05 Dec 2000

A Different Kind of Easy Listening

By Jeff Ignatius
The second album from Shane Johnson’s Blue Train, Big Legged Women, starts off with a song that exists primarily as a framework for hot-licks blues. The words and vocals serve primarily as a break from the fiery work of the guitarist who lends his name to the band.
05 Dec 2000

Davenport Takes Advantage of Second Chance in Environmental Grant Program

By Jeff Ignatius
Earlier this year, the City of Davenport made a last-ditch effort to get a grant from a federal environmental program whose future was uncertain. "We prepared the application in a bit of a rush," said Len Adams, an economic-development specialist for the city.
28 Nov 2000

To Stay or To Go

By Jeff Ignatius
The potential departure of Jumer's Casino Rock Island from that city's downtown riverfront to another location in Rock Island could have been seen as a devastating blow to revitalization efforts the riverboat helped spark, and to businesses in The District.
28 Nov 2000

Stetson-Wearin' Reggae Cowboys Rewrite History

By Jeff Ignatius

Reggae Cowboys have all the trappings of a novelty act: Canadians in cowboy hats doing the reggae thing in songs about the Wild Wild West. It sounds a bit like Dread Zeppelin crossed with the Village People, if a little more original.

21 Nov 2000

Back-Scratching at City Hall?

By Jeff Ignatius
Former Davenport City Administrator Jim Pierce appears to be the top candidate for his old job in Ohio, a prospect that raises questions about the work of an executive-search firm he hired. One day after he submitted his resignation to the City of Davenport, Pierce was in Huber Heights, Ohio, as one of four finalists for its city-manager position.
21 Nov 2000

Return of the Scary People

By Jeff Ignatius
In my college years – and that feels so very long ago right now – the CD player was loaded with the likes of Ministry, Skinny Puppy, and Skrew. It was the 15-minute heyday of industrial, and all those bands had my ears.
14 Nov 2000

Divided They Fall?

By Jeff Ignatius
Even with the ultimate result still unclear, last week's election showed some contradictory things about the state of progressive politics in the United States: They still matter, and there's a lot of work to do if the movement is going to overcome its fragmentation.
14 Nov 2000

No Slave to the Blues

By Jeff Ignatius
When you’re a blues singer and guitarist, it’s a little dangerous to lead off an album with a song called “I Ain’t Got No Blues Today.” Especially when there’s nothing tongue-in-cheek about it: “I ain’t got no blues today / No matter what them folks might say / I done my best / I paid my dues.
07 Nov 2000

Rubber Stamped Chief

By Jeff Ignatius
Mike Bladel's short, strange trip from Scott County sheriff (and unopposed candidate for re-election) to Davenport police chief ended November 1 with a unanimous stamp of approval from the city council. But the ease of confirmation didn't wipe away lingering questions about the failure of a nationwide search, the actions of the city administrator, and the motivation for Bladel's move east down Fourth Street.
31 Oct 2000

What Choice?

By Jeff Ignatius
In elections, candidates for less-prominent offices typically ride the coattails of the people at the top of the ticket. That assumes, of course, that there are candidates to get pulled along. In Rock Island County, there aren't.

Pages

Subscribe & Listen to Reader Podcasts

On Stands Now

 

Tagged Content

Two Ways to Subscribe

1. Subscribe to free weekly e-mail content updates.

You'll get both the current official narrative challenge and What's Happenin' in the Quad Cities.
(Did you know we publish a new Amy Alkon Advice Goddess, Real Astrology, Red Meat cartoon and RCR Crossword every week?) 

* indicates required

View previous campaigns.

2. Get 12 monthly issues mailed first class for $48

Get 12 issues mailed monthly for $48 per year.

Get the printed Reader edition mailed to you (or anyone you want) first-class for 12 months for $48.
$24 goes to postage and handling, $24 goes to keeping the doors open!

Click this link to Subscribe now.