POLL: Iowans Favor Traffic Camera Ban; What Do You Think?

The newest Iowa Poll says Iowans, by a very slim margin, want to ban both speed and red-light cameras. What do you say?

UPDATE: What's Open on Presidents' Day in Urbandale?

If you or your kids have the day off, here are some ideas on how to spend it.

Urbandale Pool is Closed Today and Saturday

A message on the city's website says the indoor pool has been closed because of "unsafe water conditions."

Improving Mental Health in Iowa: Raecker Report 2/17

Urbandale's state Rep. Scott Raecker talks about one of legislative leaders key goals this year -- improving mental health services for Iowans.

Why Xi's Visit to Iowa Matters: Zaun Report 2/17

Urbandale's state Sen. Brad Zaun writes about why Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping's visit to Iowa this week was important.

Why We Must Reform Iowa Tax System Now: Raecker Report 2/10

Urbandale state Rep. Scott Raecker, head of the House Appropriations Committee writes about the urgency to reform the state's property tax system.

Why I Oppose Speed Cameras: 2/9 Zaun Report

Urbandale State Sen. Brad Zaun writes about his concerns about speed cameras and the status of legislation to ban them.

New Bus Routes for Urbandale in June

Officials from DART, the metro area mass transit system, will explain improvements to Urbandale bus service tonight at 5 p.m. at the Urbandale Library.

Urbandale to Vote on Controversial Trail and Pet Fee Hike Tonight

The Urbandale City Council tonight is scheduled to vote on increasing the cost of pet licenses and on a plan that includes a recreational trail that has divided residents of one neighborhood.

RAECKER REPORT 2/2: Legislative Republicans Release Budget

Urbandale's state Rep. Scott Raecker, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, describes legislative Republicans' state budget proposal.

ZAUN REPORT 2/2: Bringing Jobs to Iowa

Urbandale's state Sen. Brad Zaun supports a bill to attract supply-chain manufacturers to Iowa and to limit the taxes of those already here.

Urbandale Library, Parks Budget Hearing Tonight

The Urbandale City Council will discuss the library, parks and recreation, and cultural budgets for the city tonight at 5:30 p.m. in city council chambers.

Raecker Report 1/26: Visitors & the USS Iowa Battleship

Urbandale's state Rep. Scott Raecker writes about the Legislature's role in restoring USS Iowa battleship in his weekly report from the Iowa Legislature.

ZAUN REPORT 1/26: 50 Million Ways to Stretch Road Tax Dollars

Urbandale state Sen. Brad Zaun's weekly report is about Gov. Terry Branstad's announcement this week that the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) has identified $50 million in Road Use Tax Fund (RUTF) efficiencies.

POLL: Readers Tell the Urbandale Library What To Do With Its Coffee Shop

The Urbandale Library Board wants your help with its decision on what to do with the failing coffee shop.

Your Urbandale Pet Just Got More Expensive

Tonight, the Urbandale City Council will vote on an ordinance that will increase the city's pet licensing fees.

Obama Fans to Gather at Urbandale State of the Union Watch Party

It's no caucus debate, but Urbandale Obama supporters are gathering at the Holiday Inn tonight to watch the president's State of the Union address.

Urbandale Library Mulls Increasing Fines, Cutting Hours

Faced with a request from the Urbandale city manager to cut the library's request for a $2.1 million budget next year, the Library Board of Directors opts to raise revenue and shorten the hours the library is open.

ZAUN REPORT: Tax Increment Financing Debate

iowa lawmakers are looking at ways to curb abuses in tax-increment financing laws as cities' long-term debts pile up because of it. Urbandale Senator Brad Zaun writes this week that he is open to looking at reforms.

Urbandale's Scott Raecker Says This Is His Last Legislative Session

The Urbandale Republican has served seven terms and is chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.

