Illinois Public Media News

Every Fat Tuesday, thousands of people across Illinois line up at bakeries and grocery stores for the famous Polish pastries known as “paczki." In Illinois, the fourth most Polish state in the U.S. and Chicago, with the highest percentage of its population being Polish, the fluffy-cloud like pastries sometimes make a reappearance for Casimir Pulaski Day on the first Monday in March. We talked about the pastries and the traditions that come with them with two Central Illinois bakers. 

Tens of thousands of Americans who gave their lives in wars around the world have not yet received a proper burial. This week, a team helping locate those missing in action is in Illinois to talk about their work and how technology is changing their searches. Two of them joined us to talk about the search for missing service members and the technology that's help them in their efforts.

The story of Beanie Babies is the subject of a new documentary called “Beanie Mania.” The craze has ties to a group of northern Illinois moms, who helped Beanie Babies become the must-have collectors item of the late 1990s. We were joined by the documentary's director to talk about the craze, its Illinois connection, and more. 

We discussed the war in Ukraine and the response from the Ukrainian community here in Illinois to the reinvasion of the country by Russia, plus some of the economic effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and what that means here in Illinois. The 21st was joined by reporters from WBEZ and the Quad City Times, an assistant professor of political science, and the vice president of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America Illinois Division.

The past month’s forecast has brought a series of weekly storms, snowfalls and snow squalls across the Midwest, and while winter brings with it the drudgery of shoveling, slippery ice and travel inconveniences, there are people who welcome winter and take full advantage of the snowfall. To talk about the trails and his passion for skiing, The 21st was joined by the man behind the volunteer-led efforts to groom the cross country ski trails in Peoria.