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Fewer people traveling to Iowa for abortions
One in 10 abortion patients in Iowa last year traveled here from out of state, new data estimates from the Guttmacher Institute show.Zoom out: That's down from 2020, two years before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.By the numbers: The majority of out-of-state patients in 2023 traveled to Iowa from Nebraska — around 270 people.Meanwhile, 390 people traveled from Iowa to Minnesota to get the procedure.Between the lines: While abortion remains legal in Iowa up to 20 weeks of pregnancy, it became more restrictive in 2022, due to a 24-hour waiting period law.The big picture: The Iowa Supreme Court will likely rule on Friday if Iowa's "fetal heartbeat" law can take effect — a long-awaited decision that will decide if most abortions are banned at nearly six weeks in the state. Today marks the second anniversary of the Dobbs decision, which has changed the political landscape surrounding abortions in Iowa.Related: More than 171,000 people traveled out-of-state for abortions across the U.S. last yearGet more local stories in your inbox with Axios Des Moines.
Meet Iowa's trendiest baby names
As it turns out, Iowans haven't been conforming to all the national baby name trends over the last decade.The big picture: "Millie," "Maeve," "Theo" and "Dean" have seen the largest increases in popularity in the state since 2013, according to new Social Security Administration data.Americans broadly have been more drawn towards "Atlas," "Nova" and "Thiago.""Theo" is the only top Iowa name that overlaps with the national trends.The (spelling) intrigue: While "Luka" saw an 8.9x increase over the last decade across the country, Iowans opted for "Luca" at a 7.7x increase.Losers: Since 2013, Hawkeye State parents have moved away from "Alexis,"...
New redemption center to open in Ankeny
A new bottle and can redemption center is opening in Ankeny next month.Driving the news: Ankeny Bottle and Can at 1317 SW Ordnance Road will become the latest center to open since the Legislature reformed the bottle bill in 2022.Flashback: That bill overhauled the state's container collection process, which required stores to collect empty cans and bottles and return customer deposits on them.The new law allows grocery stores to retire their collection programs if a redemption center is within a 10- to 15-mile radius.State of play: Ankeny Bottle and Can owners JL Vaughn and Evan Burger opened their first redemption...
Iowa's 24/7 mental health line gets uptick in users
Your Life Iowa, the state's six-year-old 24/7 mental health and addiction resource, saw unprecedented usage last year.Why it matters: It's a free, confidential program that people can call, text, email and use online if they're struggling.Driving the news: The increase shows that a recent push to make Iowans aware of the program is working, says Behavioral Health Division Director Marissa Eyanson. Awareness has been their biggest hurdle, she tells Axios.The state spent around $1.6 million last year on marketing.By the numbers: Staffers answered 47,000+ phone, text, chat and emails in FY23, a 15% increase over FY22.The website had 541,000+ visitors,...
Yellow cherries are part of Johnston's 'edible cities' movement
Friends alerted me to a gorgeous yellow cherry tree in Johnston's Ray Schleihs Park last weekend and I learned it's OK to pick them!Zoom in: Johnston has planted some edible landscaping for public consumption, city communications director Janet Wilwerding tells Axios.Separately, there's an orchard in the Town Center by City Hall that includes eight apple and four sour cherry trees.The big picture: There's a growing number of "edible cities" where public lands are planted for anyone to harvest, the Washington Post reports.The movement encourages people to be involved in their park systems rather than to think of them as passive spaces.Fun fact: Drake Neighborhood Association and the DSM Parks and Recreation Department planted apple trees along Cottage Grove Avenue in Drake Park about 20 years ago.DSM additionally grows strawberries for public consumption at Gray's Lake Park and at multiple municipal buildings, Parks and Recreation director Ben Page tells Axios.Worthy of your time: The DSM Food Security Task Force has voiced support in recent years for more gardening in public spaces and to recognize foraging a human right.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Des Moines.
Yellow cherries are part of Johnston's 'edible cities' movement
Friends alerted me to a gorgeous yellow cherry tree in Johnston's Ray Schleihs Park last weekend and I learned it's OK to pick them!Zoom in: Johnston has planted some edible landscaping for public consumption, city communications director Janet Wilwerding tells Axios.Separately, there's an orchard in the Town Center by City Hall that includes eight apple and four sour cherry trees.The big picture: There's a growing number of "edible cities" where public lands are planted for anyone to harvest, the Washington Post reports.The movement encourages people to be involved in their park systems rather than to think of them as passive spaces.Fun fact: Drake Neighborhood Association and the DSM Parks and Recreation Department planted apple trees along Cottage Grove Avenue in Drake Park about 20 years ago.DSM additionally grows strawberries for public consumption at Gray's Lake Park and at multiple municipal buildings, Parks and Recreation director Ben Page tells Axios.Worthy of your time: The DSM Food Security Task Force has voiced support in recent years for more gardening in public spaces and to recognize foraging a human right.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Des Moines.
