BREAKING NEWS: Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds just announced sweeping new rules to mitigate the spread of covid-19 in Iowa taking place at midnight which will impact all state bars and gathering places, eliminate all sporting events under high school age, and severely limit the number of people able to gather together. In a press conference shortly after 6 p.m. tonight, Reynolds said that starting at midnight tonight, the following mitigation rules will be in effect: When in an indoor public space and unable to socially distance, masks are required to be worn by all, and masks will be required to be... Read More

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker sounded a somber and sometimes irritated note during his daily press conference on covid-19 today, warning “we’re in for a very difficult few months” and saying we might very soon get to a point where he has “no other choice than to have a mandatory shutdown.” “What will it take to make this real for you?” Pritzker said. “Do we have to reach a positivity rate of 50 percent like we’re seeing in Iowa today? Are you waiting for your health care workers to get sick to a point where you don’t have enough staff in the local... Read More

A new shutdown and restrictions could be coming this week as covid numbers continued to skyrocket in the Illinois and Iowa Quad-Cities and their respective regions and states over the weekend. The Illinois Quad-Cities’ region’s positive testing number roared to almost 15 percent (at 14.6), as all regions in the state moved over the 12 percent positivity rate, triggering numbers Governor JB Pritzker said could lead to a lockdown, especially with the Thanksgiving holiday looming. On Nov. 15, the Rock Island County Health Department reported 104 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number... Read More

Although the COVID-19 situation remains critical, UnityPoint Health – Trinity wants to remind everyone they should not delay seeking necessary care. Safety remains the top priority for UnityPoint Health – Trinity and, at this time, they continue to accept patients. “We know this is a trying time in our fight against COVID-19, but our community must know that getting the care they need is also essential,” said Dr. David Williams, UnityPoint Health Chief Clinical Officer. “Please, do not delay care if you need it. Emergencies don’t wait. We’re here, safe and ready for you.” If you... Read More

Ian Hutto is struggling to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, both at work and home. The 35-year-old native of Chicagoland is an ICU nurse at UnityPoint Health – Trinity in Rock Island. His wife, Annette, owns Cool Beanz Coffeehouse at 30th Street and 14th Avenue, Rock Island, and they’re raising their nine-month-old daughter, Lydia, while Ian also is studying for his master’s in nursing from University of Illinois-Chicago. “It has been a stress like I’ve never felt in my life,” Ian said recently. “In a good and very bad way at the same time. It’s overwhelming; I am the type of person... Read More

The Rock Island Public Library has created the Quad City Quarantine Cookbook to document how the community spent time in their home kitchens during the Covid-19 shutdown. This very tasty project is available for checkout, download, or purchase. Reference Librarian Rachel Ippolito first cooked up the special library project this spring, and then invited participation from other libraries in the Quad City Adult Programming Librarians Facebook group. The cookbook features 70 submissions from Illinois and Iowa patrons of the Rock Island, Colona, Cordova, East Moline, Silvis, Bettendorf, Davenport,... Read More

The Rock Island-Milan School District is going to Full Remote Learning through January 18, the district just announced. The shift is due to the skyrocketing numbers of covid-19 in the area. The Quad-Cities is the seventh-highest hot spot for new covid cases in the United States. District superintendent Dr. Reginald Lawrence II posted the following on the RIMSD 41 website Friday night: Since our transition to blended learning on Oct. 19th, we have consciously followed the advice and recommendations of the national and local public health experts. The alarming rate at which the COVID-19 virus is... Read More

Brick and Motor Boutique (1700 2nd Ave Rock Island) is excited to show the community some of their new holiday goodies! Stop by Brick and Motor Boutique for their storefront Holiday Collection Reveal Party this Saturday Nov 14 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Get a first look at all of their holiday arrivals, enjoy in-store and online holiday giveaways as well as a FREE holiday goodie bag with any $100+ purchase (in-store and online). Help this small business come back stronger than every by shopping LOCAL this holiday season! Visit https://brickandmotorboutique.com/ for more information.  Read More

In an effort to reduce COVID-19 pressures on medical center resources, Genesis Health System and UnityPoint Health – Trinity will temporarily reduce elective surgeries and procedures starting Monday, Nov. 16. This decision is made in collaboration with Iowa’s Region 5 hospitals and physician leadership of the Quad-Cities health systems. The reduction of elective surgeries will continue through Nov. 20, when the change will be reassessed. Reducing elective surgical procedures requiring inpatient stays will allow the health systems to expand bed capacity and reallocate patient care staff... Read More

The Quad-Cities has exploded into the top 10 worst covid outbreak spots in the nation, according to data from the CDC, the New York Times reported today. According to the data, the Illinois/Iowa Quad-Cities is now inside the top ten most rapidly spiking hot spots nationwide, roaring from number 13 to number 7 in just two days. Illinois and Iowa hold 12 of the top 15 spots in the country, with Cedar Rapids holding at number one. In his media address yesterday, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said that the rapidly spiking numbers statewide — with numbers in some regions doubling daily — could... Read More