217 Today: Farmers may lose a USDA program that helps them adapt to climate change
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Today’s headlines:
- Tax season is here. And as people prepare their tax returns, some may wonder: Can Artificial Intelligence help me with that?
- Governor J-B Pritzker will present his 8th budget on Wednesday amid tremendous uncertainty over federal funding.
- A Republican State Senator from Central Illinois is proposing a series of bills he says would boost consumer protections and limit utility rate hikes.
- A Republican State Senator in Illinois has filed a bill that would ban companies from using groundwater in the Mahomet Aquifer for data centers.
- Civil rights activist Reverend Jesse Jackson Senior died this morning at age 84.
In today’s deep dive, four Republican candidates have thrown their hats in the ring to challenge two-term Governor J-B Pritzker in November.
217 Today is produced by Giuliana Means. Reporting today contributed by Jakia Hines, Ben Szalinski, Abisola Dahunsi, Haya Panjwani, and Rachel Cramer.
