The 217 Today Podcast

217 Today: Backyard flock owners try to contain bird flu as infections sweep through the country

Brian Moline and Farrah Anderson
 
Leah Shaffer, of St. Charles, picks up Gertie, her 1-year-old Barred Rock Chicken, on Monday, April 4, 2022, outside of her home in St. Charles, Mo. Shaffer purchased four chickens to care for at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.

Leah Shaffer, of St. Charles, picks up Gertie, her 1-year-old Barred Rock Chicken, on Monday, April 4, 2022, outside of her home in St. Charles, Mo. Shaffer purchased four chickens to care for at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio

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Friday, April 8, 2022

Today's headlines:

  • Illinois Democrats say they’ve struck a budget deal and plan on passing it by the end of the day Friday.

  • The Champaign City Council voted unanimouslyTuesday to remove the city’s licensing fees for massage businesses.

  • The Refugee Center continues to help its clients from Afghanistan to settle in Champaign-Urbana.

  • Some Black student leaders at the University of Illinois say they’re unhappy with the school’s response to Ku Klux Klan flyers that circulated around campus last week.

In today's deep dive, we'll take a look at how the highly contagious bird flu that’s spreading across the country is affecting owners of backyard flocks. 

217 Today is produced by Farrah Anderson. Reporting today contributed by Alex Degman, Eunice Alpasan, Luis Velazques, Nour Longi and Katie Peikes.