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Get smarter, faster about what’s happening in your backyard with local reporters Jason Clayworth and Linh Ta.

Axios Des Moines Thought Bubble

Axios Des Moines

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.

Here's Theodore of West Des Moines looking especially dapper in his bowtie. (He definitely doesn't work from home.)

Meet Edward the corgi. He may not be royalty, but he's a king in our hearts.

Louie G. is pictured here enjoying a staycation at the Surety Hotel. How could anyone tell this pup to get off the furniture?

Axios Des Moines readers share their cutest dog pics

Here's some adorable local dogs submitted by our fellow Axios Des Moines readers.

Dogs

Life can be a little &quot;ruff&quot; out here, but as you head into the weekend, here&#x27;s some adorable local dogs submitted by our fellow Axios Des Moines readers.

Things to Do

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.

Iowa Democrats lost about 103,000 active registered voters, a 15% loss, since November 2020, according to data from the Iowa Secretary of State's office.

Meanwhile: Active Republican voter registrations slid just 5% — just over 36,000 votes. 

Why it matters: The loss could signal trouble for Democrats come Nov. 8.

By the numbers: Republicans have been able to reverse some of the losses in the last year, gaining just over 20,000 active registrations through Sept. 1. Democrats lost more than 15,000 during that period.

Republicans now have more than 683,000 registered voters. Democrats have 596,000.

Zoom in: The statewide trends are reflected in Polk, Warren and Dallas counties.

Democrats lost just over 19,000 active registered voters combined in those three counties since November 2020 while Republicans lost about 7,600.

What they're saying: Polk County Democrats sent an email to supporters in July calling the data "stomach churning."

They contend that a "Pate purge" is at work and that Democrats are disproportionately affected. That's a reference to an election law revised last year.

It requires Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate to move voters to an inactive status if they didn't participate in the last general election or update registration information.

The bottom line: Registrations are important in all races but could be especially acute in close congressional or statewide races, Dennis Goldford, a political science professor at Drake University told Axios.

U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne's challenge from Republican state Sen. Zach Nunn is one race where registration numbers could have significant influence, he said.

Of note: Voters can check their status or get registered online.

Election-day registration is also available at a person's polling place.

Data: Iowa Secretary of State's Office; Chart: Kavya Beheraj/Axios

Iowa Democratic voter registrations drop 15%

Iowa Democrats lost about 103,000 active registered voters since November 2020.

Illustration of a large shoe about to step on a tiny voting booth.  

Iowa

Iowa Democrats lost about 103,000 active registered voters, a 15% loss, since November 2020,<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" according to data" data-vars-click-url="https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterreg/county.html#2021" data-vars-content-id="9f3b4494-66d1-40de-8d93-92bb778fb8da" data-vars-headline="Iowa Democratic voter registrations drop 15%" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterreg/county.html#2021" target="_blank"> according to data</a> from the Iowa Secretary of State&#x27;s office.<ul><li>Meanwhile: Active Republican voter registrations slid just 5% — just over 36,000 votes. </li></ul>

Politics

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.

Yes, and: The city council is also set to approve spending nearly $8 million on the first of a five-phase plan to upgrade the park. Phase 1 includes clubhouse improvements and mechanical upgrades.

That's more than $2 million above last month's estimate.

DBH, which took ownership of the Cubs last year, will also make a nearly $1.3 million contribution towards the first phase.

Why it matters: The extension comes at a time when millions of dollars in improvements are necessary for the park to remain in compliance with new Minor League Baseball (MiLB) facility requirements.

Catch up fast: Principal Park opened in 1992 and is among the oldest Triple-A stadiums in the nation.

City leaders have long viewed the facility as an amenity to help generate business and tourism.

The lease amount has not changed since the park opened in 1992.

Reality check: Annual lease payments to DSM traditionally represent only a fraction of the investment made by owners, Michael Gartner — the Cubs' previous owner of more than 20 years — told Axios Thursday.

He estimates the team made an annual average of $500,000 in facility improvements that were outside of the lease requirements when he was owner.

DBH's contribution required under the proposed lease is just the beginning of the group's longer-term investments, Sam Bernabe, the team's general manager, told Axios Thursday.

What's next: The costs, timelines and scope of later phases will largely depend on city budget decisions and fundraising, Bernabe said.

A parking garage, shopping or restaurants are ideas in the park's master plan.

Iowa Cubs owner to extend $16K lease for Des Moines' Principal Park

It's the equivalent of about $1.40 a seat for the 11,500-capacity city-owned stadium.

