Cancer rates soar in Iowa: Policy suggestions to curb tobacco and alcohol use
DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa Cancer Registry made its stop at Drake University Tuesday night as part of its 99 Counties Project. Iowa currently has the second-highest cancer rate in the country behind Kentucky, but Iowa’s number continues to rise. The state currently also has the second-highest incidence rate in the...
Des Moines wants to crack down on “fish game” arcades
"Fish game" arcades that have become popular in businesses across the metro have sparked crime and nuisance concerns, prompting the Des Moines City Council to launch a review of ways the city can regulate them. Why it matters: The games are proliferating rapidly, yet under the current state law, DSM...
Dozens of sick animals rescued from northeast Iowa property
DES MOINES, Iowa — The Animal Rescue League of Iowa said it rescued dozens of sick animals from a northeast Iowa property. The ARL said on Tuesday that it was called to assist with a rescue of dozens of animals, including dogs, cats, and chickens. When crews from the ARL arrived at the property, they […]
Bystander hit by stray bullet in weekend Des Moines shooting
DES MOINES, Iowa — Two people have been charged in connection with a shooting that injured a bystander, after gunfire erupted during a private event hosted at the Wellmark Urban Dreams Community Center in the River Bend neighborhood Saturday night. Sgt. Paul Parizek, Public Information Officer for the Des Moines...
New Iowa vet clinics aim to make pet ownership more affordable
The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is opening two low-cost vet clinics in central Iowa. The clinics are called ARL Afford-a-Care and are located in the central and southern parts of Des Moines. They offer services like spaying and neutering and also can perform surgeries and other operations, but don’t offer emergency...
JLL report: Des Moines sees first year of positive office absorption since 2017
The Des Moines office market achieved positive absorption last year for the first time since 2017, according to the latest research from JLL. This is an improvement from the average annual absorption of negative 251,000 square feet that this market had recorded from 2018 through 2024. At the same time,...
Homeowners in Des Moines can apply for exterior repair assistance
DES MOINES, Iowa — Des Moines homeowners who need help to complete crucial repairs to the exterior of their homes may be eligible for assistance from the city through the Improving Our Neighborhoods program. The ION program provides financial assistance to help improve Des Moines’ aging housing stock, which, in turn,...
Catholic school enrollment rises in Iowa as ESA eligibility expands statewide
DES MOINES, Iowa — It has been nearly three years since a law was passed allowing families to use education savings accounts, or ESAs, to help pay for private school expenses. The 2025-26 school year marked the first time families of any income level were eligible to apply. Since then, private school enrollment has...
State Board Alleges Spencer Nurse May Have Harmed Patients
(Des Moines)--The Iowa Board of Nursing has charged a Spencer nurse with acting in a manner that may be harmful to patients. According to the Iowa Capital Dispatch, the board has charged 60-year-old Larae Pemberton with committing an act that might adversely affect the physical or psychosocial welfare of a patient,...
Ankeny Police to Conduct Tobacco/Vapor Education, Enforcement
(Ankeny, IA) -- The Ankeny Police department is partnering with the Iowa Department of Revenue in a program to improve local retailers' compliance with state tobacco and vaping laws. The I-PLEDGE program began in 2000, and since then the state's tobacco compliance rate among retails is up to over 90...
