217 Today: Illinois just passed a ‘direct admissions’ bill to simplify the college application process

Friday, June 27, 2025

Today’s headlines: 

• With heat waves blazing across Illinois this week, researchers have been checking in with farm workers managing crops in the high temperatures. 
• The city of Urbana is moving to hire more police officers despite pushback from some community members.
• Unemployment was down in Illinois' major metro areas in May compared to a year ago.
• Organizers with Champaign County's Fourth of July parade are still looking for volunteers to help run the event.

In today’s deep dive, Illinois lawmakers just passed a bill creating a “direct admission” program to simplify the college application process.

217 Today is produced by Stephanie Orellana. Reporting today contributed by Stephanie Mosqueda, Mae Antar, Jim Meadows, Anna Koh and Peter Medlin.