Crossroads Cultural Connections is thrilled to welcome internationally acclaimed Swedish vocal ensemble Kongero for a rare Midwest performance on Saturday, December 6 . The evening begins with an optional community potluck at 6:00 PM , followed by the concert at 7:00 PM . This all-ages event is open to the public, with a suggested donation of $20–30 , all of which goes directly to the artists. Kongero is a world-touring Folk’appella quartet known for its breathtaking blend

Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) helped secure more than $9 million in new federal funding to invest in the critical work at the Rock Island Arsenal that will ensure our military remains prepared to protect our national security. “The Rock Island Arsenal needs investments to continue modernizing and sustaining its important mission of defending our country’s national security,” said Congressman Sorensen. “This new federal funding will help the Arsenal remain competitive and

Crossroads Cultural Connections is thrilled to welcome acclaimed Illinois singer-songwriter Dan Hubbard for an intimate concert on Sunday, November 23 . The evening begins with an optional potluck dinner at 6:00 PM —guests are invited to bring a dish to share—and the concert will start at 7:00 PM . This all-ages performance is open to the public, with a suggested donation of $20–30 , all going directly to the artist. With a career spanning more than two decades, Dan Hubbard

The Spectrum Pub invites the community to come together for a heartfelt day of good food and neighborly support at a Community Thanksgiving Dinner on Wednesday, November 25 , from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The event will take place at 117 S. East St., Suite 1, Cambridge, IL . Guests are welcome to enjoy a full Thanksgiving meal with all the traditional fixings, including turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, corn casserole, and pumpkin pie . The meal will be offered for

Former Jackson County State’s Attorney Joseph Cervantez endorsed former Independent Alderman Bob Fioretti for Illinois Attorney General today, citing a need for party unity.   Cervantez, who served as Jackson County State’s Attorney from 2020 to 2024, said after campaigning around the state for several months, he decided “we need to spend time and resources debating the incumbent and not each other. Bob Fioretti has the political and legal experience to not only win the Attor

Quebec artist Seán Dagher will perform a live concert on Wednesday, November 19th at Bishop Hill Creative Commons, located at 309 N. Bishop Hill St, Bishop Hill, IL. The show will begin with a potluck dinner at 6PM, with music starting at 7PM, and is open to guests of all ages. A $20-30 donation is suggested. Seán Dagher is widely known for his recordings with the Assassin’s Creed video game series, including Black Flag. His renditions of sea shanties and other songs from the

Crossroads Cultural Connections is thrilled to welcome Laid Back Country Picker for a one-of-a-kind concert on Friday, November 21. The evening will kick off with an optional community potluck dinner at 6:00 p.m. (bring a dish if you’d like to join), followed by the all-ages performance at 7:00 p.m. A $20–$30 suggested donation goes directly to the artist.Laid Back Country Picker plays good music—and treats everybody right. A cult favorite with national reach, he’s performed

Crossroads Cultural Connections is pleased to present Ryan David Green , acclaimed guitarist, songwriter, and one half of the nationally touring duo Ryanhood , in concert at Bishop Hill Creative Commons on Friday, November 14 . The evening begins with an optional community potluck dinner at 6 p.m. (bring a dish to share if you’d like to join), followed by the concert at 7 p.m. This all-ages event encourages a suggested donation of $20–30 , with all proceeds supporting the

Crossroads Cultural Connections is proud to present acclaimed southern songwriter and performer Adam Hood , with special guest Rye Davis , live in concert at Bishop Hill Creative Commons on Saturday, November 15 . The evening begins with an optional community potluck dinner at 6 p.m. (bring a dish to share if you’d like to join), followed by the concert at 7 p.m. This all-ages show encourages a suggested donation of $25–35 , with all proceeds going directly to the artists

