During its two-year state budget crisis, Illinois racked up more than $3 billion in debt to providers who serve the state’s most vulnerable patients - and it could be months, even years, before it’s all paid off. And some doctors in private practice are being pushed to the brink as they wait.

On the 21st: We explored how to decide when to keep a sick child home - and when to send them to school. We also talked to two Carbondale residents about the role conversations about race play in this political climate. Plus, we learned about a robot that flies like a bat and discussed the proposals to establish August 4 as Obama Day in Illinois.