The 21st Show

Gubernatorial Candidate Kash Jackson; Candidates On Health Care; Empathy and Policing

 

In this June 25, 2018 file photo, NAVY veteran Grayson "Kash" Jackson of Antioch, Ill., speaks to the media after he filed to run as the libertarian candidate for Illinois governor in Springfield, Ill. Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democrat J.B. Pritzker are meeting for their first debate of the Illinois governor's race Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018 in Chicago. Also participating in Thursday's debate will be Conservative Party candidate and state Sen. Sam McCann and Libertarian Jackson. (AP Photo/Sarah Zimmerman, File)

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On the 21st: As Illinois voters head to the polls, we’ve been interviewing candidates for statewide offices. Today, we sat down with Kash Jackson, the Libertarian candidate for governor. Plus, this week we're finding out where all the candidates stand on important issues, starting with health care. And, in this era of policing, the Director of U of I’s Police Training Institute has been thinking about the importance of transparency and empathy for officers. 

Election Day is November 6, and all this week we’ll be airing our interviews with candidates for statewide office: comptroller, treasurer, attorney general, and governor.

Last Thursday, we heard from the Democratic nominee for governor, JB Pritzker. Today would have been the day we aired an interview with the Republican nominee – our current governor Bruce Rauner. Unfortunately, his office has not responded to multiple requests for an interview.

So this morning, we heard from the Libertarian Party’s candidate. Grayson “Kash” Jackson who served in the US Navy for 20 years. The veteran is now a stay-at-home dad from Antioch, Ill., and the Libertarian candidate for governor.

Plus –

We wanted to spend the week before Election Day delving a little deeper into where the candidates stand on specific issues like immigration and taxes. And, while those debatable topics often come up during election season, when it comes down to it, can those state elected officials like governor and attorney general even make a difference?

This is what we'll be doing all week – covering issues like the economy and immigration – and today we start with healthcare.

Dan Weissman joined us to break it down for us. Dan is a Chicago-based reporter who is launching a podcast about the cost of healthcare called "An Arm and a Leg." Matthew Weinstock, the managing editor of Modern Healthcare, was also with us. 

And Christine Herman joined us at our studios. She is a reporter for Illinois Public Media and Side Effects Public Media.

And –

Earlier this month in Chicago, ex-police officer Jason Van Dyke was found guilty of second-degree murder in the case of 16-year-old Laquan McDonald. He was also convicted on 16 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm.

This case is one of many across the country in which a police officer fatally shot an African-American. And it has called attention, yet again, to how we hold the police accountable. It's also brought into question how police officers are trained when it comes to community relations and being under the public microscope.

Michael Schlosser is the Director of the Police Training Institute at the University of Illinois, he joined us at our studios in Urbana to discuss the importance of empathy in policing.

But first —

Yesterday, people all over Illinois gathered in support of their local Jewish communities -  and to remember the 11 people murdered this weekend while they were worshiping at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. The Anti-Defamation League says they believe this is the deadliest attack against the Jewish community in the history of the United States.

Vigils were held across the country this weekend, including right here in Illinois in some of our largest cities and college towns - including Rockford, Chicago, Champaign, and Carbondale.

Story source: WILL