The 217 Today Podcast

217 Today: Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021

Brian Moline and Farrah Anderson
 
Signs are posted at Masjid Al-Fajr in Indianapolis to remind worshippers of COVID-19 precautions while praying.

Signs are posted at Masjid Al-Fajr in Indianapolis to remind worshippers of COVID-19 precautions while praying. Lauren Chapman/Side Effects Public Media

Listen (Duration: 9:38)
Download

Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021

Today's headlines:

  • Illinois stopped licensing traditional midwives in the mid-1960s, and made the practice illegal in 1992. But on Tuesday, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed a law once again sanctioning midwifery outside of hospitals beginning next fall.

  • The Champaign City Council unanimously approved a blueprint on Tuesday for a plan which infuses $3.2 million in the first year into existing efforts from the housing authority, school district, reentry groups and more to curb rising gun violence.

  • A University of Illinois dorm's tradition of singing through the phone, known as Dial-a-Carol, continues after dealing with the pandemic.

In today's deep dive, we’ll take a look at the history and consequences of religious exemptions that are now being used to avoid COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

217 Today is produced by Farrah Anderson. Reporting today contributed by Hannah Meisel, Emily Hays, Luis Velazquez and Lauren Chapman.