Illinois Public Media News

"American Mariachi" is the story of a woman's quest to start an all-female mariachi band — something that would have been unheard of back in the 1970s. We talked with the play's director, Henry Godinez. 

As our communities continue efforts to get more people the COVID-19 vaccine, vaccination have recently begun for other species. Zoo animals are now being inoculated using a specialized vaccine at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago. 

More than 60 percent of Illinoisans, ages 12 and up, are now fully vaccinated for COVID-19, but in some parts of the state, like Southern Illinois, that number is much lower, as hospitals in the region have reached capacity in their ICUs. We were joined by reporters from around the state to talk about the latest on the pandemic in Illinois. 

Even as professional and university sports teams have changed their names away from racist Native American mascots and logos, dozens of Illinois high schools continue to hold to them. We're talking with people who want to hold on to the imagery and those who want it banned. 

In August, Governor J.B Pritzker signed a new bill that will allow students to take off up to five mental health days from school starting in January. We answered your questions about how these days would be implemented.