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The 21st The 21st is Illinois' statewide news talk show. Produced by Illinois Public Media and airing on six NPR member stations across the state. Streams live at 21stShow.org. Follow on Twitter: @21stshow
The 21st

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The 21st

The 21st

From WILL-FM

The 21st is Illinois' statewide news talk show. Produced by Illinois Public Media and airing on six NPR member stations across the state. Streams live at 21stShow.org. Follow on Twitter: @21stshow

Most Recent Episodes

Gaining Family Again After 48 Years

Gaining Family Again After 48 Years

The 21st spoke to an Illinois man, born to an American serviceman in Vietnam, who connected with his birth father through DNA testing — only to find out they'd been living less than 100 miles away from each other. They joined The 21st to speak about meeting after 48 years.

Perspective On Fatherhood In 2021

With Father's Day around the corner, The 21st spoke to two fathers across Illinois to hear about what fatherhood means to them in 2021.

Rebroadcast: Lincoln's Thoughts Documented Through Archived Scraps of Paper

Through fragmented notes left on scraps of paper, Lincoln aimed to document his best thoughts that could later come in handy when he needed to write a speech or lay down his arguments in debates. Over 100 of these notes have been archived and are considered the closest thing to a diary by author Ronald C. White. White joined The 21st to further discuss Lincoln's documented thoughts.

Rebroadcast: Lincoln's Thoughts Documented Through Archived Scraps of Paper

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Why Are the Ice Cream Machines Always McBroken?

The internet is full of memes poking fun at how often McDonald's ice cream machines seem to be broken — but there may be some truth to the McBroken stereotype. The 21st spoke to a technology reporter about this cold case of failing ice cream machines and what's behind it.

Why Are the Ice Cream Machines Always McBroken?

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Ransomware Threats in IL

Rasomware attacks have become increasingly common and to discuss the proliferation of ransomware attacks in Illinois, The 21st was joined by the CEO of a cyber reconnaissaince company, a reporter covering cybersecurity and Chair of the Department of Information Technology and Management at the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Race Massacres in Illinois

Black soldiers who fought in the World War were hopeful that their efforts fighting for the country would be enough to finally grant them equality, but instead they were greeted with a sweeping of racial violence and riots across the country in 1919, a period known as the Red Summer.

Celebrating Juneteenth In Illinois

Celebrating Juneteenth In Illinois

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Major Gen. Gordon Granger of the Union Army, informed enslaved people in Texas that they were free. It happened years after the Emancipation Proclamation. The 21st was joined by three guests to talk about Juneteenth celebrations across Illinois.

Reporter Roundtable: Illinois Legislation

Illinois lawmakers were scheduled to finish this year's spring session by the end of May, but they returned to Springfield to finish up some final items. The 21st was joined by two reporters who have been following the developments at the capitol to hear more about the items on the to do list that still remain.

Illinois Olympian Aisha Praught Leer

Illinois Olympian Aisha Praught Leer

Aisha Praught Leer was raised in Moline, ran track at Illinois State and now runs as part of the Jamaican National Team. She joined The 21st to talk about what training with a group and what that was like during the pandemic as well as running for Jamaica.

The History And Harm of Illinois' Criminal HIV Law

The Illinois General Assembly passed a law that made it a crime to not disclose one's HIV status in certain situations in 1989. The law has disproportiantely affected Black and brown people, and now an overwhelming majority of Illinois lawmakers have voted to repeal that law.

The History And Harm of Illinois' Criminal HIV Law

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