To talk about the recent dust storm in Central Illinois and flooding on the Mississipi River, The 21st was joined by a meteorologist and a hydrologist.

May 3 is Teacher Appreciation Week.  Help WILL-TV thank an educator in central Illinois by sending us an encouraging message, a photo or a video in which you thank an educator or childcare provider who has gone above-and-beyond during the pandemic.

WILL-TV, in collaboration with PBS KIDS, presents our first annual Early Childhood Champions Awards! Nominate a talented champion who works with young children in central Illinois by April 9, 2021.

When you think “performing arts,” you might think of Chicago. But for 50 years, the Krannert Center in Urbana has been a thriving place for theater, music and dance. How does performing arts thrive outside the big city? Plus, Charles Moore was a minister in Texas who set himself on fire to protest racism in his community. Today, we’ll hear about a film which explores how his death affected his town. And, you may have heard of a little musical called Hamilton. This past fall, Lin Manuel Miranda opened an exhibition in Chicago that focuses on the history of the real-life Alexander Hamilton.

Almost 16 years ago, three young children died after they were trapped in a car that went into Clinton Lake. Edith Brady-Lunny has been covering the story since that first night. We’ll speak with her about her new book, The Unforgiven. Also, local communities play a big part in the census. But this time, there’s a lot of fear about being counted. Today, we’ll focus on what this looks like in the central Illinois community of Beardstown.