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.

RSS Link

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.

Listen

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.

Listen

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.

Listen

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.

Listen

November 15, 2024

217 Today: A conversation with a local psychologist after the election

In today's deep dive, we'll listen to a conversation with a local psychologist about her advice for people after the election.

November 14, 2024

217 Today: University of Illinois Chancellor plans to resign

In today's deep dive, we'll learn more about the departure of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Chancellor Robert Jones.

Listen

One of the many ways that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development assists communities like Rogers Park, shown here, is through Community Development Block Grants, which the city of Chicago uses to support programs ranging from homeless shelters to accessibility repairs for homeowners. — Ashlee Rezin / Sun-Times file

November 13, 2024

217 Today: What a second Trump term could mean for housing in Chicago and Illinois

In today's deep dive, we'll learn about some of the key housing proposals in Project 2025.

Listen

Phil Hallstedt picks cherries on his orchard in Michigan. He and his wife both have worked part-time jobs, but recently Hallstedt transitioned his cherry orchard to a U-Pick model where people can pay to harvest their own cherries. He said the new business model was necessary to stay afloat. — Beryl Striewski / Courtesy Phil Hallstedt

November 12, 2024

217 Today: To stay on the farm, more and more farmers are working second and even third jobs

In today's deep dive, we'll learn what’s led to the increase in off-farm jobs and efforts among some farmers to add value to their agriculture products.

Listen