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Polk County is working to convert an existing property — likely a hotel or similar building — into a centralized site where families experiencing homelessness can stay temporarily while receiving services to get back on their feet.

Why it matters: The county's current approach of paying for short-term hotel stays is becoming more expensive and less effective as family homelessness rises and shelters remain full.

Driving the news: The county has set aside $3.5 million to acquire and renovate a property, Rachel Adams, a supervisor at Polk County Behavioral Health & Disability Services, tells Axios.

The effort stems from the "Blueprint to Address Homelessness," a plan implemented through a public-private partnership, with Polk County leading efforts to increase family shelter capacity.

Catch up quick: Polk County has long depended on short-term hotel stays to house families when shelters are full, a temporary solution that has expanded rapidly in recent years.

The approach is meant to be temporary, but families often remain in limbo because shelter space is consistently unavailable.

By the numbers: Polk County housed 124 families for 270 nights in the fiscal year that ended in June 2022, compared to 768 families for more than 4,000 nights last year, Polk County Health Department Director Eric Kool told Axios.

Annual spending on hotel placements has increased from about $25,000 five years ago to over $400,000, Kool told supervisors at a recent budget meeting.

Rising housing costs, inflation and the 2023 closure of a family shelter program have all contributed to the spike, he said.

Zoom in: County leaders are now looking to redirect some of that growing spending toward a more permanent, service-centered solution that Adams describes as a "family stabilization center."

The goal is to make the site turnkey, likely for a nonprofit operator to manage.

State of play: Key factors in selecting a site include access to bus lines, grocery stores and medical care.

The county is prioritizing adaptive reuse over new construction to speed up the project and cut costs.

Sites in Urbandale and Pleasant Hill have been reviewed, but no decisions have been made.

What's next: Adams said she hopes to have something in place by the end of 2026, though there's no firm deadline linked to the funding.

Polk County is exploring sites for homeless family housing

A hotel or other building would be converted to a shelter for temporary housing.

Illustration of a neon hotel sign, only half of which is lighting up.

Polk County is working to convert an existing property — likely a hotel or similar building — into a centralized site where families experiencing homelessness can stay temporarily while receiving services to get back on their feet.Why it matters: The county&#x27;s current approach of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="paying for short-term hotel stays" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2024/12/05/homeless-families-hotel-polk-affordable-housing" data-vars-content-id="023d56a3-3edb-4f43-9764-b547146d6eb0" data-vars-headline="Polk County is exploring sites for homeless family housing" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2024/12/05/homeless-families-hotel-polk-affordable-housing" target="_self">paying for short-term hotel stays</a> is becoming more expensive and less effective as family homelessness rises and shelters remain full.

News

Polk County's treasurer is urging car buyers and dealers to title vehicles locally, launching a "Polk Proud" campaign to keep that business in the county.

Why it matters: Hundreds of vehicles are being titled in surrounding counties each month, draining thousands in revenue that would otherwise support Polk County services, Treasurer Mary Wells tells Axios.

Catch up quick: For decades, Iowa required vehicle titles to be processed in the owner's county of residence.

That changed last year, when a new law allowed vehicles to be registered in any county.

Zoom in: The change reflects shifts in how people buy cars, including online, making the process less cumbersome for consumers and sellers, Bruce Anderson, president of the Iowa Automobile Dealers Association, told Radio Iowa last year.

Reality check: The county doesn't know how many titles are being processed elsewhere or how much revenue it's losing, Wells tells Axios.

Yes, but: Wells' office is aware of instances when a large number are processed at once by dealerships or recyclers.

In one week in December, for example, there were 600, she told Polk supervisors in a February budget meeting.

Each title costs $12.50, resulting in $7,500 in lost revenue.

State of play: The Polk Proud campaign aims to better inform residents that they can request Polk plates when buying a vehicle, since many people don't realize they can choose them at a dealer.

It'll use social media, billboards, printed materials and community events, at an estimated cost of $3,000.

This is one of the billboard messages Polk County will use to promote Polk Proud. Illustration: Courtesy of Polk County

Zoom in: Besides showing county pride, a reason residents of the county should choose Polk plates is to make future transactions easier, Wells said.

