Illinois Public Media News

For the first time in decades, the Illinois House of Representatives has a new Speaker. Chris Welch is a Democrat from Hillside, in the suburbs of Chicago. He joined the The 21st to talk about his new role, the state’s COVID response and more.

Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic took over our lives last March, day after day is the same thing: wake up, work, repeat. To discuss time, the way we think about it and how we might change that for the better, The 21st was joined by the author of Time Smart: How to Reclaim Your Time & Live a Happier Life.

Recently, the Illinois High School Association announced spring sports will be able to resume play in the coming weeks in regions that are in “Phase 4” of the state's reopening guidelines. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the decision to resume high school sports is not without risks. 

To speak more about the power of poetry and African-American history, The 21st spoke to the Pulitzer Prize winning poet-in-residence at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The 21st spoke to a public health director, pharmacist and advocate for senior citizens about some of the challenges that the community has faced when it comes to even getting an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine.