A recent city health report found that the life expectancy of Black Chicagoans was 9 years less than others due to the epidemic of gun violence. We talked with a reporter of The Trace, which started a series examining grief and perserverance in neighborhoods facing violence.

"Hidden Brain" podcast host and author Shankar Vedantam wants us to reconsider the impulse to make truth the be-all, end-all — and instead think about the value of falsehood. He joined The 21st to discuss this and more about his new book, Useful Delusions: The Power and Paradox of the Self-Deceiving Brain.

Lynn Sweet, Washington Bureau Chief with the Chicago Sun-Times joins us to talk about President Joe Biden's visit to Illinois and the future of the state Congressional delegation.

Legislation in Illinois would make it easier for some home chefs and bakers to sell their products. The 21st spoke with two food producers in Illinois who have advocated for this law.

Following the aftermath of the condominium collapse in Surfside, Florida, many Illinoisans are wondering could a similar disaster happen here? The 21st spoke to two chief engineers to hear more about building safety. 

Energy company Dynegy agreed to remove the byproducts from its former coal-fired power plant near the Vermilion River, in east-central Illinois last month. Three experts joined us to discuss coal ash pollution and cleanup.

What does Chance The Rapper, REO Speedwagon, John Prine, Muddy Waters and Cheap Trick have in common? They're Illinois artists and they're featured in "The State of Sound" exhibit at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library And Museum. Brian Mackey takes us on a tour.

Christian McWhirter is the Lincoln Historian at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. He talked with The 21st about Lincoln’s evolving views on race and contemporary evolving views on Lincoln.

In June 2021, Christina Shutt began her role as executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. We talked with her about her plans for the museum. Plus, her views as a Black woman about Lincoln's role in America's complicated racial history.

A new law in Illinois will ban police officers from using lies to get minors to confess to crimes during an interrogation. The 21st spoke with an attorney and police chief about how the long term effects of the new law.