Urbandale's Caucus Results Hold: Romney Still Won Here

Untrained volunteers are more to blame for changing vote totals than party leaders, says a long-time Urbandale Republican organizer.

POLL: Urbandale Goes from A to A-Plus Rating in Citizen Survey

Urbandale showed some weak spots in a biennial survey of residents, but overall, confidence and trust in city government, its employees and services went up. What do you think? Take our poll at the end of this story.

Dos and Don'ts on Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday

Your guide, regardless of whether you have the day off or not.

Governor Releases His Education Reform Blueprint

Urbandale Patch will publish weekly legislative updates from Urbandale's two legislators during the 2012 session. In this one, Sen. Brad Zaun outlines Gov. Terry Branstad's education reform plan and lets Urbandale residents know about his upcoming forums.

Communication Is The Key To Legislative Success

Urbandale Patch will publish weekly legislative updates from Urbandale's legislators during the 2012 legislative session. In this one, Rep. Scott Raecker gives you a number of ways to reach him.

Road Construction Ahead for Urbandale

Urbandale drivers may want to plan alternate routes this spring and summer to avoid construction to improve some of the suburb's major thoroughfares.

Urbandale Library Coffee Shop Gets Reprieve

Chapters remains open while the Urbandale Library Board reconsiders how to deal with the situation of unpaid rent.

Congressman Tom Latham to Campaign for Dallas County Candidates

The congressman, whose new district includes Dallas County, will be at house parties next week for two Republican candidates for state senate.

Romney Wins Iowa; Here's How Urbandale Caucused

See how Urbandale Republicans caucused compared to their counterparts in Iowa and the rest of Polk County.

Get Live Christmas Trees to Curb Now

Urbandale will pick the trees up this week and next, but the city's fire chief urges residents to get the trees out of the house right away for safety sake.

In Urbandale, the Caucuses are Underway

After months of campaigning, hundreds of candidate stops and way too many political commercials, the Iowa caucuses -- finally -- have begun. Check back with Patch for live results as they come in.

Live Caucus Results as They Come In and Where to Vote

The caucuses begin at 7 p.m. Join us for live results, reports from the precincts, complete analysis and full coverage of candidates reacting to the outcome.

Gingrich Picks Up Endorsement from Urbandale Legislator at Friday Breakfast

The former frontrunner, who has dropped to fifth in some polls, promoted bipartisan results through negotiation and campaign finance reform, saying Washington is broken.

Child Among 17 Occupy Protesters Arrested in Des Moines Area on Thursday

Police arrested protesters at the Democratic party headquarters in Des Moines and Ron Paul Iowa campaign headquarters in Ankeny on Thursday.

Paul and Romney Atop New Polls of Iowa Voters, Santorum Surging

Surprising Ron Paul stays out in front in one new poll of likely Iowa caucus-goers, while a second poll puts Mitt Romney in the lead.

UPDATE: Ten Occupy Iowa Caucus Protesters Arrested at Romney HQ, Wells Fargo Bank

Politely and without incident, police and Occupy Iowa Caucus protesters did their dance, as 10 Occupy members were arrested for blocking and disrupting business at Mitt Romney's campaign headquarters, and then a Wells Fargo Bank a block away Wednesday.

Will 2011 be the Year the Iowa Caucus Game Changed?

Iowa Republicans had fewer chances to meet candidates, but more types of media exposures to evaluate them. More than a dozen televised debates informed many Iowans' decisions, say experts.

Wanting Votes, Candidates Sign on the Dotted Line, But Does it Help?

Do presidential candidates have to put campaign promises in writing to win? More and more special interest groups are asking them to do that.

UPDATE: Influential Iowa Evangelical Leaders Endorse Santorum

Bob Vander Plaats and Chuck Hurley give their nod to the former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, which could give his organization a boost.

Vets Auditorium Renaming Compromise: 12/20 Urbandale Morning Report

Directing Urbandale readers to the most relevant or entertaining news on metro sites this morning.