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- A challenge to Iowa.

Do the Iowa Caucuses have any national support left?

And creating a mix of exercise for the body and the mind, a very different library in The Cities.

(upbeat music) The one thing we've learned is that there's very little time between the moment one presidential election ends and another begins.

There are already Republicans cautiously testing the waters of Iowa, preparing for a race that won't include Donald Trump but not angering the former president if does indeed decide to run.

But that's just one of the issues about the 2024 nominating process that needs to sort itself out.

The other involves the Iowa Caucuses, the race to be first, and the power play that's going on right now.

That's why we talked with the new Iowa Democratic Party Chair, State Representative Ross Wilburn.

You've heard what Nevada's doing.

You know that New Hampshire's gonna fight against it.

What say Iowa?

- I say that the move by other states to try to move ahead in the calendar is nothing new.

Happens every four years when the calender comes out and we're used to states trying to jump ahead of us and we're having important conversations with the DNC, my teams working hard to make sure Iowans continue having a voice during this important process.

- Let's be honest, it's a huge black eye that 2020 was for Iowa.

Is that insurmountable?

- No, absolutely not.

I mean we acknowledge problems in the initial reporting of numbers but, ya know, many if not most of the actual Caucus process itself went smoothly around the state, in fact, I remember during my caucus people were pretty excited and there was a couple folks from the deaf community who were excited.

I was trying my rudimentary sign language skills to communicate with them but we're always working to improve the caucus process and we're working in partnership with other state leaders and the DNC because we're going to continue to work to increase, you know, the Caucus process.

- So but the Caucus really is it providing a huge bump?

I mean if these presidential candidates are going to spend this much time, effort, and money into Iowa, they want something from it and that's that huge bump they get and they got nothing like that in 2020.

- I'm gonna push back on that because they get so much more out of it.

Iowa, you know, there's no better advertisers than Iowa.

They love to work on campaigns, in fact, Iowans, once they move on, do phone calls, letter writing, in fact, myself back during the Obama one administration, before he ran, I traveled to Washington D.C. for the caucus, or the primary season, out there to vote.

So Iowans are very active and the candidates get a good cross-section of the country when they come to Iowa.

- Well that's what Iowans say but you know so well that if you don't live in Iowa that's not what they're thinking.

They're thinking that this is a predominantly white, predominately rural area, that doesn't represent the nation.

- You're talking and looking at an African-American who is the chair person of the Iowa Democratic Party.

It's unfortunate that, you know, the narrative that there's no diversity in Iowa has come forward because we have a deep, rich tradition in terms of civil rights accomplishments and leaders coming forward.

We're a good cross-section of not only rural, working class Iowans but we've got many of our BIPOC community here so it's a great chance for candidates, especially if they don't have a lot of name recognition or if they don't have a lot of money, to come here, to test out their messages, to hear from Iowans that represent a cross-section of the country.

- One of the greatest things that happened to the Iowa Caucus of course, and you were involved in it, was the election of Barack Obama, only because Iowa put Barack Obama on the map and made him a legitimate candidate, not so much, of course, for the Clintons and not so much for Joe Biden.

So is the fact that it's a Joe Biden White House have an impact on Iowa Caucuses?

In other words, is he as friendly towards Iowa as you would hope he would be?

- You also have to look at what happened.

Beyond Iowa, once they got to South Carolina, the then vice-president Biden had to step forward to connect with the African-American community and he did so and he won and now he's delivering.

He and Vice-President Harris are delivering for not only Iowans but the American people.

- But it's a good point that if you notice that some of the people that are some of his closest confidants are Harry Reed and Jim Clyburn.

Harry Reed, of course, from Nevada, Jim Clyburn from South Carolina, and neither one of them really believe that Iowa should be first in the nation.

- Again, I just go back to every four years when the calendar comes up that different states vie for different position and Iowa is part of that four-state cutout.

We want to be part of the conversation.

It's important that, you know, if we can do it here in Iowa in terms of working class, in terms of that rural voice, in terms of our communities of color, our LGBT+ communities, with people living with disability, if we can do it and support and lift our diverse communities here in Iowa, we can do it across the country.

