The effects of the global pandemic go beyond health: thousands upon thousands of Illinois are still out of work, and entire sectors have been unable to recover, like the entertainment, travel and convention industries.
President Trump continues to cast doubt on voting by mail this election season. But it’s something both Democrats AND Republicans have embraced in Illinois. The 21st speaks to two top election officials from the state, and county levels to answer listeners questions about the process and how ballots are counted.
Election season is here, and with COVID-19, more people than ever are expected to vote by mail. The 21st is joined by a state representative and the chairman of Vote Yes for Fairness to discuss the importance of being able to vote by mail.
Socrates, Rousseau, Thoreau and Nietzsche. You may have been one of those people who purposely avoided Philosophy 101 in high school or college, but in these extraordinary and challenging times we are facing, perhaps there is no better time to revisit history’s great thinkers than right now. The 21st was joined by a bestselling author to speak more about the difference between knowledge and wisdom, getting ideas on trains and how chapters of his book relate to the social unrest in the world.
Nearly one-third of Illinois counties are at “warning level” for the spread of COVID-19. The 21st checked in with local health department officials from across the state on what they’re seeing, why cases are spiking in some areas and not others and what they’re doing to help stem a global pandemic.
Nature should be for everyone to enjoy and explore, but it has historically not been — and is still not — inclusive to all. The 21st was joined by the organizer of Black in National Parks Week and Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition Administrator for the Illinois Environmental Council to hear more about Black people and people of color are underrepresented in the outdoor industry.
A man who was just 16 years old when he committed a murder got sent to prison for 50 years. Following a series of rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court, he recently saw his sentence cut in half. The 21st spoke to a reporter from Injustice Watch to talk about the new sentence.
Illinois has announced an overhaul of its juvenile justice system. It’s the latest incarnation of a reform effort that dates back more than 100 years. The 21st was joined by a reporter from ProPublica and a Program Director for the Illinois Justice Project to learn more about the efforts to make changes to the system.
The 21st takes a look at the science behind the mass testing program at the University of Illinois, which is gaining national attention. The show was joined by a health reporter, director of Clinical Microbiology Laboratory at the University of Southern California, a University of Illinois professor who helped lead the program and a University of Illinois professor and epidemiologist. Listen here.
Students are back on many college campuses across Illinois. Coming with them are outbreaks of COVID-19. We’ll talk with reporters who cover different parts of the state about how universities are handling the pandemic and what they’re seeing in their communities.