A Blood Donor Day mystery
Today is Blood Donor Day and the first that LifeServe Blood Center is hosting from its new Johnston headquarters.Why it matters: The move makes way for redevelopment at its former East Village site, which is in a prime business and real estate spot.The intrigue: The downtown site is sold but spokesperson Shay Willis said she doesn't know who purchased it and the transaction isn't reflected yet on the Polk County Assessor or recorder websites.The 43,000 square-foot building at 431 E. Locust St. is three stories and sits on more than two acres.Catch up fast: LifeServe is one of the largest blood centers in the nation, providing donations to more than 160 hospitals, primarily in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota.Relocation discussions began before the pandemic, due to the need for additional lab space and patient rooms, as well as increased work with cancer patients, Business Record reports.Worthy of your time: Inventory of some types of blood are critically low.Today's drive at LifeServe's new headquarters, 5625 NW Johnston Drive, is from 6am-7pm.Sites in downtown, Ankeny, Urbandale and West Des Moines are also open with a goal of booking around 600 appointments. Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Des Moines.
Des Moines trail closures reach "painful" level
Des Moines is undergoing an unusually high number of trail closures and construction this summer, resulting in a "painful" period for outdoor enthusiasts, says city parks planner Colby Fangman.Why it matters: The city's extensive trails link people across the metro, and closures can cause major disruption, especially in the summertime.But they're also necessary to help bring the next generation of smoother, safer trails.State of play: There are several reasons for the "extraordinary" year of construction, Fangman says.Des Moines allocated $1 million in ARPA funding for trails that must be used by 2026.3+ years of drought as well as recent severe...
Study to focus on Ingersoll's parking headaches
Parking on Ingersoll Avenue has caused headaches for years, and Polk County Supervisors decide today whether to pay for a study that could help.Why it matters: Cell phone tracking shows Ingersoll Avenue's traffic has increased about 20% since 2021, from 1.7 million to about 2 million visitors last year, Lauren Kollauf, director of The Avenues of Ingersoll and Grand, a development advocacy group, tells Axios.That has made peak-time parking, especially when bars and restaurants are busiest, more challenging, Kollauf says.Catch up fast: Limited parking along Ingersoll has been a concern among residents and business owners for decades but that worry...
West Des Moines hosts first-ever Pride event
West Des Moines is holding its first-ever Pride event later this month.Why it matters: While Des Moines is known for its Pride festivities, LGBTQ advocates in the suburbs say they want to highlight support within their own communities too, amid a wave of LGBTQ state legislation.Driving the news: Bing's owner Val Veiock grew up in West Des Moines and is spearheading the family-friendly Pride event at Railroad Park in Valley Junction on Sunday, June 30."As a young person, I would have loved to have a Valley Junction Pride."Zoom in: The free event will include a Pride pet parade, drag storytime,...
Iowa melanoma rates are higher than the U.S. average
Iowa's estimated rate of new melanoma cases remains well above the national average and is the fifth highest in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).Why it matters: Melanoma is less common than other types of skin cancer, but is more likely to grow and spread.By the numbers: There's an average of 30 new cases in the state per year, in comparison to 23 cases nationally.Zoom in: Melanoma cases are higher in northern Iowa, according to zip code analysis by the Iowa Cancer Registry.Health experts have pointed to Iowa's agricultural industry as a potential cause for the higher rates, due to more time spent outside, the Gazette reports.Plus: Melanoma is also 20 times more common in white than Black populations.Iowa is about 62% white, higher than the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.Yes, but: Sun exposure isn't the only possible reason for the uptick in melanoma diagnoses.Other factors: More effective skin cancer detection and the fact that many Americans are living longer, says Shanthi Sivendran, ACS senior vice president of cancer care support.Go deeper: How to pick a "safe" sunscreenGet more local stories in your inbox with Axios Des Moines.
