WQPT | The Cities: Produced locally by WQPT

About the Series

The Cities airs Thursdays at 6:30pm.
(Encore presentation on Sundays at 5:30pm.)

Because of the timely nature of the program, we typically announce guest and topic information shortly before The Cities airs. To stay informed, we invite viewers to sign up for our e-Newsletter.

Hosted by Jim Mertens, The Cities focuses on the issues facing communities in and around the Quad Cities metropolitan area. Featuring regional and other guests from across the country. The program discusses a variety of topics relevant to the Quad City region. Viewers enjoy a unique, local perspective on topical issues and events happening in our region.

The program also features our Out and About segment featuring regional events, exhibits and other activities happening in the Quad City region.

Available on iTunes

	Podcasts are now available for download, free of charge, simply visit iTunes and search for WQPT or click here.

at&t

About the Host
Jim Mertens has served as president of the Iowa Broadcast News Association and is a past president of the Northwest Broadcast News Association. He also served as the president of the organization's foundation which raises money for Journalism scholarships and advancing professional Broadcast Journalism. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire School of Journalism.

Jim is co-anchor of Good Morning Quad Cities on WQAD and their one-hour midday broadcast, News 8 at 11. You may also hear him with on KUUL Morning Guys.

Recently on The Cities

Ray Wolf of the National Weather Service discusses our recent rains. Meet Mary Pruess, WQPT's new General Manager. Daniel and Jessica Sheridan of Davenport's Junior Theatre talk about their newest production of "Jungle Book" and the mask making that was involved in creating the caricatures.

