Western Illinois University IT Support Associate (Desktop Architect) Joe Butcher has been named the Al and Elaine Goldfarb Civil Service Employee of the Month for July 2022. Butcher began working at WIU in August 2014 as an Instructional Technology Systems Manager – Computer Store Operations and moved to the position of Research and Instruction Consultant – uTech, Technology Suppert in July 2016. He transitioned to IT Support Associate (Hardware/Software Support Associate IV) – uTech, Technology Support in February 2019, and was reclassified to his current position by audit in August... Read More

Project NOW’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance program (known as LIHEAP) provides utility assistance to residents living in Rock Island, Mercer, and Henry Counties. The program is funded through the state, and it provides one-time payments, a percentage of income payments, reconnection assistance, and emergency furnace assistance for those at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Project NOW’s Executive Director, Dwight Ford, says this past year the agency served more people in the LIHEAP program than ever before. The Rock Island based not-for-profit processed 6,520 applications which... Read More

The memory of Macomb native and Civil Rights activist, the late Rev. Dr. C.T. Vivian, is being celebrated one brush stroke at a time as Western Illinois University Art Professor Emeritus Michael Mahoney works to complete a 70-foot public mural at the intersection of Macomb’s North Randolph and East Carroll streets. The mural, which will be unveiled at a public ceremony Saturday, July 30, depicts accomplishments during the pastor’s life. Vivian, who grew up in Macomb, graduated from Macomb High School and WIU, passed away at age 95, in July 2020. Several locations in Macomb are currently... Read More

Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) voted to pass the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act – legislation to invest in wildfire prevention, response and resiliency efforts for communities impacted by drought. The bill also includes a provision supported by Congresswoman Bustos to increase pay for federal structural firefighters – including those at the Rock Island Arsenal. “As extreme weather events become increasingly common, we continue to see the heartbreaking impacts of wildfires on American families,” said Congresswoman Bustos. “I was proud to help pass comprehensive legislation... Read More

Western Illinois University is partnering with city officials to host a community walk through of off-campus housing from 1:30-6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16. The event is an opportunity for University staff and law enforcement and city staff and community partners to have a positive touchpoint and to welcome new student residents before the upcoming academic year. It will also offer the chance to inform student residents about the responsibilities they have as members of the community and about the resources available to them. Volunteers are being sought to be a part of the walking tour, and they will... Read More

Businesses have begun to shut down across the state as spiking covid numbers have hit their workers hard, causing the places to close temporarily as workers recover. In Rock Island, for example, Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse was forced to shut down for two weeks, delaying the opening of a new show, “Disaster!” due to a number of the cast and crew testing positive for covid. Other businesses around the state have likewise been hit with the same dilemma as statewide numbers continue to surge, as previously reported on QuadCities.com. Statewide numbers have continued to rise over the... Read More

Renew Moline has accepted the donation of RiverStone Group’s former headquarters at 1701 5th Avenue in Moline. The donation was made to spur new life and economic development opportunity for the property and downtown Moline. The building was constructed in 1956 as a JCPenney Department Store, which closed when the store moved to South Park Mall in 1972. The property includes a 35,064-square-foot building and a parking lot directly north of the building. RiverStone used the building to house about 50 employees from the late 1980s to 2019. RiverStone Vice President Mike Ellis said “We are pleased... Read More

Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17), a longtime champion for increasing telehealth availability, voted to pass the Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID-19 Act – bipartisan legislation to ensure that Medicare patients can continue to access telehealth services beyond the current public health emergency. The White House has announced its support for the legislation through a Statement of Administration Policy. “Every American deserves access to high-quality, affordable health care – no matter where they live,” said Congresswoman Bustos. “Today, we passed bipartisan legislation that will allow... Read More

Downtown Rock Island property owners seeking to stabilize their investment and revitalize downtown submitted a proposal to the Rock Island City Council on Monday, formally requesting it to consider establishing a Special Service Area (SSA) in partnership with a new Quad Cities Chamber place management organization. The action would enable property owners to fund and govern enhanced services, activities and improvements in partnership with the City. Proposed enhanced services downtown include beautification and maintenance; boots-on-the-ground hospitality and troubleshooting; façade and interior... Read More

As every member of the Illowa Council knows, a Boy Scout always leaves his campsite in better shape than he found it. According to Mark Schwiebert, a former Eagle Scout and the founder of the Mark W. Schwiebert Fund for Environmental Studies at the Quad Cities Community Foundation, that principle extends across the planet we call home. “Ask yourself: what do you want to leave behind for those who come after you?” Schwiebert’s own answer to that question helped lead him to establish the Schwiebert Fund, which since 2016 has made annual grants to Quad Cities nonprofits that educate the community... Read More