The 217 Today Podcast

217 Today: Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021

Brian Moline
 
Merhan Omran (right) with her mother Sara Ismail, who traveled to the U.S. from Egypt for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Merhan Omran (right) with her mother Sara Ismail, who traveled to the U.S. from Egypt for the COVID-19 vaccine. Courtesy of Merhan Omran

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Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021

Today's headlines:

  • A union representing about 300 state employees has come to an agreement with Gov. JB Pritzker's office on his vaccine mandate for frontline state workers.

  • The governor says money to keep northern Illinois nuclear plants online was a necessary part of his efforts to move Illinois to full clean energy production by 2050.

  • The Champaign County Board votes Thursday on salaries for four countywide elected officials for the next four years -- inclueing a raise for the county clerk, and a deep pay cut for the county executive.

  • Champaign County public health officials reported 45 new COVID-19 cases Monday and one additional death. The death toll in Champaign County is up to 184.

In today's deep dive, COVID-19 vaccines are plentiful in the United States, but not in many other parts of the world. That's leading some people to take extreme measures to get a shot.

Reporting today contributed by Hannah Meisel, Tim Shelley, Jim Meadows and Farah Yousry.