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The Illinois State Capitol in Springfield.
Capitol News Illinois

The 217 Today Podcast

217 Today: Tuesday, June 15, 2021

In today's deep dive, most states don't allow trans people to correct their names on marriage certificates, even after going through a legal name change. But legislators and advocates hope to make Illinois the second state to permit marriage certificate name changes.

Juneteenth flag

The 21st Show

Celebrating Juneteenth In Illinois

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Major Gen. Gordon Granger of the Union Army, informed enslaved people in Texas that they were free. It happened years after the Emancipation Proclamation. The 21st was joined by three guests to talk about Juneteenth celebrations across Illinois.

The 21st Show

Reporter Roundtable: Illinois Legislation

Illinois lawmakers were scheduled to finish this year’s spring session by the end of May, but they returned to Springfield to finish up some final items. The 21st was joined by two reporters who have been following the developments at the capitol to hear more about the items on the to do list that still remain. 

The 21st Show

The History And Harm of Illinois’ Criminal HIV Law

The Illinois General Assembly passed a law that made it a crime to not disclose one’s HIV status in certain situations in 1989. The law has disproportiantely affected Black and brown people, and now an overwhelming majority of Illinois lawmakers have voted to repeal that law. 

Dana Cronin/Illinois Newsroom

The 21st Show

Concerns About Rented Farmland

Illinois has the highest rate of rented farmland in the country. This could have environmental and economic consequences for the next generation of prospective farmers. The 21st spoke to an agriculture reporter and a farmland owner about the issue and its implications. 

A screen shot of Harley Hand (lower left) playing Farming Simulator. He has more than 40,000 followers on his Facebook gaming page.
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The 217 Today Podcast

217 Today: Thursday June 10, 2021

In today's deep dive, even though only 3% of Americans are currently farmers, a lot of people still identify as part of the agricultural lifestyle. That community has found a home in a video game.

Ride Across Illinois website

The 21st Show

One Day Bike Ride Across Illinois

A group of cyclists are undertaking the One Day Bike Ride Across Illinois, a 150 mile trip from the banks of the Mississippi River in Thompson Illinois to the shore of Lake Michigan in Chicago. The 21st spoke with one od those cyckists to hear more about the distance, endurance and what they’ve seen on the ride across our state.