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Axios Des Moines
Principal Charity Classic returns with an $8 million mission
Principal Charity Classic's professional competition launches today at the Wakonda Club.Why it matters: The annual PGA Tour Champions golf tournament is expected to raise roughly $8 million for Iowa children's charities this year, Principal Financial Group CEO Dan Houston tells Axios.Driving the news: Wakonda reopened just last week after a nearly year-long renovation to restore the century-old course to its original design.Flashback: Principal, one of Des Moines' largest employers, became the event's title sponsor in 2007.The event has raised almost $54 million since.State of play: Money goes primarily to the event's charity partners — Blank Children's Hospital, MercyOne Children's Hospital,...
Des Moines may replace its tornado warning system
A new severe weather warning system would replace Des Moines' 22-year-old sirens under a proposal that goes before the City Council Monday.Why it matters: The current system was not designed to be used in freezing temperatures, potentially leaving citizens vulnerable in rare events like December derechos, Sgt. Paul Parizek tells Axios.State of play: The new $1.7 million system would be connected to the National Weather Service, allowing the city to more precisely sound alarms.The city could also conduct testing at frequencies that cannot be heard by the human ear, allowing for fewer disruptions when mechanical work or inspections take place, Parizek said.What's next: If approved, it will be installed in coming months.
West Des Moines wants to replace its utilities tax with a new fee
In an effort to bolster its budget, West Des Moines might replace its gas and electricity tax with a "franchise fee," which the city says won't actually cost residents more.Why it matters: The proposed change, to be considered next month, responds to a recent state law that restricts local tax growth. It would also keep more revenue in city hands.Currently, WDM doesn't receive all its utility tax money because it is collected by the state and shared with other local governments.By the numbers: WDM would receive an estimated $1 million more annually from the fee than it gets from the...
Des Moines sees rent hikes after pandemic assistance ends
Rents have increased for some low-income Polk County families that had been relying on pandemic-era housing assistance.Why it matters: The more than $100 million in federal support to Polk County ended in March, and there are families that will not be able to stay in their homes without it, Anne Bacon, director of IMPACT, told the Des Moines City Council last week.State of play: More than 15,000 local households had received the assistance since 2021.Temporary federal rules also prohibited landlords who accept the payments from raising rents on those tenants for a year and required them to waive late fees.Yes,...
Marbles make a comeback at this Des Moines trade show
The Des Moines Marble Show has rolled into town.Why it matters: It's the self-proclaimed largest and longest-running toy marble show in the nation with collectors paying tens of thousands of dollars for some finds.Catch up fast: The annual show started about 50 years ago in the back of a bail bond office in Davenport. It later also outgrew its spot in the Amana Colonies.DSM resident and marble collector Chad Cline took over the show about a decade ago.The intrigue: Marble collecting experienced a renaissance during the pandemic when people spent more time on sites like eBay.Most marbles are relatively inexpensive, making collecting easy for beginners, Cline told Axios.State of play: Through Friday, dozens of vendors will open their personal rooms at Holiday Inn-DSM Airport as a roaming "interim trading" space before Saturday's official event in the hotel's conference center, Cline said.There are no set hours but most will be open around noon, he said.If you go: Saturday's show is 9am-2pm.Admission is free. Children get a complimentary bag of marbles with game instructions. Antique sets of marbles like this one are for sale at this week's show. Photo: Courtesy of Chad Cline
Ruan returns $1M grant to build a downtown childcare facility
Ruan Transportation Management Systems alerted county officials this month that it is returning a $940,000 state grant to start a downtown Des Moines child care facility, deputy Polk County administrator Sarah Boese tells Axios.Why it matters: The decision highlights some of the challenges and complexities associated with the state's child care crisis.Catch up fast: Ruan was one of 23 projects awarded a Child Care Business Incentive Grant about two years ago.The grant program was one of the top recommendations from a task force launched by Gov. Kim Reynolds.The inaugural $26.6 million in funding was expected to create nearly 1,800 more...
These Iowa staycations are unique and inexpensive
Memorial Day weekend is here and if you're not one of the estimated 44 million Americans with out-of-town plans, no worries — local excursions abound and are monstrously underrated, Iowa travel writer Sara Broers tells Axios.Why it matters: Staying close to local attractions can benefit your community by generating interest and income while saving money and reducing stress.Catch up fast: Broers launched a travel blog about 20 years ago after a health issue caused neurosurgeons to doubt she would walk again.She said in a podcast with the DSM Public Library last year that after proving them wrong, she felt emboldened...
