Illinois Public Media News

As COVID-19 restrictions ease, many are both eagerly anticipating and some are dreading a return to pre-pandemic activities. Two psychologists explained how we might cope with that anxiety.

Illinois lawmakers are considering making it easier for residents to sue police officers for violations of statutory or constitutional rights by removing their qualified immunity. The 21st spoke with a lawmaker and a legal advisor and head of an Illinois police organization to hear more about what this could mean for Illinois.

In Alton, Illinois — along the Mississippi River near St. Louis — a homeowner made an unusual discovery — a mysterious tunnel, made of bricks, that experts have dated to the 1840's. We’ll talk with the homeowner and hear some of the hypotheses for why the tunnel was built.

Alana Banks is a Decatur native, and was recently elected to school board in her hometown. She’s getting national recognition for being the first Black trans woman in the country to be elected to the position. 

In Illinois, there’s a lot riding on a car company called Rivian. The first of Rivian’s electric trucks is expected to roll off the lot at a new plant in Normal. Learn what the company's plant means for our state and its connection to Amazon.