MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – – Western Illinois University will offer the Early Childhood Degree on the Quad Cities campus, beginning Summer 2022. WIU will also launch a new, flexible program option designed for those who are currently working in the education field and want to work toward their bachelor’s degree, with an option for PEL (Professional Educator License). Enrollment is open now at wiu.edu/apply. All courses will be offered in flexible course formats, including online programming with in-person or live-streamed support. WIU has also established pathways for customized student... Read More

BREAKING NEWS: Tough new covid restrictions in Illinois have been implemented as Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced that after Jan. 3, Chicago will impose a vaccine mandate for bars, restaurants, gyms, and other businesses, requiring anyone over the age of 5 to show proof of vaccination or negative covid test over the past 24 hours. Proof of vaccination or negative covid test will be required at restaurants and bars, entertainment venues where food and beverages are served, sports arenas, concert venues, bowling alleys, movie theaters, and indoor fitness centers. As of yet, other places of... Read More

BREAKING NEWS: Illinois school shutdowns have begun, along with shutdowns of various businesses and performances, and Chicago area businesses are beginning to require vaccination for entry, as covid continues to ravage the state and the omicron variant begins to spread rapidly. Yesterday set the record for the most covid cases in one day since Dec. 1, 2020 as 12,328 new cases of the virus were reported by the Illinois Department of Public Health. Today, Illinois public health officials reported 10,264 new cases and 63 covid-related deaths. The seven-day statewide test positivity rate is 7.6 percent.... Read More

Eight Western Illinois University law enforcement and justice administration (LEJA) students recently received awards from Go West/McDonough County Transit for their work as Go West security officers. Nakyah Smith, a sophomore from Chicago, was named “Security Officer of the Semester” for her ability to handle critical situations with professionalism and for excellent performance throughout the semester. Seth Lewandowski, a senior from West Chicago, was recognized with the “Exceptional Mentorship Award” for going above and beyond his duties as an officer and the hours spent... Read More

BREAKING NEWS: Illinois covid numbers have ripped up another 20 percent over the past week, omicron is surging around Chicago, statewide healthcare officials are pleading people to be cautious as hospitals are overwhelmed, and events cancellations continue as the possibility of another statewide shutdown looms. Health officials in Cook County, which encompasses Chicago and the surrounding suburbs, are warning that “suspected cases of the omicron variant are rising… and are likely to escalate quickly,” the health department said in a press release. “CCDPH is issuing Increased... Read More

A life filled with local, state and national volunteer service has earned a Western Illinois University alumnus the highest award given by the Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB). David Erickson, a 1980 agriculture education graduate, from Altona, IL, was presented the Charles B. Shuman Distinguished Service Award during the IFB’s annual meeting in Chicago earlier this month. “The award honors distinguished service within agriculture, as well as in other organizations,” said Erickson. Erickson and his wife, Nancy, farm in Knox County, and run a farm management business. He was originally... Read More

One of the world’s largest producers of silicones has selected Group O as a strategic partner to manage the filling, packaging, warehousing, and distribution of their construction silicone products. This complete line of building envelope silicone solutions for roof coating, air and water barriers, architectural coatings, weather sealing, residential glazing, insulating glass, and structural glazing can be found throughout the construction industry. Using the latest German automation, technology and equipment, Group O will receive the bulk product through reusable fluid-bag containers, and package... Read More

It’s Sunday, and QuadCities.com proudly presents Fun10, a list of the top 10 things to do in the Quad Cities this week, and every week! Every Sunday, we drop a new Fun10, to give you a head start on your week and a heads up on what’s going on over the coming seven days. Check out Fun10 every Sunday for the details on ten awesome events happening around town. It’s a cool read, and a great way to get started planning your entertainment for the week. FUN10 — ten ways for you to have fun in the Quad-Cities, this week and every week, running every Sunday, only on your site for fun, free, local... Read More

Stars on Ice are skating in to Moline’s TaxSlayer Center, 1201 River Drive, for a special holiday performance tonight at 7 p.m. Special holiday performance of Stars on Ice featuring Meryl Davis & Charlie White, Kurt Browning, Ilia Kulik, Ashley Wagner, Mirai Nagasu, Jeremy Abbott, Alissa Czisny, Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje, and Ryan Bradley. For tickets and more info, click here!  Read More

BREAKING NEWS: Shutdowns of performances, events and schools have begun to hit Illinois as covid numbers rage “out of control” and the omicron variant begins to make its spread across the state, as Gov. JB Pritzker hints at more restrictions and shutdowns to come. “This is setting up to be a very deadly COVID Christmas and New Years,” Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said Friday in a video press conference. “Hospital bed availability has reached a critically low level, demand on resources is high and the wait times in local emergency departments... Read More