The 217 Today Podcast

217 Today: Sickle cell patients face systemic racism and a crippling disease

Brian Moline
 
Gary Gibson, CEO of The Martin Center Sickle Cell Initiative in Indianapolis, is the longest serving employee in the nonprofit. His work is focused on filling the social and economic needs of sickle cell disease patients and their families. He is inspired by his wife, Brenda Williams, who died at age 36 from sickle cell disease complications.

Gary Gibson, CEO of The Martin Center Sickle Cell Initiative in Indianapolis, is the longest serving employee in the nonprofit. His work is focused on filling the social and economic needs of sickle cell disease patients and their families. He is inspired by his wife, Brenda Williams, who died at age 36 from sickle cell disease complications. Brice Bauer/Side Effects Public Media

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Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Today's headlines:

  • The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is relaunching a land conservation program for farmers, ranchers and other landowners in 68 counties.

  • Caterpillar did not receive or request any incentives to relocate its world headquarters from Illinois to Texas.That's according to a corporate spokesperson.

  • Champaign is hosting its annual Juneteenth festival at Douglass Park on Saturday.

  • The Parkland College Board of Trustees could fill the vacancy created by the death of former U.S. Representative Tim Johnson at its meeting Wednesday night.

In today's deep dive, sickle cell patients face a double whammy: systemic racism and a crippling disease.