Statewide

Online learning became more common during the pandemic. It's also given an opportunity to some former offenders a chance to stay enrolled in prison classes upon release.

Illinois is considered one of the most progressive states in the nation when it comes to abortion laws. But it still requires a parent or guardian to be informed before a minor can can have the procedure. That could soon change. The issue is expected to be debated this month. And it was 150 years ago this month the Great Chicago Fire erupted in the city. But not everything was destroyed. We'll learn more about what survived, at least for a while. Those stories and more on this episode of Statewide.

Economic investment, and the jobs that follow, tends to happen in predominantly white communities. The opposite is true in Black neighborhoods. On this episode of Statewide, we examine what's behind the disparity. And we look back three decades at a protest in the Shawnee National Forest.

Supporters of school dress codes say they help promote discipline and can actually improve safety of students. But many find them discriminatory and sexist. We'll hear how some students have pushed back on the policy. And Sears is closing its final store in Illinois. We recap the rise and fall of what was once the nation's largest retailer. These stories and more on Statewide.

COVID-19 vaccine mandates have been implemented as a way to increase the number of people getting the shots. However, both the federal and state orders allow those with religious objections to skip the vaccinations. Governments have protected that choice for years. But during a pandemic, there are concerns some are exploiting a loophole. We examine the history of religious exemptions and efforts to tighten the rules. We also hear how the return to the classroom hasn't been easy for some young learners. Those stories and more on this week's Statewide.

Students are heading back to classrooms. For many teachers, that brings mixed emotions. We'll hear how some educators are gearing up for the new school year.

This week, the discussion about gun violence usually focuses on those who are killed. But for survivors, it's difficult to get over what happened to them.

This week, we hear from a woman who questioned the need to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Then, she got sick. What she says now. We'll also talk with some contact tracers about the difficulty in doing that job over the past year.

On this episode, the pandemic has sent many people to the hospital. Some wound up in intensive care on a ventilator. Others have faced long recoveries. That's resulted in higher costs for health care. And everyone will end up paying more for it.

Throughout the midwest, pandemic restrictions are being eased. That's good news for smaller communities who rely on the economic boost of annual...