Iowa law requires owners to complete annual registration renewals in their county of residence.

Titling a vehicle locally keeps all records in one place and makes future transactions smoother and more efficient, she said.

What's next: Wells will present information about Polk Proud during an event hosted by the Downtown Des Moines Neighborhood Association on April 1 at West End Architectural Salvage & Coffee Shop.

A social begins at 5:30pm, followed by a community discussion at 6:30pm.

Polk County pushes "Polk Proud" plates

The new campaign urges people to get their vehicles titled locally.

Close-up of an Iowa license plate: blue header with IOWA and skyline, large black characters PGR 5 1 across the center, POLK county text at the bottom, a yellow grass motif along the edge, and a red validation tag in the lower left.

A new Iowa law allows people to title their vehicles in other counties. Photo: Jason Clayworth/Axios

Polk County&#x27;s treasurer is urging car buyers and dealers to title vehicles locally, launching a &quot;Polk Proud&quot; campaign to keep that business in the county.Why it matters: Hundreds of vehicles are being titled in surrounding counties each month, draining thousands in revenue that would otherwise support Polk County services, Treasurer Mary Wells tells Axios.

Vitals

Axios Vitals

Iowa is among the first states reshaping its Medicaid budget ahead of nearly $1 trillion in federal Medicaid cuts, with Gov. Kim Reynolds signing a bill last week to raise taxes on insurers.

Why it matters: The move signals potential ripple effects for coverage, costs and state budgets nationwide.

Catch up quick: The changes stem from a GOP-backed federal overhaul aimed at slowing Medicaid spending growth over the next decade.

They build on the end of pandemic-era protections that had boosted enrollment and federal funding.

Together, they shift more costs to states.

Stunning stat: Iowa expects a nearly $91 million budget shortfall this fiscal year if no action is taken and nearly $168 million in the upcoming fiscal year.

State of play: Iowa's law retroactively raises premium taxes on HMOs — a type of Medicaid plan offered by private companies — from 0.925% to 3.5% between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, 2026.

Zoom in: The state will also use $89 million from its general fund to help address the Medicaid shortfalls, the Iowa Capital Dispatch reports.

What they're saying: Critics warn the tax could raise premiums for Iowans, while Republicans say it's temporary and needed to draw down federal matching dollars, Iowa Public Radio reports.

Zoom out: "Everyone is pissed and everyone is stressed," said Colorado state Rep. Lisa Feret, a Democrat and the lead sponsor of a proposal to tax large employers who have part-time employees enrolled in Medicaid as her state faces a $1.5 billion shortfall.

The bottom line: "This is the start of lots of tough choices around Medicaid policy going forward," said Robin Rudowitz, director of KFF's program on Medicaid and the uninsured.

Iowa among states making early Medicaid choices

States are facing increasing financial pressures.

Illustration of a hand in a business suit with a scalpel cutting a hundred dollar bill

Iowa is among the first states reshaping its Medicaid budget ahead of nearly <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="$1 trillion in federal Medicaid cuts" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/01/state-budgets-medicaid-austerity" data-vars-content-id="bf3bc7b4-d97f-4472-8dfb-734fc2df52bf" data-vars-headline="Iowa among states making early Medicaid choices" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/01/state-budgets-medicaid-austerity" target="_self">$1 trillion in federal Medicaid cuts</a>, with Gov. Kim Reynolds signing a bill last week to raise taxes on insurers.Why it matters: The move signals potential ripple effects for coverage, costs and state budgets nationwide.

Health

Attorneys for Kristin "Krissy" Ramsey are asking a Dallas County judge to lower her $2 million cash bond after she was charged in the 2011 killing of West Des Moines realtor Ashley Okland.

Why it matters: The request highlights growing legal pressure on courts to avoid setting bail so high — even in serious cases — that defendants who can't afford to pay are detained unconstitutionally.

Catch up quick: Ramsey, 53, was indicted this week in a nearly 15-year-old cold case.

Okland, 27, was shot during an open house in West Des Moines.

Ramsey is being held in the Dallas County Jail.

