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Robin Rue Simmons, alderwoman of Evanston's 5th Ward poses for a portrait holding a photograph of her mother, aunt and grandmother in her home in Evanston, Ill., Friday, April 9, 2021. The Chicago suburb is preparing to pay reparations in the form of housing grants to Black residents who experienced housing discrimination. Simmons, a fourth generation Black resident, spearheaded the effort after studying racial disparity data, which shows the average income of Black families in Evanston is $46,000 less than that of white families. — AP Photo/Shafkat Anowar

The 21st Show

January 16, 2023

New film documents reparations efforts in Evanston

We talked with the co-directors of the Independent Lens documentary “The Big Payback: Fear and Reparations in the American Suburb."

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The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., delivers his — AP Photo/File

The 21st Show

January 16, 2023

Best of: What was it like to work with Dr. King?

Back in 1963, Don Rose was an organizer for Midwest states at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. He’s made plenty of other marks in Chicago politics, but today we wanted to talk with him mostly about 1966, when Martin Luther King brought his civil rights work to Chicago, and Rose worked as his press secretary.

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Sickle cell disease is a genetic blood disorder. It could affect most of the bodys organs including the spleen the organ responsible for fighting germs in the blood which is why children like Calieb need the daily prophylactic penicillin doses. — Farah Yousry/Side Effects Public Media

The 217 Today Podcast

January 16, 2023

217 Today: Penicillin shortage could endanger children with sickle cell disease

In today's deep dive, we’ll learn how a penicillin shortage could affect children with sickle cell disease.

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McDonough County Sheriff Nick Petitgout called the new law “a clear violation of the Second Amendment to the US Constitution.” — Rich Egger/TriStates Public Radio

The 217 Today Podcast

January 13, 2023

217 Today: Many Illinois sheriffs oppose new assault weapon ban

In today's deep dive, we’ll learn how the assault weapons ban signed into Illinois law this week has prompted many sheriffs in the state to issue statements saying they won’t enforce it.

President Barack Obama and Joint Center for Energy Storage Research Director Dr. George Crabtree walk past a hybrid Chevy Volt vehicle used for testing during the president's tour of the Argonne National Laboratory in Argonne, Ill., Friday, March 15, 2013. Argonne is the first US science and engineering research national laboratory, and it remains on of the nation’s largest. — AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

The 21st Show

January 12, 2023

Illinois scientists set ambitious goals for battery development. How has the effort fared?

Battery techonology has changed in the years since a center for energy research opened in Illinois, so The 21st invited two of the researchers to update us on where the we stand in the efforts.

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A new COVID-19 variant, XBB.15, is causing a jump in case numbers on the East Coast and spreading throughout the country, in addition to high numbers of flu and RSV cases that have taxed hospitals this winter. — Carle Foundation Hospital

The 21st Show

January 12, 2023

Where does Illinois stand with the “triple-demic”?

To get a sense of where Illinois stands with COVID-19, RSV, and the flu and to learn more about the new COVID variant, The 21st was joined by a public health medical advisor and professor of infectious diseases.

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