Western Illinois University Director of Creative and Marketing Services Jessica Lambert has been named the Al and Elaine Goldfarb Civil Service Employee of the Month for September 2021. Lambert began working at WIU in 2010 as a Web Specialist I in University Relations. She was reallocated by audit to the title of Webmaster in 2011. In June 2017, her title was changed to Creative Digital Integration Associate and again in August 2017 to Creative and Digital Integration Manager through an audit. She was named to her current title in May 2020. According to Lambert’s nominator, her outreach to... Read More

The Quad Cities Community Foundation today announced the recipients of a total of $566,000 through its Coordinated Field of Interest Grant program. Made possible by donors to the Community Foundation, this year’s program pools resources from 11 different Field of Interest Funds as well as the Quad Cities Community Impact Fund. The Coordinated Field of Interest Grant program represents one of the largest single grantmaking distributions made by the Community Foundation each year. Grants from the program cover a variety of specific focus areas, from basic needs and health to community development... Read More

A long-standing hallmark of the Western Illinois University Physics Department has been the commitment of faculty to provide one-on-one research experiences to both graduate and undergraduate students. The efforts of the faculty in mentoring and professional development of students extends beyond graduation, as exemplified by the recent research accomplishments of the Astrophysics Research Laboratory. WIU Physics Professor Esteban Araya, lead of the laboratory, said most scientific projects in physics take many years of research to complete, and typically a project extends well beyond the time... Read More

In a way, we’ve all been singing the blues the past 18 months. So area blues fans will be in heaven with the return of the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival this weekend. Following the pandemic-plagued 2020, when the Blues Fest was cancelled along with so many events, the all-volunteer Mississippi Valley Blues Society (MVBS) is roaring back to life with the new two-day musical extravaganza, Friday and Saturday at Davenport’s LeClaire Park. Bob Clevenstine, board president for the MVBS, is thrilled with the fest mainstage and tent stage lineups. The main performers will be: Main Stage Friday... Read More

The River Music Experience and Underground Economy are presenting “Underground Xperience,” Friday, Sept. 17 at 8 p.m. at the RME, 2nd and Main streets Davenport. The concert – featuring local soul, hip-hop, R & B and reggae artists – is for those 19 and up (minors must be accompanied by an adult), and admission is $10. Performers will be Soultru, Big Man G, BN WhoIAm, and The Wontu Trees. The Underground Xperience is an occasional showcase of homegrown talent, chiefly focusing on the genres of soul, rap, R&B, and spoken word, according to concert organizer Josh Graves, owner of... Read More

Quinn Mei Lysaght majored in musical theater at Pittsburgh’s Point Park University, but she had the misfortune to graduate in spring 2020, when the world shut down due to Covid-19. Luckily, the world’s turned around – she took Manhattan by moving there Aug. 1, and Lysaght is making her regional theater debut in Circa ‘21’s new production of the wacky, naughty musical, “Disenchanted!” – based on some very well-known Disney heroines. She is literally living a dream playing three roles: Hua Mulan, Pocahontas, and Princess Badroulbadour, thrilled to be part of the Q-C premiere of what... Read More

Omaha native and LA resident Kil Theodrick (as seen on Netflix, Hulu, Comedy Central) is coming through the Quad Cities while on tour for a surprise one night only event at 7 p.m. Thursday! Don’t miss your chance to see Kil live before you’re seeing him on your TV weekly. Hosted by Joshua Kahn Also Featuring Mike Adrales (QC) Steve Jennings (QC) Jameson Cox (Des Moines) Todd Willhite (QC) Aloe Mean (Des Moines) Dan Umthun (Des Moine) Doors are 6:30pm / Show 7pm Tickets $10 by calling the Circa 21 Box Office at 309-786-7733 ext.2 or at www.thecirca21speakeasy.com Tickets are $12 at the door To... Read More

BREAKING NEWS: There’s going to be a new restaurant bringing the spice to Rock Island — and it’s an old favorite on the local foodie scene. Bayside Bistro is opening up it’s second location at 2704 18th Avenue in Rock Island, Illinois. (For those trying to place that spot, it’s in the old Spagos building across from Dunkin Donuts and next to Rudys.) That joins their previous location at 1105 Christie Street, in the Village of East Davenport. “We look forward to serving our great customers on both sides of the (Mississippi) River,” the owners, LaTisha and... Read More

Skubie Mageza, one of the brightest stars in the local broadcast journalism galaxy, is getting a chance to glow up at a much higher level — on the gold standard for national sports coverage, ESPN. According to a story on the website of Mageza’s local employer, KWQC-TV6, the on-air personality is joining ESPN as a digital sports host, doing sideline reporting for college football and other events nationwide. Mageza had been a sports anchor and reporter for TV6 for three years, and from the time of his arrival, was an engaging and fun on-air personality. Mageza started his new gig on... Read More

QC Pride is celebrating with the bi-state Pride Parade Saturday! QC Pride parade’s starting location will be Iowa and 2nd St. in downtown Davenport, Iowa with the route ending at Western Avenue. Start time is 11 a.m. Spectators should gather on 2nd St. along the parade route. As a spectator, you’re invited to join the parade along the route when the last float passes you. If you would like to participate in the parade, please message this page or visit https://qcunitypride.org/ to download an application. If you have any questions, please contact us at QCUnityPride@gmail.com or 563-324-8281. The... Read More