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.

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