In this episode of Talking Art, host Ben Gougeon sits down with director Tristan Tapscott to discuss The Mockingbird’s upcoming production of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman at Black Hawk College. With Ben taking the stage as Biff Loman, the two explore the process of bringing this American classic to life, Tristan’s background in theatre, and the ideas and relationships at the heart of the play. They also look ahead to The Mockingbird On Main’s new partnership with Black Hawk College and what it could mean for the future of theatre, education, and artistic opportunities in the Quad Cities. The production opens August 20 at the Black Hawk College Theatre.

If you’re a fan of Monty Python and a Harry Potter nerd (and I know you’re out there), you’ll want to hurry to The Black Box Theatre to take in the wacky and quirky Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic, a 2015 original comedy by playwright Matt Cox directed by Kailey Ackerman. The play is a parody of the Harry Potter book series by J. K. Rowling, but from the perspective of the "Puffs": that is, members of the Hogwarts house, Hufflepuff.

…could I get that in a sentence, please? Um…H.I.L.A.R.I.O.U.S…hilarious! So describes the Quad Cities Music Guild’s current production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee directed by Quad Cities gem: Mike Turczynski.

This was another marathon theatre weekend with shows opening in three different venues. Playcrafters Barn Theatre’s offering is Murder by Poe by Jeffrey Hatcher and is an adaptation from the works of Edgar Allan Poe stories. Pam Cantrell, a well-known Quad Cities actor, makes her directorial debut with this script and, as a first effort, delivers a show worth watching.

Routine eye exams do more than check how well you can see. Learn why regular exams are important for detecting vision problems and eye diseases early, and how they can even reveal signs of other health conditions.

The Democratic and Republican nominees for governor appeared separately at the same event this week.

On this episode,

U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen said he and his colleagues in Washington should do more to manage the rising costs hitting American households.

Governor says he’s been assured agency leaders will attend next court date as Capitol News Illinois seeks public records

Two former extended-stay hotels in the Des Moines metro will be converted into affordable housing and essential services for people experiencing homelessness. The vacant hotels are located in West Des Moines and Urbandale.

The ACLU of Iowa has filed a federal lawsuit against the Iowa Department of Administrative Services claiming the state has repeatedly violated the Satanic Temple's constitutional rights by denying them permission to host holiday activities in the Iowa Capitol rotunda.

The Salix City Council was set to consider a one-year moratorium on data centers at its meeting on Wednesday. But death threats against city leaders caused the mayor to postpone the discussion due to safety concerns.

The annual Perseid meteor shower will put on its best and brightest display between Aug. 12 and 13 from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. The atmospheric conditions are near perfect, but the weather conditions are not.

U.S. Geological Survey researchers developed models to better understand the timing and sources contributing to nutrient pollution in streams and rivers. They say their findings can help guide efforts to improve water quality.

Fewer people are buying cotton thanks to the rise of synthetic fibers like nylon and polyester. Now, the U.S. cotton industry wants to boost demand for American-grown cotton with tax credits and marketing campaigns.

The plains spotted skunk is becoming harder to find in the central U.S. states it calls home. As federal officials consider the skunk for federal protections, researchers and environmentalists are hoping to learn more about the long understudied species.

Passing on the family farm to the next generation is typically an involved process, both financially and emotionally. A turbulent agricultural economy the past few years has made that transition even more difficult.