KALA News Today Headlines – Nov. 12, 2019

KALA News Today Headlines – Nov. 12, 2019

QUAD CITIES (KALA) — A cannabis panel discussion, First Generation Day, and the Midwest E-sports Festival are today’s KALA News Today Headlines.

Recreational-use cannabis in Illinois becomes legal Jan. 1, 2020. The City of Rock Island wants the community to understand the law and how it will impact the city. The “Pot Panel” is happening at Rock Island Public Library’s downtown branch from 5:30-7:30 p.m. tonight, Nov. 12. Discussion topics include human resources, law and law enforcement, as well as medicine, government, and the cannabis business. This discussion is hosted by the City of Rock Island and its Economic Development Department. The Rock Island Public Library is located at 401 19th Street.

Last week, St. Ambrose held a recognition of first generation students. This is defined as an individual who is the first person in their family to receive a degree from an institute of higher education, such as an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. The event was an opportunity to get to know other first generation students. 

Kiley Schmidt works full time in the Career Center at St. Ambrose, but she is also working on her master’s degree in social work. She says one of the hardships of being First Generation student is having to navigate college alone. Things like setting up academic advising appointments, meeting with financial aid staff, knowing what questions to ask, and to whom to turn for help can be challenging when no one else in your family has had that experience. That’s why she believes it’s important to connect first generation students with faculty and staff who have also faced these obstacles.

“I just think it’s really important for all students who are the first ones in their family to attend an institution of higher learning to know that there are a lot of faculty and staff members here who are willing to help mentor them,”  Schmidt said.

She says mentorship was key in her navigating undergrad.

This Saturday and Sunday is the Midwest E-sports Festival. It starts on Saturday at 10 a.m. and goes until  8 p.m. and continues on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at St. Ambrose University. The festival is open to competitors, spectators, and casual gamers. Tickets are $20.

Here’s a rundown of what games are played which days:

Saturday

Console – Please be 15 minutes early to check-in

  • Smash Ultimate (Sat. Only) – 10:00am
  • Soul Calibur VI (Sat. Only) – 10:00am
  • Samurai Shodown (Sat. Only) – 11:30am
  • Mortal Kombat 11 (Sat. Only) – 1:00pm
  • Street Fighter V (Sat. Only) – 2:30pm
  • Dragonball FighterZ (Sat. Only) – 4:00pm
  • Tekken 7 (Sat. Only) – 5:30pm

 

PC – Please be 15 minutes early to check-in

  • Fortnite (Sun. Only) – 10:00 a.m.
  • League of Legends (Spectator Only) – 10:00 a.m.
  • Apex Legends (Sun. Only) – 1:30 p.m.

Sunday

Console – Please be 15 minutes early to check-in

  • Fortnite – 10:00 a.m.
  • MLB the show 19 – 1:30 p.m.
  • FIFA20 – 1:30 p.m.
  • Madden NFL 20 – 3:00 p.m.
  • NBA2k20 – 3:00 p.m.

PC – Please be 15 minutes early to check-in

  • Teamfight Tactics – 4:00 p.m. 

Pot Bonus Info:

Smash Ultimate – $500

Street Fighter V – $ 100

Dragonball FighterZ – $100

Tekken 7 – $100

Mortal Kombat 11 – $100

Soul Calibur VI – $100

Samurai Shodown – $100

Fortnite – $100

Apex Legends – $100

Madden NFL 20 – $100

MLB the show 19 – $100

NBA2k20 – $100

FIFA20 – $100

Teamfight Tactics – $100

KALA News Today airs live Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 a.m. on 88.5FM.