The 217 Today Podcast

217 Today: Thursday May 6, 2021

Brian Moline
 
In this file photo, House Speaker Chris Welch speaks on the floor of the Bank of Springfield Center during a session in January.

In this file photo, House Speaker Chris Welch speaks on the floor of the Bank of Springfield Center during a session in January. Justin L. Fowler/Springfield Journal-Register

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Thursday May 6, 2021

Today's headlines:

  • More than half of Illinois' largest cities have severely underfunded pension funds, according to a new report from the libertarian-leaning group Wirepoints.

  • Retiring Illinois 17th District U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos says neither political party should expect an easy fight to succeed her.

  • Champaign County saw only a slight increase in its homeless population this year despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District is holding a free walk-in vaccine clinic Thursday from 2:00-6:30pm at Salem Baptist Church in the 5th and Hill Neighborhood of Champaign.

In today's deep dive, a conversation with Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch. He talks with Hannah Meisel about the path to sustainable state finances and economic growth.

Reporting today contributed by Derek Cantu, Tim Shelley, Dana Cronin, and Hannah Meisel.