The Illinois General Assembly wrapped up a brief but highly productive fall legislative session in which they tackled the financial problems of mass transit agencies, energy prices, immigration enforcement, and "medical aid in dying" for terminally ill patients.

We’ll talk with a reporter who was covering it well into the early hours of this morning.

On Wednesday, after more than 11 hours of deliberation, a Peoria jury found former Sangamon County sheriff's deputy Sean Grayson guilty of second-degree murder in the killing of Sonya Massey in her home near Springfield last year. The jury, however, acquitted Grayson on the more serious charge of first-degree murder — which could have resulted in a lifetime prison sentence.

We'll talk with a reporter who covered the trial.

Founded in 1968, Red Lobster once had more than 600 locations across the U.S., Canada, and overseas franchises. But last year, the $2 billion revenue company went into bankruptcy, reorganized, and came out with new ownership and new leadership.

The company has sought to revamp operations, make changes to its menu, and close a few locations. According to USA Today, five Illinois Red Lobsters have closed — including in Bourbonnais, Danville, and Peoria. 

All these changes are being led by the company’s 36-year-old CEO: Damola Adamolekun. Born in Nigeria, Adamolekun immigrated to the U.S. when he was nine years old. His father was a neurosurgeon — and moved his family to Springfield, Illinois, in the late 1990's. And that is where Damola says he had his first experience of Red Lobster.

Journalists have captured many striking images of ICE and Border Patrol operations in Illinois — and documented the people demonstrating against them. We’ll talk about what it’s like covering the chaos through the lens of a camera.

Illinois state Rep. Hoan Huynh, D-Chicago, says a federal agent pointed a gun at him last week. The government says he was interfering in immigration enforcement; he says he was warning constituents about their rights.

“We don’t have any weapons; we were only recording what they’re doing," Hyunh told The 21st Show. "And if what they’re doing is actually legal, then they should not be afraid for it to be documented.”

There's trouble for soybean farmers in Illinois and beyond. Drought conditions have made for a faster-than-average harvest, but a big problem remains the ongoing trade war and the lack of places for farmers to sell their beans. We’ll talk about that, how what’s happening in China and Argentina affects farmers in Illinois, and other headwinds for American agriculture.

Kathi Davis began her career as a flight attendant in the golden age of air travel. Despite a deep fear of flying, she kept with it past 9/11. All that and more are the subject of her new memoir, The Closest Exit May Be Behind You: Memoirs of a Fearful Flight Attendant.

Federal agents are continuing to arrest immigrants in Chicago and fire tear gas at people demonstrating against them. Meanwhile, a state lawmaker says an agent pointed a gun at him. We’ll talk about what’s happening on the ground and in court.

For generations, gays and lesbians often found community in bars. That’s changed in recent years, but political events — and the corporate pullback from pride — have LGBTQ Americans thinking more about separate places they can be themselves.

Here in the Midwest, many of the landscapers who mow our lawns, trim our trees, and rake our leaves are Mexican immigrants. Anthropologist Sergio Lemus writes about his experience with that work, and the stories and struggles of those who come to America seeking a better life. His new book “Los Yarderos: Mexican Yard Workers in Transborder Chicago.”