Election 2018 coverage from The 21st, Illinois's statewide news talk show. Produced by Illinois Public Media and airing on five NPR member stations in central and northern Illinois.
Last week, President Trump announced deportation raids across the country. But then he said he’d wait for two weeks. We check in with immigrant rights groups here in Illinois about how they’ve been handling all of this news. Plus, last year riders took nearly 40 million trips on electric scooters. Now Chicago has launched a pilot program on the city’s west side.
The Lincoln Museum in Springfield now has a Bible that belonged to the former president. Plus, a year and a half ago, WBEZ reported on Legionnaires’ outbreaks at the Quincy Veterans’ Home. Today, the families who lost loved ones are still waiting for justice. And, as we think about our declining population overall, we’ll talk about who’s actually coming to Illinois. Plus, McLean County will be hosting household hazardous waste collections.
Eighteen years ago, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin introduced the DREAM Act. And last week, the Democratically controlled House passed the latest version of that bill. We talk about that and other issues facing Congress. And, Americans older than 65 will become our largest age group within 20 years. Advocates say that means it’s time to rethink the way we design our local communities. Plus, have you heard of the idea of overtourism? That’s when too many people are visiting the same spots. We'll be speaking about what you can do about it.
It took two extra days, but the Illinois General Assembly has wrapped up its spring session. And there are big changes on the way: sports betting, legal cannabis, infrastructure spending, and a whole lot more. We’ll check in with Democratic and Republican leaders about what they did and why. Plus, Ramadan is a time of fasting, prayer and charity for Muslims. The holy month concludes tonight. We’ll speak with imams here in Illinois about how their mosques are giving back.
Planting season in Illinois has been massively delayed as we face one of the wettest springs in more than a century. So, how are farmers coping with all of this uncertainty? Plus, African-Americans have been moving out of Chicago for years, not just to suburbs or other parts of Illinois, but also to areas in the South. And, Attorney General Kwame Raoul tells us why he's worried that alternative energy suppliers are preying on consumers and charging high utility bills.
State lawmakers have just two weeks to decide how they’ll move forward with several pieces of legislation. House Republican Leader Jim Durkin joins us to share his priorities. Plus, a southern Illinois mother faced thousands of dollars in hospital bills for her newborn because of Medicaid enrollment delays. She’s one of more than 112,000 who are facing problems with the program in Illinois. A new play at Steppenwolf explores the story of Ms. Joan Jett Blakk- a Chicago drag queen who ran for president in 1992.
With more American households renting now than at any point in the last 50 years, some lawmakers say it’s time to get rid of Illinois’ ban on rent control. Plus, can forgoing a daily latte really put you on better financial footing? It’s just some of the advice women are calling out. And, Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell is back on the field after being suspended for domestic violence. Also, throughout the summer, Brookfield Zoo visitors can experience the new “Brick Safari” Exhibit, which includes 40 different life-size animal sculptures.
Tech lobbying groups have gone after a new bill in Illinois that would ban companies from recording people without their knowledge. Plus, 700,000 high schoolers in the U.S. experience homelessness every year. But, they can only get the help they need if their schools can identify them. How can that happen? And, we hear about seasonal food all the time. But what about seasonal cheeses?
State Attorney General Kwame Raoul joins us to talk about an ongoing legal dispute with a Central Illinois bus company, and more. Plus, since 2016, it’s been too expensive to vaccinate every single child on CHIP. Now, physicians in Illinois are concerned about a possible measles outbreak in our state if things don’t change. Also, Illinois Medicaid will start to cover gender reassignment surgery as early as this summer. And, tomorrow night marks the beginning of Passover and Jewish people across Illinois join the world in celebrating. We’ll talk about how people are creating their own modern day traditions around Seders.
It’s been a tough few years for farmers who sell produce through CSAs in part to more competition from big grocery stores and others cashing in the local food market. How are these farmers are adapting and what can policymakers can do to help? Plus, nature vs. nurture is one of the oldest debates there is. But the answer might actually be neither. And, Rep. Bill Foster joins us to talk about the future of work and education.
