The history behind Pekin’s old, racist nickname
The 21st was joined by a local historian and a TikTokker who made a viral video talking about the history behind Pekin’s name and former team nickname.
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Illinois hit by two unusual, dangerous weather events
To talk about the recent dust storm in Central Illinois and flooding on the Mississipi River, The 21st was joined by a meteorologist and a hydrologist.
Sociolinguist says ‘bad English’ can be, like, literally good
One generation's slang might be the next generation's everyday speech or it might have fallen completely out of fashion. A professor of linguistics joined The 21st to talk about how she thinks "bad" English is good.
Illinois towns use co-ops to remedy food deserts
Many grocery stores have closed their doors, especially in rural communities, and that can create a void that’s hard to fill. The 21st was joined by two people leading efforts to start grocery co-ops in their communities.
East St. Louis instructor named teacher of the year
The ISBE 2023 Teacher of the Year joined The 21st to talk about her role at the school, the changing perceptions of the role of teachers, and more.