May 2013
Episode	Description	Watch Online*	Original Air Date
325	Quad City Renaissance man, Don Wooten talks about his long career. Learn more about "The Amazing Race of the Quad Cities" from Brandon Rasko, one of the organizers.		4/18/2013
324	Ray Wolf of the National Weather Service discusses our recent rains. Meet Mary Pruess, WQPT's new General Manager. Daniel and Jessica Sheridan of Davenport's Junior Theatre talk about their newest production of "Jungle Book" and the mask making that was involved in creating the caricatures.		5/2/2013
April 2013
Episode	Description	Watch Online*	Original Air Date
323	Michelle Neels Scheper from the Davenport Civil Rights Commission and Don Healy of Western Illinois University discuss the American's With Disabilities Act. Donna Young from Isabel Bloom talks about the upcoming Village in Bloom festival. Shea Doyle talks about the Playwrights Festival.		4/25/2013
322	Happy Joe's founder Joe Whittey talks about his life and his new book. Cesar Millan, dog trainer, discusses being "leader of the pack."		4/18/2013
321	The River Bandits Harold Craw and Stefanie Brown discuss the current baseball season. Monta Ponsetto discusses the upcoming Quad Cities Epilepsy Walk. Kassie Daly, Western Illinois Universit–Quad Cities, Assistant Director of Admissions talks about the open house at the Riverfront Campus for new students.		4/11/2013
320	Phil Banaszek, Rock Island County Board Chairman and Judge Jeffrey O'Connor, 14th Judicial Circuit Court discuss a referendum to give the Rock Island board more leverage to raise money to build a new court house. Daniel Malachuk, Western Illinois University, Quad Cities Associate Professor discusses the upcoming series "America's Music."		4/4/2013
March 2013
Episode	Description	Watch Online*	Original Air Date
319	Rock Island Mayoral candidates, (Rick Casinni, David Levin and incumbent Mayor Dennis Pauley), talk about the issues facing the City of Rock Island, including development near Jumer's and 11th Street.		3/28/2013
318	Dr. Jennifer Caudle is interviewed about her program “Stop Bullying with Dr. Jennifer Caudle.” Cynthia Tidwell, CEO and President of Royal Neighbors of America talks about Women’s History Month and the need for many women to be better financial planners.		3/21/2013
317	Trinity Health Systems nutritionists talk about making wellness resolutions and keeping them. Anne Wachal of Churches United talks about their hunger challenge. Kelly Lao talks about what is coming up at the German-American Heritage Center.		3/14/2013
316	Nicolas Foss and Megan Vance of the Alcohol and Drug Dependency Service talk about identifying and treating gambling addiction. St. Patrick’s Day Grand Parade Chairperson, Julie Walton talks about the only bi-state parade in the nation.		3/7/2013
February 2013
Episode	Description	Watch Online*	Original Air Date
315	Iowa Senator Charles Grassley talks about the sequester. Charla K Pratt and Curtis M Williams, Western Illinois University discuss financial aid opportunities for incoming and current students.		2/28/2013
314	Chris Lopez, Moline Schools Dean of Students and Bruce Schwarz, Bettendorf Liaison Officer talk with about the Alice program and school safety. Dave Layton, representing the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) talks about their new relationship with Western Illinois University.		2/21/2013
313	Angie Kendall of the Child Abuse Council and Jamie Lange, Interim WQPT General Manager discuss the Stop Bullying initiative. Additional guest include Ryan Collins from the Midwest Writing Center, and Amy Pearson.		2/14/2013
312	Cole O'Donnell, East Moline City Administrator talks about development in East Moline. Natalie Dunlop from the Figge Art Museum discusses Fat Tuesday Chef events at the museum. Plus Missy Gowey of the Genesis Health Services Foundation.		2/7/2013
January 2013
Episode	Description	Watch Online*	Original Air Date
311	Dr. Art Tate, Superintendent of the Davenport School System talks about the school budget, school safety and more, while Joy Boruff of the Moline Foundation invites the community to share their ideas on how to utilize the Moline Riverfront in a series of community conversations for River Vision 2020.		1/31/2013
310	Iowa Governor Terry Branstad talks about his agenda. Jason Gilliland of the Downtown Davenport Partnership introduces the newest wintertime event in Davenport, Icestravaganza. Jane Bahls invites our community to a fundraiser for Winnies Place.		1/24/2013
309	Illinois Senator Mike Jacobs, Illinois Representative Mike Smiddy and Illinois Representative Pat Verschoore discuss the new legislative session. Jessica Waytenick of the QC Convention and Tourism Bureau and Kristen Veto from the John Deere Pavilion discuss “Be A Tourist In Your Own Backyard.”		1/17/2013
308	Kelli Grubbs and Mary Ellen Chamberlin representing the Davenport Casino Board talk about the plans presented by three developers to operate a new casino off the Mississippi River.		1/10/2013
307	Illinois Representative Bobby Schilling discusses his two years in Washington D.C. representing the 17 th District in Illinois. Lora Adams from WQPT talks about the stations upcoming gala, Champagne on the Rocks. Music by Danika Holmes.		1/03/2013
*Denotes link to a video on YouTube. ^ Back to top
December 2012
Episode	Description	Watch Online*	Original Air Date
304	Major Gary Fenton of the Salvation Army talks about their annual red kettle drive and a young artists from Bucktown discusses his sculptures. Lora Adams of WQPT talks about "It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play."		12/13/2012
303	Dr. Lee Carkner from the John Deere Planetarium talks about their seasonal stars program. Barbara Sandberg brings us up to date on the fund-raising efforts by the Moline Preservation Society to move the Moline Train Depot.		12/6/2012
*Denotes link to a video on YouTube. ^ Back to top
November 2012
Episode	Description	Watch Online*	Original Air Date
302	Jessa Neumann director of PBS Frontline's "Poor Kids" talks about the documentary. Caren Laughlin of the River Bend food bank discusses the need for food donations for our areas needy. Music by the Westbrook Singers.		11/29/2012
301	Peace Activist Arun Gandhi talks about his family and their work promoting world peace and Ellen Harrison from the Center for Active Seniors tellls us how we can become Santa's to a Senior. Music by Mark Wood.		11/22/2012
*Denotes link to a video on YouTube. ^ Back to top

May 2013

Episode

Description

Watch Online*

Original Air Date

325

Quad City Renaissance man, Don Wooten talks about his long career. Learn more about "The Amazing Race of the Quad Cities" from Brandon Rasko, one of the organizers.

4/18/2013

324

5/2/2013

April 2013

Episode

Description

Watch Online*

Original Air Date

323

Michelle Neels Scheper from the Davenport Civil Rights Commission and Don Healy of Western Illinois University discuss the American's With Disabilities Act. Donna Young from Isabel Bloom talks about the upcoming Village in Bloom festival. Shea Doyle talks about the Playwrights Festival.

4/25/2013

322

Happy Joe's founder Joe Whittey talks about his life and his new book. Cesar Millan, dog trainer, discusses being "leader of the pack."

4/18/2013

321

The River Bandits Harold Craw and Stefanie Brown discuss the current baseball season. Monta Ponsetto discusses the upcoming Quad Cities Epilepsy Walk. Kassie Daly, Western Illinois Universit–Quad Cities, Assistant Director of Admissions talks about the open house at the Riverfront Campus for new students.

4/11/2013

320

Phil Banaszek, Rock Island County Board Chairman and Judge Jeffrey O'Connor, 14th Judicial Circuit Court discuss a referendum to give the Rock Island board more leverage to raise money to build a new court house. Daniel Malachuk, Western Illinois University, Quad Cities Associate Professor discusses the upcoming series "America's Music."

