River Cities' Reader

DES MOINES, IOWA (July 10, 2026) — Governor Kim Reynolds has ordered flags in Iowa lowered to half-staff at sunrise on Friday, July 10, until sunset on Friday, July 17, in honor and remembrance of Iowa native, US Air Force Maj Brad Hovey. Maj Hovey was a pilot with the 419th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base in California. He was killed during a B-52 flight test mission on June 15, 2026.

MUSCATINE, IOWA (July 10, 2026) — KENT WORLDWIDE will join the Alzheimer’s Association Iowa Chapter as the Local Presenting Sponsor for the 2026 Walk to End Alzheimer’s — Muscatine Area. The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s — Muscatine Area will be held on Saturday, October 24, at Discovery Park's Environmental Learning Center in Muscatine.

DES MOINES, IOWA (July 10, 2026) — The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leading small business advocacy organization, released a statement highlighting the need to expand right to repair efforts following the recent antitrust lawsuit settlement between the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and John Deere.

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.

ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS (July 9, 2026) — Alternating Currents is bringing an exciting mix of stand-up, improv and one-of-a-kind comedy experiences to the Quad Cities with the announcement of its 2026 comedy programming for the festival held August 13-16 in Downtown Davenport, Bettendorf and Rock Island.

DAVENPORT, IOWA (July 9, 2026) — The Putnam Museum and Science Center will welcome Academy Award-winning actress, author, and advocate Marlee Matlin for a powerful evening exploring accessibility, representation, and the role arts and culture play in building communities where everyone belongs. The event, Marlee Matlin Live at the Putnam, is part of the Culture Bright Summer Series, presented by The Cultural Trust and its Legacy Partners.

“Hamilton" at the Putnam Museum & Science Center -- July 16. Thursday, July 16, 6 p.m. Putnam Museum & Science Center, 1717 West 12th Street, Davenport IA On July 16, the Putnam Museum & Science Center's GIANT Screen Theater auditorium will definitely be "the Room where it happens," with the Davenport venue hosting a 6 p.m. screening of Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton.

Going to the cineplex or staying in and streaming this weekend? Every Thursday morning at 8:15 a.m. you can listen to Mike Schulz dish on recent movie releases & talk smack about Hollywood celebs on Planet 93.9 FM with the fabulous Dave & Darren in the Morning team of Dave Levora and Darren Pitra. The morning crew previews upcoming releases, too. Or you can check the Reader Web site and listen to their latest conversation by the warm glow of your electronic device.

DES MOINES, IOWA (July 8, 2026) — On July 7, Polk County District Court scheduled a full-day evidentiary hearing for July 21 in the legal challenge brought by Libertarian gubernatorial candidates Nicholas Gluba and Jules Cutler after the State Objection Panel voted to remove them from Iowa's 2026 general election ballot. During the July 7 hearing, the judge determined the case will proceed to a full evidentiary hearing in district court rather than returning to the State Objection Panel.

TAMPA, FLORIDA (July 8, 2026) — Paige Berst, of Bettendorf, Iowa, graduated from the University of Tampa. Berst received a Master of Science in Accounting MS. The commencement ceremony honored 1,992 undergraduate and graduate candidates and included remarks by President Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg. The University of Tampa is a private, comprehensive university located on 110 acres on the riverfront in downtown Tampa.