The largest concentration of Latinos in downstate Illinois is in the Quad Cities.

Illinois is expected to receive about 500 refugees from Afghanistan after the U.S. withdrawl from the country last month. The 21st was joined by an Afghan with experience relocating as a refugee, as well as representatives from refugee aid organizations in central Illinois.

The Quad Cities have emerged as a trouble spot for COVID-19. We talk with Michelle O'Neill, the news editor at NPR member station WVIK, about the unique challenges there.

Exelon still has hopes for the legislation, once lawmakers are done dealing with the state budget. And whether or not it passes could have in impact on the price of electricity in Illinois, and the fate of its three nuclear plants in Clinton, Byron and Quad Cities, which are losing money.