UPDATED: Iowa covid-19 numbers are soaring to record rates, on pace for a “100 percent infection rate” for the state, according to numbers from the Iowa Department of Public Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Covid Act Now, a not-for-profit data aggregation center affiliated with the medical departments of Harvard, Stanford and Georgetown Universities. “COVID cases are exponentially growing and/or Iowa’s COVID preparedness is significantly below international standards,” according to Covid Act Now. “Over the last week, Iowa has averaged 3,599... Read More

BREAKING NEWS: Every person in the Quad-Cities and surrounding communities could end up infected with covid-19 if cases continue at current rates through the fall of 2021, according to latest statistics from the Illinois Department of Health and Covid Act Now, a not-for-profit national data aggregation website affiliated with the medical departments of Stanford, Harvard and Georgetown Universities. “On average, each person in Rock Island County, Illinois with COVID is infecting 1.17 other people. As such, the total number of active cases in Rock Island County, Illinois is growing at an unsustainable... Read More

Regina Catholic High School are the Iowa Class A State Football Champions! The Regals defeated Grundy Center 52 -28 in a lopsided game which saw them up 31-7 at half before cruising to the title. According to the school’s Facebook page, Regina Catholic Education Center seeks to build a school community where learners grow in knowledge, self-esteem, spirituality, respect for others, and a sense of social responsibility. The school welcomes students and families of all religious backgrounds. Regina, a K-12 center, provides challenging learning instruction in a caring, faith-focused... Read More

Quad-Cities stores are far from flush with toilet paper. With new covid-19 restrictions in place for the Iowa and Illinois Quad-Cities, toilet paper is flying off the shelves again in local stores, although other staple food and supply items seem to be remaining stable on shelves. A visit to six area locations — two Targets, a Walmart, a Sam’s Club, and two HyVee stores — showed that shelves are barren in some, but still in ok shape in others. Iowa side stores seem to be in more of a frenzy, given Governor Kim Reynolds’ proclamations and immediate restrictions put in place... Read More

Today is the first day of Iowa’s new covid mitigation plan, but how does the new mandate impact you and your life? At midnight last night, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds implemented new rules to mitigate the spread of covid-19 in Iowa. The rules impacted all state bars and gathering places, eliminated all sporting events under high school age, and severely limited the number of people able to gather together. What are the rules and how do they potentially change your life and your family’s? Here’s the rundown: When in an indoor public space and unable to socially distance, masks are... Read More

BREAKING NEWS: Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds just announced sweeping new rules to mitigate the spread of covid-19 in Iowa taking place at midnight which will impact all state bars and gathering places, eliminate all sporting events under high school age, and severely limit the number of people able to gather together. In a press conference shortly after 6 p.m. tonight, Reynolds said that starting at midnight tonight, the following mitigation rules will be in effect: When in an indoor public space and unable to socially distance, masks are required to be worn by all, and masks will be required to be... Read More

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker sounded a somber and sometimes irritated note during his daily press conference on covid-19 today, warning “we’re in for a very difficult few months” and saying we might very soon get to a point where he has “no other choice than to have a mandatory shutdown.” “What will it take to make this real for you?” Pritzker said. “Do we have to reach a positivity rate of 50 percent like we’re seeing in Iowa today? Are you waiting for your health care workers to get sick to a point where you don’t have enough staff in the local... Read More

UPDATED — The Illinois Quad-Cities could see another mandatory stay-at-home order as soon as next week if numbers in our region continue to soar. The Quad-Cities has exploded in its number of cases and is now inside the top ten most rapidly spiking hot spots nationwide, sitting at number 7 today, according to CDC numbers. In his media address today, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said that the rapidly spiking numbers statewide — with numbers in some regions doubling daily — could lead to another statewide mandatory stay-at-home order similar to the one imposed in the spring,... Read More

As the rising number of Quad-Cities covid-19 cases put it near the top 10 worst covid hot spots in the United States, and other Iowa communities already fill the top 10, Iowa is enacting a number of mask and social distancing mandates to curb the spread of covid-19. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds’ proclamation prohibits indoor gatherings of 25 or more people, and outdoor gatherings of more than 100 people, unless mandatory mask procedures are observed. Groups at bars and restaurants are limited to eight people unless everyone is part of the same household, and individuals must remain seated... Read More

Juan Carlos Mendoza has sung in some pretty prestigious places – including New York City’s Juilliard School, and the Lyric Opera and Grant Park Music Festival in Chicago. But recording two recent recitals at the Muscatine Art Center may be among the most meaningful so far in the young tenor’s career. Mendoza, a Mexican-American 34-year-old, is a Muscatine native and last month he filmed two solo programs in the 1921 music room in the Muscatine mansion at 1314 Mulberry Ave., as a partnership with Moline-based Living Proof Exhibit (LPE). The first 20-minute program — accompanied by Jessica... Read More