Get your own custom wands, lightsabers at this Des Moines shop
If you've ever wanted to immerse yourself in fantasy, there's a new shop at Valley West Mall that can help.Driving the news: WC Outpost is a new fantasy and sci-fi shop selling custom lightsabers, wands and other cosplay and geeky needs.Owners Marjory and Michael Chaffin opened the shop this month on the lower east side of the mall.How it started: Marjory started selling homemade items at craft shows a decade ago, but expanded after her husband suggested she try selling more niche "nerd" items.Big fans of "Harry Potter," "Lord of the Rings" and "Star Wars" themselves, they found success selling fun pieces like wands, dragon eggs and lightsabers at conventions.Zoom in: WC Outpost specializes in custom items, including handmade carved wands that come with their own backstories.The lightsabers can go as far as "screen accurate" costuming that meets the standards of cosplay groups like 501st Legion. Customers can choose everything from blade style to motion controls and sound.The intrigue: Prices range from $10 beginner wands to $800-$900 lightsabers.If you go: Shop hours vary, but it's typically open 12-7pm Tuesday-Friday and 10am-7pm Sunday. Customizable lightsabers. Photo: Courtesy of Whimsy Cellar
Des Moines councilperson makes a Memorial Day splash
Des Moines Councilperson Chris Coleman took a dip at Northwest Aquatic Center in a new city video promoting the kickoff of summer.Why it matters: It's a hoot to watch but, more importantly, Coleman calls attention to summer amenities that are linked with public health and well-being.State of play: Northwest's pool opens Saturday.DSM 's other aquatic centers open June 1 and all splash pools by June 3.
Waukee's affordable housing need
As Waukee's population booms — home developers have no trouble selling larger, more expensive homes.However, city leaders are stepping in to help develop more affordable housing to diversify the community.Why it matters: The rapidly growing area is building new schools, retail stores and businesses — but those places need workers who can afford to live in Waukee.State of play: In 2000, Waukee had 5,000 residents. By 2020, it had exploded to 25,000 residents, and the suburb is still gaining up to seven residents a day, says Nick Osborne, Waukee assistant city manager.Friction point: Because of the growth, most of Waukee's...
Get a pride flag delivered to your home
June is Pride Month and one local group is delivering rainbow flags to homes with proceeds going towards Iowa Safe Schools and the Iowa Trans Mutual Aid Fund.Driving the news: Volunteers with Project Rainbow of Iowa are delivering and staking rainbow flags at homes and businesses for $15 starting May 28.The nonprofit's goal is to raise visibility and support for the state's LGBTQ community. Flags are picked up by volunteers July 1.Learn how to get a flag
Iowa rescue and recovery efforts at full hilt
Search and rescue efforts continue following the deadly outbreak of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes in Iowa Tuesday.State of play: Four people were confirmed dead and at least 35 others were injured from a tornado in Greenfield that the National Weather Service has preliminarily listed as being at least an EF3, with winds up to 165 mph.Johnston High School will resume classes Thursday after being closed Wednesday because of damage to windows and auxiliary buildings.Segments of multiple DSM trails and George Flagg Parkway are closed due to flooding.Zoom in: Multiple storm chasers captured footage of the tornado and the immediate aftermath in the Greenfield area.On radar, debris was lofted to 40,000 feet, with pieces of sheet metal reportedly falling from the sky about 30 miles away. Videos shared online showed wind turbines downed and bent.By the numbers: As of Tuesday, at least 15 counties had received emergency proclamations, making residents eligible for up to $5,000 in state assistance.What's next: Gov. Kim Reynolds said Wednesday that the state will submit an expedited request for a presidential disaster declaration for additional federal assistance, WHO-13 reports.Multiple organizations seek donations, supplies and volunteers.Related: DSM's flood prevention projects
Des Moines' weekday lunch's are down but weekends are up
Data: Square; Chart: Jacque Schrag/AxiosRestaurant spending is shifting from weekday lunch hours to the weekends, per new Square data.Why it matters: It's a reflection of pandemic behavior changes — and an important insight for restaurants as they continue adapting to survive and thrive.By the numbers: Weekday lunch's share of overall restaurant transactions fell in Des Moines from about 21% in 2019 to 18% in 2023, based on data from food and drink establishments using Square, a financial services platform for small- and medium-sized businesses.By contrast, the weekend's share grew from about 31% in 2019 to 39% in 2023.What they're saying: Before COVID, consumers were going out more during the week to eat lunch by their office.With remote work, more restaurant spending has shifted to the weekend, Square Research lead Ara Kharazian said in the company's new report.State of play: New restaurant listings in Des Moines fell 10% last year as compared to 2019, per Yelp data.Downtown foot traffic is trending upwards but still averaging less than before the pandemic, according to a survey last month from the Greater DSM Partnership.Read more
Hoyt Sherman Place solves an art mystery
A handbook from 1882 has solved a Hoyt Sherman Place mystery, confirming two of its most prized paintings were exhibited by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.Why it matters: The detail adds provenance to Old Master paintings that are worth millions of dollars but had gone largely overlooked until recent years.Catch up fast: Three of five paintings donated decades ago by heirs of local businessman Nason Bartholomew Collins were believed to have been exhibited at the Met, according to a 1941 handwritten note that was among the collection.Yes, but: Some of the paintings had been mislabeled and, until now, there was...
