Illinois Public Media News

Maybe you’ve spent more time at home with your dog in recent months and thought "what are they thinking?" We’ll speak with a Bloomington-based psychology professor who studies the minds of canines. 

The 21st took a look back at one of the biggest concerts in Illinois history. September 22, 2020 marked the 35 year anniversary of the first annual Farm Aid concert which happened in Champaign. It was organized by musicians Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, and Neil Young, and featured some of the biggest names in music of the day. 

The 21st spoke to Andrew Ti, the co-host of a podcast that tackles racism using comedy.

Since 2005, Pygmalion Fest in Champaign Urbana has drawn some of the biggest indie music acts from around the country to central Illinois. But for the first time, the festival will be all virtual. The 21st talks about the lineup and how to see the performances all for free. 

Schools and teachers are having to reimagine the classroom, and figure out ways to connect with students in new ways that they may not have imagined, or been taught, when they entered education. To hear more about this, The 21st was joined by a panel of guests, ranging from a homeschooling parent to a PTA director and more. 

The 21st spoke to teachers around the state to hear how remote learning is going at their schools, and what challenges they are facing along with their students.

The Director of Public Policy for Planned Parenthood of Illinois and an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign share perspective on Ruth Bader Ginsburg's legal legacy, and how her passing could affect future court cases, particularly reproductive rights.

For more on how Ruth Bader Ginsburg conducted herself as a Supreme Court justice, we’re joined by David Franklin, who clerked for Ginsburg in 1999 and 2000.

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died Friday, September 18, 2020, inciting many conversations — one of them being about who would take her spot on the bench. A key player in that fight will be Illinois U.S. Senator Dick Durbin. He’s a member of the Judiciary Committee, which typically holds hearings on Supreme Court nominees.

 For people of the Jewish faith, the High Holy days in non-pandemic times are an opportunity to gather together at the synagogue and sing. But this year, the traditional blowing of the Shofar will be virtual. We’ll talk with two Illinois Rabbis about celebrating Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur in a pandemic year.