“Hamilton” star Renee Elise Goldsberry will perform Saturday, May 15 with the Quad City Symphony Orchestra in LeClaire Park! The beautiful 50-year-old California native — best known for originating the role of Angelica Schuyler in the Broadway smash “Hamilton” – will make her post-Covid live performance debut in the 7:30 p.m. concert, for a long-awaited evening of Broadway, pop, and soul favorites, backed by the Quad City Symphony Orchestra. “It’s kind of mind-blowing,” Goldsberry said in a Friday phone interview, noting her entire 2020 pops tour schedule was scrapped due... Read More

The new Bettendorf-based Double Threat Studios will debut the musical “Newsies” May 14th, 15th, & 16th at Assumption High School, 1020 W. Central Park Ave., Davenport. That cast features 30 7th-12th graders performing the full-length production of Disney’s “Newsies.” Tickets are still on sale for each “Newsies” performance and can be purchased at www.doublethreatstudios.com/store/p/newsies-performance-tickets. A limited capacity will be available at Assumption, and $15 tickets are available for 7 p.m. performances Friday and Saturday, May 14-15, and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 16.  Read More

It’s almost your last day to quaff up some local suds as Quad-Cities serves up QC Craft Beer Week just in time for the second anniversary of the QC Ale Trail. Over the past two years, hundreds of craft beer lovers from 17 states have blazed the QC Ale Trail, according to Visit Quad Cities. The QC Ale Trail invites beer lovers on a self-guided tour of local craft breweries across the region, from Muscatine, Iowa to Geneseo, Ill. The Q-C craft beer community continues to grow, with three new breweries opening last year and Nerdspeak Brewery opening soon at 7563 State St.,... Read More

On Monday, May 10, 21 Rock Island High School students who are in the high school’s Education Internship program will sign letters of intent to further their careers at the college or university level to pursue a degree in education. The course started this school year and places high school students who are interested in the education field throughout the district in a range of classrooms from Kindergarten through High School underclassmen courses, English Language, and Special Education. Education interns learn the foundations of education as well as gain hands-on experience. Interns work... Read More

Western Illinois University President Guiyou Huang, who took the helm Jan. 1, 2021, will hit the road next week on his Inaugural Alumni & Friends Tour in Arizona and Florida. WIU alumni and friends are invited to join Huang, Alumni Programs Director Amy Spelman and WIU Foundation Executive Director Brad Bainter as they first stop in Tucson (May 19), Glendale (May 20) and Phoenix (May 20) for socials and luncheons. While all events will be held in-person, there will be a virtual component for those who cannot attend in-person. Following the events in The Grand Canyon State this month, Huang... Read More

On Senior Decision Day at Davenport Central High School, 85 senior students will announce what college, branch of the military, trade or career they have decided to pursue after graduation. The celebration will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, May 14 in the Performing Arts Center of Davenport Central High School, 1120 Main Street, Davenport, IA. Students will be recognized in person and via a slide show. This is the school’s first year for this event. The media is invited to cover this event, since it would be a great way to recognize and support these students. Feel free to interview students, take... Read More

The Illinois Quad-Cities will open up more today and leave many covid restrictions behind as the state moves into a “Bridge Phase,” dropping many covid restrictions on businesses and the public. Governor JB Pritzker announced the lifting of the restrictions this week, and said that he foresees a full state reopening by June 11, given the increasing numbers of people in Illinois being vaccinated. Under the Bridge Phase: Bars and restaurants: Can now operate within their regular liquor license hours and reopen standing areas at 25 percent capacity. Social events: Indoor events can have... Read More

Derek Watts, the interim director of the Western Illinois University’s Office of Public Safety (OPS), has been named the director of the department, effective June 1. Watts has served as the interim director since March 2019. He becomes the first internal candidate named to the director/chief position. Watts joined OPS in 1998 as a patrol officer. He was promoted to corporal in 2006 and to sergeant in 2009. A 1996 and 2015 graduate of the WIU School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration, Watts was promoted to lieutenant in 2018. He started his law enforcement career with the Bushnell... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL — Samantha Klingler, director of the Student Development and Success Center at Western Illinois University, has been named the WIU 2021 Employee of the Year by the Council of Administrative Personnel (COAP). The annual award recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of a COAP member who has far exceeded their duties. “Samantha has been a positive role model for their staff and WIU as a whole. Her leadership skills have afforded their unit the opportunity to not only grow, but thrive beyond expectations. The resilience, grit and determination Samantha modeled during... Read More

The INCubatoredu Entrepreneur and Enterprise students gave their business pitches to a row of “sharks” at FINAL PITCH NIGHT on Thursday, May 24 in the Rock Island High School Auditorium. Five entrepreneur teams vied for three awards: Best Pitch Award, Best Business Potential Award, and Best Business Model Award: Luminous Learning– Early Childcare tutoring/daycare, Team member: Isabella Almanza Elite Grip – Gripping gel to hold the bat; eliminates sweating hands, no pine tar stained uniforms, Team Members: Xander George, McCree DeVoss (Best Pitch $2,500)Boardable – Foldable... Read More