The 217 Today Podcast

217 Today: Wednesday April 14, 2021

Brian Moline
 
A towboat pushing barges exits the Melvin Price Locks and Dam near Alton, Ill

A towboat pushing barges exits the Melvin Price Locks and Dam near Alton, Ill Jonathan Ahl/Harvest Public Media

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Wednesday April 14, 2021

Today's headlines:

  • Following federal guidance, the Illinois Department of Public Health is asking all vaccine providers in the state to pause the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Local officials say the pause should not delay the overall vaccine distribution effort.

  • As Illinois prisons prepare to allow in-person visitation again, an Illinois Department of Corrections spokesperson says the system has done well managing COVID-19. That despite the Marshall Project reporting 88 prisoners in Illinois have died from the disease.

  • A race for Savoy village trustee remains very tight as more mail-in votes are counted. That race was tied on election night.

  • The number of active COVID-19 cases in Champaign County rose slightly on Tuesday to 403. Health officials reported 38 new cases.

In today's deep dive, our series on Midwest waterways continues, with a look at how the barge industry may be in for a change with a new focus on green energy.