LATEST: TV Schedules | NEWS | Local Programs | ACTIVATE PASSPORT
LATEST: TV Schedules | NEWS | Local Programs | ACTIVATE PASSPORT
Hosted by the renowned Jim Mertens, THE CITIES offers an exploration of local and national issues, events and stories impacting residents of Eastern Iowa, Western, North-Central, and Central Illinois. Plus Out and About, a weekly segment featuring events happening throughout the region.
Airing Thursdays at 7:00PM.
*Encore airing on Sundays at 4:00PM.
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Find out what's happening in the region
Jim talks with Trish Burnett about the California wildfires and how the American Red Cross is aiding victims of the fires. Jim then speaks with Jerry Jones, the Executive Director of the Martin Luther King Center of Rock Island, about the center's anniversary and community service.
Broadcast date: January 16, 2025
Jim speaks with Iowa State Rep. Gary Mohr Bettendorf (R) about the supermajority the Republican Party has in Iowa state politics and budgeting, education, and social issues. Then, Brett Hitchcock of Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse discusses their upcoming schedule with Jim.
Broadcast date: January 9, 2025
Jim speaks with Illinois State Sen. Mike Halpin Rock Island (D) and Minority Leader State Rep. Tony McCombie (R) about the Trump presidency, budget deficits, and the political future of Illinois.
Broadcast date: January 2, 2025
Jim talks with Eastern Iowa Community College's Equal Opportunity and Diversity Manager, Cory Holloway, about the importance and future of DEI. Jim then speaks with Western Illinois University's Director of Admissions about enrollment rates and FAFSA.
Broadcast date: December 26, 2024
Jim speaks with Illinois 17th-District Congressman Eric Sorensen about his re-election, Biden's last days in office, and the Trump administration. Plus, Trans Siberian Orchestra members Al Pitrelli and Kayla Reeves discuss TBSO's 30-year legacy.
Broadcast date: December 19, 2024
Mertens is an award-winning news anchor. He joined the Cedar Rapids, Iowa ABC network affiliate KCRG-TV9 News team in 2022 after 27 years of reporting news for the Quad Cities region at WQAD-TV in Moline. Before that, Jim was a news anchor and reporter for WWMT-TV in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He also worked for WEAU-TV in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. He began his professional career in radio in 1978 at WFON-FM in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
Jim has received numerous awards for his journalistic reporting. His Long-form journalism has earned him first-place awards with the Iowa Associated Press, the Iowa Broadcast News Association, and the Illinois News Broadcasters Association. He was a former president of the Iowa Broadcast News Association and the Northwest Broadcast News
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