In today's deep dive, we'll see how close Illinois is to getting 1 million new electic vehicles on the road.

Bach to Black is a new project from a University of Illinois professor and pianist that pairs Johann Sebastian Bach's music with works written by Black composers. It's designed to bridge divides in the music community and increase diversity and inclusion in classical music. 

According to the latest report from AARP Illinois and SAGE, more than 60 percent of LGBTQ adults fear neglect, abuse or discrimination because of their identity when accessing long-term care. We spoke with older members of the LGBTQ community about where they’re finding support.

In today's deep dive, we’ll learn how one Midwest town is redefining emergency medical services.

Fiona’s Guardians tells the story of Fiona, a 250-year old vampire who uses human guardians to procure her nightly requirement of 10 pints of human blood. The book is now also being turned into a podcast called “Mysterious Journey: Fiona’s Guardians” produced by Artists’ Ensemble Theater in Rockford. We were joined by the novel's author and the playwright who adapted the book into a podcast script.

As part of a 280 acre expansion of the Chicago Rockford International Airport, the prairie, which has gone undeveloped for thousands of years, could be bulldozed, despite concerns that only .01% of Illinois' natural prairie remains.

"Forever chemicals" have been found at dangerous levels in Illinois drinking water — posing potential long-term health risks for some communities. To hear more, The 21st spoke to Brett Chase, a reporter who covers the environment and public health for the Chicago Sun-Times.  This segment originally aired on August 9, 2021.

In today's deep dive, we'll find out how one Ukranian oligarch was hiding their resources right here in Illinois.

Next week: The 21st is talking about news deserts, news ownership, and news literacy in Illinois. Share your concerns about local news by leaving us a voicemail at 217.300.2121 or emailing talk@21stshow.org