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Des Moines rebrands Father Daughter Dance
Des Moines' Father-Daughter Dance is being replaced. Photo: City of DSM video
Des Moines' annual Father Daughter Dance is being rebranded as the "Snow Ball Dance" — an event where parents of all genders and their kids are welcome.
Why it matters: It's an effort to eliminate gender-based exclusivity, parks and recreation department spokesperson Peter Zemansky tells Axios.
New bill would legalize medical marijuana bud in Iowa
Drying marijuana plants at the Bud & Mary's production facility. Photo: Linh Ta/Axios
A new bill in the Iowa Senate would legalize the sale of dried cannabis within the state's medical marijuana program.
Driving the news: Senate Study Bill 1113 allows dispensaries to sell marijuana buds — the actual dried plant — as long as it's consumed through a vape.
Crème offers late-night cupcakes, cocktails and ramen
Cupcakes from Crème. Photo courtesy of Sammy Mila
The new owner of Crème is bringing late night desserts back to the Ingersoll bakery — but with her own little twist.
Driving the news: Sammy Mila launched "Midnight Munchies" at the beginning of the year.
Axios Des Moines readers: Hold the tips
Gratuities have increased in recent years, partly because more credit card transactions are prompting them, Axios' Nathan Bomey reports.
- Sometimes the ask even comes before the service.
Report: Violence interruptor programs are growing, results elusive
Illustration: Rebecca Zisser/Axios
Violence interruption programs have become more common in the last year thanks to hundreds of millions of dollars of federal pandemic funding, according to a report published this week by ProPublica and The New Yorker.
- Des Moines has allocated about $800K into its own program.
Spike in synthetic narcotic deaths driving tougher Iowa drug laws
Iowa registered at least 178 synthetic narcotic deaths in 2022, according to provisional data from the state's Health and Human Services department.
- That's down by as much as 35 from a 2021 peak but still at least 125% higher than five years ago.
Hot new restaurant: Oak Park in Ingersoll
Chef Ian Richardson. Photo courtesy of Oak Park
One of the most anticipated new restaurants in Des Moines this year is Oak Park, set to open in Ingersoll's newest Block 39 development.
State of play: The modern American restaurant is expected to seat nearly 100 people.
Des Moines' pickup truck obsession
Trucks are the king of the streets in central Iowa with pickups ranking as the most popular vehicles last year.
Driving the news: Four of Des Moines' 10 best-selling vehicles in 2022 were are pickup trucks, according to vehicle registration data from January through November 2022 by S&P Global Mobility.