217 Today: How Illinois researchers are turning prairie grass into sustainable fuel
Isabela Nieto
Monday, June 2, 2025
Today's headlines:
- Illinois lawmakers approved a 55 billion dollar state budget for next year that needs nearly a billion dollars through tax and fee hikes to balance.
- The Consul General of Guatemala in Chicago made a stop in Urbana this weekend.
- Nine Illini women from the track and field team are headed to the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
- Lawmakers in Springfield approve a plan they hope will bring over 1 billion dollars in revenue to Illinois 15 minutes shy of a key deadline to pass it.
In today’s deep dive, researchers at the University of Illinois are investigating how to turn prairie grass into sustainable aviation fuel.
217 Today is produced by Stephanie Orellana. Reporting today contributed by Alex Degman, Stephanie Mosqueda, Colin Hislope, Mawa Iqbal and Isabela Nieto.