Iowa private schools rose tuition by 25% last year, study finds
Iowa's new education savings account (ESA) program is influencing private schools to raise tuition rates, according to a new working paper published by Brown University.Why it matters: The program aims to make private schools more affordable for families, but researchers warn that it could be ineffective if they raise tuition anyway.Context: Last year, Iowa lawmakers passed a new law allowing parents to use over $7,600 annually per pupil towards private school education.What's happening: Princeton researchers Jason Fontana and Jennifer Jennings examined Iowa private school tuition rates and compared them with neighboring Nebraska.Context: While both states passed ESA programs in 2023,...
Des Moines schools explores no cell phones to improve mental health
Hoover High School is on a mission to help kids kick their social media and smartphone "addiction" in the 2024-25 school year, says principal Qynne Kelly.Why it matters: Studies have shown certain types of digital content, such as social media, can have addictive qualities and that consuming too much can be harmful to children, particularly adolescents."I think about Surgeon General warnings on cigarettes and alcohol, and yet we are not having that type of conversation with our young people," says Jackie Norris, chair of the Des Moines school board.By the numbers: Pandemic lockdowns hurt teen mental health, but problems were...
Hoover High School will restrict cell phones in classrooms
While Hoover's no phone policy doesn't go into effect until next school year, staff are prepared for an "extinction burst" — the moment things get worse before they get better.Driving the news: Administrators are already raising awareness among students of the upcoming policy, including incoming freshmen. So far, they've been met with mixed reactions, from praise to behavior "that's very reflective of someone who is being threatened to have their addiction taken," says Hoover High School principal Qynne Kelly. The majority of parents support decreasing screen time and some have questions about the implementation, Kelly says.State of play: Hoover's staff...
Meet the nation's oldest BMX racer
At 75 years old — trust us when we say, "Miss Kittie" knows how to ride a bike.Under her saddle, she's got 31 RAGBRAIs and thousands of miles across road and single-track trails.Driving the news: DSM resident and grandmother Kittie Weston-Knauer's latest passion would make even a younger person nervous — BMX bike racing.Why it matters: Weston-Knauer is the oldest female BMX racer in the country and is focused on helping younger, underprivileged kids get into the sport.How it started: She had biked RAGBRAI for years before her first foray into BMX racing started with a dare from her 11-year-old...
Vandalizer of Iowa patrol cars starts a $50k GoFundMe
A Des Moines woman who admits she last year vandalized 15 law enforcement vehicles recently launched a $50,000 online fundraiser to cover her restitution and legal expenses.Why it matters: Giada Morresi — a social justice organizer and a DSM Transportation Safety Committee member at the time of her arrest — provides insight from her perspective about the incident.Catch up quick: The incident, in which Story County Sheriff and Iowa State Patrol vehicles were damaged, was captured on security footage in the tailgating area of an Iowa-Iowa State football game in September.Images released by police led to Morresi being...
Iowa school segregation is increasing, research shows
Data: Stanford Education Data Archive; Note: Index ranges from 0 to 1, where 0 denotes no segregation (all schools have identical proportions of Black and white students) while 1 denotes complete segregation (no Black student attends a school with any white students, and vice versa); Map: Axios Visuals70 years ago today, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that it was unconstitutional to separate children in public schools based on race.But around the country, American public schools are growing more separate and unequal.Why it matters: Some education advocates say school segregation may further in Iowa, due to...
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