What they're saying: Ramsey's attorneys, Alfredo Parrish and Brandon Brown, filed a motion Thursday arguing the current amount is excessive and unconstitutional, noting that she has been declared indigent and lacks the financial resources to post bond.

Ramsey is a low flight risk with deep Iowa ties, steady employment and no criminal history aside from a 2001 traffic ticket, per the motion.

Being held in jail makes it significantly harder for Ramsey to help prepare her defense, including gathering evidence and working with her legal team, her attorneys argue.

The defense argued the court should lower Ramsey's bond and allow her to be released under strict conditions, including GPS monitoring, a curfew, supervision and passport surrender.

The other side: Prosecutors have not yet publicly responded to the bond request nor have they detailed their evidence.

Zoom in: Thursday's motion offered new details about Ramsey's life that hadn't been widely reported, portraying her as a longtime central Iowa resident with deep family ties — including a husband in Woodward, parents in Johnston and a son attending college in-state.

At the time of Okland's death, Ramsey worked for the builder of the townhome where Okland was shot and most recently was employed with a title and escrow company, the Register reported.

What's next: A judge will decide whether to modify Ramsey's bond.

Defense: $2M bond unconstitutional for suspect in Ashley Okland murder

New details emerge about Kristin "Krissy" Ramsey in new court motion.

Illustration of the scales of justice with a gavel on one side and stacks of cash on the other.

Attorneys for Kristin &quot;Krissy&quot; Ramsey are asking a Dallas County judge to lower her $2 million cash bond <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="after she was charged" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2026/03/17/arrest-made-in-murder-of-iowa-realtor-ashley-okland?utm_term=emshare" data-vars-content-id="c25b73a7-e9a7-4894-b813-83ded4ee7dc3" data-vars-headline="Defense: $2M bond unconstitutional for suspect in Ashley Okland murder" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2026/03/17/arrest-made-in-murder-of-iowa-realtor-ashley-okland?utm_term=emshare" target="_self">after she was charged</a> in the 2011 killing of West Des Moines realtor Ashley Okland.Why it matters: The request highlights growing <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="legal pressure" data-vars-click-url="https://apnews.com/article/politics-illinois-state-government-legal-proceedings-lawsuits-b310c3f68a1abed94fd71a0709d34df2" data-vars-content-id="c25b73a7-e9a7-4894-b813-83ded4ee7dc3" data-vars-headline="Defense: $2M bond unconstitutional for suspect in Ashley Okland murder" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-illinois-state-government-legal-proceedings-lawsuits-b310c3f68a1abed94fd71a0709d34df2" target="_blank">legal pressure</a> on courts to avoid setting bail so high — even in serious cases — that defendants who can&#x27;t afford to pay are detained unconstitutionally.

The Fleur Drive Bridge over the Raccoon River could become a pedestrian bridge as part of an ongoing evaluation by the city of Des Moines.

Catch up quick: The 90-year-old bridge was once a main route between downtown and the airport before the east-west sections of Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway were built about two decades ago.

Now it carries around 6,000 vehicles a day, a decrease of over 80% from the 34,000 that traveled it before the MLK links were finished.

Northbound traffic gets a panoramic view of downtown. Photo: Google Maps

Zoom in: A road reconfiguration near Des Moines Public Schools' Central Campus last year removed the direct route to the bridge from Grand Avenue.

Its southbound lanes from downtown are now accessible only through a two-way section of Locust Street.

State of play: The bridge requires repair or replacement and the City Council approved a nearly $150,000 agreement this month to assess options, including converting it to a pedestrian bridge.

What's next: Construction could begin as early as 2029, with initial estimated costs ranging from $8 million to $14 million, per a city document.

Evaluations of the Fleur Drive Bridge will be documented in a 3D model in the coming months.

Fleur Drive Bridge could become a pedestrian bridge

The bridge is no longer the main route between downtown Des Moines and the airport.

Icy winter bridge scene with a yellow diamond warning sign on the left, guard rails, leafless trees, distant cars with headlights, and an orange "Road Work Ahead" sign on the right.

Southbound lanes of the Fleur Drive Bridge go over the Raccoon River and travel close to Water Works Park.  The George Washington Carver Bridge is in the background.  Photo: Jason Clayworth/Axios