4/4/2013

March 2013

Episode

Description

Watch Online*

Original Air Date

319

Rock Island Mayoral candidates, (Rick Casinni, David Levin and incumbent Mayor Dennis Pauley), talk about the issues facing the City of Rock Island, including development near Jumer's and 11th Street.

3/28/2013

318

Dr. Jennifer Caudle is interviewed about her program “Stop Bullying with Dr. Jennifer Caudle.” Cynthia Tidwell, CEO and President of Royal Neighbors of America talks about Women’s History Month and the need for many women to be better financial planners.

3/21/2013

317

Trinity Health Systems nutritionists talk about making wellness resolutions and keeping them. Anne Wachal of Churches United talks about their hunger challenge. Kelly Lao talks about what is coming up at the German-American Heritage Center.

3/14/2013

316

Nicolas Foss and Megan Vance of the Alcohol and Drug Dependency Service talk about identifying and treating gambling addiction. St. Patrick’s Day Grand Parade Chairperson, Julie Walton talks about the only bi-state parade in the nation.

3/7/2013

February 2013

Episode

Description

Watch Online*

Original Air Date

315

Iowa Senator Charles Grassley talks about the sequester. Charla K Pratt and Curtis M Williams, Western Illinois University discuss financial aid opportunities for incoming and current students.

2/28/2013

314

Chris Lopez, Moline Schools Dean of Students and Bruce Schwarz, Bettendorf Liaison Officer talk with about the Alice program and school safety. Dave Layton, representing the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) talks about their new relationship with Western Illinois University.

2/21/2013

313

Angie Kendall of the Child Abuse Council and Jamie Lange, Interim WQPT General Manager discuss the Stop Bullying initiative. Additional guest include Ryan Collins from the Midwest Writing Center, and Amy Pearson.

2/14/2013

312

Cole O'Donnell, East Moline City Administrator talks about development in East Moline. Natalie Dunlop from the Figge Art Museum discusses Fat Tuesday Chef events at the museum. Plus Missy Gowey of the Genesis Health Services Foundation.

2/7/2013

January 2013

Episode

Description

Watch Online*

Original Air Date

311

Dr. Art Tate, Superintendent of the Davenport School System talks about the school budget, school safety and more, while Joy Boruff of the Moline Foundation invites the community to share their ideas on how to utilize the Moline Riverfront in a series of community conversations for River Vision 2020.

1/31/2013

310

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad talks about his agenda. Jason Gilliland of the Downtown Davenport Partnership introduces the newest wintertime event in Davenport, Icestravaganza. Jane Bahls invites our community to a fundraiser for Winnies Place.

1/24/2013

309

Illinois Senator Mike Jacobs, Illinois Representative Mike Smiddy and Illinois Representative Pat Verschoore discuss the new legislative session. Jessica Waytenick of the QC Convention and Tourism Bureau and Kristen Veto from the John Deere Pavilion discuss “Be A Tourist In Your Own Backyard.”

1/17/2013

308

Kelli Grubbs and Mary Ellen Chamberlin representing the Davenport Casino Board talk about the plans presented by three developers to operate a new casino off the Mississippi River.

1/10/2013

307

Illinois Representative Bobby Schilling discusses his two years in Washington D.C. representing the 17 th District in Illinois. Lora Adams from WQPT talks about the stations upcoming gala, Champagne on the Rocks. Music by Danika Holmes.

1/03/2013

*Denotes link to a video on YouTube. ^ Back to top

December 2012

Episode

Description

Watch Online*

Original Air Date

304

Major Gary Fenton of the Salvation Army talks about their annual red kettle drive and a young artists from Bucktown discusses his sculptures. Lora Adams of WQPT talks about "It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play."

12/13/2012

303

Dr. Lee Carkner from the John Deere Planetarium talks about their seasonal stars program. Barbara Sandberg brings us up to date on the fund-raising efforts by the Moline Preservation Society to move the Moline Train Depot.

12/6/2012

*Denotes link to a video on YouTube. ^ Back to top

November 2012

Episode

Description

Watch Online*

Original Air Date

302

Jessa Neumann director of PBS Frontline's "Poor Kids" talks about the documentary. Caren Laughlin of the River Bend food bank discusses the need for food donations for our areas needy. Music by the Westbrook Singers.

11/29/2012

301

Peace Activist Arun Gandhi talks about his family and their work promoting world peace and Ellen Harrison from the Center for Active Seniors tellls us how we can become Santa's to a Senior. Music by Mark Wood.

11/22/2012

*Denotes link to a video on YouTube. ^ Back to top