BREAKING: Illinois employers could very soon be allowed to fire employees who refuse to get vaccinated or comply with other covid-19 regulations. The Health Care Right of Conscience Act amendment bans employees from using their moral beliefs as a reason to refuse to comply with a workplace’s covid mandates, which could include mandatory vaccinations. The Illinois Senate voted 31-24 to approve the proposal late Thursday night. This measure passed out of the House on a 64-52-2 vote Wednesday. The new amendment now heads to Gov. JB Pritzker to be signed into the law, and it certainly looks... Read More

Western Illinois University students, faculty and staff on the Macomb campus who received their first Moderna vaccine on April 1 will receive their second Moderna dose at a clinic in the WIU Campus Recreation Center (enter through the MAC Gym, south entrance) on the WIU-Macomb Thursday, April 29. The appointment times for the April 29 second-dose Moderna clinic will be the same time as an individual’s first dose was given at the April 1 clinic. For example, if your appointment time was 8:30 a.m. April 1, your appointment time for your second dose will be 8:30 a.m. April 29. NOTE: For those... Read More

The April 14 and 15 mass vaccination clinics (two-dose Moderna vaccine) at Western Illinois University-Macomb’s campus are now open to all WIU and Spoon River College faculty, staff and students, as well as residents of McDonough, Fulton, Schuyler, Hancock, Warren and Henderson counties (and those who work in these counties), who are 18 years of age or older. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), in cooperation with WIU, the McDonough County Health Department and the Illinois National Guard, will host the COVID-19 vaccination clinics from 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Wednesday, April 14 and... Read More

If you get your Covid vaccine at the Rock Island County mass vaccination clinic in Milan between April 14 and May 20, there will be something special that’s literally music to your ears. Taking inspiration from famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma’s recent impromptu performance during his Covid vaccine observation period, the Rock Island County Health Department and the Quad City Symphony Orchestra (QCSO) are partnering to bring live music to the mass vaccination site at Camden Centre in Milan. “Vaccine Variations” is an initiative that arranges for one-hour performances by QCSO musicians starting April... Read More

An excellent resource for students in the classrooms of Western Illinois University is the opportunity to learn from those who have gone before them. This week, students in WIU’s Department of Biological Sciences had the opportunity to learn from an alumnus who was part of developing the COVID-19 vaccine for the Pfizer company. Ben Boda, who received his bachelor’s degree in biology in 2006 and his master’s degree in biology in 2012, works in Pfizer’s research and development division in Chesterfield, MO. While there are aspects of his participation in the vaccine development... Read More

Because of predicted cold temperatures, the weekly Covid vaccine clinic run by Rock Island County Health Department for Tuesday, Feb. 9, will be inside the TaxSlayer Center, 1201 River Drive, Moline. Vaccine distribution priority groups are Phase 1A and Phase 1B in Illinois, and the health department typically has a Tuesday drive-through clinic at Greater Quad City Auto Auction, 4015 78th Ave., Milan. Those seeking their first dose may visit the RICHD Facebook page or website at 10 a.m. each Friday for a link to reserve an appointment. Those seeking their second dose may visit the same sites... Read More

And now… the time is here… and so we face… the last story of this series… Since Sunday, we’ve been running massive, gigantic, action-packed features for you running down the top stories of 2020! We hope you’ve enjoyed the ride! On Sunday we gave you a look at January and February; on Monday we hit March; Tuesday rolled out April; Wednesday morning we showed you May and June; and Wednesday night it was July and August’s turn. This morning we unveiled September and October. And now, here we are with the last story of the series, giving you the biggest stories... Read More