MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Western Illinois University is scheduled to resume in-person classes on WIU’s Macomb and Moline campuses Tuesday, Jan. 19. As preparations for the Spring 2021 semester are underway, all members of the University community (faculty, staff and students) are encouraged to quarantine for a minimum 10 days and/or receive a COVID-19 test* before returning to campus. Free tests are available on the WIU-Macomb and Quad Cities campuses on select dates (see dates and information at bit.ly/WIUSpring21COVIDTestUpdate). Visit wiu.edu/coronavirus for additional return to campus information. Illinois... Read More

BREAKING: The Quad-Cities’ Region 2 is one of only two in Illinois which would be eligible at this point to leave Tier 3 covid-19 restrictions next week, according to statistics from the Illinois Department of Health. Nine of the 11 regions in Illinois fall short of the criteria to reduce Tier 3 restrictions, with only a few days to go to improve those numbers in order to be eligible for reduced mitigations. Nine of the regions have seen an increase in the percentage of positive covid numbers over the past week, as cases have begun to rise in the wake of the holidays. While the Quad-Cities... Read More

As previously reported on QuadCities.com, thousands of businesses statewide including a large number of Quad-Cities businesses, benefited from over $275 million in grants given by the state of Illinois to small businesses negatively impacted by covid-19. According to the business grant website, the Business Interruption Grant (BIG) program was developed by Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly to provide $580 million in economic relief for small businesses hit hardest by COVID-19. BIG – the largest program of its kind in the nation – leverages federal funding provided by the... Read More

It was 350 days ago when Illinois announced its first case of covid-19. Today, the state went over one million in cases, meaning almost one in 12 people in the state have tested positive for the virus, according to statistics from the Illinois Department of Health. As of Thursday night, 3,777 patients in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 780 patients were in the ICU and 422 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators, according to statistics from the Illinois Department of Health. Illinois health officials reported 9,277 new COVID-19 cases and 126 deaths Friday. The... Read More

As Illinois hits its one-millionth case of covid-19, Governor J.B. Pritzker announced today that Illinois’ 11 regions could possibly lift Tier 3 restrictions as early as next week if they’ve hit the right metrics. “On Jan. 15, exactly one incubation period from New Year’s Day, any region that has met the metrics for a reduction of mitigations will be able to move out of Tier Three of our mitigation plan,” Pritzker said during his online press conference briefing on covid. Illinois has been in Tier 3 mitigations since Nov. 20. The restrictions shut down indoor dining and... Read More

BREAKING NEWS: As Iowa covid numbers rise, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds issued new, modified mitigation efforts Thursday evening. Reynolds’ new measures will be in effect through at least Feb. 6 and requires people to wear masks inside public places when unable to social distance. The rules are predominantly geared towards bars and restaurants, which have been shown to have a higher likelihood of spreading the virus. However, Reynolds did somewhat ease restrictions surrounding sports and recreational events for youths and teens. Starting today, Reynolds said, “A social, community, business... Read More

Genesis Medical Center, Davenport has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence. Genesis earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of... Read More

One of the last remaining video rental shops nationwide, Family Video, will close their Quad-Cities locations and ALL of their over 250 remaining locations nationwide starting Wednesday. The 43-year-old company will sell off all its inventory online and in stores while they remain open. Most of the chain’s stores are expected to remain open beyond Wednesday while their inventory is sold. Family Video is encouraging people to visit their website to purchase movies, games, and other merchandise. “While we have flourished over the past 43 years (including the jump into a digital age) the pandemic,... Read More

Though long-awaited funding for live-music venues is part of the federal Covid stimulus bill recently signed into law, several Quad-Cities entertainment spaces are taking a “wait and see” attitude regarding the reality. Scott Mullen, executive director of Moline’s TaxSlayer Center, said the $15-billion “Save Our Stages” act that was approved had included language noting some venue owners and arenas like his “don’t qualify due to a requirement they put in that says that 70% of the venue’s events must be artist performances, so buildings with sports tenants are excluded due to the... Read More

The storms can be more than an inconvenience to some — they can pose a real danger. A winter storm can mean extended interruptions of power and heat in your home.  Here are tips from Genesis emergency department physicians and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stay safe and comfortable in severe winter weather. In Your Home Plan an alternative source of heat for your home during a power outage.  Secure dry wood for a fireplace or wood stove or kerosene for a kerosene heater.  Do not use outdoor grills for heat or cooking inside your home.  Put together an emergency box. ... Read More