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Axios Des Moines
Iowa desegregated schools 86 years before Brown v. Board of Education
Iowa schools desegregated 86 years prior to the Brown v. Board of Education decision.Driving the news: Susan Clark, a 12-year-old African American student, wasn't allowed to attend her neighborhood school in Muscatine because it was for "whites only."In 1867, her father, civil rights activist Alexander Clark, filed a lawsuit against the school on behalf of his daughter.He argued the all-white school was next to their home, while his children had to walk over a mile to attend the Black school, PBS reports.The bottom line: Clark won the case, but it was appealed by the Muscatine school board. It rose to the Iowa Supreme Court who ruled in 1868 that racial segregation was unconstitutional.
Polk County to require vaccine payment upfront
Payment for many immunizations will be required upfront starting in coming months at the Polk County Health Department (PCHD), spokesperson Addie Olson tells Axios.Why it matters: Vaccinations help prevent communicable diseases, but local taxpayers can get stuck with the bill when private insurance companies deny claims.State of play: The health department has historically billed insurance after vaccines were provided.Yes, but: The bills are increasingly going unpaid, Polk County administrator John Norris told supervisors in a memo earlier this month.The health department last month identified more than $26,000 in outstanding vaccine bills in a five-month period that ended in October, mostly...
Des Moines skyscrapers seek a spot on historic registry
Downtown's Financial Center and the Ruan Center complex would be nominated to the National Register of Historic Places under proposals that go before the Des Moines Historic Preservation Commission Wednesday.Why it matters: The owners of both buildings are planning major renovation projects and the registry can help them qualify for federal or state incentives.State of play: The Financial Center and the complex were constructed more than 40 years ago and have recently experienced large vacancies.Portions of both would be converted into housing under recently announced proposals.What's next: Wednesday's meeting starts at 5:30pm at the Richard. A. Clark Municipal Service Center.
Cicada emergence creates some fine dining options
A rare emergence of cicadas is creating excitement among some dining circles.Why it matters: It's an opportunity to rethink entomophagy — the eating of insects, Ginny Mitchell, the program coordinator at Iowa State University's Insect Zoo, tells Axios.Catch up fast: Two regional broods of cicadas are emerging simultaneously for the first time in 221 years in parts of southern Iowa and central Illinois.Trillions of them are expected across 16 states over the next few weeks.Some cicadas are already appearing in Southern states but the Midwest is expected to peak in a few weeks.Zoom in: Mitchell, who eats bugs like ants...
Mapped: Iowa's highest-performing high schools
Data: U.S. News and World Report; Map: Tory Lysik/Axios VisualsIowa has among the country's lowest share of best-performing public schools, per U.S. News & World Report's recently released 2024 Best High School rankings.By the numbers: Just over 2% of public high schools in Iowa are in the top 10% nationally, according to the analysis of 18,000 public high schools.Iowa had the eighth-lowest share in the nation, behind all surrounding states except South Dakota where fewer than 2% made the top list.The fine print: U.S. News and World Report defines "best high schools" as those with students who have "demonstrated outstanding outcomes above expectations in math, reading and science state assessments, earned qualifying scores on an array of college-level exams, and graduated in high proportions."State of play: The top three in the state are West Senior in Iowa City and Gilbert and Pella high schools.Among the top-ranked metro high schools is Ankeny (6th), Adel-De Soto- Minburn (7th) and Valley (11th).Zoom in: In DSM, Roosevelt ranked 47th and Hoover 108th out of more than 315 in Iowa.
Poop is a $6M moneymaker for Des Moines
We always knew our stank did't stink, but now it also earns us an annual $6M!Catch up fast: Des Moines Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation Authority (WRA) in 2020 completed a project to capture and clean biogasses produced from sewer treatment.They were previously burned off with a large flare.Driving the news: The gross annual revenue from gas sales is above the early projected estimates of $5M.The earnings help offset the regional utility's expenses.Yes, but: The $20 million system isn't currently working at full capacity because of equipment issues so the flare has still been used recently, WRA director Scott Hutchens tells Axios.That'll change in the next month or so after some repairs, he said.🚽 The bottom line: Our browns make gold.Editor's note: This article first appeared in Axios Des Moines. These flares at the Des Moines Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation Authority will again go on hiatus in coming weeks. Photo: Jason Clayworth/Axios
Caitlin Clark effect continues in WNBA
Caitlin Clark's gargantuan star power has already made its mark on WNBA broadcasting and advertising, even before her regular season premiere Tuesday. But achieving equal treatment similar to the NBA will be slower going.Why it matters: The WNBA was already on an upward trajectory, but the arrival of superstars like Clark and LSU's Angel Reese put the league in a heightened position to garner more acclaim and deals for teams and their players.Context: Clark already broke the glass ceiling at the University of Iowa by helping the women's basketball program achieve record-breaking ticket sales, viewership and a strong talent pipeline.By...
