Illinois Public Media News

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Mental health check-in: 2 years after Illinois’ first COVID case

Many are asking when this pandemic will really end, when we'll get back to normal, and what would “normal” even look like in a post-pandemic world. No one has answers to those questions, and for many, that uncertainty can take a toll on our mental health, which has already taken hits from the onset of the pandemic. The 21st was joined by a psychiatric professor to talk about ways the pandemic has been affecting our mental health and what we can do about it. 

Project developers plan to build carbon capture pipelines connecting dozens of Midwestern ethanol refineries. Poet, the country's largest producer of biofuels, operates this refinery in Chancellor, South Dakota, shown on Thursday, July 22, 2021. The company has not indicated whether it will connect its ethanol refineries to the carbon capture pipelines.
AP Photo/Stephen Groves

Carbon pipeline proposal in Illinois

In order to curb carbon emissions, some are proposing that we capture carbon from ethanol plants in the Midwest and ship the gas via pipelines into the sandstone in Illinois, but not everyone is on board. The 21st was joined by a reporter covering this issue and a geologist to talk about how these pipelines would work and the possible concerns.

21st Host Brian Mackey (left) and travel author Rick Steves talk during Illinois Public Media's virtual event.

Rick Steves on travel during the pandemic

For longtime fans and friends of public broadcasting, Rick Steves needs very little introduction. Brian Mackey recently talked with Steves about traveling in the pandemic, where in Europe to go with children, and much more.

In this Aug. 28, 2014, file photo, landscaping is maintained at the Illinois Executive Mansion in Springfield, Ill.
AP Photo/Seth Perlman, File

Big money behind the Illinois governor’s race

The Illinois governor’s race is heating up.  We’re now five months away from the primaries which take place June 28th, and 10 months until the election on November 8th, and over the past week, money has begun to pour in. Today, The 21st was joined by two statehouse reporters from central Illinois to bring us up to speed on the latest developments.

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