- Is Iowa turning Republican more than Democrat?

It seems to be more red than purple.

- You know, I think, Iowans agree with Democrats on many of the most important issues.

You mentioned I'm in the legislature.

Iowans talk about strong public education, affordable prescription drugs, background checks for gun purchases, more economic opportunity for all of us, so we just have to make sure that as we get back out to organizing, which we've already started to do.

You know, unfortunately, weren't able to do it, or do it consistently, during the initial part of the pandemic, we want to make sure that we are reconnecting and connecting with Iowans so that they can know that Democrats are not only saying that we're on their side but we're at their side on these issues.

- But two years ago Democrats thought that they were gonna get better control of the state legislature and instead Republicans held on if not gained.

Is it that the Democratic message isn't working or you didn't have good candidates?

- Nationwide there is an issue with rural and working class folks, not necessarily feeling the connection that they had with Democrats in previous years and there's no question that the pandemic had an effect on us here but, you know, if you take a look at the recent voter registration numbers from the Iowa Secretary of State's office, just released today, in three of our four congressional districts, registered Democrat voters outnumbered registered Republicans.

That includes the First and Second Congressional Districts which are currently represented by Republicans.

So overall, Republicans do have 23,000 more registered voters than us but our Democratic activists are closing the gap and they are out working now because, especially with the voter suppression bill that was pushed through by the radical Republican legislature and governor, so we're getting ready to go.

- I was going to ask you about that so we might as well go to it next and that is changes as far as voting is concerned in Iowa.

Is it pretty much set in stone or do Iowa Democrats plan to challenge what the state legislature and the governor's already approved?

- We're fortunate one of the great partners, not only in Iowa but across the country, are challenging election laws.

LULAC has been an important voice and activists across the country and here in Iowa so they are taking that to court.

In the meantime, Iowans are already, and Democrats are already, working to try and let people know they need to check their voter status.

The new GOP law requires the Secretary of State to move all voters who didn't cast ballots in the most recent general election, one election, to inactive, and previously they had to miss two consecutive general elections, so Iowans of Republicans, no party, other parties, are very upset about the damage that the Republican party in Iowa and governor have done to make it harder to vote.

They'd rather rig the system in their favor than, you know, be held accountable for the problems they're causing.

- Whether that's true or not, as you know, the US Supreme Court has just ruled in favor of the changes that are going on in Arizona which kind of puts a setback to some of these challenges don't you think?

- You know, time is going to tell on that.

There will be other challenges, that's one ruling, we'll see how that plays itself out, but we're not sitting and waiting on litigation.

We are, our activists are working, to get people to check their voter status.

We're doing everything we can to fire people up and make sure that Democrats want you to be able to express your voice and your voice is your vote.

- For Iowa Democrats, are the biggest races the race for Iowa governor and the US Senate?

Depending upon what Charles Grassley does?

- You know, we are working, two parts to that question, we're working to challenge every race that we can and I've focused and we're focused on growing our party, on getting out the message, and connecting with our Democrats, no party, and moderate Republicans across the state.

I've been traveling across the state.

Earlier this month I was in Fort Dodge and Davenport.

I was in Grimes in early June and Red Oak.

So west, south, north, east we are working to connect with Iowans and to get people ready to pay attention to not only the damage that Republicans have done but what Iowans are doing, what Democrats are doing in Iowa as well as in Washington D.C. with everything the Biden administration has done.

Getting vaccines in people's arms as well as the financial support that they are getting.

And hopefully the upcoming infrastructure bill.

- But once again, is it the governor's race and the US Senate race that really top the chart, so to speak, for state Democrats?

- Democrats are focused on challenging every race we can.

- Let's talk about what we're seeing in the Republican party right now.

I'm sure that it's nice for you to be an outsider looking in.

And we're seeing some candidates who are putting their toe in the water in Iowa.

Still unclear of what Donald Trump is going to do.