Des Moines' "true" unemployment rate is actually 23%
Note: Share of the U.S. labor force that is functionally unemployed (seeking but unable to find a full-time job, is unemployed or is employed in a position earning less than a living wage); Data: Ludwig Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity; Chart: Axios VisualsDes Moines' "true" unemployment rate last year was 23%, compared with the official rate of under 3%, according to a new study from the Ludwig Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity (LISEP).Why it matters: The dataset highlights the full spectrum of wage inequality in the U.S., providing a more nuanced look into regional employment.How it works: LISEP's True Rate...
Lake Ahquabi welcomes paddlers after three year-hiatus
There's some soggy good news — central Iowa's recent rainfall has helped fill up Lake Ahquabi, a popular state park 35 minutes south of Des Moines near Indianola.Why it matters: Iowa has suffered from three years of extreme drought, which has hurt water recreation and local businesses that rely on waterways around the state.But there's finally "a light at the end of the tunnel," says Chad Kelchen, an Iowa DNR district supervisor who oversees Lake Ahquabi.Flashback: Lake Ahquabi, which offers fishing, boating and hiking and saw around 178,000 visitors in 2021, closed for renovations and dredging between 2021-23.When it reopened...
Mapped: This year's raging class of twisters
Data: Storm Prediction Center; Note: "Preliminary" reports are eyewitness storm reports issued shortly after an event before being verified. Map: Danielle Alberti/AxiosMore than 500 tornadoes have been spotted in the U.S. since April, according to preliminary reports from the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center.State of play: The 2024 tornado season is charting a path to become among the most prolific of recent years, per the NWS. It's still behind 2019, which recorded more than 800 in April and all of May.Yes, but: Both years are far behind the 2011 record of nearly 1,200 recorded tornadoes during the same time period.Zoom in: Iowa has been hit particularly hard this year with a record 41 tornadoes in April, KCRG reports.Of those, multiple have touched down in the metro, damaging at least 18 homes and a cemetery in Pleasant Hill.The intrigue: Some scientists believe climate change may be pushing "tornado alley" eastward, away from the Midwest.But others say tornadoes are a relatively small-scale weather phenomena, making precise climate assessments difficult, Axios' Rebecca Falconer and Andrew Freedman report.
Iowa's C-section rates have risen
Data: CDC; Chart: Axios VisualsThe rate of cesarean births in Iowa has gone up since 2016 to a little over 30%, according to new data from the CDC.Nationally, the C-section delivery rate in 2023 came to 32.4%.Why it matters: That's well above the 10-15% rate that the WHO considers "ideal."State of play: Repeat C-sections account for many of the procedures nationally, even though most individuals can have a successful vaginal birth after a cesarean section (VBAC).Yes, but: In Iowa, it's especially difficult to find a provider who will offer that option, says Rachel Bruns, the International Cesarean Awareness Network's local...
This Des Moines gallery aims to make original art affordable, accessible
Buying original art can seem daunting, but a local art gallery owner has spent the last five years trying to make it an accessible, fun process.What they're saying: "I don't want to sell artwork for it to sit in a warehouse somewhere," says Liz Lidgett, the owner behind Liz Lidgett Gallery + Design in the East Village. "I'm focusing on the joy of artwork, not the investment of artwork."Driving the news: Friday marks Lidgett's five-year gallery anniversary and she's celebrating with a free open house from 5-8pm.State of play: Thanks to Instagram and e-commerce, being a part of the art...
