Illinois Public Media News

If you’re hitting the road for holiday travel, be ready to pay more at the gas pump. 
 

On this encore edition of The 21st: We revisit our conversation with Rabbi Evan Moffic on his latest book that explores how ancient Judaic traditions help him more deeply understand the nature of happiness. Plus, the landmark Supreme Court case that legalized interracial marriage in the United States. And, we'll give you some tips on how to avoid deer on the roads.

Many rural businesses and farms will benefit from the tax overhaul passed Wednesday by Congress. But there’s a catch: If the changes fail to spur economic growth as intended, programs that rural areas rely on could be on the chopping block.

Illinois public health officials delayed informing the public for nearly a week about a deadly 2015 Legionnaires’ disease outbreak at a state veterans’ home in Quincy despite knowing the facility was facing “the beginning of an epidemic,” according to internal emails from Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office obtained by Illinois Public Radio's member station in Chicago, WBEZ.

Advanced biofuels have been touted as the next step beyond the corn-based ethanol that’s the bulk of the country’s renewable fuel for cars and trucks. These next-generation options were supposed to bring jobs to rural communities and provide farmers with fresh revenue sources, in addition to reducing the carbon footprint of vehicles.