Illinois Public Media News

Representative Cheri Bustos is a Democrat representing Illinois’ 17th Congressional district, which includes parts of Peoria, Rockford and the Quad Cities. She spoke with Niala Boodhoo, host of The 21st, at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee offices in Washington, D.C. on Thursday morning.

On The 21st: Congresswoman Cheri Bustos is the fifth-ranking House Democrat and is in charge of making sure the party wins House elections across the country. We'll sit down with her at NPR headquarters in Washington D.C. And, we catch up with NPR host Scott Simon. Plus, around $300 million in funding from the National Science Foundation each year goes to academic researchers in Illinois. How did last month's shutdown affect not just operations but scientific research across the country? 

In 2018, fewer than 4 percent of incoming medical students in Illinois were black men. It’s a concerning statistic as research suggests a lack of diversity among physicians could negatively impact health outcomes in their community.

Flood control and beautification measures along the Boneyard Creek have had a dramatic impact on Champaign’s Mid-town and Campustown areas over the last several years. Now, the city is calling for construction bids on the first phase of work on the Boneyard in the north end.

Representative Rodney Davis is a Republican from Illinois’ 13th Congressional district, which includes all or part of 14 counties across central and southwestern Illinois, including Champaign, Bloomington, and Springfield. We spoke to him from NPR headquarters in Washington D.C.