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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Bloomington’s new police chief says the department has greatly reduced racial disparities in traffic stops by making a few simple changes. — WGLT file photo

December 06, 2021

217 Today: Monday, Dec. 6, 2021

In today's deep dive, we’ll hear about a community in Central Illinois that appears to be reducing the racial disparities in traffic stops.

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Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

December 03, 2021

217 Today: Friday, Dec. 3, 2021

In today's deep dive, we'll learn why Major League Baseball owners have locked out players after their collective bargaining agreement expired earlier this week.

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The Indianapolis Public Library hired Yanna McGraw as its first full-time social worker in July. Her job is to help library patrons navigate challenges beyond the scope of what librarians are trained to handle. — Darian Benson/Side Effects Public Media

December 02, 2021

217 Today: Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021

In today's deep dive, we’ll learn why some libraries are starting to hire social workers to better serve their communities.

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U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Taylorville) claims victory in his bid for re-election over Democratic challenger Betsy Dirksen Londrigan on Nov. 3, 2020. — Screenshot/Rodney for Congress

December 01, 2021

217 Today: Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021

In today's deep dive, we’ll hear from Republican U.S. Representative Rodney Davis, who is running for re-election in the newly drawn Illinois 15th Congressional District.

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Kobe Smith, 17, helps gut an old house that belongs to the Housing Authority of Champaign County. — Emily Hays/Illinois Newsroom

November 30, 2021

217 Today: Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021

In today's deep dive, we’ll learn about a program in Champaign County that helps young people get their high school diplomas while fixing public housing properties.

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In 2018, Jamie Beck transitioned from a legal guardianship into a supported decision-making arrangement, as part of a pilot program exploring less restrictive guardianship alternatives. “I get to do more things like a typical normal person would,” Beck said -- such as make her own decisions about seeking medical care and traveling out of town. — AJ Mast

November 29, 2021

217 Today: Monday, Nov. 29, 2021

In today's deep dive, we’ll take a closer look at court-ordered guardianship, or a conservatorship, and the possibility of less-restrictive options.

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Missouri Farmer Chris Brundick stands near a low lying area on his Maries County farm he is concerned could be classified as a — Jonathan Ahl/Harvest Public Media

November 24, 2021

217 Today: Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021

In today's deep dive, we'll take a look at the tension between environmentalists and farmers over what are designated as “Waters of the United States” by the federal government.

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Health officials in Columbia, Missouri explain how to administer naloxone at an emergency community meeting. The town has lost 14 people to opioid overdose in the previous four months. — Sebastián Martínez Valdivia/Side Effects Public Media

November 23, 2021

217 Today: Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021

In today's deep dive, we’ll head to Columbia, Missouri to see how they are trying to counter the continuing rise in opioid overdose deaths.

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Cars drive on South Lincoln Avenue on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, in O’Fallon, Illinois. One of the largest growing cities in the Metro-East’s representation will be split up from the state to congressional level through what some have criticized as partisan gerrymandering. The street now splits up the IL-12 and IL-13 congressional districts. — Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio

November 22, 2021

217 Today: Monday, Nov. 22, 2021

In today's deep dive, we’ll head to O’Fallon in southwestern Illinois to see how the new congressional maps for the state are splitting this community in half.

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Jacki Rand is the University of Illinois' first Associate Chancellor for Native Affairs. — Provided by Jacki Rand

November 19, 2021

217 Today: Friday, Nov. 19, 2021

In today's deep dive, we'll hear a conversation with Dr. Jacki Rand, the University of Illinois' first Associate Chancellor for Native Affairs, in the middle of Native American Heritage Month.

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