Illinois Public Media News

Despite the data showing 55% of Illinoisans aged 12 and up are fully vaccinated, concerns about rising infection rates in some parts of the state still remain. We were joined by three Midwest reporters to update us on their reporting areas' vaccine rates and the delta variant. 

A new playground coming to Bloomington-Normal, Illinois — unlike most playgrounds, there won't be swings or monkey bars. To help kids excercise navigating risks, there will instead be boulders, streams and rocks. The 21st spoke with the international team of designers behind it. 

We talk with two authors about helping children grow into independent, confident, and self-sufficient adults. Lenore Skenazy is the author of Free-Range Kids: How Parents and Teachers Can Let Go and Let Grow, and Christina Hillsberg is the author of License to Parent: How My Career as a Spy Helped Me Raise Resourceful, Self-Sufficient Kids.

This summer, the caves in Monroe County reopened to visitors for the first time in a decade! Learn how you can visit the Illinois Caverns State Natural area. 

Gun violence is on pace to be the highest it’s been since 2016. To hear more about how violence and policing are related, The 21st spoke to an Assistant Public Defender for Cook County.