WILL-AM

The 217 Today Podcast

In today's deep dive, we continue our series Reflections from Side Effects Public Media, looking back at the last year during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today we hear from a nurse at a long-term care facility.

The 217 Today Podcast

In today’s deep dive, we’ll hear about the new Rantoul Family Sports Complex, scheduled to open next month on the village’s west side. Rantoul officials hope it will bring much needed economic development.

The 21st Show

George Robert Carruthers was an aerospace engineer and astrophysicist. To take a look back at his legacy, The 21st was joined by a Senior Curator in the History of Astronomy and the Space Sciences at the National Air and Space Museum and a professor of physics at Howard University.

The 21st Show

The city council in Evanston will vote on a $10 million plan to use marijuana tax money to make amends for past racist housing practices. We brought on experts to talk about the Evanston plan and the overall debate about reparations in the United States.

The 217 Today Podcast

In today’s deep dive, this month marks one year since widespread COVID-19 shutdowns began across the country. We’ll take a look back at the past year with some sounds of the pandemic from Side Effects Public Media.

The 21st Show

Not yet graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, singer Sophia Byrd has already been nominated for two Grammy Awards, as part of an ensemble for her work in “Place,” a 2018 work by composer Ted Hearne and poet Saul Williams. Byrd also sang a selection from an upcoming album and talked about performing in a pandemic.

The 21st Show

Two college best friends from Illinois are using TikTok to collect bras and period products to fight period poverty. The 21st spoke to both of them to hear more about about their efforts to combat period poverty.

The 21st Show

According to the US Census, the Hispanic/Latino community is 17.5 percent of the Illinois' population. State Sen. Cristina Castro (D) is one of the co-chairs of the Latino Caucus and joined us.

The 217 Today Podcast

In today’s deep dive, a Champaign Unit 4 teacher was recently named a finalist for the Illinois Golden Apple Excellence in Teaching Award. She talks with Illinois Newsroom's Education Reporter Lee Gaines about the challenges and successes of teaching during the pandemic.

The 21st Show

The 21st speaks with Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, a Democrat from Oak Park; and House Minority Leader Jim Durkin a Republican from Western Springs, about the governor's budget proposal, COVID relief, the state’s energy infrastructure, pensions and more.