The 15th annual Mayors' Hunger Luncheon, "In from the Cold," will be held at noon on Thursday, November 8 at Bettendorf's Isle of Capri Convention Center. The mayors of the Quad Cities will serve a simple lunch of bread and hearty soup, reflecting the theme of "We eat simply so that others may simply eat." With the assistance of the United Way of the Quad Cities Area, "In from the Cold" has, since 1992, distributed more than $250,000 to fund services for the homeless, and at this year's luncheon, an additional fundraising raffle will give attendees the chance to win one of three Ralph Iaccarino prints. Tickets are $20 per person, with tables of 10 at $175, and more information is available at the "In from the Cold" Web site (http://www.infromthecoldqc.org) or by calling (563) 421-4343.

The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) last week named Davenport one of Iowa's "Great Places." The announcement came after the Iowa Great Places Citizen Advisory Board concluded a four-day tour of seven finalist locations and made its recommendations to DCA Director Cyndi Pederson, who approved the advisory board's recommendations. The program asks communities to develop proposals that address seven dimensions that make places special: engaging experiences; rich, diverse populations and cultures; a vital, creative economy; clean and accessible natural and built environments; well-designed infrastructure; a shared attitude of optimism that welcomes new ideas; and a diverse and inclusive cultural mosaic. For more information, look at (http://www.culturalaffairs.org).

Operation Medicine Cabinet, a three-day event giving people the opportunity to safely dispose of medications, sharp items, mercury thermometers, and sensitive documents, collected 11,780 pounds of material. This included approximately 1,245 pounds of pharmaceuticals, 660 pounds of sharps, 39 pounds of mercury thermometers, and 9,836 pounds of documents for shredding. The event was held September 20 through 22 in Eldridge, Bettendorf, and Davenport, respectively. Residents who were unable to drop items off at the event can make an appointment at the Waste Commission of Scott County's Household Hazardous Material facility in Buffalo or Davenport. These facilities provide free services to both Scott and Rock Island county residents. Call (563) 381-1300 for more information.

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has announced $1.6 million in federal grants to allow municipal, county, and state law-enforcement agencies in northern Illinois to acquire in-car computer equipment to help improve access to criminal records during traffic stops and enhance public and police safety. Recipients from Henry County include the Geneseo Police Department ($17,400) and the Kewanee Police Department ($11,092). Rock Island County recipients include East Moline ($8,503), Milan ($11,792), Moline ($8,022), and Rock Island County ($10,646). In addition to data access, law-enforcement officers can use the terminals for note-taking and report-writing, as well as wirelessly entering incident, accident, and arrest information.