Economy

Josh Higgins, Republican candidate for the 94th State Representative in Illinois, talks about his candidacy, his background, key issues, and much more.

The city of Moline is continuing to transform itself, according to an optimistic “State of the City” address given Monday morning, February 2nd, by Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati.

Timothy Wu, professor at Columbia Law School and former White Houseadvisor on tech and competition policy, talks about his new book, The Age of Extraction: How Tech Platforms conquered the Economy and Threaten Our Future Prosperity. We discuss the initial promise of the Internet and what went wrong, how tech platforms choked off competition, platform power in health care and housing, the role of "couch lock" and convenience in creating dependency, whether AI will break platform monopoly power or extend it, the implications for our economy and democracy, and recommendations on how to address platform monopoly power.

Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC), seven manufacturers, and Grow Quad Cities are forming a new chapter of the Federation of Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME), the first in Iowa. Grow Quad Cities Vice President of Business Retention, Expansion, and Workforce, Chris Caves, said Riverbend FAME’s focus is on a single occupation: manufacturing maintenance technicians.

The Quad Cities Community Foundation announced Tuesday, December 16th, that the Quad Cities Housing Council (QCHC) will receive its 2025 Transformation Grant ($300,000 over three years), in support of the region’s first large-scale, multi-agency affordable housing development initiative.

A retired Army colonel is the new executive director of a new partnership between the Rock Island Arsenal Defense Alliance (RIADA) and Quad Cities Manufacturing Institute (QCMI).

Collette’s, a new piano bar at 317 W. 3rd St., Davenport, to open Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. Managed by Bill Sheeder and owned by his sister Tammy, who bought the three-story building (across from The Capitol Theatre, and next to Daiquiri Factory) in May 2025.

MetroLINK’s Centre Station in downtown Moline is open again after months of renovation. The $2.5 million project, funded through the state’s Rebuild Illinois program, includes a redesigned lobby, new HVAC system, updated restrooms, and a Metro Shop cafe.

The Moline-based tractor manufacturer is laying off 115 employees in East Moline, 52 in Moline, and 71 in Waterloo.

Natalie Linville-Mass, President of the Iowa-Illinois NDIA, discusses the upcoming symposium and a scholarship ceremony for seven students.