On the 21st: It's officially the dreaded holiday travel season. In Illinois, that means it’s cold outside, and it’s busy out on the roads and in airports. Today, we run down some tips for people driving out in the snow and getting your car ready if you’re hitting the road. Plus, we’ll get the latest in travel news with NPR’s David Schaper. But first, farming has always been part of American life. But Native American communities have to do more with a lot less land. They’re also worried about how the government’s food policies will affect them.

On The 21st: Thanksgiving is officially a week away! On this special episode of The 21st, we speak with food writer Niki Davis about some of her favorite recipes and farmers throughout the state will tell us what they’re growing. Plus, we dive into some family traditions and memories that go far beyond the usual turkey and stuffing. 

On the 21st: Chicago author Rebecca Makkai talks about her latest novel, The Great Believers, which has been nominated for a National Book Award. And, it's been 50 years since 2001: A Space Odyssey hit screens in 1968. We examine it's impact and legacy. Plus, we speak with Loyola's Omer Mozaffar about his consulting on the Amazon Prime series 'Jack Ryan.'

On The 21st: Illinois law requires that all sex ed course material must “teach honor and respect for monogamous heterosexual marriage.” What might that mean for LGBT youth? Plus, Robert Evans, a former member of the European Parliament, joins us. But first, in two months JB Pritzker becomes our next governor. He takes office with a Democratic supermajority in the statehouse. We’ll take a look at what’s next in Springfield.

On The 21st: We hear about a photography book highlighting members of the American Legion. Plus, around 10-20% of veterans who return from Iraq and Afghanistan have PTSD. How can therapy dogs help them? And, we bring you the latest news around outbreaks of Legionnaires’ Disease at the Quincy Veterans home. 

Illinois Governor-Elect J.B. Pritzker talks about his transition team, his goals for first year in office and how he wants to overcome partisan rancor.

On the 21st: Governor-elect J.B. Pritzker on his plans for transitioning into office come January, and the tone he wants to strike in his first year as governor. Plus, philosopher and New York Times columnist Kwame Anthony Appiah on his latest book 'The Lies That Bind: Rethinking Identity.' We also learn about a new play at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre called 'Downstate,' and revisit our conversation on the way smartphones affect our mental health.

On the 21st: The midterm election results are in: Democrats won the governorship, a supermajority in the General Assembly, and two Illinois seats in the U.S. House. We'll unpack last night's news with both reporters and voters alike.

On The 21st: 35 years ago this week, Susan Hendricks and her three children were brutally murdered in their Bloomington home. We‘ll talk with journalist Steve Vogel about his book, Reasonable Doubt, and what we know about the crime three decades later. Plus, more than two dozen Illinois colleges have banded together to try and address the college graduation gap between African-American and Latino students and their white counterparts. But first, how can all the cows we raise for meat help, rather than hurt, our environment?

On The 21st: Here’s a quick civics quiz for you. You aren’t registered yet. You don’t speak English. You have a felony conviction. You can’t vote, right? Wrong! We tackle common voting misconceptions. And, voting is for all US citizens but the process can be more challenging if you have a disability, or if you have trouble reading English. What systems are in place to make sure everyone can vote? And, tomorrow is Election Day and many voters are turning out for the very first time, including new citizens. 

Election Day is November 6. Give us 15 minutes (or so) and you'll hear snippets of all the interviews that The 21st has done with the candidates for statewide office: Governor, Attorney General, Treasurer and Comptroller.

Governor Bruce Rauner is a Republican running for his second term in office. He recently spoke with Niala Boodhoo, host of The 21st, about his candidacy.

On The 21st: Gun control has been a hotly contested issue in 2018, and candidates in Illinois disagree on whether the solution is to make it easier or harder to buy a firearm. Plus, there’s a lawsuit dealing with digital copyright that could change how textbooks get used in university classrooms. But first, the comptroller is in charge of paying the state’s bills on time—a tall order given Illinois’ fiscal situation. We’ll hear from the three women are running for this position.

On the 21st: Today, we continued our election series outlining where candidates stand on growing Illinois’s economy – and fixing our economic problems. Plus,  our series of candidate interviews by speaking with the three men vying for the office of Illinois' Treasurer. But first, we learn more about a program that helps old farmers connect with, mentor, and even pass their land on to young farmers.