When I crossed the threshold of the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center at 9 p.m. last night, the Project NOW coordinator counted me as part of the unhoused community. I had slipped in behind Marshall and one of our unhoused friends as they guided a blind senior citizen—unsteady on his feet—toward his cot. They supported him with such gentleness, one on each side, easing him down and helping him orient to the unfamiliar room. I bent down and tucked his belongings beneath

This weekend, a 58-hour emergency shelter will open in Rock Island — a partnership between the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center and Project NOW, Inc. The MLK Center will host the shelter inside its beautiful community facility, and Project NOW will provide financial backing, operational support, and professional expertise. The Third Place QC will help coordinate meals throughout the weekend. Opening Friday at 9 p.m. and concluding at 7 a.m. Monday, the shelter will und

[Update: April 22, 2026. The Rock Island County Coroner's office confirmed death certificate reads Hypothermia due to acute and chronic adverse effects of alcohol indicating that Mama's primary cause of death was freezing to death.] This past week, a Rock Island woman died inside an abandoned building in Moline, Illinois. Friends affectionately called her “Mama" and described her as warm and loving. After this article was first published, her daughter reached out and asked th

An article about the historic Argus building in Rock Island, IL

An article discusses universal healthcare as human infrastructure and crucial to capitalism.

A satire on the use of religion and the founding fathers to exert social control on a minority of people.

“The Scourged Back” shows the scarred back of escaped slave Peter Gordon in Louisiana, 1863. (McPherson & Oliver/National Gallery of Art)...

The Rock Island City Council has introduced a new Social Services License Ordinance that will reshape how our community responds to homelessness. At first glance, it may look like regulation, but beneath the legal language lies a shift in values that risks undermining the very character of Rock Island. You can read a copy of the ordinance here: Here are five reasons why this ordinance is deeply concerning. 1. Rock Island Will Become the Most Restrictive City in Illinois for

John Rawls America finds itself in a period of deep polarization. Headlines lurch from one controversy to the next, while social media...

As promised, I am going to release three different users' Chat GPT responses to the following prompt: PROMPT: You are an expert in urban...

As promised, I am going to release three different users Chat GPT responses to the following prompt: PROMPT: You are an expert in urban...

As promised, I am going to release three different users' Chat GPT responses to the following prompt: PROMPT: You are an expert in urban...

The current formats available to community members to discuss collective issues often exacerbate division, fail to build community, and...

An article on the current state of the Century Woods TIF

Helping the public understand a TIF and the proposed TIF in Rock Island.

🚀 Rock Island Needs You — and Your Best Ideas. We’re starting something new. Something rooted in connection, creativity, and community...

Learn more about how the city of Rock Island operates.

Find out how podcast host, Annika O'Melia, chose the name Rock Island Line.