The 217 Today Podcast

217 Today: Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021

Brian Moline and Farrah Anderson
 
The Indianapolis Public Library hired Yanna McGraw as its first full-time social worker in July. Her job is to help library patrons navigate challenges beyond the scope of what librarians are trained to handle.

The Indianapolis Public Library hired Yanna McGraw as its first full-time social worker in July. Her job is to help library patrons navigate challenges beyond the scope of what librarians are trained to handle. Darian Benson/Side Effects Public Media

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Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021

Today's headlines:

  • Governor JB Pritzker Wednesday announced $94 million dollars will be used to fund 96 airport projects statewide, many of which won’t be eligible for federal infrastructure money.

  • The state’s economy continues to grow at a good pace, according to the monthly Flash Index from the University of Illinois.

  • The dancers of the Champaign Urbana Ballet are busy preparing for the company’s annual performance of The Nutcracker ballet after last year’s cancellation due to the pandemic.

In today's deep dive, we’ll learn why some libraries are starting to hire social workers to better serve their communities. 

217 Today is produced by Farrah Anderson. Reporting today contributed by Hannah Meisel, Jim Meadows, Olivia Vamos and Darian Benson