WILL-AM

The 21st Show

February 10, 2022

What’s behind a recent wave of censorship in schools?

Around the country, at school board meetings, in state legislatures, and in some local libraries, books are facing challenges, and many of the books being challenged have to do with race. To talk about this rise in book censorship, what’s behind it, and how it impacts which lived experiences get shared in classrooms, we were joined by the editor of an independent editorial book site, as well as professors of library science and comparative literature. 

The 217 Today Podcast

February 10, 2022

217 Today: Vertical farming provides year-round produce but with a larger carbon footprint

In today's deep dive, we’ll learn more about vertical farming and its potential problems for the climate. 

The 21st Show

February 09, 2022

Adapting drag during the pandemic

Like all live performers, from actors to musicians, people who perform drag have had to adapt and change during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 21st was joined by two central Illinois drag performers to talk about different ways that drag artists have had to adjust to performing in the pandemic.

The 21st Show

February 09, 2022

Why do Americans dislike Mary Lincoln?

Why do we think the wife of Abraham Lincoln was crazy? Some historians are saying that maybe it’s time for a reprisal of the way talk about her. One such historian joined us to talk about her findings. This segment originally aired December 8, 2021. 

The 21st Show

February 09, 2022

Joint Chair of the IL Legislative Black Caucus on criminal justice and more

There's a lot happening in Illinois politics. To talk about criminal justice reform, public health, last week's budget address, and more, we were joined by State Representative Sonya Harper, joint chair of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus.

The 217 Today Podcast

February 09, 2022

217 Today: One medical school wants more students to become doctors in rural areas

In today's deep dive, we’ll look at efforts to increase the number of doctors in rural areas where there’s been an increasing shortage.

The 21st Show

February 08, 2022

Adding safety inspections to trampoline parks

Last month, there was a notice that the Illinois Department of Labor had adopted emergency rules regulating trampoline courts. To talk more about what these new rules will entail, we were joined by the chief ride inspector at IDOL.

The 21st Show

February 08, 2022

Despite reforms, some face life for murders they didn’t commit

Because of the "felony murder rule," hundreds of people in Illinois prisons are thought to be serving life sentences for murder even though they didn’t kill anyone, according to a recent analysis from the nonprofit news outlet Injustice Watch. The 21st was joined by someone affected by the rule, as well as two reporters following the story and the co-director of the Center for Wrongful Convictions.

The 217 Today Podcast

February 08, 2022

217 Today: Listen to the voice of Langston Hughes recorded by WILL over 60 years ago

In today's deep dive, we’ll hear the voice of the late poet Langston Hughes as a part of WILL’s centennial celebration.

The 21st Show

February 07, 2022

Museum examines workers’ rights through art

The Born Again Labor Museum in Carbondale features art focused on worker’s rights, and it’s also a community event space for local labor rights organizations — which have seen a renewed interest in recent years as the pandemic highlights the plight of many essential workers across our economy. To tell us more about the history of labor organizing in Southern Illinois and about the Born Again Labor Museum, we were joined by the museum's co-founders.