Illinois Public Media News

According to a Boston University School of Public Health study published last week by the JAMA Network, prevalence of depression symptoms has risen 3 times higher during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to before. The 21st spoke to the lead author of the study as well as a reporter following the rise of suicide among Black people.

As long as there have been presidents of the United States, there have been presidents complaining about their coverage in the press. The 21st spoke to an author to discuss the relationship between the free press and the west wing from the early years of American history.

Recently, the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus announced a plan aimed at helping dismantle systemic racism. The 21st speaks asked State Sen. Sims why it's important to his caucus. 

The new HBO series Lovecraft Country sets Black protagonists in 1950’s and 60’s America, as they confront monsters, both the imaginary kind, but also the very real racist kind. We talk about the plot, Illinois places where the film was shot and initial response to the series.

You're probably familiar with protests over the Dakota Access Pipeline in the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. But there's a legal challenge in Illinois. Our state is challenging a proposal that would double the amount of oil flowing through the pipeline, which ends in south-central Illinois.