How Full Court Press owner Jeff Bruning starts his day
Even though Jeff Bruning owns some of the most popular bars in town, don't expect to see the business owner up past 9:30pm most days."I'm 53," Bruning says. "I've gotten to the point that most of my business happens in the AM."Driving the news: As the co-owner of Full Court Press, Bruning has overseen a slew of restaurants and bars in Des Moines like Lucky Horse, Fong's and El Bait Shop.When he first opened The Royal Mile 20+ years ago, he would work until 3am several days a week, listening to NPR and BBC in the early morning hours.Yes, but:...
Iowans are more likely to get married
Money can't buy happiness, the old adage says. But maybe combining it with marriage can help.By the numbers: Around 33% of Iowans 15 and older have been married at least once, which is above the national average, according to Gallup 2022 data.The big picture: Marital status is a stronger predictor of American adult well-being than education, race, age and gender, according to newly released data from the Institute for Family Studies and Gallup.Last year, married adults between 25 and 50 years old were 17 percentage points more likely to be thriving than adults who never married.Household income adjustment has the...
Sherman Hill could get a park after 30 years
A new Sherman Hill park could open next year as part of a capital campaign launched by the neighborhood association.Why it matters: It's been 30 years since the neighborhood lost its only park.Flashback: In 1995, Chamberlain Park's longtime location at 19th Street and Ingersoll Avenue was sold for $500,000 for businesses to develop, in a decision that divided the Des Moines City Council.At the time, the park was rundown. The Sherman Hill Association supported the move because much of the proceeds went to neighborhood improvements.The city then relocated Chamberlain to its current location at 22nd Street and Woodland Avenue —...
Casey's views Texas as "big opportunity" to expand
Casey's — Iowa's iconic gas station company — is eyeing larger horizons as it continues to add new stores, particularly in the Midwest and the South.Why it matters: The publicly traded company is a major employer in Iowa with full-time employees across smaller, rural towns as well as corporate positions at its Ankeny headquarters.Driving the news: CEO Darren Rebelez shared Casey's quarterly earnings on Wednesday and outlined what future growth and bumps are ahead.Our key takeaways:👆 Big growth: Expect Casey's to continue expanding its footprint after growing by 154 stores this last fiscal year.Over the next year, the company plans...
Four Ankeny restaurants close within a week
In Ankeny, four restaurants closed this month. Some broke the news publicly while others quietly closed their doors.Club Car: The restaurant's Clive staff confirmed that the Ankeny location is permanently closed after opening last year.Luddy's Tavern: The German-American restaurant had a short run after opening its doors last year.Tacos & Tequila La Cava Mexican Gastrobar: The restaurant, formerly known as El Charro, closed earlier this month with plans to relocate to Newton, Kansas, it announced on Facebook.Whiskey House: After over seven years in business, the restaurant and live music spot announced it was closing its doors."Despite our best efforts and dedication, we have found ourselves unable to continue operations, and as of now, we are closed for good," the restaurant announced on Facebook.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Des Moines.
Iowa is restructuring mental health services and seeks districting feedback
Iowa will merge mental health and substance abuse systems through a series of public comment sessions that begin Thursday to determine new local districts.Why it matters: The legislation, passed with broad bipartisan support this year, aims to streamline services and improve patient access after years of gaps that have occasionally left hundreds of people on waiting lists.Catch up fast: Iowa's system includes 13 Mental Health and Disability Services Regions and 19 Integrated Provided Networks, which focus largely on substance abuse and gambling problems.The challenge: many people need assistance from both systems, leading to duplicative and inconsistent programming, the Cedar Rapids...
Mosquitoes return to Des Moines with a vengeance
If you're feeling extra itchy, thank Des Moines' spike in mosquitoes.Driving the news: Mosquitoes buzz around every summer, but recent wet conditions have created perfect breeding grounds for floodwater mosquitoes, increasing pests compared to the last four years of drought.State of play: Clarke Mosquito Control and Management, which helps the city manage pests, is spraying neighborhoods in sections based on which areas have the highest numbers of mosquitoes in traps, Laura McGowan, spokesperson for Clarke, tells Axios.The intrigue: Some mosquitoes have tested positive for West Nile virus in the northside near the Riverview and Union Park areas, the city announced yesterday.Additional spraying occurred Monday, and the Beaverdale area was sprayed with precaution yesterday.There are no known cases yet in people or pets.Be smart: Wear bug repellent, long-sleeved apparel or stay inside during peak pest hours, dusk and dawn.Residents can report high levels of insects, learn when their neighborhood is being sprayed or opt out of treatments here.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Des Moines.
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