The 217 Today Podcast

217 Today: Friday June 11, 2021

Christine Herman and Carolina Garibay
 
The LGBTQ community faces unique problems that can lead to higher rates of mental illness.

The LGBTQ community faces unique problems that can lead to higher rates of mental illness. Vivian La/Illinois Newsroom

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Friday May 11, 2021

Today's headlines:

  • Illinois is officially in “Phase Five” of Governor J.B. Pritzker’s economic reopening plan today, as new cases of COVID-19 and hospitalizations for the virus continue to plummet. The new phase means no more pandemic-induced capacity restrictions on businesses or social gatherings or masks necessary for vaccinated Illinoisans. 

  • The Illinois Department of Public Health says more than 68% of Illinois residents who are 18 or older have received at least one dose of vaccine. The health department says 209 people with COVID-19 were in intensive care units statewide, one of the lowest counts during the pandemic.

  • Illinois has finally dedicated money to reducing fertilizer runoff from farmland.

  • To celebrate Pride Month, Uniting Pride of Champaign is hosting several events this month, including a Pride Dance Party Saturday, June 12 at the Rose Bowl Tavern in Urbana.

In today's deep dive, an independent Illinois watchdog group released a report detailing neglect and abuse at a residential school for students with disabilities in Aurora.

Reporting today contributed by Dana Cronin, Hannah Meisel, Peter Medlin, and Carolina Garibay.