Illinois Public Media News

The Senate Republican Caucus has a new leader — State Sen. Dan McConchie, from Hawthorn Woods in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. We talked with him about the pandemic, vaccine prioritization and the presidential election.

On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2021... we held a multigenerational conversation with Illinoisians active in the Civil Rights Movement. They reflected on that legacy and the fight for racial justice today. 

The 21st explored the struggle for civil rights and against white terrorism in the southern Illinois city of Cairo. 

It's 2021, but unfortunately we haven't yet left 2020 in the past. There's still a global pandemic, social unrest and many people out of work. Enter mindfulness and meditation. The 21st spoke to experts about the importance of mindfullness.

The 21st spoke to two politics reporters from Illinois about the new General Assembly,massive Criminal Justice reform that passed in the last few days and allegations against the new Illinois Speaker of the House, Emanuel "Chris" Welch. 

It’s been a year since Illinois became the 11th state to legalize marijuana. As total sales for its first year is expected to reach more $1 billion, we’ll check in with two marijuana reporters about sales and the law’s social equity promises.

The 21st discusses some of the challenges the pandemic has presented for Illinoisans who are deaf, and some of the ways we can make life more accessible through technology. 

So far, 1 in 45 Illinoisians have received their first COVID-19 vaccine shot, and eligibility is expanding. Meanwhile, some regions of the state are also on pace to see COVID restrictions eased this Friday.