The 217 Today Podcast

217 Today: WILL celebrates 100th anniversary with a look back at its first broadcasts

Brian Moline and Farrah Anderson
 
Radio facilities at the University of Illinois, circa 1925. WILL, then known as WRM, broadcast from the university's electrical engineering laboratory during these early years.

Radio facilities at the University of Illinois, circa 1925. WILL, then known as WRM, broadcast from the university's electrical engineering laboratory during these early years. Illinois Alumni Magazine

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Wednesday, April 6, 2022

Today's headlines:

  • Illinois teachers and school staff who are vaccinated against COVID-19 are now eligible for paid sick leave for any virus-related days off.

  • The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is severely understaffed even as caseloads surge which means there are fewer investigators available to take on more cases.

  • Champaign teachers voted 76% to 24% to ratify their new contract rather than go on strike.

In today's deep dive, we'll take a look back at the beginning of WILL and its first broadcasts for the station's 100th anniversary this week. 

217 Today is produced by Farrah Anderson. Reporting today contributed by Caroline Kubzansky, Tim Shelley, Emily Hays and Jim Meadows.