The 217 Today Podcast

217 Today: Monday December 7, 2020

Olivia Butts
 
Maddi Dale focuses on her remote French class in her bedroom in Lake Oswego, Ore., Oct. 30, 2020.

Maddi Dale focuses on her remote French class in her bedroom in Lake Oswego, Ore., Oct. 30, 2020. Sara Cline/AP

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Monday December 7, 2020

Today’s headlines:

  • Former State Senator Marty Sandoval died over the weekend after a battle with coronavirus. 

  • A trio of Republican lawmakers is calling on Governor JB Pritzker to deal with problems with fraud related to claims to the Illinois Department of Employment Security. 

  • Balance sheets for farms may look better at the end of 2020 than they have in years. That’s according to the US Department of Agriculture’s latest forecast. 

  • Over the weekend, more than 17,000 coronavirus cases were recorded across the state, along with 281 additional deaths. More than 13,000 Illinoisans have now died due to the virus. In Champaign County, health officials announced 222 new COVID-19 cases over the weekend. Three more deaths were also recorded. Currently, there are nearly 1,000 Champaign County residents who are in isolation with the virus.

In today’s deep dive, the past eight months have taken a toll on Illinois’ teachers, who were already in short supply prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. A new report from the University of Illinois’ Institute of Government and Public Affairs highlights the challenges teachers are facing and recommends specific actions to hire and retain quality educators.  

217 Today is produced by Olivia Butts and hosted by Brian Moline. Reporting today contributed by Hannah Meisel, Maureen McKinney, Amy Mayer, and Lee Gaines.