Illinois Public Media News

This May marked the third time in three years we’ve seen record rainfall in parts of Illinois. We check in with a farmer in Menard county and Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford about what they’ve been seeing.

Dental offices are reopening as coronavirus restrictions ease. But is it safe to go back? We’ll talk to a health reporter and the head of an association of dental hygienists.

Northwestern University professor Alvin Tillery talks about protests dismantling power structures, how political leaders are framing the protests this week, and how he has been handling his emotions regarding another police murder of a black man. 

Today on The 21st: we talk to a scholar about the long history of violent protest in America, we ask if it's safe to go to the dentist, and we dry out from another month of record rainfall.

Chicago-based astronomer Lucianne Walkowicz has filed a trademark lawsuit against toy-maker Mattel and American Girl, alleging that the company stole Walkowicz's likeness for their 2018 girl of the year doll, Luciana Vega.