Western Illinois University will commemorate the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Week of Service Monday, Jan. 17-Saturday, Jan. 22. Events scheduled as part of this year’s celebration include: • Wednesday, Jan. 19: 5 p.m. in the Multicultural Center Multipurpose Room – – “Building the Beloved Community: Argrow’s House of Healing and Hope – Keynote speaker Dr. Kit Ford. – “Building the Beloved Community Workshop: Leading Between the Lines: Coalition Building in Race, Politics and Poverty – Workshop facilitator the Rev. Dwight Ford. • Friday, Jan 21: noon-5... Read More

Saturday in the Arts is a weekly feature covering a trend, subject, event or personality of local interest. It runs every Saturday morning on your site for the best entertainment and arts coverage in the area, QuadCities.com! If you think the last two years have been crazy (thanks, Covid), the fine folks at WQPT-TV in Moline have endured an unusual past three years – simultaneously a thrilling joyride and a white-knuckled journey of adventure and challenge. The Quad Cities’ PBS station, which will mark 40 years in business in 2023, got a new general manager last month – who’s actually a... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – It’s a grand day for Col. Rock IV (aka Ray) as his sweet face now graces an officially licensed and limited edition bobblehead, produced by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, and today’s unveiling happens to be on National Bobblehead Day. The Col. Rock IV bobblehead sits on a base bearing his name and the Leathernecks logo. The AKC-certified English bulldog is wearing his official “W” jersey, and his ever-present Bulldog tongue is part of the statuette. The bobbleheads, which are individually numbered to 2,021, are available at the University... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – As Western Illinois University prepares to start the Spring 2022 semester, all members of the University community (vaccinated and unvaccinated) are encouraged to complete a COVID-19 test before returning to WIU’s campuses (individuals who had COVID-19 in the last 90 days do not need to test). COVID-19 test clinics will be available on both campuses as well. Following the initial test upon returning to WIU, individuals who are unvaccinated and who attend classes, activities/events, and/or work on either WIU campus (Macomb and Moline) must comply with the required weekly... Read More

“In a time of need, the answer is simple, help.” Those are the words of Western Illinois University alumnus Riley Hintzsche, the agricultural educator and FFA advisor at Streator Township High School, in reference to a collaborative project to bring needed supplies to storm-ravaged Mayfield, KY. When Hintzsche, a 2014 graduate, and fellow WIU alumnus, 2016 graduate Mitch Miller, the agriculture teacher at Midwest Central High School in Manito, IL, heard about the tornado that struck Mayfield, KY, Dec. 10, both knew they needed to take action. Both were immediately contacted by Jesse... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – The 2021 #GivingTuesday, a worldwide fundraising movement that’s held the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, brought more than $27,000 to Western Illinois University programs and special projects that will benefit students, faculty, staff and the University as a whole. Some of the special programs unveiled on #GivingTuesday as part of WIU’s new crowdfunding platform, WIU Fund It (bit.ly/WIUFundIt) included the WIU Food Pantry, Multicultural Center sustainability efforts, fraternity and sorority life leadership, The CPA Project-Promoting Diversity, Alternative Spring... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Western Illinois University Center for Career Preparation and Employer Engagement Director Audrey Adamson has been named the Al and Elaine Goldfarb Civil Service Employee of the Month for December 2021. Adamson began working at WIU in July 2012 as the assistant director of Student Services on WIU’s Quad Cities campus. She transitioned to Civil Services as a program coordinator in February 2019, as senior assistant director of Student Services for WIU-QC Student Services. She was reallocated by audit in December 2020 to director of the Center for Career Preparation and... Read More

The Western Illinois University School of Music brass faculty and BCA will present BRASSFEST 2022 from 2:30-9 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 23 in the COFAC Recital Hall. The event will feature performances by WIU’s La Moine Brass Quintet and special guest artists, the Blair Brass (Vanderbilt University). Additionally, instrumental masterclasses, clinics and opportunities for all participants to play will be included. This year’s schedule includes: • 2:30 – 3:15 p.m.: La Moine Brass Quintet Recital • 3:30 – 4:15 p.m.: Reading sessions, by instrument • 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.: Blair... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – – Western Illinois University will offer the Early Childhood Degree on the Quad Cities campus, beginning Summer 2022. WIU will also launch a new, flexible program option designed for those who are currently working in the education field and want to work toward their bachelor’s degree, with an option for PEL (Professional Educator License). Enrollment is open now at wiu.edu/apply. All courses will be offered in flexible course formats, including online programming with in-person or live-streamed support. WIU has also established pathways for customized student... Read More

“In a time of need, the answer is simple, help.” Those are the words of Western Illinois University alumnus Riley Hintzsche, the agricultural educator and FFA advisor at Streator Township High School, in reference to a collaborative project to bring needed supplies to storm-ravaged Mayfield, KY. When Hintzsche, a 2014 graduate, and fellow WIU alumnus, 2016 graduate Mitch Miller, the agriculture teacher at Midwest Central High School in Manito, IL, heard about the tornado that struck Mayfield, KY, Dec. 10, both knew they needed to take action. Both were immediately contacted by Jesse... Read More