This smokin’ hot Luther restaurant named one of best in U.S.
On some weekends, Whatcha Smokin? BBQ + Brew draws more people than the entire population of Luther, Iowa — just 125 residents in this tiny town north of Madrid in Central Iowa. Customers start lining up at 10:30 a.m., sometimes earlier, waiting for the doors to open at 11 a.m. Cars, trucks, and motorcycles pack the...
Iowa Health Alert: Toxic Dust in Older Homes May Threaten Des Moines Children
Country Herald is Local News, Independent Pulse. Covering breaking local news, sports, lifestyle and events. Des Moines, Iowa – Health officials warn toxic dust in older Iowa homes may endanger children. According to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, homes built before 1978 may contain lead-based...
Jury convicts Des Moines man in connection to 2025 home invasion in Ankeny
A Des Moines man is convicted on all charges after a home invasion in Ankeny last summer. 28-year-old Gemiere Cortez Goodwin is accused of entering the home of a 68-year-old victim, demanding money, attacking, then choking the victim unconscious. The Polk County Attorney's office say it happened on July 1, 2025, the...
Environmental groups threaten lawsuit over EPA’s impaired water list in Iowa
DES MOINES, Iowa — Nitrate levels remain elevated in both major metro rivers. The Des Moines River measured more than 11 milligrams per liter on Thursday. The Raccoon River is currently around 9 mg/L, though it exceeded 10 mg/L. The Central Iowa Water Works nitrate removal system has been operating on and off since...
School districts urge Iowa lawmakers for 5% funding boost as soft deadline passes
DES MOINES, Iowa — Thirty days after Gov. Kim Reynolds delivered her annual Condition of the State Address, Iowa lawmakers have not yet announced how much they plan to increase public school funding for the next academic year, as is mandated in Iowa Code. Meanwhile, nine school districts across...
Des Moines assault leaves 61-year-old man in critical condition
DES MOINES, Iowa — A 61-year-old man is in critical condition after Des Moines police say he was assaulted overnight at an apartment building. Just after 2 a.m. Thursday, the Des Moines Police Department said officers responded to a report of a person lying in the hallway of an apartment building in the 600 block […]
As Des Moines loses another indie music venue, local artists wonder what’s next
Since 2020, Des Moines has lost several cornerstones of its live music scene, from small clubs to major festivals. The closures have narrowed the path for local artists to develop, even as new venues and entertainment giants reshape how live music operates in the metro.
TRIO Advisor Jack Simons is departing Simpson after sparking change in campus culture
Today marks the last time TRIO counselor Jack Simons will close his office door at Simpson College as he embarks on a new journey in his home state, Colorado. He secured a job weeks ago as a 7th-grade teacher, scheduled to start late in the spring. But because of the decline of his father’s health, his timeline has...
Industrial development focused on pre-leasing as rent rates remain stable
Demand for industrial space across the Des Moines metro remained strong in the fourth quarter of 2025, but developers focused on projects that were pre-leased or had a clear pipeline for occupancy, according to market reports from area brokerage firms. The Business Record reviewed reports from JLL, CBRE, Cushman &...
Local real estate investment firm details success of downtown Des Moines development
This piece is sponsored by Ernst Capital Group. The appeal of downtown living combined with intentional investments in quality-of-life amenities has spelled success for a multiphase, master-planned community in Des Moines. Gray’s Station, a 75-acre community developed and constructed by Hubbell Realty Co., is located...
