Summer reading and events at the Rock Island Public Library begin the first week of June in full technicolor style with a summer reading “colorama” kickoff, a take-home pinwheel kit for kids, the start of Summer2Go events around the library bookmobile, a Friends and Family seminar with NAMI, and more. Through July 31, Reading Colors Your World summer reading challenges and events at the Rock Island Public Library will encourage readers of all ages to be creative, try new things, explore art and color, and see the beauty of diversity. Library summer reading programs help children and teens... Read More

Pop Art pioneers Roy Lichtenstein, Takashi Murakami, Andy Warhol, and more will truly pop at Figge Art Museum this summer with Pop Power from Warhol to Koons: Masterworks from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation. The newest exhibition to arrive at the Figge (225 W. St., Davenport) features more than 100 works that have never been seen in the Quad-Cities before. An exclusive members-only preview will open the powerhouse exhibition on Friday, June 25 with a special tour given by Jordan D. Schnitzer, who has collected the masterpieces in the show throughout his life. The... Read More

“What’s all this pickle stuff?” Someone had the gall to ask me this yesterday. “All this pickle wrap stuff… what is it? Why is everyone posting about it? I don’t know what they’re talking about.” That’s a tragedy, folks. A real tragedy. An absolute shame that someone should be so ignorant and ill-informed on something so vital and important to our local well-being and civil moral and social fabric. But being a responsible journalist, I felt I needed to educate this person. And so, too, any of you who might be wondering what exactly has been... Read More

Western Illinois University sophomore Kanika Palecanda, of Laramie, WY, and sophomore Madalynn Boyd, of Plymouth, IL, have been awarded this year’s Elkin-Larkin Award, given to outstanding students in the University Advising program. Palecanda and Boyd were chosen for the awards based on their outstanding academic background and their University involvement. They were each awarded $250 for the Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 semesters and their names will be added to a permanent plaque in the First Year Advising Center. The award is given in honor of the late Robert Elkin and the late Jeanne Larkin,... Read More

Words and art are my business – as tools, objects of affection, contemplation and worship, ways to make sense and meaning of life – as they are for “Red,” the brilliant, caustic, literate John Logan play given a fantastic, thrilling new production by Mississippi Bend Players at Augustana College. Over an emotional 90-minute rollercoaster — in an action-packed, dialogue-dense one act, first-class director Cait Bodenbender and peerless actors Mike Schulz and Tristan Odenkirk grab your attention and never let go. It’s as riveting, passionate, thought-provoking – and deeply committed... Read More

For over a decade, students sitting for the Pre-SAT, high school sophomores and juniors, have reported an increased interest in the field of Engineering. In some specialties, a 67% increase was seen from 2012 to 2018. Augustana has answered the call from students across the globe and will launch an engineering program beginning this fall. “More and more, students are seeking an accredited engineering program to launch their careers full of natural curiosities and problem solving,” says Dr. Wendy Hilton-Morrow, provost at Augustana. “The opportunity to study engineering at a liberal arts... Read More

Moline-based John Deere  — which started River Bend Food Bank in 1982 in response to the ’80s farm crisis — committed Thursday to donate $1.7 million to the Food Bank in 2021, part of a planned $7 million through the John Deere Foundation over the rest of this decade. In 2020, with Deere’s continued investment, the Food Bank distributed more than 23 million meals and served 160,000 people in 23 Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois counties. “Our history together goes back to the very beginning of River Bend almost 40 years ago,” Nate Clark, president of the John Deere Foundation,... Read More

Looking for something to do this weekend? Well, Reggae music, hair metal, Pride month festivities, a Geneseo fair and more are in store for you in this week’s Weekend in 2 Minutes! Check out our weekly podcast here, and listen to get the details on all the fun stuff happening this weekend!  Read More

Kick off Summer Reading 2021: Reading Colors Your World by helping us color our world outside the library! We’ll bring the chalk; you bring the creativity! Sign up for a 1-hour time slot on Saturday, June 19th between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm at either our Eastern Ave. or Fairmount St. branches to decorate your assigned parking spot with a recreation of a book cover, an inspirational quote, or a silly sketch. Register at http://bit.ly/chalkthelot. We’ll alternate available spots to keep things safe and socially distant. Sign up for one space and work as a family or with a friend or register individually.... Read More

Hair metal will rule the roost again as Winger and Firehouse will perform at 7 p.m. Friday, July 9 at Moline’s TaxSlayer Center. Tickets go on sale this Saturday at 10 a.m. at the TaxSlayer box office, Ticketmaster locations and online.  Read More