The 217 Today Podcast

217 Today: Trees climb up cities’ priority lists after a boost in federal climate funding

Farrah Anderson
 
A tree-lined street in St. Louis. Alan Jankowski, the commissioner of forestry for the city of St. Louis, said earlier this month there was a nearly 10 degree difference between the parts of the city with ample tree cover and those without it.

A tree-lined street in St. Louis. Alan Jankowski, the commissioner of forestry for the city of St. Louis, said earlier this month there was a nearly 10 degree difference between the parts of the city with ample tree cover and those without it. Maria Altman / Harvest Public Media

Listen (Duration: 10:28)
Download

Thursday, June 22, 2023

Today's headlines: 

  • Advocates are taking to the streets, urging Illinois officials not to freeze enrollment in a healthcare coverage program for undocumented immigrants.
  • Some Midwestern cities are putting conservation measures in place to keep their water supplies from drying up as the drought rages on. 
  • The National Guard in Illinois say they’re working hard to bring in new recruits over the summer.
  • The University of Illinois held its first public event in the Campus Community Compact to Accelerate Social Justice Wednesday. 

In today's headlines, we’ll learn more about how a major surge in climate resilience funding is allowing urban forestry departments to bet big on trees.

Reporting today contributed by Alex Degman, Xcaret Nuñez, Jim Meadows, Mae Antar and Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco.