Project NOW has partnered with the 14th Judicial Circuit in Rock Island County, the Rock Island County Bar Association, Prairie State Legal Services, Inc., and the Salvation Army to develop an Eviction Diversion Program (EDP) which has been operating for months. The goal of the program is to keep tenants housed while ensuring that small business owners are reimbursed back rent. There is $1.3 million dollars available for tenants and property owners from Project NOW. All tenants and property owners are encouraged to apply for rental assistance as soon as possible as there is a delay in the processing... Read More

BREAKING NEWS: Illinois covid numbers appear to have peaked and are on the decline, Gov. JB Pritzker and other officials are saying the state’s numbers are headed in the right direction, and some are speculating on when all the restrictions — from the mask mandate to vaccine and test proof to enter businesses — are going to finally be lifted. Some are wondering if Pritzker will soon be lifting the mask mandate or pushing for the lifting of any of the other mandates regionally applied in the state, including the proof of vaccination or test restriction imposed by Chicago and Cook... Read More

The Black Box Theatre in downtown Moline kick off their sixth year in operation with improvisational comedy. The BBT hosts Shakespeared on February 12th and Wisenheimer takes the stage on March 19th.  “We are so happy to make The Black Box Theatre the home of improvisational comedy and to kick off 2022 with lots of laughs,” said BBT co-founder Lora Adams.  G.I.T. Improv, the company presenting the shows, began in Rock Island, IL in 1997 and has since become a multi-award-winning comedy institution. They provide countless hours of interactive entertainment in the Quad Cities area as well... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – The McDonough County Health Department, in cooperation with Western Illinois University, will host two COVID-19 vaccination clinics (including boosters) for WIU faculty, staff and students, as well as members of the general public, Jan. 25 and Feb. 22. Johnson & Johnson, Moderna and Pfizer vaccines will be available at no cost. Vaccine Clinics Booster recommendations are in place for the COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States. Individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. First and second shots, as well as boosters, will be available at... Read More

For more than 20 years, Western Illinois University students have gone across the United States during spring break all in the name of helping others as part of WIU’s Alternative Spring Break (ASB) program. ASB, which is within Volunteer Programs in the WIU Office of Student Engagement (OSE), will once again hit the road this spring, to Memphis, TN. Nine WIU students will immerse themselves in the city by giving back to the community by working with JustCity CourtWatch and Clare’s House Women’s Shelter, from March 14-18. The students will also tour the Civil Rights Museum and... Read More

BREAKING NEWS: Illinois covid numbers, while still high, are on the decline, prompting speculation as to whether the statewide mask mandate could be removed in the coming months if numbers continue to fall. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, there were 20,483 new confirmed and probable cases of covid-19 reported in the last 24 hours statewide, with 36 new deaths. The state is averaging 27,795 new cases of covid per day, a 14.4 percent reduction from the high of 32,501 daily cases on Jan. 12, according to IDPH data. The state’s positivity rate on all tests currently stands... Read More

The weather outside is frightful, but the good news is so delightful! We’re back again with What’s The Good News, our team-up every month with KWQC-TV6’s “Paula Sands Live” to highlight some of the great news going on in and around the Quad-Cities! So, what’s the good news for January, Quad-Cities? Glad you asked! Rock Island Math And Science Helps QC Paws Rock Island Center for Math & Science raised $1,000 for QC Paws through its Leader in Me service project “Cause for 4 Paws”! Students and staff raised funds through various fundraisers the school held and presented... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – A total of 528 students earned academic degrees or post-baccalaureate certificates after the Fall 2021 semester at Western Illinois University. Bachelor’s degrees were awarded to 308 graduates, including 43 Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) degrees. Academic distinction was awarded to baccalaureate graduates who achieved high grade point averages. This includes: Summa Cum Laude, 3.90 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale; Magna Cum Laude, 3.75-3.89 GPA; and Cum Laude, 3.6-3.74 GPA. Master’s degrees were earned by 178 graduates. A complete list can be found at bit.ly/3tuN1fj.  Read More

Discover the world of beekeeping and learn everything you need to get started on this fascinating hobby. Participants will learn how to assemble a hive, how to care for the hive, and how to harvest honey. Textbook and notes are included in the $180 fee which covers 6 classes. Classes will take place at Nahant Marsh Education Center on Tuesdays from January 25-March 1 at 6-8pm. The course will be instructed by Phil Crandall, Owner/Operator of Crandall Farms Inc., a family owned apiary and farm in Coal Valley, IL. Phil is the founder and main beekeeper for the farm. Beginning his interest since childhood,... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – You’ve heard the saying ‘it takes a village to raise a child.’ In the days of increased competition, limited resources and other challenges facing public higher education, that same sentiment applies to recruitment and enrollment initiatives… it takes the whole University, the “village,” working together to recruit future students. Along those lines, the Western Illinois University Foundation recently partnered with WIU Undergraduate Admissions to assist with recruitment efforts. Abbie Pendarvis, director of donor relations, was thinking about... Read More