It was worth a shot. But you can stop calling and e-mailing the stations. It ain’t happening. When it was announced first here on QuadCities.com that a number of on- and off-air personnel were let go from local I Heart Radio stations, including WOC’s Jim Fisher and Dave Levora, Debbie McFadden of Mix 96 and Q106, Todd Alan of KISS-FM and Ron Evans of Mix 96, fans of those shows were understandably upset. When it was learned that, a day later, two shows and six jobs had been restored to Des Moines sports talk station KXnO, due to, as they put it “overwhelming fan outcry,” there was some... Read More

The Rock Island County Courthouse battle will take a new turn at the County Board Meeting tonight. According to courthouse preservation advocate Bridget Ehrmann, local commercial real estate developer, Joe Lemon, will bring a $500,000 written offer to purchase the historic Rock Island County courthouse at the county board meeting at 5:30 p.m. at 1504 3rd Avenue on the 3rd floor.  The offer includes a purchase price of $500,000 and an agreement to invest $8 million into the restoration of the 124-year-old courthouse. That’s $8.5 million. In writing. And that, up to this point, has been one of... Read More

I was never a big fan of Jim Fisher’s show. I know him personally, but not very well. I was a guest on his show a handful of times (where we would often disagree, on live radio), and when we ran into each other in social situations, we could get along fine as long as we avoided any hot button topics. As a person, a human being, I got along with him alright because we had a fairly superficial small talky interaction. But I can’t say I was ever a fan of his show. It’s not just that Jim and I often disagreed on topics and politics, it’s that the show, especially in the last decade, went off... Read More

For the past few months, my Iowa friends have been deeply envious of my Illinois address. Not because of the upcoming legalization of pot, nor because of the lack of flooding, but rather because I don’t have to deal with the constant deluge of politics and politicians dumping on them. With everything from TV and radio commercials to rallies to appearances to door-to-door visits to telemarketing calls and polls, the good people of Iowa have been hit by an avalanche of politics in advance of the caucus next year. And regardless of anyone’s beliefs or sympathies towards any candidate, all of them... Read More

He really did live up to his name, and lived a life of which anyone could be proud, and honored to follow. Happy Joe Whitty, with his signature straw hat, bright red and blue old-timey attire, wire glasses, mustache, and boundless demeanor of joy, was one of those few people who lived his public and private life at the same wavelength of happiness. He passed away today, leaving behind a grieving family whose lives he blessed and thousands of others who were likewise lightened by his being in their lives. He was a giant in business, building an empire of joy on restaurants and a food which brought... Read More

BREAKING NEWS: Four score and seven scones ago… an area breakfast consumer’s lemon poppy seed loaf has been discovered to look remarkably like the 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. Honest! The sweet treat, emancipating one fortunate breakfast seeker from hunger this morning, was spared mid-nosh by the imbiber, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of enormous jealousy on the part of anyone whose breakfast did not resemble one of the greatest leaders this country has ever known. “It’s a good thing,” the unidentified area man said, “I was... Read More

Will it be a Victory Royale for Barcelona or Manchester United in getting brilliant attacker, French World Cup winner and Fortnite fan Antoine Griezman? Or will another surprise team like Real Madrid end up dancing the L to Barca and Man U? Ever since Griezmann announced last month on his Twitter that he would be leaving Atletico Madrid after five years playing in the Wanda, there’s been rampant speculation on where the perennial contender for the Ballon D’Or would end up next season. The early money was on Barcelona, which had been courting the Frenchman last summer, and first reports jumping... Read More

Well, from the looks of things, between the stifling humidity, the oppressive sun between monsoons, and the constant harassment of gnats as persistent and unwelcome as guys hitting on newly single women on social media, summer seems to have finally kayaked into the Quad-Cities. And with that new season comes a desperate need for a beverage, known to those over 21 (and ONLY those over 21, of course) as “a beer,” to satisfy the full summer cravings of escape, levity and the blessed sainthood of responsible inebriation. Local brew pubs have, generously, proven up to this crucial task on the annual.... Read More

You might have heard just a little bit about a show called “Game of Thrones” on your social media. Maybe. And, if so, you might be aware that this coming weekend is the series finale. Yup, at long last, fans will get to see who will finally sit on the iron throne, and internet commentators will get to write long article bitching about it and crabbing about how horrible this season has been. That seems to be the general consensus, that this season has been nothing but a crashing disappointment. I can’t say I agree. I do agree that they should’ve stretched it out for more episodes to allow... Read More

It’s an odd trend in entertainment and pop culture, but strangely, there are a lot of creative, imaginative and cool creators named John and David. Think about it. Think of all the popular and/or pop culturally influential Johns. John Lennon. John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten). John Belushi. John Cusack. Johnny Depp. John Steinbeck. John Hiatt. John Waters. Johnny Carson. John Mayer. John Grisham. John Fogerty. John Legend. John Mellencamp. Etc. Etc. And then there are the many Davids: David Letterman. Dave Chappelle. Dave Barry. David Mamet. David Lynch. David Fincher. David Byrne. David Sedaris. David... Read More