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Vacant Des Moines building owners would be required to register their properties with the city and comply with maintenance requirements under an ordinance being considered Monday night by the city council.

• Failing to comply could result in a fine of up to $750 for a first offense.

Trail users will have another way to get from Des Moines to West Des Moines via a new, 10-foot wide path alongside 63th Street.

Driving the news: The City of Des Moines approved the $109,000 trail project last month, which starts north of Raccoon River by the Levee Trail and goes to SW McKinley Avenue.

Expect Gov. Kim Reynolds' tenure to continue for another four years, according to an updated ranking from Cook Political Report, a non-partisan election analysis.

Driving the news: Iowa's November governor's race moved from "likely Republican" to "solidly Republican," in the report published Sept. 29.

Principal Park's $16,000 annual lease to Iowa Cubs owner Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH) will be extended under an agreement that goes before the Des Moines City Council Monday.

• It's the equivalent of about $1.40 a seat for the 11,500-capacity city-owned stadium, team clubhouse, parking lots and surrounding grounds. The new lease will run until 2032.

Friday

⭐️ Galileo: A jerk or hero of science? Get a free astronomy lesson at the Drake Municipal Observatory, followed by stargazing with guidance. 8-10pm.

Saturday

🐝 Take a free tour of Birds & Bees Urban Farm in Des Moines during their Annual Harvest Party. Listen to Irish music and eat food from the farm starting at 2pm.

Life can be a little "ruff" out here, but as you head into the weekend, here's some adorable local dogs submitted by our fellow Axios Des Moines readers.

Seven Republican-led states have filed lawsuits against President Biden, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and the Department of Education over the Biden administration's student loan forgiveness plan.

Why it matters: It's the second lawsuit filed against the Department of Education this week as part of attempts to block the plan, which would alleviate some of the debt burden of 43 million Americans but has drawn opposition from Republicans and Democrats in battleground states.

For the first time in four years, FAFSA applications from Iowa high school seniors are ticking up as the state's younger generations take a hard look at whether higher education is worth it.

Why it matters: College financial aid applications are a strong indicator of whether someone intends to pursue a college degree — either at a community college or four-year university.