James Naguina believes that veterans who have served their country honorably, but fallen on hard times, deserve an opportunity. "What I am trying to sell is a second chance for an individual that has sworn to give his [or her] life up for this country, and did serve this country honorably," said Naguina, employment specialist for Goodwill Industries of Southeast Iowa.

Two sports bars in the Quad Cities are catering specifically to non-smokers, giving people the opportunity to eat and drink without the smoke that clogs most taverns. "My friend is a smoker, so it is funny to watch him squirm while we sit and have a drink because he knows he has to wait to have a cigarette," said Jay Keim, a resident of Rock Island and a customer at 3rd & 22.

United Neighbors announced last month that it raised $200,000 for its Davenport Real Estate Affordable Mortgage (DREAM) program, including a $100,000 challenge grant from Wells Fargo. For each dollar raised by United Neighbors from April 6 through October 6, Wells Fargo donated one dollar to the program, which helps low- and moderate-income individuals purchase and fix up homes.

The Rock Island Housing Authority is building the first public housing in the Quad Cities in more than two decades. Six homes for low- and moderate-income people are currently under construction - at a cost of $1 million - and the authority has applied for funding for another six.