🌱 County Suspends Vaccine Incentives + Daycare Worker Charged

Hey, Des Moines! Here's everything you need to know to get this Thursday started off right. Here's everything you need to know about what's happening around Des Moines today.

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First, today's weather:

Not as cold with some sun. High: 34 Low: 22.

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Here are the top 3 stories in Des Moines today:

1. The Polk County Health Department announced that it has discontinued its vaccination incentive program. The county had previously awarded gift cards to anyone who came into the health department to get their COVID-19 vaccination. As of Tuesday, the program has been dropped. Polk County currently has a 64% vaccination rate. (KCCI Des Moines)
2. A Des Moines daycare worker is accused of assaulting two children who were placed in her care. Raven Hall was charged with two counts of child endangerment causing bodily injury after surveillance footage at the daycare captured Hall lifting the two children by the arms and kicking one in the back. Hall is currently out on bond. (KCCI Des Moines)
3. Crumbl Cookies announced plans to open its first central Iowa shop in Ankeny next month. The cookie shop, which offers unusual flavor combinations such as warm snickerdoodle cupcake and Kentucky butter cake, is slated to open on Oralabor Road in mid-January. The Utah-based cookie purveyor plans to bring a total of three shops to the metro area. (Ames Tribune)

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Today in Des Moines:

• Animal Winter Survival With Polk County Conservation At Urbandale Public Library (2:00 PM)

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From my notebook:

• The US National Weather Service announced that a large winter storm is expected to push across Iowa on Saturday, which may come with widespread accumulating snowfall for much of the state. (Facebook)
• A Hy-Vee spokesperson announced that the availability of at-home rapid COVID-19 tests should return to stores for the New Year. (Facebook)
• The String Prophets will perform at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden this Sunday to kick off the Botanical Blues event. (Facebook)

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You're all caught up for today! See you tomorrow morning for another update.

— Katarina Betterton

About me: Katarina loves to read and write. Her hobbies include cooking her grandmother's recipes, learning new languages, and crafting. She and her husband live with their mutt, Ledger, and Shiba Inu, Mikasa, who are both way too cute for their own good.