Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17), a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured $10 million for the Quad Cities Manufacturing Lab and $400,000 for small business-focused programming at Western Illinois University’s (WIU) Quad-Cities campus in a major funding package. The package has passed the House and will be voted on by the Senate and signed into law by President Biden in the coming days. “As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, my top priority is bringing taxpayer dollars back home to support our communities,” said Congresswoman... Read More

Moline author Jason Platt’s latest book for young adults, “Middle School Misadventures: Dance Disaster” is going to be available worldwide on Little Brown publishing on April 5! Jason will be doing book signings around the area after its release. Preorder at: middleschoolmisadventures.com/books !    Read More

Project NOW and the Moline Public Library are launching a new book group to explore important community issues – housing, economics, education, healthcare, and justice. The Rooting Out Poverty Book Discussion Group begins on Tuesday, March 29 at 6:30pm at the library (3210 41st Street, Moline). Future discussion dates and titles will be shared at this meeting. The first book selection for Rooting Out Poverty is Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond. Discussion will be facilitated by Dwight Ford (Executive Director, Project NOW). Registration is required for this... Read More

The award-winning documentary “Jean Seberg: Actress Activist Icon” will have its broadcast premiere on WQPT-Quad Cities PBS and screen one time on Sunday, March 27 at 7 p.m. The film was produced by Mid-America Emmy Award winners Kelly and Tammy Rundle of Fourth Wall Films, and Regional Emmy-nominated filmmaker Garry McGee of McMarr, Ltd. Selected from 18,000 aspiring actresses world-wide at age 17, Marshalltown, Iowa’s Jean Seberg made her acting debut in Otto Preminger’s 1957 Saint Joan and starred in Hollywood films Lilith with Warren Beatty, Paint Your Wagon with Clint Eastwood,... Read More

Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati, Western Illinois University Vice President of Quad Cities Campus Operations Kristi Mindrup, Lindsay Meeker of the WIU College of Education and Human Services, and Ron Clewer of Gorman & Associates have opened up a new partnership that will expand childcare options in an effort to return more people to the workforce and fill long-vacant commercial space in downtown Moline. WIU-QC will establish the Spanish Bilingual Early Learning and Family Empowerment Lab in the first-floor commercial space of the Enterprise Lofts building. Bolstering childcare options in Moline... Read More

The Western Illinois University School of Music will host the Lanta Horn Duo, made up of Katy Ambrose and Lauren Hunt, for a masterclass and guest artist recital Wednesday, March 9. “Amplifying Women’s Voices” is a program of music performed and composed by female-identifying musicians. The concert will be both in-person and livestreamed. The day’s schedule of events includes: • 1 – 2:30 pm: Masterclass with Lanta Horn Duo and WIU Horn Studio Performers (Browne Hall, 215) • 7:30 pm: Guest Artist Recital, “Amplifying Women’s Voices.” Ambrose and... Read More

Oz Noy Trio, with Dennis Chambers & Jimmy Haslip are playing at Rascals, 1418 15th St., Moline, at 7 p.m. Thursday March 17! Doors open at 7, show is 7:30 p.m. Tickets available at http://www.rascalslive.com; Reserved Table for 4 $180, Reserved Seat $45, Day Of Show G.A. $55. All Tickets Non-Refundable. All Ages. The many accolades and associated acts of this trio are worldly impressive and far too many to do justice toeach of these virtuoso musicians. Please honor your musical soul and visit each of their websites.In brevity, Oz Noy won the highly acclaimed Guitar Player magazine readers... Read More

With St. Patrick’s Day coming up, it’s your lucky time for good news in the Quad-Cities! Every month, in conjunction with our partners at KWQC-TV6’s “Paula Sands Live,” we present What’s The Good News, a look around at cool things happening in and around the Quad-Cities. So, what’s the good news for March? Glad you asked! Local Author Jason Platt’s Latest ‘Middle School Misadventures’ Out In April! Moline author Jason Platt’s latest book for young adults, “Middle School Misadventures: Dance Disaster” is going to be available worldwide on Little Brown publishing on April... Read More

The Geodeland Earth Science Clubs, Inc. (GESCI) will host its 41st annual Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, March 12, and from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, March 13 in the Western Illinois University Union Grand Ballroom. Parking and admission are free. The theme of this year’s show is “Red Minerals and Illinois Fossils.” There will be a featured display in the center of the Grand Ballroom. The GESCI Show will include 10 dealers in minerals, fossils, jewelry and equipment. There will be displays of geodes, minerals, fossils, and many other earth science objects.... Read More

The School of Music at Western Illinois University, will present its 35th annual New Music Festival 2022 Monday-Tuesday, March 7-8. The events that make up the festival will be held in Browne Hall and in the College of Fine Arts and Communication Recital Hall. The festival is being directed by WIU School of Music Professor James Romig and Assistant Professor Hong-Da Chin, both composition faculty. This year’s featured performer is cellist Craig Hultgren and the featured composer is Baljinder Sekhon. Hultgren has performed as a cellist with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra and has taught at... Read More