The 21st Show

In 2024, Republican Darin LaHood was re-elected unopposed in Illinois’ 16th district. This year, he has a challenger. Democrat Paul Nolley discusses what he brings to the table.

"Octopolis,” a 20-foot-tall sculpture made from — among other things — salvaged metal and reclaimed fabric will be featured at Burning Man in Nevada this summer. An Illinois woman and her sister came up with the idea from the project and created it.

The pesticides that farmers use can drift miles beyond where they’re originally used-harming plants, trees, and people. We’ll talk about how it happens as well as what could change with more regulation.

Two years after the launch of the Women’s Pro Baseball League, the inaugural season is taking place right now — in Springfield, Illinois. We’ll talk about the significance of the league and the history of women playing baseball in America.

Illinois is one of the top corn producers in the country but producing it could be more difficult in the near future. Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign say that a lack of diversity in the corn’s genetics could make it more difficult to breed new corn that can survive the difficulties of the future.

Republican Congressman Mike Bost has a challenger this year in the mid-terms. Democratic congressional candidate Julie Fortier discusses the needs of Southern Illinois residents and what she brings to the table.

21st Show host Brian Mackey captures a sonic postcard from some of the thousands of people who are part of making the state fair.

The State Fair is back in town. Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello II discusses the state of agriculture in the 21st state from the fair.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey explains why he's running for governor again and shares his thoughts on existing policies in the state.

In 1872, a group of men set out to take a census of Earth's oceans, but much of the life they discovered no longer exists. A new book examines their voyage and what it can tell us about our oceans' decline.