The 217 Today Podcast

217 Today: Friday, August 13, 2021

 
Larry Lieb, 69, feeds the cattle on his farm in Mode, Ill., on July 8. He says he feels safer having gotten the coronavirus vaccine. But he's not interested in trying to convince anyone else to get it.

Larry Lieb, 69, feeds the cattle on his farm in Mode, Ill., on July 8. He says he feels safer having gotten the coronavirus vaccine. But he's not interested in trying to convince anyone else to get it. Christine Herman/Illinois Newsroom

Friday, August 13, 2021

Today's headlines:

  • Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is calling on each state legislator to get vaccinated against COVID-19. That comes after a recent WBEZ survey of lawmakers.

  • A nearly stationary line of heavy thunderstorms brought flooding to parts of Champaign, Ford and McLean Counties Thursday.

  • Like other industries, the clean energy sector took a big employment hit during the pandemic.

  • Two more Champaign County residents have died of COVID-19, bringing the county death toll to 164. Public health officials reported 64 new COVID-19 cases Thursday. The number of active cases now sits at over 740, the highest total since mid-February. 

In today's deep dive, we learn how farmers and ranchers could have a role in convincing their neighbors in rural areas to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Reporting today contributed by Tony Arnold, Jim Meadows, Dana Cronin and Christine Herman.

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