DAVENPORT – The Figge Art Museum will celebrate Quad-Cities Pride starting Saturday with its first dual virtual/gallery exhibition. Works by Cedar Rapids-based photojournalist Andy Abeyta will be in the Figge’s second-floor Lewis Gallery once the museum reopens, but will also be available Saturday, May 2, for online viewing at figgeartmuseum.org. The exhibit features 11 of Abeyta’s joyous and vibrant images of the 2019 QC Pridefest, part of the QC Pride’s Unity Pride Week, which is being postponed this year. “QC Pride is dedicated to promoting awareness and visibility of the LGBTQ+ community... Read More

Along with the usual characters like Thomas the Train Engine, Elmo and Blue, you might see some familiar faces on PBS Kids this week. Local PBS station WQPT has debuted a new commercial playing between shows (technically called an interstitial) featuring a number of Quad-Cities kids doing a variety of activities during the past few weeks of coronavirus quarantine. “The idea for the spot came watching my neighbors’ sons riding their bikes on our frontage road,” said Lora Adams of WQPT. “They’re the only kids around and I saw them making their own fun as they played on their own.” With... Read More

Like most others during this crazy Covid crisis, arts organizations locally and nationally are struggling to find financial help. Though four individual artists recently got some funding, no Quad-Cities arts groups – all reeling from the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic — were helped in the first round of $191,000 from the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs (IDCA). The first relief grants this month were limited to artists and very small nonprofits, including Q-C artists Courtney Lyon (dance), Lojo Russo (music), Matthew Terry (visual art) and Pat Bereskin (art and art education). In... Read More

Are you an LGBTQ+ adult in the Quad Cities looking to stay connected to your community during COVID-19? Join The Project Quad Cities for a FREE virtual book club! Just fill out a quick RSVP form so The Project can collect an address to ship the book to. Reserve your spot by April 28. Please note there are only have ten (10) spots available. They will take registrations on a first come first serve basis. If they cannot accept your registration, they will inform you via email. Virtual meeting information will be shared with those who RSVP via email. Discussion Date: Monday, May 18 Discussion Time:... Read More

According to an announcement just made by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, all Iowa schools will remain closed through the end of the school year, with distance learning via computer remaining in place through the end of the curriculum year. Chicago’s NBC 5 just broke the story, and QuadCities.com broke the story locally, that Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker will be making an announcement at 2:30 p.m. today closing all Illinois schools through the end of the current curriculum year. According to the Iowa story posted by KWWL News 7 Iowa City, the state school districts will be required to continue... Read More

According to a story released a few minutes ago on Chicago’s NBC 5 affiliate, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker will be making an announcement closing Illinois schools for the remainder of the school year today at 2:30 p.m. The announcement will be part of Pritzker’s daily coronavirus briefing, which you can watch live here According to the story, distance learning via computer, which was put in place over the past week, will remain in effect through the end of this current school year. There was no information regarding graduation ceremonies, other events, or grading or other policies. The... Read More

Even in the midst of this terrible time, there’s always some good news, always people rising above the depressing and dark news out there and trying their best to do good works and be positive in this world. And every month, I, in conjunction with our media partners at KWQC-TV6’s “Paula Sands Live” bring you some of the positive and uplifting events, actions and individuals in the area. Here are some of the great things going on during this challenging time in the Quad-Cities: Mask Makers Stepping Up In the face of a shortage of masks and a greater need than ever for people... Read More

QUAD CITIES, IOWA / ILLINOIS—Quad Citizens raised $102,376 on Monday, April 6, during the 24-hour “Unite Quad Cities for COVID-19 Recovery” giving event spearheaded by KWQC TV6, United Way of the Quad Cities, and the Quad Cities Community Foundation. All contributions supported the Quad Cities Disaster Recovery Fund at the Quad Cities Community Foundation. Every single dollar donated during the event was matched dollar-for-dollar thanks to a challenge from First Midwest Bank, Sears Seating, Modern Woodmen of America, MidAmerican Energy, and Mike and Monique Gorsline. The group has committed... Read More

“Unite Quad Cities for COVID-19 Recovery,” a 24-hour giving event on Monday, April 6, will include a six-hour telethon hosted by KWQC-TV6’s Paula Sands at Davenport’s River Music Experience and Quad-Cities businesses, and a local family, have stepped up to offer a challenge match for it. The first $150,000 donated this Monday will be matched dollar-for-dollar. All contributions will support the Quad Cities Disaster Recovery Fund at the Quad Cities Community Foundation. The challenge match is made possible thanks to a $50,000 gift from First Midwest Bank, a $30,000 gift from Sears... Read More

My son Jackson turned twelve this week. He is undeniably the best person I’ve ever had the honor of meeting, and I’m looking forward to continuing to experience the adventure of his life with him. And as that time goes by, he may ask me for the advice I’ve gained in my years before him and since he’s been born. That’s why I started writing this list of things I’ve learned and I wish my parents had told me. I started it shortly after he was born, and I’ve added to it and published it every year on his birthday since, and, now, I’ve published it in... Read More