As we’re into the second year of the Covid pandemic, more rescheduled 2021 events are again being pushed back another year, as TEDxDavenport announced Monday. After being moved from June 2020, to this June, the event organizers are rescheduling again to June 25, 2022 at Davenport’s Adler Theatre. “Given the fluid situation of the vaccine rollout, varying state regulations, the safety of travel for our speakers, and limitations of masks and social distancing for our attendees (both for the event and meet-greet following the event), we feel that our 2021 date is not feasible,” TEDxDavenport... Read More

BREAKING NEWS: Moline Mayor Stephanie Acri wants to break up with Western Illinois University, but the public riverfront campus wants more time to work things out. Last month, new WIU president Guiyou Huang wrote to Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker  about ongoing discussions regarding a potential transfer of the WIU Quad-Cities campus to another state institution. Huang became president Jan. 1, 2021. At that point, Western has not been included in the discussion, he noted, copying Mayor Acri and Quad Cities Chamber president/CEO Paul Rumler. She responded that she’s had concerns about the impact of... Read More

BREAKING NEWS: More residents of Rock Island and Scott counties are eligible to receive long-awaited vaccines against Covid-19. The Iowa Department of Public Health has announced that beginning Monday, March 8, health care providers are now authorized to vaccinate individuals 64 years of age and younger with medical conditions that are or may be an increased risk of severe illness from Covid-19. Qualifying underlying conditions can be found on the Centers for Disease Control list of underlying conditions. The IDPH press announcement stated: “This announcement comes as several Iowa counties... Read More

The Big Tip” is a Service Industry Event designed to help the Service Industry itself, put together by a non-profit organization called “The Big Give”. The Covid-19 social distancing and restrictions that started in March 2020, caused the unemployment rate to jump from an average of 3% in both Iowa and Illinois, to 10% and 16% respectively.The Service Industry is still suffering through another round of social distancing and restrictions that caused another dip in December in 2020. This fundraiser event will help the economic relief of the Service Industry through social media, staffing... Read More

LaTisha Howlett, owner of Bayside Bistro, at 1105 Christie St. in the Village of East Davenport, has had a crazy past year in business – like many restaurants and countless organizations in the Quad-Cities. At a Quad Cities Chamber legislative webinar Friday morning, with leaders from the Iowa and Illinois restaurant associations, she shared her perspective on the unprecedented challenges of the past year and what assistance she and other small business owners may need moving forward. “Covid has been difficult for everybody, especially small businesses,” Howlett said. “Having the governor... Read More

Negocios Now, a national award-winning publication focused on Hispanic business, has included Group O CEO Gregg Ontiveros to its annual list of the 50 Most Influential Latinos in the Chicago region for 2020. The list includes top Hispanic executives in business, nonprofits, government, healthcare, and other areas where Latinos are making a clear difference in this country. Ontiveros was recognized for turning Group O from a $50M business in 1999 into the $900+M diversified services firm it is today thanks to his entrepreneurial spirit and can-do philosophy. Ontiveros leads with a hands-on approach,... Read More

Impact Athletic Performance has graciously partnered with Christina Kelly with Healing Compass for a GRAND OPENING to celebrate Christina’s new massage venture at Healing Compass, 610 Maiden Ln, Muscatine from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday. There will be plenty of room for social distancing and we will require masks to be worn. Join us to learn about the different massage and healing services Christina offers. There will be a Grand Opening special you won’t want to miss out on. There will be demos on sports massage, trigger points, lymphatic drainage massage and cupping. There will be crystals... Read More

Imagine it’s Super Bowl Sunday, pre-covid. You’re in your home, minding your own business, watching TV, having a couple beverages with a number of friends, having a good time. Across the street, you see lights on in your neighbors’ houses. You see cars out front. They have guests too, and all of you are enjoying a weekend night. Suddenly, the evening is split by the flashing lights and squeal of two police cars, and an ambulance in tow, roaring down your street and pulling up to your neighbor’s house. Everyone is looking out the windows to see what’s going on. You all see your neighbor... Read More

Rock Island Public Library and Prairie State Legal Services will host a free virtual presentation on the criminal record expungement process at 5:30 pm on Wednesday, March 3. The presentation will be offered via Zoom, and registration is required. Kevin Hempy, the Equal Justice Works Fellow for Prairie State Legal Services, will provide a brief overview of Prairie State’s service area, types of cases, and how to apply for their services. Attendees will learn about record expungement, sealing of criminal records in Illinois, and other forms of criminal records relief. To register, visit the calendar... Read More

Several Western Illinois University students were honored during the Illinois Residence Hall Association (IRHA) Virtual Leadership Conference Feb. 20-21, hosted by Northern Illinois University. The conference is made up of Illinois schools, and the weekend is dedicated to showing school spirit, attending and presenting programs and showcasing and learning what other schools around the state are doing. WIU students who attended include junior nursing major Brooke Barnes, of Plainfield; freshman University advising major Jon’a Levi, of Bettendorf, IA; freshman art major Rivers Ashton, of Lincolnton,... Read More