An Illinois Junior High, Edison Junior High School in Rock Island, has been closed effective immediately due to a major spike in covid-19 cases, the Rock Island School District announced today. Edison will close for an adaptive pause due to an increase in positive cases of Covid-19, the announcement said. In an e-mail, the District didn’t mention the number of cases but did say there was a rapid spike in the number of both students and staff having contracted and in quarantine from covid cases and potential exposure. The decision to close the school was made after consultation with the Rock... Read More

Alongside your turkey, pumpkin pie, and mashed potatoes, should we expect to see masks once more at Thanksgiving dinner this year? It’s looking like it. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker talked to the media at an event to showcase him getting his covid-19 booster shot (Pfizer) and didn’t rule that out. Pritzker said there’s a possibility he might lift the statewide indoor mask mandate in time for the holidays, but he doesn’t see it happening any time soon. Given that there’s only three weeks until Thanksgiving, it’s not looking promising. “What we’re trying to evaluate... Read More

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed a law protecting workers from having to comply with covid mandates at the office if they have religious or other exemptions to them. On Friday night, Reynolds signed the bill that would allow employees to escape employer covid mandates, including vaccination mandates, and allow greater use of medical and religious exemptions for people to refuse covid restrictions. The Iowa House and Senate had passed the bill Thursday. It makes it tougher for businesses to Kim Reynolds require employees to be vaccinated or submit to other covid protocols such as regular testing.... Read More

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is ready to sign a new amendment that would allow employers to fire workers for refusing covid protocols including mandatory vaccinations, reports say. The Health Care Right of Conscience Act amendment bans employees from using their moral beliefs as a reason to refuse to comply with a workplace’s covid mandates, which could include mandatory vaccinations. The Illinois Senate voted 31-24 to approve the proposal late Thursday night. This measure passed out of the House on a 64-52-2 vote Wednesday. The new amendment now heads to Gov. JB Pritzker to be signed into... Read More

Genesis Medical Center-Davenport will continue to treat and care for trauma patients after being re-verified as a Level III Trauma Care Facility by the Iowa Department of Public Health’s (IDPH) Bureau of Emergency and Trauma Services. The reverification is for a three-year period. The Level III reverification means that the hospital has demonstrated an ability to provide prompt assessment, resuscitation, surgery, intensive care, and stabilization of injured patients and emergency operations. “We are pleased to be acknowledged for the quality trauma care that Genesis provides for our community,”... Read More

BREAKING: Illinois employers could very soon be allowed to fire employees who refuse to get vaccinated or comply with other covid-19 regulations. The Health Care Right of Conscience Act amendment bans employees from using their moral beliefs as a reason to refuse to comply with a workplace’s covid mandates, which could include mandatory vaccinations. The Illinois Senate voted 31-24 to approve the proposal late Thursday night. This measure passed out of the House on a 64-52-2 vote Wednesday. The new amendment now heads to Gov. JB Pritzker to be signed into the law, and it certainly looks... Read More

LATEST: Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed a bill that would allow employees to escape employer covid mandates, including vaccination mandates, and allow greater use of medical and religious exemptions for people to refuse covid restrictions. On Friday night, Reynolds signed the bill, which the Iowa House and Senate had passed Thursday. It makes it tougher for businesses to require employees to be vaccinated or submit to other covid protocols such as regular testing. The bill gives greater leeway for employees to claim medical and religious exemptions against covid employer mandates and guarantees... Read More

Hundreds of women (and men) are expected to attend the annual Quad Cities Go Red for Women Event on October 28 to raise funds to fight heart disease and stroke, the #1 killer of women. The event begins at 5:00 p.m. at Waterfront Convention Center. Go Red For Women is the American Heart Association’s nationwide movement that celebrates the energy, passion and power of women banding together to wipe out heart disease, the number one killer of women. The event includes an engaging and entertaining program, story from a local heart survivor, a heart-healthy dinner, silent auction, and other  opportunities... Read More

Illinois employers could be allowed to fire employees who refuse to get vaccinated or comply with other covid-19 regulations if a new mandate from Governor JB Pritzker is implemented. The Health Care Right of Conscience Act amendment would not allow employees to use their moral beliefs as a reason to refuse to comply with a workplace’s covid mandates, which could include mandatory vaccinations. State legislators are expected to take up the measure this week. The Health Care Right of Conscience Act has actually been a law since 1998 and was driven by healthcare providers having moral objections... Read More

The Genesis Flu-Free Quad Cities program will offer four family vaccination clinics providing protection against seasonal influenza Tuesday, Oct. 26 at TaxSlayer Center, Moline, from 3-6 p.m.; and, Wednesday, Oct. 27 from 3-6 p.m. at Brady Street Stadium, Davenport. These clinics will provide free seasonal influenza vaccinations to all ages. Genesis Flu-Free Quad Cities has provided more than 100,000 free flu vaccinations since the origin of the program in 2007. The vaccinations are available at elementary schools throughout the region. Consent forms for vaccination are required. The form can be... Read More