on House Speaker Michael Madigan to resign as chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois. Illinois passed another grim COVID-19 milestone yesterday. More than 10,000 Illinoisans have now died after testing positive for the virus. Champaign County reported 60 new COVID-19 cases yesterday. The County […]
Some Health Officials Find Their Hands Tied On COVID-19 Restrictions
ROCKFORD – Sandra Martell is in a tough spot. As public health administrator in northern Illinois’ Winnebago County, Martell was threatened with lawsuits from several area bar owners after she included them on a list of businesses allegedly defying the governor’s orders to halt indoor dining. The county is part of a region that faced […]
217 Today — Oct. 30, 2020
Friday October 30, 2020 Today’s headlines: A hearing this afternoon in a Champaign County courtroom will give a group of local Republicans their first chance to make their case against County Clerk Aaron Ammons. The region of central and western Illinois, which includes Springfield and Quincy, Thursday joined states facing additional mitigation efforts to fight COVID-19. Public health […]
Champaign County Opens More Early Voting Sites
Additional sites for early voting are opening in Champaign County on Monday, October 19. Each of the eleven early voting site is open to voters from any part of Champaign County. The Champaign County Clerk’s office will operate the sites seven days a week, and will also keep them open on Election Day, November 3rd, […]
217 Today Podcast — Oct. 9, 2020
Apple Podcasts Spotify Podcasts Google Podcasts RSS Link Friday, October 9, 2020 Today’s headlines: Governor JB Pritzker is warning of painful budget cuts if the graduated income tax plan fails at the polls next month. In August, a tornado ripped through the Walnut Grove Vocational Farm in Kirkland. We get an update on how the farm is […]
2020 Champaign County Pride Fest Seeks To Make An Impact Online
URBANA — The 2020 Champaign County Pride Fest joins a long list of events that have had to move online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. What used to consist of parades, drag shows, film screenings, and other live events, has now become virtual workshops, Zoom sessions and online discussion panels. The slogan for this year’s […]
1 Of 3 Champaign County Residents Still Haven’t Participated In The 2020 Census, Officials Say
CHAMPAIGN – The 2020 census will determine how much funding and political representation communities across the U.S. receive. But so far, about a third of Champaign County residents have not participated. At this point in 2010, when the last constitutionally mandated nationwide count was conducted, about 70% of residents had participated, says State Sen. Scott […]
News Around Illinois – July 24, 2020
Man Guilty of Repeated Rape of Child Gets 20-Year Sentence URBANA — A central Illinois man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after admitting to repeatedly raping a child a decade ago. In sentencing Gregory Reed of Mahomet on Thursday, Champaign County Judge Tom Difanis called him “sexually dangerous” man who should never […]
Peaceful Protest In Champaign Draws Huge Crowd
CHAMPAIGN – Thousands gathered in the streets of downtown Champaign on Saturday afternoon for a peaceful march in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. The march, which was organized by local nonprofit Paign To Peace, drew people from across the county. Protesters gathered in Hessel Park around noon to meet and make signs, and […]
News Around Illinois – May 11, 2020
Illinois COVID-19 Cases Surpass 77,000, With More Than 3,400 Deaths CHICAGO — State officials reported 1,656 new COVID-19 cases in Illinois on Sunday, the lowest number reported in 24 hours in 19 days. 57 additional deaths were reported, the lowest number since May 4. The Illinois Department of Public Health says the total number of […]