MainStream MultiMedia

09/08/2026

Giving needs top Eastern Iowa Briefs at https://tinyurl.com/yhxed8bp, with Foundation 2 Crisis Services seeking donations of outdoor equipment for its youth emergency shelter, and Faith United Church of Christ-Muscatine seeking help in replenishing “Blessing Boxes” for the needy. Plus, Decorah Pride seeks bands interested in performing at its Oct. 10 fest. Check out Eastern Iowa Briefs for 9-8-26.

09/07/2026

"The roots of Labor Day stretch back to the Industrial Revolution, when American workers were putting in incredibly long hours under conditions that would make today’s HR departments break into a cold sweat. Here’s how it all happened."

The history of Labor Day goes far beyond a three-day weekend. Here's how it started and what you probably never knew about its origins.

09/04/2026

Walks, games, galas, clinics and more: it's MainStream's updated Animal Welfare Events calendar at https://main-stream.org/animal-welfare-events. Find almost three dozen ways to help care for creatures throughout Illinois and Iowa from Sept. 4 to 20.

Find Animal Welfare events throughout Illinois and Iowa for July 29 to Aug. 15, 2026, courtesy of MainStream Multimedia and The Bulletin.

09/03/2026

The new edition of MainStream is now hitting streets and mailboxes throughout Illinois and Iowa! Links in comments for where to find free copies and how to order home delivery.

Read about camping -- including at Iowa's beloved LV Campground & Giftshop LLC, plus camps for LGBTQ+ folks, People of Color, and people with disabilities. Learn about William Jones, the humble founder of the Quad Cities' Funktastic 5. Read Caleb Sneeden's review about Jen St. Jude's take on self-acceptance, through their novel "Where You'll Find Us." Plus more:
• Foundation 2 Crisis Services in Cedar Rapids, Ia., offers their insight on how to talk about su***de prevention
• Tony Fuhs of The Brewed Book in Davenport explores how perspective can change everything
• Pastor Tyler Yost of Church of Peace UCC in Rock Island tackles Biblical misinterpretation and misuse overall, and another "clobber passage"
• Plus, find regular features The Green Wave on cannabis policy and research; HIV And ... on HIV destigmatization, treatment and prevention; news galore on both states and nearby states; and puzzles!
• And ads from entities like the Joliet Pride Network, prepping for its big annual Pride Fest Sept. 19

Special thanks to the Prairie Pride Coalition, Peoria Proud, the The City of Iowa City Government Human Rights Department, and Everybody's Whole Foods-Fairfield for partnering to provide Central Illinois and Eastern Iowa special sections. To Allaina Humphreys of free wheelin design, and Erich Nobis, for the cover. And to OUT Sports Quad Cities, East Moline Main Street, Caleb Sneeden, and Deb Jones for helping to get thousands of copies to hundreds of locations throughout Illinois and Iowa! They all rock!

09/03/2026

Just in time for the weekend: check out the updated Spirituality Events listings at https://main-stream.org/spirituality-events/, where you'll find 63 events to choose from, Friday through Sept. 20 representing diverse faiths, practices and belief systems. See if one of these soothes your soul.

Find Spirituality Events in Illinois and Iowa here.

08/31/2026

In central Illinois news, at https://tinyurl.com/mrk4phyb, Monday brings a data center protest in Decatur, and training in Bloomington on how to use Narcan. Coming up, a new series for parents of q***r or nonbinary kids kicks off with Uniting Pride of Champaign-Urbana. Check out news briefs for Central Illinois, for 8-30-26.

Monday brings a data center protest in Decatur, and narcan training in Bloomington. Coming up, a new series for parents of q***r or nonbinary kids kicks off,with Uniting Pride of Champaign County. Check out news briefs for Central Illinois, for 8-30-26.

08/29/2026

In the latest Quad Cities Dailies, here at https://rb.gy/5wrcd9, check out new hours by the T2 (Together on 2nd) LGBTQ+ nightclub, possible new affordable apartments in Bettendorf, and the Rock Island Public Library's upcoming documentary showing about "The Union Stockyards" of Chicago from 1865 to the mid 1960s.

The T2 LGBTQ+ nightclub, also known as Together on 2nd, announces new hours. Proposed apartments in Bettendorf aim to help reduce a housing shortage. "The Union Stockyards" documentary about the Chicago meat market that was Packingtown shows Wednesday at the Rock Island Public Library. It's Quad Cit...

08/25/2026

As word of Dolly Parton's passing spreads, this article appeared just today based on an interview with the legend four days ago, Friday. " I’m still healin’, I’m still workin’.' " ❤️‍🩹

The country icon says she’s continuing to work on new projects as she heals.

08/25/2026

Celebrate National Black Business Month with a virtual Lunch n' learn from The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center. Consider volunteering with Joliet Pride Network to clean up the Joliet Junction Trail. And check out a mid-year health report showing new HIV and AIDS cases down in Chicago. It's Chicagoland Dailies for 8-25-26.

Celebrate National Black Business Month with a virtual Lunch n' learn from DuSable. Consider volunteering with Joliet Pride Network to clean up the Joliet Junction Trail. And check out a mid-year health report showing new HIV and AIDS cases down in Chicago. It's Chicagoland Dailies for 8-25-26.

08/22/2026

In Western Iowa Dailies, at https://tinyurl.com/5dmzf8nw, read about:
• Nebraska Black Pride and its Black Opulence Ball tonight with comedienne Amber Ruffin, and tomorrow's Family BBQ
• the upcoming closing of Kings & Queens-Sioux City, western Iowa's only LGBTQ+ bar, and
• Terry Lindsay, the new president of Western Iowa Tech Community College

Nebraska Black Pride hosts the Black Opulence Ball tonight featuring comedienne Amber Ruffin, and a Family BBQ tomorrow. Western Iowa's only LGBTQ+ bar, Kings & Queens, is closing. And Terry Lindsay brings vast experience as the new president of Western Iowa Tech Community College. It's Western Iowa...