Economy

The first cruise ship visit of the season to the Quad Cities is expected this weekend. The American Melody, from American Cruise Lines, is scheduled to dock in Davenport on Sunday at River Heritage Park.

Unemployment continued to fall in the Quad Cities in May - from 5.3 per cent a year ago to 3.8 per cent last month.

The Asian Carp now has a new name.

A local group called "Bring Back the Bins" is asking people to support the restoration of drop-off recycling in Rock Island County. Monday, the group held a rally outside the county office building in Rock Island.

John Deere has been honored for being one of the most "community-minded," large companies in the country. It's included on the latest list of The Civic 50 top corporate citizens, as chosen by an organization named Points of Light.

Two family-owned companies, with a combined 200 years in the music business, are joining forces. A merger of Griggs Music and West Music will take effect July first.

The Rock Island Parks and Recreation Department will break ground on Thursday for a new clubhouse at Highland Springs Golf Course.

Rock Island is working on plans to set up a Quad Cities Regional Film Office. Monday night, the city council approved hiring a consultant, with the hope that eventually other communities will join.

A Wisconsin company is going to build a plant in the Quad Cities to make bacon. On Tuesday, Fair Oaks Foods announced it chose Davenport after starting with a list of 177 possible locations.

A Davenport-based department store chain has been named America's Number One Retailer. Newsweek surveyed over ten thousand consumers in almost 40 categories and respondents chose Von Maur.