The 217 Today Podcast

217 Today: Thursday November 5, 2020

Olivia Butts
 
U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, with his Democratic challenger, Betsy Dirksen Londrigan of Springfield, at WGLT's debate on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020, in Normal.

U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, with his Democratic challenger, Betsy Dirksen Londrigan of Springfield, at WGLT's debate on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020, in Normal. Emily Bollinger/WGLT

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Thursday November 5, 2020

Today's headlines:

  • Governor J.B. Pritzker says Illinois is at a crossroads financially after his plan to change the state’s income structure failed.

  • Democrat Betsy Dirksen Londrigan thanked her supporters, volunteers and campaign staff, after losing to Congressman Rodney Davis for a second time. And she urged voters to stay active in the political process.

  • State public health officials reported more than 7,500 new COVID-19 cases yesterday. That’s the second-highest level of cases in a single day since the coronavirus pandemic first hit Illinois last February.

  • Champaign County reported 171 new COVID-19 cases yesterday. There are more than 600 active cases in the county.

In today's deeper dive, Republican Rodney Davis won re-election in the 13th Congressional District, which many observers considered a tossup, but his margin of victory was a surprise.

 217 Today is produced by Olivia Butts. Reporting today contributed by Sean Crawford, Tim Shelley, Jim Meadows, and Ryan Denham.