Iowa's Medicaid enrollment cliff fell far further than projected
Iowa disenrolled nearly 250,000 Medicaid recipients last year, a rate almost 160% above projections, according to a new Urban Institute analysis.Why it matters: Even brief gaps in insurance can disrupt care and worsen health outcomes — especially for children, whose "rapid development" makes them more vulnerable than adults, the study's authors write.Iowa children lost coverage at an even greater rate: about 280% above projections.Catch up quick: States regularly review the eligibility of people enrolled in Medicaid based on income or other factors. But Congress put a hold on those checks during the pandemic.That pandemic-related safeguard ended in March last year,...
Help migrating birds through Iowa
Millions of birds are expected to migrate through Iowa and the Midwest over the next few nights, according to the Iowa DNR.Why it matters: Early May is peak spring migration time in Iowa and birds need insects to eat as they move up north.550 million birds are expected to move through the state this migration period, which ends late May, says Anna Buckardt Thomas, Iowa DNR avian ecologist.How you can help: Limit pesticide and fertilizer use. A scarcity of insects can hinder migration and breeding, and lead to weaker immune systems.And don't rake this month — decaying leaves help attract insects that are good for birds' diets.
First bite: Trying Prime & Providence in West Des Moines
I was invited to book a table at Prime & Providence's soft opening this week.Driving the news: It's the latest in the metro's recent steakhouse craze, joining other pricey peers like Ruth's Chris and Oak Park.The vibe: The restaurant's inspiration is "fancy, not formal," co-owner and chef Dominic Iannarelli told Axios last month.There's a custom-made hearth and almost everything is cooked via fire, including the veggies.What to try: The restaurant dubs itself as "Purveyors of Land & Sea," offering an oyster bar, shellfish towers, coal-fired steaks and family-style sides.Its reserve menu has a 48-ounce porterhouse ($115), a Johnny Highball cocktail...
Des Moines hired New York company to rethink its metro transit future
The city of Des Moines last month hired a New York-based company to study DART routes and recommend a "multimodal transit vision" for the metro, according to records obtained by Axios.Why it matters: Via Transportation is behind some of the biggest reforms in recent public transit history across the country.The company recently helped Wilson, North Carolina, for example, park all its buses and launch a publicly subsidized on-demand van service, the AP reports.Catch up fast: DART has for years wrestled with operational costs, warning recently of a possible 40% service reduction if the agency doesn't shore up its finances.The regional...
New documentary chronicles Iowa's 1970s refugee efforts
A documentary chronicling former Gov. Robert Ray's efforts to welcome thousands of Tai Dam and Southeast Asian refugees to Iowa in the 1970s debuts Wednesday.Why it matters: "Refugees Welcome" resonates beyond Iowa and could help bring historical context and meaning to today's humanitarian outreach efforts, Laura Ling, the documentary's producer, tells Axios.Flashback: Millions of people became refugees because of the Vietnam War.Ray was the only governor at the time to answer a call to help resettle families, ignoring anger from some Iowans who disagreed.The intrigue: This documentary includes footage of last year's wedding between Jeffrey Newland — Ray's grandson — and Jasmine Vong, the daughter of Tai Dam refugees."I wouldn't be here if it weren't for your grandpa," an emotional Vong says to Newland in the film.Watch it: On the Very Local app, which is available on all mobile and connected TV devices.
Des Moines' scientific stink detection works, early results show
Des Moines' bad smell complaints are down following the completion of a $2 million odor burning project by Smithfield Foods, according to a report provided to the City Council Monday.Why it matters: The report is among the first indications that Des Moines' new scientific stink detection program is working and prompting businesses to take action.Catch up fast: The city began using an "eNose" system to measure chemicals that cause smell in October.Monitors and a weather station collect data near animal processing plants on DSM's southeast side, a place that had been identified as a likely major source of the city's...
West Des Moines builds to the south
West Des Moines leaders envision decades of development opportunities for the city's south side, especially as it hopes to annex more land all the way to Cumming someday.Why it matters: While a lot of the city is already built out, the area south of Raccoon River along the Highway 5 corridor is ripe for development, says Ryan Moffatt, WDM's economic development director.Flashback: Prior to the construction of Microsoft's data centers, which began in 2008, the southern area of West Des Moines wasn't available for building.But since then, data center construction has spurred $200 million in public improvements, which has in...
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