ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS (August 1, 2026) — Augustana College announced more than 1,100 students were named to the Dean's List for the 2025-2026 spring semester. Students who have earned this academic honor have maintained a grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a four-point scale for courses taken during the term.

Nathan Acosta, a Biology major of Moline, Illinois, was named to Augustana College's Dean's List.

KENOSHA, WISCONSIN (July 26, 2026) — Carthage College students traveled with faculty on summer J-Term study tours. J-Term is a special month-long period of study in which Carthage students explore subjects outside their majors or minors, discover new interests, and test their creativity through classes held around the world.

The following students from the area participated:

Chase Portner of Moline, Illinois (61265), took the course in New York City Art and Theatre

URBANA, ILLINOIS (July 23, 2026) — In a highly-competitive process, forty-one public policy leaders from across Illinois have been selected for the 2026 class of the Edgar Fellows Program. The group will gather at their Executive Leadership Training Program held August 2 through 6 at the I-Hotel and Conference Center on the University of Illinois (U of I) campus in Urbana-Champaign. The Illinois State Medical Society is the Presenting Sponsor of the 2026 leadership training week.

A three-person "chariot" race was part of the Olympic competition between the teachers on the next-to-last day of the NEH summer institute

MONMOUTH, ILLINOIS (July 23, 2026) — Classics is having a moment. Over the weekend, The Odyssey cashed in at the global box office, smashing expectations by grossing $264.1 million.