Is that surprising to you that people such as Tom Cotton, Tim Scott, are sniffing around Iowa so to speak?

- Not at all and, you know, while Democrats and Republicans may not agree on much here in Iowa, we both agreed on going back to the Caucus and first in the nation Caucus.

That's one area we are in support and so, you know, I've been in communications with the Iowa Republican Chair and, you know, they are proceeding with Iowa being the first caucus in the nation so.

The Republican Party, they have some explaining to do not only to the American people but within their party.

They've got a radical right agenda that is upsetting Iowans across the board and so it's not surprising that they are coming here and it just adds credence to what I said about it's an opportunity for those who don't have as much name recognition, who don't have a lot of money, that they can connect and test their message here but also potentially have Iowans helping them out in other parts of the country.

- Once again, a perceived notion and somewhat a fact, too, is that Democrat do very well in urban areas and not rural areas and you see that time and time again in elections in Iowa where the pockets of Democratic strength appear to be the cities.

What are you going to do to reach out to rural areas to make more Democratic gains in those areas?

- Mmm-hmm, you know, we are, as Democrats, we are work-- It's not a new idea, it's just we're coming back to it, especially out of the pandemic, that we are trying to organize as a state party year-round.

So we're trying to expand to that year-round organizing and we're already getting training programs for activists and candidates to grow our Democratic grass-roots network around the state.

It's building those long-term relationships with volunteers, activists, and voters in every corner of the state.

That's what helps build strong campaigns and it helps our candidates connect to people in their communities.

- But why don't you think the Democratic message is taking root in rural areas?

- You know, that's been a challenge across the country not just here in Iowa and look, you know, we obviously need to do a better job and going to improve connecting, reconnecting, again with the pandemic, we want to make sure that folks know that it's Democrats that are delivering.

That stimulus that's come out, Democrat, Joe Biden, delivered that.

So we are going to continue to reach out.

We've got Democrats out in those areas.

We're going to start turning those red areas paint, start winning elections state-wide and in local communities.

- Iowa Democratic Party Chair, State Representative Ross Wilburn.

The fireworks of the 4th of July may be over but there's still plenty of summer left, of course, and it's especially true for all the events in our area that had to be canceled last year.

They are just trying to make the most of this year.

Laura Adams knows your best bets if you plan to go Out & About.

(funky music) - [Laura] This is "Out & About" for July 9-19.

The John Deere Classic is underway at TPC Deer Run through the 11th or come join the Walcott Truckers Jamboree the 8-10.

Outdoor concerts include Lincoln Park in Rock Island's Starlight Revue Concerts on Tuesdays at 7:00.

Fridays, head down to Mercado on Fifth in Moline starting at 5:00.

Thursday nights enjoy music at Bass Street Landing at 7:00 or bring the kids for music and fun with Babaloo at the Lincoln Park Bandshell the 15th at 10:30 A.M.

Shake the Floor Dance Competition hosted by the Pink Dynamic Dolls takes place at the River Center July 10th while the Mercer Country Fair runs July 13-17.

The Jambrella Country Fest assisting River Music Experience takes place at Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds the 10th and 11th, plus enjoy the city of Eldridge, Iowa's Sesquicentennial event featuring the Moonlight Chase.

On stage, Genesius Guild presents "Shakespeare's Life in His Works" by Shakespeare and Don Wooten the 10th and 11th at 7:00 in Lincoln Park.

The Mississippi Bend Players present "No Child" at Augustana's Bruner Theater July 8-11 and Abba's hits ring out at Quad City Music Guild's production of "Mamma Mia" opening July 9th.

While "Saturday Night Fever" opens at Circa 21 July 14th.

Plus, The Black Box Theater present the Midwest premiere of "I And You" by Laura Gunderson beginning the 15th.

For more information visit wqpt.org.

- Thank you, Laura.

Jenny Lynn Stacy is like a lot of performers these days, just getting back to performing in front of a live audiences.

She says it feels good to be in front of the folks again.

