The novel coronavirus, COVID-19 is spreading through the entire world. As of Monday morning, with nearly 3.5 million positive cases and nearly 250,000 deaths.In the United States, there are about 1.1 million cases and over 65,000 deaths.

Those cases are seen more widespread in communities of color. In Chicago, 31% of patients who identified their race and ethnicity are white, 30% are Latino, and 29% are African-American. 70% of those who died in Chicago due to COVID-19 are black, while they only make up 30% of the city's population. In Wisconsin's Milwaukee County, 81% of deaths from COVID-19 are black, even though that population only represents 27% of the county.

In the Quad Cities, which is a region of five cities clustered on the banks of the Mississippi River along the Iowa/Illinois border, including Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa and Rock Island, Moline and East Moline, Illinois… we’re seeing similar trends as well.

For a transcript of the episode, click here.

Mexico's patron saint, our lady of Guadalupe, or La Virgen de Guadalupe, is celebrated on December 12th. La Virgen is remembered and celebrated around the world. I went to St. Mary's Church in Moline, Illinois, and attended their ceremony. I spoke with Father Antonio Dittmer about the big day.

For a transcript of the episode, click here.

Thanksgiving is celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday of November. November is also Native American Heritage Month. To understand more about the holiday and what it means to Native Americans, I asked Jo Ironshield to join me. Jo is the co-founder of Sage Sisters of Solidarity - a group of indigenous women united against injustice based in Davenport, Iowa. We see and hear many terms used like "Native American," "Indian," "Native Indian," and "Indigenous." I wanted to make sure I understood the differences in terminology and know what Jo prefers to call herself.

For a transcript of the episode, click here.

A group of teenage girls raising money by selling paletas, Mexican popsicles, so they can afford a class trip to Washington D.C. This group of girls is paleteras, those who sell popsicles. They're the only group of mobilized paleteras in the Quad Cities. Plus, reclaiming chingona a once derogatory term used against Latinas. It's now a word "boss women" like the paleteras call themselves.

For the transcript of the podcast, click here.

Mercado on Fifth, in its fourth year, attracting an average of 1,000 people every Friday!

Mercado on Fifth is a staple in Moline, bringing together people of all ages and ethnicities, making its mark in the Quad Cities. We'll hear from the President, Maria Ontiveros.

"Mercado" in Spanish means "market," so Mercado on Fifth is an open-air market on Fifth Avenue in Moline, Illinois. The idea coming from Maria's grandfather, Bob Ontiveros.

For a transcript of the episode, click here.

Making up 18% of the U.S. population, Latinos are the second-fastest growing racial or ethnic group. Hispanic Heritage Month is one of the most important times of the year for Latinos ... and the Latino population is only growing. What does this mean for the Quad Cities? We'll hear from fiesta organizers and community members.

For a transcript of this episode, click here.