The 217 Today Podcast | Illinois Public Media

Keep up with news in Central Illinois every weekday with 217 Today. Hear the day's headlines, along with one deeper dive, in just ten minutes. Learn about the people and places that make Central Illinois unique with 217 Today.

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three men in wheelchairs pose for a photo with arms around each other — Courtesy of Kim Romanchuk

November 26, 2024

217 Today: Daniel Romanchuk shares his journey to becoming an elite wheelchair marathoner

In today's deep dive, we’ll listen to a conversation with Daniel Romanchuk about his journey to becoming an elite wheelchair racer.

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A faucet is turned on and water falls into a gray sink. — Ben Throp / WFYI

November 25, 2024

217 Today: Trump’s health pick wants to remove fluoride from our water. Does science back this effort?

In today's deep dive, we’ll learn about the benefits and risks of water fluoridation.

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A woman wearing a white hat, orange shirt and metallic purple jacket stares off to the right side of the screen. Another woman behind her wearing a black jacked does the same thing. They are both inside a car. — Faith Filmworks

November 22, 2024

217 Today: Movie filmed in Champaign released nationwide

In today's deep dive, we’ll listen to a conversation with Christine Swanson, the director of Albany Road which was released nationwide last week.

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Alyx Bibbs, a wheelchair user at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, demonstrates how their wheelchair does not fit in the stall in the women’s bathroom in Room 135 in the Henry Administration Building. The “wheelchair-accessible” signage was removed in mid-November, after Bibbs decided to drop their class. — Layli Nazarova for Illinois Student Newsroom

November 21, 2024

217 Today: U of I senior dropped disability studies minor over inaccessible bathrooms

In today's deep dive, we’ll learn about some issues at the University of Illinois that continue to create barriers for disabled students.

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A student from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln holds a painted turtle from a pond in western Nebraska. Data from this turtle population showed how drought conditions may impact painted turtles, such as slowing growth and lowering survival. — Elizabeth Rembert / Harvest Public Media

November 20, 2024

217 Today: Drought delivers a big blow to wildlife already grappling with disease and habitat loss

In today's deep dive, we’ll learn about the long-term impacts of droughts on animals.

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November 19, 2024

217 Today: Chicago’s environmental justice advocates worry Trump could reverse gains

In today's deep dive, we'll learn why some Chicago environmental justice advocates worry Trump could reverse gains.

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Chelsey Lowe stands outside Homer Lake in East Central Illinois. Lowe was arrested in 2022 by Sean Grayson, who is now charged with murder for killing Sonya Massey. — Farrah Anderson for Invisible Institute and IPM News

November 18, 2024

217 Today: Sean Grayson, who killed Sonya Massey, committed misconduct at prior jobs. Another one of his cases just got dropped

In today's deep dive, we'll learn more about former Sangamon County Deputy Sean Grayson's history of problematic behavior and a missed opportunity to intervene.

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