She did perform some of her own original works on the stage at The Black Box Theater in Moline before the pandemic broke out so here's Jenny Lynn Stacy with "I Prefer It."

(lively guitar music) ♪ Hollow is my name ♪ ♪ My heart was much the same ♪ ♪ Thankfully my mind sorted it out ♪ ♪ In time for a better day ♪ ♪ Pause between the takes ♪ ♪ When life will give me breaks ♪ ♪ Thankfully my heart sorted it out ♪ ♪ In time for a better day ♪ ♪ In time for a better day ♪ ♪ When you found me ♪ ♪ I was feeling cold ♪ ♪ What could you do to me ♪ ♪ Hell I do not know ♪ ♪ But I love you ♪ ♪ I say it all the time ♪ ♪ And I prefer it this way ♪ ♪ Oh I prefer it this way ♪ ♪ Oh I prefer it this way ♪ ♪ And I must be excused ♪ ♪ My mind's going to lose it ♪ ♪ Regretfully I have gone off the trail ♪ ♪ In time for a better day ♪ ♪ In time for a better day ♪ ♪ When you found me ♪ ♪ I was feeling cold ♪ ♪ What could you do to me ♪ ♪ Hell I do not know ♪ ♪ But I love you ♪ ♪ I say it all the time ♪ ♪ And I prefer it this way ♪ ♪ Don't you need me ♪ ♪ Is this all way too fast ♪ ♪ Do not each little love ♪ ♪ Hell I do know that ♪ ♪ But I dig you ♪ ♪ I say it all the time ♪ ♪ And I prefer it this way ♪ ♪ Oh I prefer it this way ♪ ♪ Oh I prefer it this way ♪ - Jenny Lynn Stacy at The Black Box Theater in Moline with "I Prefer It."

When is a library not a library?

And when is a gymnasium not a gym?

The Two Rivers YMCA and the Rock Island Library plans to transform the old Tri-City Jewish Center into a new library and Y, bringing together the opportunity to exercise both the body and the gray cells while also becoming a neighborhood linchpin.

The Y's Anika Martin joined us to talk about that and the ongoing fundraising campaign.

Plus the unique idea behind this very different facility.

Where did the idea come from to bring two big, different concepts, if you think about it, the YMCA which is thought of more as physical fitness and the library which is more, let's say, mental fitness for lack of a better term?

- You know, it really ended up being kind of one of those perfect place, perfect time kind of things.

The library was looking for a space to continue serving the community near the old 3031 branch and the Y's always had a program office in Rock Island for the last several years and we provide school age care programming and the food program in collaborations with the Rock Island Schools but we wanted to be able to serve even more in Rock Island and the former Tri-City Jewish Center was becoming available.

It is a wonderful and unique space but it was far too large for either of our organizations to use alone so sharing the space just seems to be a natural fit and we're really excited about it.

- How this been done before?

Because it seems like a great idea is to combine the two as you said.

Make the most of both of your strengths in a building that was too big for either one of you individually.

- Right, we're not the first Y and library in the country to collaborate like this.

We're certainly the first in this area.

But we're really excited about the partnership and what it can bring to Rock Island.

- Yeah, because let's be honest, and I don't mean this in a mean way, but the Two Rivers YMCA's got a great name but it's always been thought of as the Moline YMCA.

So this is really important for you guys to expand into Rock Island in this way.

- Right, I mean like I said, we have a wonderful collaboration with the Rock Island-Milan School District and, you know, we have been serving that community for quite a while.

This will just give us a bigger footprint in the city.

- Well and as you pointed out it's near 3030 so is that a good neighborhood?

Is that an interesting place for you to expand?

- It is, you know, it is walkable from six area schools which is really important for the people in the neighborhood to have something that's really accessible and so the location is perfect.

- You don't think, now mind you, this is the old Tri-Cities Jewish Center, you don't think of that as a place that you can build a gym and things along that line but you're really adapting this building as best you can.

- We are, you know it's a great building, it has great bones, and there are already some wonderful spaces for our needs.

There is a gymnasium in the building already and a very large kitchen.

