Illinois Public Media News

Emily Oster is an economist, known for using data to apply rational thinking to everything from COVID risk to family matters, like pregnancy and parenting. She joined The 21st to talk about her latest book, “The Family Firm: A Data-Driven Guide to Better Decision Making in the Early School Years.” This segment originally aired on September 20, 2021. 

The annual report from the Illinois State Board of Education revealed how the COVID-19 pandemic affected student enrollment. Also, many districts are forced to deal with vacancies.

Today, we bring the ideas of gun violence, mental health, and trauma together to talk about the cycle this can create: people witness violence in their community or their home and then contribute to the violence in their community or home.

Two women in Peoria have taken the idea of “going out for a walk” to a whole new level. Two childhood friends from Peoria set out in November of 2019 to traverse all 1,639 streets in Peoria. 

Graduates have been frustrated and confused by the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program for years. Last month The Department of Education announced reforms that they hope will make it easier for public sector workers to have their loans forgiven. To talk about the program, The 21st was joined by directors from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission and Student Borrower Protection Center.