Illinois Public Media News

The electrical grid and energy system in Texas were not ready for the polar vortex and climate change means extreme weather events are going to become more common. What about here in Illinois and the Midwest — how resilient is our power supply? 

Illinois Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, who represents the northwest suburbs of Chicago, joined The 21st to talk about the next round of COVID relief being considered this week in the U.S. House, including $1,400 stimulus checks, an extension of enhanced unemployment benefits, and aid for state and local governments; plus increasing attacks on Americans of Asian descent, and problems at the U.S. Postal Service.

A higher education is now the second largest source of consumer debt, second only to mortgages. Amid the pandemic, there have been increasing calls to forgive student loan debt or cancel it all together. The 21st discusses what debt cancellation could look like, and who it could help most. 

The pandemic has halted and changed our many ways of living across our state and the world. Despite these drastic changes to our lifestyles and traveling opportunities, there is one issue that has not gone away during this pandemic – and that is human trafficking. It happens right here in Illinois and to learn more about how the pandemic plays a role in it, The 21st was joined by two experts and a survivor.

Winter in the midwest can be cold, dark and a little depressing — especially during a global pandemic. The 21st spoke to a UK-based author who has written a book on how to embrace “Wintering.”