BREAKING NEWS: As the covid-19 delta variant rips through Iowa, a fierce battle is raging between Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Supreme Court over mask mandates and further mitigations. On Friday, the chief justice of the Iowa Supreme Court, Susan Christensen, whom Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds appointed in 2018, signed an order making masks mandatory in public areas controlled by the court ruling — regardless of vaccination status —  clashing with Reynolds’ state law banning mask mandates in public schools and other public areas. Christensen based her order on recommendations... Read More

BREAKING NEWS: Illinois is expanding mental health programs for farmers and those working in agricultural programs, Gov. JB Pritzker announced this morning at the Illinois Farm Progress Show, the nation’s largest outdoor farm event. Farmers’ mental health is being addressed and helped by the new program, which is especially crucial during the spiking covid-19 pandemic, Pritzker said. “No industry merges innovation and tradition quite like this one,” Pritkzer said, “and doing so while maintaining sustenance, which is integral for our communities. That is no small responsibility... Read More

East Moline has canceled its Labor Day Parade, originally slated for Sept. 6, due to rising covid-19 cases in the area. There was no announcement as to whether it would be rescheduled, and it’s assumed it will not return until next year.  Read More

Milan has canceled its Labor Day fireworks show originally scheduled for Sept. 6 due to the rise in covid-19 cases locally and because of potential danger of forest fires because of the dry weather. “We canceled the fireworks on July 3rd because of the COVID pandemic,” said Milan Mayor Duane Dawson. “We are canceling again because of increasing COVID numbers and the danger of fire from the dryness of the weather. We hope to resume the show next July.”  Read More

Kevin Hines, one of the world’s leading suicide-prevention advocates, will be the keynote speaker for “Can’t Replace You” – a conference Thursday, Sept. 30 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Ballroom, 226 17th St., Rock Island, presented by Foster’s Voice and The Gray Matters Collective. Foster’s Voice, Inc., is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping others with depression and advocating for suicide awareness and prevention. It’s named for Foster Atwood, a 19-year-old United Township grad struggling with depression who took his life on July 21, 2017. The Gray Matters,... Read More

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently signed an Executive Order that requires all Illinois higher education employees and students, as well as K-12 employees, receive the COVID-19 vaccine. For employees and students who cannot, or will not, get vaccinated, the governor has also mandated weekly COVID testing, which is already in place at WIU. Those individuals who are unvaccinated and who attend classes and/or work on either of our WIU campuses (Macomb and Quad Cities) must comply with the required weekly testing to avoid disciplinary action. Test clinics (saliva-based tests) are held on both the... Read More

Illinois is back under statewide restrictions TODAY in response to rising covid-19 numbers. What do Illinois residents need to know about the restrictions, and how could there possibly be MORE restrictions coming in the future? Illinois Governor JB Pritzker announced last week that beginning today, there would be new statewide restrictions to attempt to stop the spread of the virulent new delta variant, particularly among unvaccinated people, who have been hit particularly hard by it. “Nearly all Illinoisans who are hospitalized are those who are unvaccinated. From January to July, 98 percent... Read More

At the same time there is concern about the spread of COVID-19 to teens and younger children, another virus is making an unusual summer appearance. Respiratory syncytial virus, commonly referred to as RSV, is usually not serious in adults but can become serious and require hospitalization in babies and young children. The symptoms of RSV can resemble those of COVID-19, including cough, fever and congestion. Genesis Health Group pediatricians and pediatrics hospital units in Davenport and Silvis have experienced an early start to “RSV season,’’ which is usually in late fall and winter. COVID-19... Read More

Illinois returns to a new mask mandate and other restrictions TOMORROW due to the spread of the delta variant of covid-19 across the state, Gov. JB Pritzker announced this week. What does that mean for YOU and what are the new restrictions? Everyone is required to wear a mask indoors in public settings — everywhere from businesses to government buildings to other venues — and to social distance at outdoor events. The mask mandate applies to anyone over the age of two, regardless of vaccination status, echoing the same mask mandate brought back to Chicago two weeks ago, and to Cook County... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Western Illinois University faculty, staff, and students will be required to participate in the University’s weekly COVID-19 testing program. Individuals may opt out of testing if proof of vaccination is provided. Testing will be required each week for those individuals who have not received a COVID-19 vaccination. WIU-Macomb COVID-19 Fall 2021 test clinics began Monday, Aug. 23. Fall 2021 test clinics on the Macomb campus will be held from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday thru Thursday in the WIU Student Recreation Center MAC Gym (south gym). Test clinics will be held in Riverfront... Read More