Coffee in hand, West Des Moines? We've got the latest town updates for you. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: Isaiah 117 Annual Golf Tournament.
Today's riddle: What did the wall say to the other wall. 🤔 (Answer below!)
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1. West Des Moines school board discusses rainbow flag in classroom (kcci.com) — A recent West Des Moines school board meeting drew 30 minutes of public comment over a rainbow-themed flag and taped Chromebooks in a Jordan Creek Elementary classroom, which some parents say may violate Iowa's K-6 instruction law. The teacher explained the display as a Des Moines flag symbolizing inclusion and a simple color-coding system, while the district reviews the concern.
2. Here's how to navigate West Des Moines roadwork to get to two schools (desmoinesregister.com subscription) — Parents driving to Sacred Heart School and Stilwell Junior High face months of detours and heavy congestion as Grand Avenue is widened near Vine and 16th streets in West Des Moines. Access patterns, turn restrictions, and school-specific routes are temporarily changing through at least mid-November, with final pedestrian safety upgrades stretching into spring 2027.
3. Des Moines may suspend tax abatements as budget pressures grow (desmoinesregister.com subscription) — West Des Moines officials are reviewing how Iowa's new property tax law could affect the city's development incentives, even as Des Moines moves toward suspending its long-running tax abatement program. The change could slow new housing and commercial projects across the metro, as cities weigh balancing growth with looming budget shortfalls and pressure on essential services funding.
4. Zach Lahn calls for state regulation of data centers, Flock cameras (kwqc.com) — A gubernatorial campaign stop in West Des Moines put data centers and Flock camera regulation in the spotlight, as GOP nominee Zach Lahn argued these fast-growing technologies need clear statewide rules. Speaking to business leaders, he outlined tougher conditions for data center incentives, higher costs for heavy power users, and more public say over surveillance tools in Iowa communities.
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Ok West Des Moines! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Meet me at the corner. (Thank you Earlene M. for sending it in!)
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