After the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, CT, and resulting gun control debate, Polk County saw a spike in concealed weapon permit applications.
From the elimination of straight-ticket voting to property tax reform to Medicaid expansion, local lawmakers are speaking out. Also, one West Des Moines mom is watching a bill to reinstate the death penalty.
Should the city's Human Services office and a business incubator move to new locations in Valley Junction? The city’s finance subcommittee is mulling those options, along with whether it makes sense for West Des Moines to establish its own Sister C
Councilman-elect John Mickelson and Lucas Casey react to Tuesday's special election results. Mickelson said he's excited about getting to work "to make the city a better place."
The biggest road project in the West Des Moines city capital improvement plan for the coming fiscal year is constructing the interchange of Alice's Road and 105th Street as Waukee extends Alice's Road.
Mike Sherzan, a financial services broker, announced Monday that he will seek the 3rd District Congressional seat now held by Republican Tom Latham.
Special election will be held Tuesday.
We asked the two candidates in Tuesday’s special to answer questions about Ward 2 priorities, but also about politicians they admire – Lincoln, Ike, Ron Paul and Iowa’s own Governor Robert D. Ray got mentions.
Spiker's anti-gay marriage comments were made during this week's Iowa Press airing 7:30 p.m. Friday and noon Sunday.
Denture maker admits he didn’t claim more than $200,000 in income in four tax years.
In addition to prison sentence, Walters ordered to make restitution to victims.
A neighbor’s front-yard corn plot was an eyesore, resident complained. But now he's withdrawn his complaint.
$3.2 million water tower built in 2010 has never been brought online.
A cultural war is taking place within the Republican Party. In Iowa, where gay marriage opponents and social conservatives Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee have come out winners in the first-in-the-nation caucus, the conversation is critically important.
Congressman King leads potential Republican nominees, including Congressman Tom Latham and Zaun, for Tom Harkin's U.S. Senate seat, according to a poll by Harper Polling. But Politico wonders, "Could King actually win?"
In Iowa, where fiercely anti-gay marriage candidates Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee have come out winners in the first-in-the-nation caucus, a cultural war is taking place within the Republican Party.
Links to apply online for several Parks and Recreation positions. The West Des Moines Fire Department is also looking for a paid on-call volunteer firefighter.
Iowa shares a dubious distinction with Mississippi: They are the only two states never to have sent a woman to Congress or the governor’s mansion.
Stamps and Priority Mail services went up in price Sunday, and a new worldwide stamp is now available. So how much is a stamp today? Here's a handy list of the new rates from the U.S. Postal Service.
The IRS has announced a delayed start to the 2012 tax filing season. Here's the date of when you can file plus some tax preparers in West Des Moines to get help on your taxes and financial planning.
A nearby station wasn’t staffed, so a neighbor kept a fire under control with a garden hose while waiting for West Des Moines firefighters to respond Saturday.
Lucas Casey and John Mickelson will square off in a special election on Feb. 12.
Are you attending the inauguration on Jan. 21? Upload your photos or videos and share the experience with your neighbors.
An attorney says former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky's sexual abuse conviction "gave a lot of people time to reflect and time to gird themselves and get their inner strength to maybe go forward."
It's tax time again in West Des Moines and elsewhere. Standard deductions will increase, but the ceiling for itemized deductions decrease in 2013, plus other changes that will affect your taxes this year and places in the area where you can go to g
If Iowa opts out of the Medicaid expansion, poor Iowans with severe mental illnesses – one in six, according to a recent study – could be harmed.
Republican Charles Schneider was elected to represent Senate District 22 in a special election last month.
Mental health advocates argue that past reform efforts – and there have several of them – have all been driven by limited access, eligibility and affordability and have failed for the same reason: failure by the Legislature to fully pay for the programs
In exchange for a plea agreement, federal prosecutors dropped seven wire fraud charges and recommended a lighter prison term.
In the coming days, Patch will look at Iowa’s mental health system, its deficiencies and whether a spate of mass shootings should change the conversation.
One in 17 Americans lives with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or a major depressive disorder. With a spate of mass shootings, mental health advocates say it's time to regard mental illness as a public health issue
Work a decade ago to fix a leaking roof, skylight and windows at a West Des Moines fire station did not solve problems that have led to damage and mold. The skylight even sparked a recent fire in a truck bay.
Lawmakers support commercial property tax reform, but warn against "strangling" cities by limiting their ability to provide essential services.
More than 100 seasonal positions are available with the city of West Des Moines and many will be filled by early spring.
Lucas Casey says he's a candidate for special election on Feb. 12
Officer Chris Morgan and Chaplain Steve Freeman are credited with saving a man's life.
Here's everything you need to know for city public works crews to pick up storm debris.
Eight lawmakers are expected to attend who represent West Des Moines, Waukee and Clive.
As the first blizzard of the season heads for West Des Moines, preparations are under way to keep the roads clear. And West Des Moines schools are watching the skies and roads to see if classes will be held Thursday.
The late Sen. Pat Ward was in a tough fight to remain in the Senate in the June 5 GOP primary for a district. Ward went on to win the primary election against Pastor Jeff Mullen, but died of breast cancer before the November general election.