The Western Illinois University Department of English will host the Fred Ewing Case and Lola Case Writers-in-Residence Thursday, Oct. 14, again in a virtual format. This year’s authors are poet Luther Hughes; novelist David Heska Wanbli Weiden; and graphic novelist Kayla Shaggy. A question and answer session with students and faculty will be held via Zoom from 3-4 p.m. To get the Zoom link, email Professor Erika Wurth a et-wurth@wiu.edu. A reading with the authors will be streamed on the WIU Department of English Facebook page, from 5-6 p.m. • Weiden, an enrolled citizen of the Sicangu... Read More

BREAKING NEWS: Illinois won’t be lifting its mask mandate or any other covid restrictions any time soon, Gov. JB Pritzker said in his press conference Monday, adding that the covid numbers need to be “on a good downward trajectory” before he’d even consider removing any of the restrictions. “We’re watching to make sure that we’re on a good downward trajectory,” Pritzker said. “That’s what we were looking for back in May leading into June; it’s what we’re looking for now in order for us to possibly make changes.” Pritzker said the number of ICU beds being... Read More

BREAKING NEWS: New Illinois covid numbers for the past week show modest improvement for the fourth consecutive week, but some schools are closing and going to remote learning and Gov. JB Pritkzer’s mitigations remain in place, with no indication of the mask mandate ending soon. Covid numbers statewide continued to show improvement over the month of September, as the positivity rate for last week, Sept. 27-Oct. 3, dropped to 2.7 percent statewide. The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 18,735 new COVID-19 cases in the past week, along with 236 additional deaths and over 159,000... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Western Illinois University is waiving the $30 application fee for domestic undergraduate students who apply to WIU (wiu.edu/apply) between Oct. 1-31. High school seniors and transfer students, as well as those applying through the Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) program, who apply for admission to Western for the Spring 2022 and Fall 2022 semesters, will have the application fee waived during the fee waiver month beginning at 12 a.m. Friday, Oct. 1 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 31. To apply, visit wiu.edu/apply. For more information about WIU scholarships, visit wiu.edu/scholarships.  Read More

Phone Rings! Door Chimes! “Company” is coming to The Black Box Theatre of the Quad Cities ! Company is a 1970 musical comedy with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim (Assasins, Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd) and book by George Furth. The original production was nominated for a record-setting 14 Tony Awards, and won six. Originally titled Threes, its story revolves around Robert (a single man unable to commit fully to a steady relationship, let alone marriage), the five married couples who are his best friends, and his three girlfriends. Unlike most book musicals, which follow... Read More

FALL FLAVORS HAVE ARRIVED at Whitey’s Ice Cream stores!!! Swing by any of the stores for Carrot Cake, Peppermint Oreo and German Chocolate Cake!  Read More

The Western Illinois University School of Music will host a faculty recital in the College of Fine Arts and Communication Recital Hall at 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10 as part of the University’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. This performance is open free for limited general audience seating, but due to the restrictions currently in place, patrons are being asked to scan the QR code and enter contact information upon arrival in the lobby (for contact tracing purposes) and maintain proper social distancing. Ushers will also be able to gather information for those who might need assistance.... Read More

BREAKING NEWS: California is becoming the first state to mandate covid-19 vaccines for kids attending school once the shots are federally approved for their age groups, and with Illinois following many of the same paths as the most-populous U.S. state, could Illinois be next? Several school districts in California are already requiring the vaccine for students, and the statewide mandate will begin for grades 7-12, then move to K-6, by summer 2022, pending FDA approval of the vaccines for those age groups. “These requirements are working, across the country,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom said.... Read More

Playcrafters Barn Theatre is proud to present “Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks” written by Richard Alfieri. The show runs October 1-3, 8-10, Friday & Saturday 7:30PM and Sunday 3PM. Tickets are available at playcrafters.com/shows/lessons or you can make a reservation by calling 309-762-0330. The comedy is rated PG-13 for Adult Themes. It’s directed by Jennifer Kingry, and stars Stephanie Naab and Adam Cerny. Lily, an aging but formidable retiree, hires Michael, an acerbic dance instructor, to give her dance lessons in her condo in St. Petersburg Beach, Florida. Antagonism between... Read More

A new Spotlight Theatre production of the beloved musical, “Little Shop of Horrors” is creeping into the Moline theater this weekend! Directed by Spotlight co-owner Brent Tubbs, and starring Jacob Johnson as Seymour and Becca Johnson (no relation) as Audrey, the Alan Menken/Howard Ashman musical is a dream come true for all three. It runs at 7 p.m. Oct. 1-2 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3 at 1800 7th Ave., Moline. Based on a Roger Corman B-movie, non-musical cult classic (1960), in the 1982 off-Broadway hit, the meek floral assistant Seymour Krelborn stumbles across a new breed of plant he... Read More