WILL CALL: What’s Happening in Central Illinois Feb. 26 – Mar. 1
A celebration of Hip Hop, a Black History gala, the Insect Fear Film Festival, and more are all happening in central Illinois this weekend.
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WATCH LIVE: President Trump delivers 2026 State of the Union Address
The prime-time address comes at a moment when the president has seen his agenda complicated on multiple fronts.
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GOP Senate candidate Jeannie Evans talks Christian values, antitrust laws, and AI
Antitrust enforcement lawyer Jeannie Evans is vying for the GOP nomination in the U.S. Senate race. She discusses AI and jobs, her views on immigration, and companies engaging in price fixing on the 21st Show.
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Illinois legislators introduce bills to regulate pricing based on personal data
Two bills would require companies to disclose the use of private data in price setting .
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USDA lost 24,000 workers under Trump, hurting critical resources for farmers
The Trump administration’s federal workforce cuts shrunk U.S. Department of Agriculture agencies that inspect produce, provide conservation resources and collect data on crops and livestock.
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Springfield high schoolers honor Black History Month with competitive quiz bowl
SPRINGFIELD — As three teams of students sat on stage in the auditorium of Springfield Southeast High School Sunday, tensions were running high. In the first hour, students gasped and cheered as they learned the answers during the Springfield Black History Bowl. But by the second hour, it was clear that last year’s winners of…
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217 Today: Rev. Jesse Jackson looks back at some of his famous speeches
We’ll hear archival audio of Reverend Jesse Jackson looking back at some of his famous speeches.
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Ranked choice voting stalled in Illinois, waiting for clarity from the courts
Ranked choice voting allows people to rank candidates in the order they most want them. If no candidate gets 50%, the lowest candidate is dropped and their supporters’ votes go to their second choice.
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As Illinois increasingly becomes destination for abortion access, a new public-private partnership emerges
Thousands of abortion-seekers have traveled to the state, which has laws that protect abortion.
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Democratic Senate candidate Sean Brown on immigration, universal healthcare, and money in politics
Sean Brown, a lawyer hailing from Chicago’s south Side is running in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. He discusses his career, universal healthcare, and immigration policy on the 21st show.
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Illinois schools counted on federal grants to ease a shortage of school psychologists. After cancelation and a year of court battles, the future’s uncertain.
Over the past year, the Trump administration has terminated multiple grants — together worth over $10 million — that were supposed to help schools in Illinois hire more mental health professionals.
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Urbana’s King Park revitalization plans include teen hangout area, gaga ball pit and outdoor classroom
After over 20 years of weathered playground amenities, King Park in Urbana will be restored and revitalized. The plans include more accessible walkways, basketball courts, a teen hangout terrace and an outdoor classroom.
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217 Today: Illinois schools counted on federal grants to ease a shortage of school psychologists. After cancellation and a year of court battles, the future’s uncertain.
Schools in Illinois were expecting to receive millions of dollars to hire more mental health professionals before the Trump administration cancelled those grants. We’ll take a look at how that’s impacting schools in the northern part of the state.
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Memorial services for Rev. Jesse Jackson expanded to include South Carolina and Washington, DC
Jackson will still lie in repose next week at the Chicago headquarters of his Rainbow PUSH Coalition with a public celebration of life and homegoing services to follow, though dates for Chicago events have been changed.
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Dent’s late layup in OT lifts UCLA past No. 10 Illinois 95-94 after 23-point comeback
Illinois got 19 points from freshman Keaton Wagler, who briefly put the Illini ahead late.
