MOLINE, IL – A collaborative research paper about Quad Cities bicycle trails by one Western Illinois University graduate student and one alumna, along with their professor, has been projected to “make a major contribution to the field,” with its findings related to diversity among those who use the trails. Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration (RPTA) graduate student Sadie Parker, of Redlands, CA, and RPTA alumna Haily Hinson, of Hohenwald, TN, are in the process of making edits to their paper, “Spatial Accessibility of Bicycle Routes in the Quad Cities: Impacts for Environmental... Read More

Two short films made by Quad-Cities youth will be shown online tonight at 6:30 p.m., through the Urban Exposure Independent Film Program. Jonathan Burnett, founder and creative director for the program, completed his sixth year programming and premiering short films by young adults. However, this year things were a little different. Because of the pandemic, Urban Exposure moved everything to the video conferencing platform, ZOOM. Instructors taught all the lessons through ZOOM, which allowed them to bring in guest speakers who work in the film industry to advise participants, Burnett said Thursday. This... Read More

MACOMB, IL – An original composition by Western Illinois University Music Professor John Cooper will be featured in a documentary that debuts on YouTube Thursday, Oct. 15. “The Governor of Forgottonia” composition is a tribute to Neal Gamm and his peaceful protests about the lack of funding western Illinois has received for road construction projects. The documentary, “People, Places, and Power: Fulton County Edition,” was produced by Matt Meachum, of the Illinois Humanities Council. “As a returning Vietnam veteran and theatre major at WIU, Gamm and others waged... Read More

The Quad-Cities ranks number 79 among the top 150 best places to live in the nation, and the sixth most affordable, according to U.S. News & World Report. The report, released this week, represents a pretty good win in economic development. U.S. News analyzed 150 metro areas in the U.S. to find the best places to live, based on quality of life and the job market in each metro area, as well as the value of living there and people’s desire to live there. The report used 2019 figures, showing the Q-C with a 4.2% unemployment rate (it was twice that as of August 2020), metro population of... Read More

Join The Spotlight Theatre (1800 7th Ave Moline) this Friday Oct 16 and Saturday Oct 17 at 7 p.m. and Sunday Oct 18 at 2 p.m. for a Spooky Spotlight Spectacular: A Halloween Cabaret! Doors open one hour prior to showtime. Featuring performances by local singers, this fun filled night of Spooky Songs will be the perfect night to get you into the mood of Halloween! Come in costume to be entered to win various prizes! Cost is $20 in advance, and tickets can be purchased at https://www.thespotlighttheatreqc.com/cabarets. Tickets are $25 at the door. Seating is limited to 50 people per show, and masks... Read More

MACOMB, IL – Two members of Western Illinois University’s Housing staff have been honored at the national level for their work to make the University’s campus safer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Assistant Director of Residence Life Jessica Butcher and Assistant Director of Residential Administration Bridget McCormick were honored by the Heroes Program of the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International (ACUHO-I). The program recognizes the leadership of campus professionals during times of significant challenge. Butcher and McCormick were nominated for the... Read More

Josh Duffee and Carol Schaefer are two Davenport men who are passionate about one of Davenport’s most famous natives. They are the newest winners of the Bix Lives award, given each year since 2007 to people who exemplify what it means to keep Bix Beiderbecke’s legacy alive. Leon “Bix” Beiderbecke (1903-1931) is a legendary Davenport native, cornetist and pianist for whom an annual jazz festival and three-year-old museum in Davenport are named. The Bix Beiderbecke Museum and World Archives (at the lower level of River Music Experience, 2nd and Main streets) announced Duffee and Schaefer... Read More

The legacy of an influential early Quad City Arts leader lives on in countless local artists, art supporters, and a huge sculpture in one of the area’s most beautiful parks. The regional nonprofit (based in Rock Island and serving six counties) is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Lloyd Schoeneman began working for Quad City Arts in 1978 as a resident artist, teaching art to many groups including children, the elderly, the disabled and the incarcerated. He worked for Quad City Arts for 22 years, including as executive director of the Quad City Arts Council when the organization, along... Read More

Got a perfect pupper? A great good boi? A darn awesome doggo? QuadCities.com wants to feature your dog in our new Pupper Of The Week feature! Just send a picture of your pet with their name, your name, and a sentence or two about them and we’ll post their pic and story on QuadCities.com. Message your doggo pics and info to Sean@QuadCities.com. And get ready to check out some cool doggos on your site for fun, free, local entertainment and features, QuadCities.com! This week’s pupper is Senor Squeaks, the doggo of Jackson Leary! Senor Squeaks also goes by the names Senor, Squeeko, Cheeko, and... Read More

Royal Neighbors of America boasts a long, impressive legacy of doing good. And as it celebrates its 125th anniversary this year, the Rock Island-based, women-led life insurer and fraternal organization is continuing that history in a special way. To celebrate all the ways we can continue to make a difference in our own neighborhoods, Royal Neighbors has launched a 125 Random Acts of Kindness campaign. During October, November, and December, the company is encouraging its 215,000-plus members (and the general public) to do one purposeful, kind thing for someone else. “It won’t cost you much,... Read More