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The 21st Show

Author Interview: Jason Diamond, ‘The Sprawl: Reconsidering the Weird American Suburbs’

The suburbs have long been derided in the popular imagination — endless miles of identical houses, chain restaurants, and big-box stores. And yet, most of us live in suburbs — or at least suburban environments. The 21st spoke to the author of The Sprawl: Reconsidering the Weird American Suburbs, Jason Diamond, who says the suburbs are due for a reappraisal. 

Flickr/Alan Levine

The 21st Show

How to Run for Local Office 101

After the last election or January 6, 2021 insurrection at the US Capitol, some Illinoisans have been inspired to be more involved in their local government. To discuss the logistics of running for local office, The 21st was joined by a member of the Illinois State Board of Elections, the president of The Lincoln Series and a mayoral candidate.

Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL)

The 21st Show

Interview: Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL)

In the past month, the United States has gone through an insurrection at the Capitol, the impeahcment of former President Donald Trump and the inaguration of President Joe Biden. Congressman Rodney Davis joined The 21st to discuss these events and more. 

Lights surround the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, placed as a memorial to COVID-19 victims Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, in Washington, after President-elect Joe Biden spoke, with the U.S. Capitol in the background.
AP Photo/Alex Brandon

The 21st Show

Mourning in a Pandemic

COVID-19 has killed nearly 20,000 Illinoisans. And for the family left behind, rituals of mourning have been curtailed or prevented. We talk about saying goodbye in a pandemic with the Rev. Marshall Hatch, pastor of the New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago's West Garfield neighborhood; he and his community have been hard-hit by COVID. We also spoke with SIU-Edwardsville Prof. Jocelyn DeGroot, who studies death and grieving, and is the author of The New York Times op-ed, "What Should You Say When Someone is Grieving?" And Kevin Rafferty, president of Rafferty Funeral Home in Moline.