Illinois Public Media News

The cicadas are out again — but only in parts of 4 counties in far eastern Illinois. The 21st spoke about this year’s brood and why you won't be able to escape cicadas in Illinois in 2024.

Spaces for LGBTQ+ people are disappearing, with nearly 40 percent of gay bars closing around the U.S. in recent decades — including many here in Illinois. This pride month, The 21st spoke with guests about what is lost and where younger generations are finding support and community.

When it comes to criminal justice, there have been many attempts at “reform” in recent years. Now some are saying the system is beyond repair, and instead should be abolished. We talked with a former jail warden who encourages abolition and the head of the Illinois Justice Project, who wants a different outcome.

Amidst a summer filled with rising cases of COVID-19 and political unrest, networks across Illinois sprung up to provide resources and services for those in need of them. This voluntary act of solidarity within communities has been coined as “mutual aid,” and the concept has long existed before the pandemic.

Welcome to The 21st at the Capitol, where we take our weekday show from radio to television to talk about what Illinois lawmakers are doing and how it might affect you. This week, host Brian Mackey is interviewing two proponents of criminal justice reform. Join us at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 5.