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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Data show alcohol use soared during the pandemic, as many struggled to cope with stress and anxiety. — Gerrie Van Der Walt/Unsplash

June 06, 2022

217 Today: Alcohol use, and related health problems, soared in the Midwest during the pandemic

In today's deep dive, we’ll learn how pandemic alcohol use has accelerated health trends already taking place in the Midwest.

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Rousselyn Cruz, 8, goes through the Spanish phonetic alphabet with hand gestures on May 12 at Marion Elementary School in Overland. The 2021-22 school year marks the first year for the school’s second grade transitional bilingual classroom, where students learn core curriculum in both English and Spanish. — Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio

June 03, 2022

217 Today: Bilingual education helps students learn English while increasing their confidence and academic performance

In today's deep dive, we'll learn how a school in St. Louis is implementing bilingual education to benefit students who are learning English. The district administrators said the class has boosted students' confidence and academic performance.

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David Palmer and Nikki Budzinski debate at Illinois Public Media studios on May 26, 2022. — Farrah Anderson/Illinois Newsroom

June 02, 2022

217 Today: Democratic candidates in Illinois’ 13th District debate gun control, gas prices, aid to Ukraine and inflation

In today's deep dive, we'll recap last week's 13th District Democratic debate in preparation for tonight's debate involving the four Republican candidates for Congress in Illinois’ 13th District.

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A deconstructed wind turbine blade sits on a tractor-trailer after it is weighed on Monday at Veolia Environmental Services in Louisiana, Missouri. The company has expanded the plant's services in order to recycle the blades from across the United States. — Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio

June 01, 2022

217 Today: Wind energy industry finds sustainable ways to dispose of old turbine blades and repurpose them

In today's deep dive, we'll discover how the wind energy industry disposes its massive turbine blades at the end of their lifespan and what happens to the blades after demolition.

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture promised to relieve Barbara Norman of about a half million dollars worth of debt. — Sam Mirpoorian

May 31, 2022

217 Today: Black farmers in U.S. are in limbo after not receiving funds promised by the American Rescue Plan Act

In today's deep dive, we'll learn how the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 has not fulfilled its promise to erase $4 billion of debt for farmers of color who have been historically discriminated against by the agency, leaving these farmers in limbo as to whether the money will be delivered.

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Marc Johnson's lab at the University of Missouri receives hundreds of samples of wastewater from across the country. — Sebastián Martínez Valdivia/Side Effects Public Media

May 27, 2022

217 Today: Scientists use wastewater to track the spread of COVID-19 and its variants

In today's deep dive, we’ll learn how researchers are using wastewater to track new variants of the coronavirus.

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People react outside the Civic Center following a deadly school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas Tuesday, May 24, 2022. — Dario Lopez-Mills/AP

May 26, 2022

217 Today: U.S. Representative discusses proposals that address gun violence after Texas mass shooting

In today's deep dive, we’ll hear from U.S. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois about his proposals to curb gun violence after the recent mass shooting at a Texas school.

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