Audiences are in for a heartwarming evening of music and community as Sturtz, the Colorado-based folk group praised by NPR’s All Songs Considered as “a reassuring breath of fresh air that pulls me back to simpler times,” performs at Bishop Hill Creative Commons on Wednesday, November 12. The evening begins with a potluck dinner and social hour at 6:00 p.m., followed by the concert at 7:00 p.m.The event is open to all ages and family-friendly, offering an intimate night of li

The Western Illinois University Civil Service Employee Council (CSEC) and the Council of Administrative Personnel (COAP) are teaming up to collect Toys for Tots this holiday season. Donation boxes are located on the first floor of Sherman Hall, Stipes Hall and Western Hall beginning Thursday, Nov. 6 through Tuesday, Dec. 16. All toys donated will go toward Toys for Tots of West Central Illinois and will be used to help local families in need. “CSEC and COAP are excited to par

Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers in a letter pushing the four Senate and House leaders of the Armed Services Committee to include provisions that support the Rock Island Arsenal in the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). It comes as the four leaders of the Armed Services Committees are currently engaged in negotiations over the final text of the legislation. The group of lawmakers sending the letter included Sena

Leathernecks already have a global reach, but Western Illinois University Kinesiology Professor Christopher Kovacs is taking it to new depths — below the sea. Kovacs spent the past summer working with National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions, assisting underwater operations during this summer’s expeditions. That includes videography, underwater mapping and primarily maintaining the safety of the other members of dive operations during diving activities. This is Kovacs’ se

Hi, I’m Bob Fioretti. I’m running for Illinois Attorney General. I’m a civil rights attorney and was elected twice as Alderman in Chicago.  Several years ago, I switched to the Republican Party because, like millions of others across America, the Democratic Party left me. They abandoned family, faith, and fiscal Responsibility  For too long, insiders have written the rules while working families pay the price. The Attorney General is supposed to be the people’s lawyer, not th

The forests and prairies of Illinois have a new line of defense against harmful non-native plants. On Oct. 1, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources added nine more invasive plants to the list of species that are illegal to buy, sell, distribute, or plant in Illinois, including tree of heaven, garlic mustard, and Callery pear. Invasive species are non-native plants, animals, and insects that spread quickly. Once they take hold, they are difficult to remove and can have

University of Illinois Extension is responding to increased demand for food assistance amid the ongoing government shutdown and SNAP benefit disruptions. Publicly available resources are being shared by Extension to help Illinois families access food and to support local donation efforts. These tools also assist legislators, local government, and organizations in promoting food security during this challenging time. Available Resources for Illinois Families: Assistance with

Crossroads Cultural Connections is proud to present an evening with internationally acclaimed pianist Radoslav Lorković at Bishop Hill Creative Commons on Sunday, November 9 . The evening begins with an optional community potluck dinner at 6 p.m. (bring a dish to share if you’d like to join), followed by the concert at 7 p.m. This all-ages event invites attendees to contribute a suggested donation of $20–30 to support the artist and the ongoing music series. Born in Zag

The 5th Annual Native Seed Share brought together conservation enthusiasts from across the region to exchange native seeds, share knowledge, and strengthen community efforts to restore local ecosystems. This year’s event showcased a remarkable turnout, highlighting the growing commitment to biodiversity and sustainable land stewardship. This year’s Seed Share brought together over 30 participants from 13 counties, exchanging more than 100 species of native seeds—a testament t

This Sunday at 2 a.m. Central Standard Time, daylight saving time will end, with clocks set back one hour. One of the most noticeable effects of “falling back” is that people will find themselves driving home from work or for after-school activities as the sun sets, putting them on the road and at risk for collisions with many wildlife that are active at that time.   The tradition of daylight saving time has a long history, with reasons for its implementation ranging from mai

With one in five of his constituents in Western Illinois receiving SNAP benefits, State Senator Mike Halpin is warning people of the dire and immediate impact of the potential halt of SNAP benefits starting Nov. 1 “A significant portion of residents in Western Illinois could lose key food assistance support due to the federal government shutdown,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “The federal administration could be funding SNAP benefits for November onward, but are actively choo