Des Moines

Iowa lost ground on 95 of the more than 250 measures used to track our progress meeting health goals as part of a five-year statewide initiative, according to a recent report.

Yes, but: We improved in 138 measures. (23 haven't changed.)

Why it matters: The initiative is part of a public health benchmark that sets the state's agenda for helping Iowans live longer, healthier and more productive lives.

Its results influence how state resources and grants are allocated.

Background: The Iowa Department of Public Health coordinates the state health assessment and improvement plan, called Healthy Iowans, in collaboration with about 100 different organizations or advisory groups.

It's a component of the state's public health accreditation.

State of play: The report tracks everything from obesity and alcohol use to mental health and vegetable consumption. Here are the big takeaways:

🙂 The good: Death rates caused by cancer and heart disease have decreased.

☹️ The bad: Obesity, suicide and STD rates increased.

​​Of note: Some of the measurements show that low-income families and people of color continue to face far greater health challenges.

Be smart: Losing ground on some measures is a part of life. It can be influenced by factors like a pandemic that are unaccounted for in original health improvement plans.

Iowa's plan is revised every year to account for some of the emerging issues.

The initiative's previous plan (2012-2016) also didn't meet some of its baseline goals but nonetheless helped Iowa reduce serious problems like smoking and AIDS.

What's next: A 2022-2026 plan will be developed in the coming months, as the final report will for this cycle is expected next year.

Iowans can get involved by taking this health assessment survey.

Iowa's health report card

The report tracks everything from obesity and alcohol use to mental health and vegetable consumption.

Illustration of a wrench turn a red cross

News

Axios Des Moines, anchored by Jason Clayworth and Linh Ta, is here to help readers get smarter, faster on the most consequential news and developments unfolding in their own backyard.

Axios Des Moines

Prairie Meadows is getting sidelined from the profits linked with new customers who place sports bets, Garrick Mallory, an assistant director for the casino, told Axios.

It's in part due to a provision in a 2019 Iowa law that states sports betting this year does not require in-person sign-ups.

Why it matters: Out-of-state gaming operators get a larger share of the revenue, which is siphoned from the nonprofit Altoona casino, Mallory said.

Local governments and dozens of charities depend on Prairie Meadows' revenue for everything from making debt payments on Wells Fargo Arena to expanding Blank Children’s Hospital programs.

State of play: Sports betting began in Iowa two years ago.

Prior to Jan. 1, betters were required to activate their accounts in person at a casino like Prairie Meadows that had an agreement with a sportsbook operator. 

What's happening: New accounts can now be opened remotely and — unless a user enters a promo code — their hometown casino may not get credited to share the profits, Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission director Brian Ohorilko told Axios.

Of note: Caesars Sportsbook, the operator of Prairie Meadows' sports bets, did not respond to our multiple requests for comment last week.

The bottom line: Prairie Meadows doesn't know how much money it's losing because there's no way to track how many new users would have signed up through its casino, Mallory said.

The casino recommends entering the promo code "PMRF" if you're using a sportsbook app.

Prairie Meadows missing out on sports betting profits

Out-of-state gaming operators get a larger share of the revenue, which siphons it from the nonprofit Altoona casino, an official said.

A $100 bill with a football helmet on Ben Franklin.

Photo illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Photo: Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Business

Recycling etiquette is at the top of some of your minds after our story last week about Des Moines homeowners who lost their recycling privileges this year.

We turned to Des Moines Public Works director Jonathan Gano and sanitation administrator Jo Ferrell to answer your questions.

Catch up quick: Throwing the wrong items into the blue carts costs the city tens of thousands of dollars a year. Des Moines has started cracking down on violators.

There will be a public education push about the city's recycling program in coming months. In the meantime, lots of details can be found here.

Question: "Is it true that lots of recycling ends up at the dump anyway?" — Abby Dougherty, Windsor Heights

Answer: 100% of the recyclable material placed in our recycling carts gets recycled into new products. None of it goes to the landfill, city officials said. 

Question: "On the point of not bagging your recyclables so that sorting machines can work properly: I've always bagged mine so loose recyclables aren't strewn across my neighborhood. What’s DMPW's official position on this?" — Joe Schueller, Waukee

Answer: Avoid plastic bags. You may bag items in a paper grocery bag and DMPW encourages people to do so, especially for shredded paper.

Question: "Why is milk, yogurt and margarine containers OK but sour cream, cottage cheese and cool whip are not OK?" — Patrick Coughlin, DSM

Answer: The limitation is principally driven by a lack of demand in the secondary markets for that kind of plastic. 

Question: Coughlin also wanted to know, "Why are laundry detergent bottles OK, but antifreeze bottles are not? They all look the same to me." 

Answer: It has to do with the contents contaminating the container. Antifreeze, motor oil, and other petroleum products are considered a hazardous waste and should be disposed of at the Metro Waste Authority's hazardous waste facility in Bondurant or at a Mega Scrub event hazmat trailer.

Ask Axios: What can and can't I recycle?

Why are yogurt containers OK to recycle but not those that hold sour cream?

An illustration of a hanger shaped like a recycling sign.

Plans for a 65-unit housing development on Des Moines' far northeast side will go before the City Council Monday.

Why it matters: It would create more homes in an undeveloped area near Altoona and Pleasant Hill, but some nearby residents oppose the project. 

Details: Developer Kenyon Hill Ridge's plans include 11 rowhouses, with some containing as many as eight units each. The total area would span 5.7 acres.

The proposed development, called Ruby Rose Ridge, is located in the 2400 block of East 50th Court, adjacent to single-family homes in the Copper Creek golf course community.

Driving the news: The developer wants Des Moines to amend its land-use plan for the area to allow for 12 housing units per acre.

The Plan and Zoning Commission recommended the City Council adopt the amendment in a 13-0 vote last month.

What they're saying: A dozen nearby property owners responded in opposition to city notifications about the project. (One was in favor and 90% didn't respond.)

Traffic, privacy, increased taxes and crime were among the concerns.

The big picture: The pushback reflects some growing pains.

Developments are closing in on longtime residents who previously enjoyed fewer neighbors.

What's next: The City Council is expected to vote on the matter following a public hearing Monday at 5pm.

Des Moines neighbors oppose Ruby Rose Ridge development project

Developer Kenyon Hill Ridge's plans include 11 rowhouses, with some containing as many as eight units each.

The Ruby Rose Ridge development near East 50th Court and Northeast 23rd Avenue in Des Moines. Photo: Jason Clayworth/Axios

Real Estate

🧞 ️Unleash your inner design genie and let your imagination run wild with this vacant lot in Des Moines' Linden Heights neighborhood.

It's nested in a wooded area overlooking Water Works Park. 

Specs: Just over ½ acre, adjacent to the Bill Riley Trail, six-year tax abatement.

Flashback: Until a few months ago, the lot spanned nearly 1.5 acres and had a home on the property.

Owner Ted Thoms told us the house needed some work, plus his family wanted to build their own place.

They ended up dividing the area, and put the other lot up for sale.

Cool bonus: Thoms and his company, Lost Planet Development, shared drawings of some homes that may work on the property.

There's room for a 7,000-square-foot home, he said.

One hot Des Moines lot: A Foster Drive find

The half-acre lot is nested in a wooded area overlooking Water Works Park.

Photo courtesy of Ted Thoms/Lost Planet Development

Jason Clayworth

Featured stories

Prairie Meadows missing out on sports betting profits

Ask Axios: What can and can't I recycle?

Des Moines neighbors oppose Ruby Rose Ridge development project

Iowa's health report card

One hot Des Moines lot: A Foster Drive find