BREAKING NEWS: In the wake of huge celebrations on and around St. Patrick’s Day, covid numbers in Rock Island County are spiking again, causing the  Illinois Department of Public Health to put a warning status on Rock Island County. The Rock Island County Health Department reported 41 new cases today, making today the highest single day amount since early February. Prior to today, the new case reports were over 20 a day, which represented an increase over the previous week, although not as drastic a spike. “We are very worried about the rapidly rising cases this week,” said Nita Ludwig,... Read More

From 2017 to 2019, there were 32 incidents of rape reported at Augustana College, Rock Island, nearly all occurring on campus. The private school’s new program director for sexual violence prevention and education — Zachary Draves – not only wants to prevent those incidents in the first place, but address issues of domestic violence, dating violence and stalking. Augustana has received a $298,827 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) – over three years, among 52 grants DOJ gave to colleges in 2020-21 from its program to reduce sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence,... Read More

Quad City Arts presents the 44th-annual High School Art Invitational at Quad City Arts Gallery in Rock Island, from Saturday, March 27 through April 29, 2021. The exhibition is free and open to the public. The gallery (1715 2nd Ave., Rock Island) will be open extended hours — until 8 p.m. — on April 1 and 29th.  A virtual award presentation will go live on Quad City Arts Facebook page on April 1st, along with an online gallery where all of the entries can be viewed at www.quadcityarts.com/hs-invitational.html, This exhibition features exemplary works of art selected by each high... Read More

It seems like only yesterday when I turned 13. I remember it distinctly, from my party with my friends to some of the gifts I most cherished (a Converse All-Stars Magic Johnson t-shirt, a Duran Duran album, and other things which would certainly date me as a child of the ’80s.) This week, my own son, Jackson, turns 13. And it’s a much, much, different world from when I entered my teen years. I didn’t have cell phones, or the internet, or anywhere near the entertainment or virtual reality options my son does now. I spent most of my time playing outside, my mom was working most... Read More

SAL Family & Community Services (SAL), home to Skip-A-Long Child Development Services, is launching a major new initiative intended to transform the lives of low income expectant families and children until four years of age. Through the first and only Early Head Start Child Care Partnership Program (EHS CCP) serving the Illinois Quad-Cities, SAL continues its deep commitment to further the Q-C’s regional vision of cultivating a community that is both equitable and inclusive. The program is made possible thanks to a new annual $3.8-million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human... Read More

Before she achieved her musical dreams on ABC’s “American Idol,” Althea Grace lived through a personal nightmare with her little daughter. The persistent, inspiring 21-year-old native of Algonquin, Ill. (near Chicago) had her first child, Lennon, in Los Angeles Jan. 22, 2019. Grace has loved music and “American Idol” since she herself was little – writing her first song at age 4. Her parents named her after a 1980 Grateful Dead song, and Grace named her daughter after the legendary ex-Beatle who was murdered in 1980, since Althea is a huge Beatles fan. On Thursday – three days after... Read More

How does a hot, fresh, delicious Harris Pizza sound? Pretty darn delicious, eh? Well, you could win a $50 Harris Pizza Gift Card from Harris Pizza and QuadCities.com! For real! How? It’s easy! Share this post on Facebook and follow these instructions: 1.  “LIKE” both the Harris Pizza and QuadCities.com pages on Facebook! 2. Mention Harris Pizza and QuadCities.com in your post! Tag those pages! 3. Tag at least 2 friends! The contest runs through Friday, April 2 and a winner will be chosen on Saturday, April 3! The winner be announced on our Facebook pages! HarrisPizza.com QuadCities.com  Read More

And so the saga sort-of, maybe, kinda, possibly, ends. Or not. We’ll see. The Rock Island County courthouse saga has gone on for a couple of years now, with the county wanting to demolish the building and repurpose the spot just off Centennial Bridge, and a growing number of citizens calling for it to be sold to local developer Joe Lemon, who has been trying to buy it for over a year. We at QuadCities.com have covered this issue extensively, and if you want to get more of the details, I encourage you to listen to my various QCUncut podcasts of a meeting about the issue, an interview... Read More

The month-old Jambrella movement is quickly gaining steam, as Jambrella Productions is having a big jam event Friday night to raise money for local musicians. There are also plans to have a second major festival outdoors on Saturday, June 12 to coincide with the 17th anniversary of River Music Experience. The first massive Jambrella music festival – aimed to give back to local musicians and bars – was a major success Feb. 26 at The Mound in the Village of East Davenport, raising $7,006. Artists who performed that night included Molly Durnin, Far Out 283, Angela Meyer, Fair Warning, 3 On... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL — Applications are being accepted for the Western Illinois University 2021 Martin Dupuis/Mukti Fund Leadership Award in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) Communities. The $1,400 award recognizes a student who has provided leadership either for a LGBTQ* group and/or in regards to LGBTQ* issues. Applicants who meet the leadership criteria must be undergraduate students who will return to WIU for the 2021-2022 academic year. To be considered for this award, students must complete an application, write a short essay, provide a resume and include two letters of reference.... Read More