217 Today: From ‘Grinchmas’ to chestnut roasts, these rural towns make the holidays central to their economy
Courtesy of the City of Minden
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Today’s headlines:
- The biggest education bill taking effect this January is about immigrant students.
- A group of students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are hoping the school's new chancellor will sign off on a new mascot.
- A new Illinois law aims to better inform high school students about possible careers and internships.
- Fighting Illini nation is talking about the blowout in St. Louis last night.
In today’s deep dive, some rural towns are known for their holiday festivities. Tourist dollars are a big part of their local economy but getting people to town each year means new events.
217 Today is produced by Stephanie Orellana. Reporting today contributed by Emily Hays, Arjun Thakkar, Reginald Hardwick and Tadeo Ruiz Sandoval.