But we do plan to do a major renovation that will outfit the building and make it more efficient for both the library and the Y needs.

- And that explains the capital campaign that has just kicked off.

Explain that to me.

- Well, our goal is to raise 7.8 million dollars.

We've been working really hard on this and we just have so much gratitude for all of our donors so far.

Already to this point we've raised over seven million and that's come from about 180 donors: foundations, organizations, families, individuals.

It's been really amazing to see the support from the community.

We've already surpassed the 90% mark but we still have some work to do so right now we're in the community phase of the campaign which is really exciting because this is when we've made our project public and we're sharing the good news with the entire community and it's really the support and the buy-in from the community that's going to put us over the top.

- That's what I was wondering in particular because, yeah, you can get the corporate donations and you can get the philanthropists that are taking part in this, how important is it to get this community backing?

And we're talking about, I mean, you're talking about 7.8 million.

You've already got more than seven.

So $800,000 isn't an insurmountable amount.

- It's not and it's really getting that support from the entire community and the people that are going to be using the facility that's really going to help us reach, you know, that final stretch and it really helps people feel more involved, too.

We're really excited.

- We talk about the library and we know what the library offers and actually it's even more than that.

It's not just books and reading materials and audio equipment.

It's also community event rooms and things like that.

But I think the people may not understand the YMCA is more than just a physical fitness facility.

Is that you're also offering programs for young people and people in crisis.

That's very true.

You know it is the first thing you think of with this project is working out and books and you're right, there's so much more to it than that.

The Y will have a wellness area like you would expect but we're also gonna have areas for youth programming, classroom areas for chronic disease programming like Live Strong for cancer survivors and Body in Motion for people with Parkinson's and so much more.

There's a Child Watch area which is a safe place for children to be while parents are using the facility.

And the kitchen, there is an amazing kitchen in this facility.

The Y has run the Nourish program for a few years now.

In 2019 we actually served over 210,000 meals to children in the community at 35 sites across Rock Island County.

And to do that we've been using three different kitchens: our kitchen here at the Y, the kitchen at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center, and the Boys and Girls Club but with this state-of-the-art, big kitchen that's already in that facility we can centralize operations, expand our capacity, and in the first year of operating in that location, we're anticipating serving over 300,000 meals.

- It really is kind of a new step forward for the YMCA, the Two Rivers YMCA.

It's really moving you even further into the new century.

It is, we can't wait (chuckles) - (laughs) Absolutely.

So tell me one more thing in regards to the building.

You were talking about that it's gonna involve renovations, major renovations, how long's it going to take?

When do you hope to open?

- Well, we don't have a complete, solid date on it yet.

We're hoping for, you know, next summer in 2020.

Or 2022, I'm sorry.

But we already have our construction company and architecture and engineering firms lined up.

Everybody's ready to get to work as soon as we can close this campaign.

- And once again, when we're talking about the campaign, how can people help out?

How can people donate?

- Oh, we have a joint website.

It is R-I, like Rock Island, ymcalibrary.org.

There's so much information on there.

You can find out anything you need to know about the campaign and the new facility as well as give a gift if you are so inclined.

- And the campaign kicked off just mere days ago.

Have you noticed any bump since then?

- Yes, this community phase that kicked off we've definitely been seeing some action.

We had a wonderful event the other, earlier this week, and it's been wonderful and we're just so appreciative of the community support.

- Anika Martin with the Two Rivers YMCA.

To learn more about the plans for the new Rock Island facility check out the details at the Two Rivers YMCA website.

On the air, on the radio, on the web, on your mobile device, and streaming on your computer.

Thanks for taking some time to join us as we talk about the issues on The Cities.

(mellow music) - [Announcer] Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, a proud supporter of WQPT, has been serving Quad City families since 1889.

They now have livestream capabilities for viewing your loved one's funeral or memorial service.

- [Announcer 2] At IHMVCU, we've always been here for you.

You are and always will be our top priority.

We care about your financial and physical health and we are here.

IHMVCU is a proud supporter of WQPT.