The 21st Show

Non-COVID News Stories: Ending Cash Bond, Illinoisans Fight Wildfires, Teacher of the Year

Produced by Anna Casey, Brian Mackey, Ryan Andrew Wilde
 

Listen
Download

From November 11: In the United States, the presumption of innocence is supposed to be a core tenet of the criminal justice system, but a majority of inmates in Illinois jails are there awaiting trial, because they can’t afford to pay their bond. Some lawmakers are calling for an end to cash bond in the state’s jails, saying it disproportionally affects the poor. This year, State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) filed the Pretrial Fairness Act to end money bond. It also proposes other reforms that would require courts to provide pre-trial services, making it easier for people charged with crimes to appear in court. The 21st spoke to a member of the Chicago Community Bond Fund and a member of the Champaign County Bailout Coalition to hear more about the calls to end cash bond. 

Guests:

Malik Alim, Chicago Community Bond Fund  

Molly Galloway, Champaign County Bailout Coalition

From September 17: According to the Los Angeles Times, this season of wildfires is the worst ever, with almost 8,000 fires burning 3.5 million acres of land in California, roughly 3% of the state’s area. And while the danger of the wildfires may seem far away, some of our very own fellow Illinoisians have been deploying to help fight the fires in California, as well as in Colorado recently. The 21st spoke to two individuals from Illinois after they returned from missions out West. 

Guests:

Jason Rassi, Chief Warrant Officer 4, the Pilot in Command for the Illinois Army National Guard's CH-47 Chinook that helped with fighting California wildfires 

Tom Gargave, Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources operations forester and acting fire manager

In October 2020, Governor J.B. Pritzker announced the 2021 Illinois Teacher of the Year. The 21st talked with the award recipient, Justin Johnson, director of bands at Niles West High School in Skokie, about how his experiences growing up shaped the teacher he is now.

Guest:

Justin Johnson, Director of bands at Niles West High School in Skokie and 2021 Illinois State Board of Education Teacher of the Year for Illinois