WILL-AM

Weather Realness

Severe storms last week produced destructive tornadoes that traveled from Illinois to Indiana. We go through how tornado outbreaks are formed and why they happened in the midwest.

The 21st Show

It’s the official policy of the U.S. government to work toward putting people on Mars. Debates about that usually focus on cost and national priorities. Less considered is what life on Mars would do to the people who go there.

That, however, is the subject of a new book by scientist Scott Solomon. It’s called Becoming Martian: How Living in Space Will Change Our Bodies and Minds. Solomon was raised in Champaign, attended University High in Urbana, and earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

The 21st Show

We are talking to some of the athletes that represented Team USA in the 2026 Winter Olympics with ties to the 21st state. Speedskater Ethan Cepuran is originally from the Chicago suburb of Glen Ellyn. He joins the program today.

The 21st Show

There's been a lot of focus on how the ongoing war with Iran has affected gas and oil prices, but fertilizer prices have also severely risen. A market analyst explains what this means for the agriculture industry and farmers in Illinois.

The 21st Show

Small businesses often turn to non-bank lenders to borrow money, but hidden terms mean those businesses often have to pay back more than what they borrowed in the first place.

The 21st Show

A political writer discusses the results of many big races across the state last night and what they mean for the general election in the fall.

The 21st Show

There are deep divides in American politics, but one thing a lot of people agree on is their distaste for white liberals. Conservatives think they’re left-wing nut jobs, progressives think they’re corporate shills, and many people of color are suspicious that they’re at best tepid allies. All this is the subject of a recent book by UIC historian Kevin M. Schultz: Why Everyone Hates White Liberals (Including White Liberals).

The 21st Show

The annual NCAA Division 1 Men’s and Women’s Basketball tournament is back. Can AI beat the odds and make a better bracket than humans?

The 21st Show

Tomorrow is Primary Election Day in Illinois. Voters will decide who will represent the major parties in this fall’s elections, from county boards to the governor’s race. Two journalists covering local politics and the statehouse outline the keys races and candidates. 

Weather Realness

Severe weather events have increased over the years. From hurricanes, tornadoes to massive wildfires, these changes in the weather are often linked to climate change. We talk about how a warming planet influences extreme weather and how researchers make that connection.