River Cities' Reader

MONMOUTH, ILLINOIS (August 28, 2026) — For the sixth straight year, Monmouth College has been named to Phi Theta Kappa's Transfer Honor Roll, recognizing institutions that demonstrate excellence in creating and supporting pathways for community college transfer students. This year, only 275 schools earned the prestigious recognition.

DES MOINES, IOWA (August 28, 2026) — For the first time, Des Moines University Clinic has a psychology intern on its team, providing advanced clinical training while expanding access to mental-health care. "Bringing on our first psychology intern is an historic step for us," says Autumn Brunia DO, a 2019 graduate of Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences' Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program and psychiatrist at DMU Clinic — Behavioral Health.

MACOMB, ILLINOIS (August 28, 2026) — Since 1939, the sound of the Western Illinois University carillon has been part of the Leatherneck experience, marking the hours, welcoming students and carrying traditions like “Western Loyalty” across campus. Larry Ferrere (`81) recently committed a generous gift and challenged the WIU community to help restore and modernize this iconic campus staple, ensuring it continues to ring for future generations of Leathernecks.

AMES, IOWA (August 28, 2026) — Across the nation, many children have lost their legal relationship with every parent — and are waiting to be adopted by a permanent, safe, loving family. Children enter foster care because of circumstances they did not create (typically related to abuse, neglect, or unsafe living conditions). They may experience separation from siblings, multiple placements, trauma, uncertainty, years in temporary care, and aging out of the foster care system.

DAVENPORT, IOWA (August 28, 2026) — Great Oaks High School and Career Center will celebrate the opening of its new Davenport campus with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, September 30, 11AM. Governor Kim Reynolds will be in attendance alongside students, families, school leaders, and community partners.

MOLINE, ILLINOIS (August 28, 2026) — A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held on Wednesday, September 2, 4PM, to celebrate the opening of The Bleu R&B Lounge. Located at 419 15th St in downtown Moline, The Bleu R&B Lounge is a new thirty-and-up destination created to give the Quad Cities a mature and sophisticated place to enjoy music, nightlife, and community.

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA (August 28, 2026) — Hy-Vee is helping food banks and pantries feed families across the Midwest by donating more than $295,000 through its recent Back-to-School Community Food Drive. Hy-Vee’s Back-to-School Community Food Drive comes as hunger reaches critical levels, with approximately one in five children across the nation facing food insecurity.

DUBUQUE, IOWA (August 28, 2026) — After several years of significant growth and change, this academic year the University of Dubuque (UD) implemented a recalibrated Office of Academic Affairs structure that will enhance both longstanding and new programs. The recalibration moved UD from one seminary, one college, and seventeen departments to one seminary, two colleges, and five schools.

The River Cities' Reader, started in 1993, is independently and locally owned. We publish a monthly printed tabloid size magazine, available for free throughout the Quad Cities at over 300 locations. The Reader provides keys to the Quad Cities' culture in print and online with exhaustive event calendars and coverage of arts, music, theatre, festivals, readings, lectures, meetings, exhibits, museums, dance, sports and classes for all ages.

DES MOINES, IOWA (August 27, 2026) — Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird announced a landmark $17.1 billion-dollar multistate settlement with Meta Platforms Inc — one of the largest state consumer protection settlements in history. AG Brenna Bird filed a lawsuit against Meta on April 8, 2026, arguing that the tech giant violated state consumer protection laws by harming children and misrepresenting the safety of Instagram.