“The Seam" is a sculpture at Principal Park and the answer to this week's "Where is Jason" question. Axios DSM reader Jason Kohles of Johnston won yesterday's contest. Photo: Jason Clayworth/Axios

Baseball

Principal Park&#x27;s $16,000 annual lease to Iowa Cubs owner Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH) will be extended under <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="an agreement" data-vars-click-url="https://councildocs.dsm.city/communications/2022/22-398.pdf" data-vars-content-id="c3757d21-2e1c-4a60-87b3-248208d9d8be" data-vars-headline="Iowa Cubs owner to extend $16K lease for Des Moines&#x27; Principal Park" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://councildocs.dsm.city/communications/2022/22-398.pdf" target="_blank">an agreement</a> that goes before the Des Moines City Council Monday.<ul><li>It&#x27;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.</li></ul>

Sports

News

A second mural at Oakridge Neighborhood is being painted this week in memory of Yore Jieng, a teenager and resident killed by a stray bullet in October of 2016 whose death remains unsolved.

Catch up quick: Jieng, 14, was riding in a car with his sister near Keosauqua Way and 12th Street in Des Moines when he was shot in the head. He died about a week later.

Police still have no suspects and have said Jieng did nothing to provoke the violence.

State of play: Jieng's parents are Sudanese refugees who moved to Des Moines shortly before he was born. He lived with his mom and six siblings in the neighborhood.

What's happening: Artist Jordan Weber first memorialized Jieng last year in a mural on Oakridge's basketball court.

This one is an evolution of the first and depicts foliage from the home countries of many of Oakridge's residents — where refugees from at least 26 countries live.

Go see it: It's being painted across an entire side of one of the neighborhood's most visible apartment buildings — facing Blank Children's Hospital, where he died.

Building 301, along Center Street, between 14th and 15th streets.

Oakridge's basketball court and the Lakers were some of Yore Jieng's favorite things. Photo courtesy of Oakridge Neighborhood

Second mural in Des Moines dedicated to teen killed by stray bullet

Jieng, 14, was riding in a car with his sister near Keosauqua Way and 12th Street when he was shot in the head.

Muralist Jill Wells started painting Oakridge's new mural Wednesday. Photo: Jason Clayworth/Axios

Gun violence

A second mural at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Oakridge Neighborhood" data-vars-click-url="https://oakridgeneighborhood.org/" data-vars-content-id="d6a6af5b-c3d9-4ec2-86b5-6a4eb90cfa12" data-vars-headline="Second mural in Des Moines dedicated to teen killed by stray bullet" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://oakridgeneighborhood.org/" target="_blank">Oakridge Neighborhood</a> is being painted this week in memory of Yore Jieng, a teenager and resident killed by a stray bullet in October of 2016 whose death <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="remains unsolved" data-vars-click-url="https://iowacoldcases.org/case-summaries/yore-jieng/" data-vars-content-id="d6a6af5b-c3d9-4ec2-86b5-6a4eb90cfa12" data-vars-headline="Second mural in Des Moines dedicated to teen killed by stray bullet" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://iowacoldcases.org/case-summaries/yore-jieng/" target="_blank">remains unsolved</a>.Catch up quick: Jieng, 14, was riding in a car with his sister near Keosauqua Way and 12th Street in Des Moines when he was shot in the head. He died about a week later.

Iowa now has more than 100 craft breweries.

That's up from 27 since 2011, according to 2021 data compiled by the Colorado-based Brewers Association

Why it matters: The economic impact of the small, independent breweries in Iowa hit more than $1 billion last year, according to the association's estimates.

The state of beer: Toppling Goliath dominated Iowa's craft beer scene.

Yes, but: Big Grove sported the biggest percentage of growth compared to the prior year.

Data: Brewers Association; Table: Sara Wise/Axios

The big picture: The national craft beer industry grew by 8% in 2021, while the overall market inched up 1%.

Craft brews now make up more than a quarter of the overall $100 billion beer market.

Zoom in: Iowans on average just under two gallons of craft brew a year, according to the association.

Of note: The analysis only includes small, independent breweries that allowed their data to be published.

What's next: This year's projected growth is between 4-5%, according to Bart Watson the association's chief economist, writes Axios Denver's John Frank.

Inflation is hurting the industry as is the ongoing carbon dioxide crisis.

Iowa's craft brews crack $1 billion in economic impact

Animated illustration of four different kinds of beers.

Iowa now has more than 100 craft breweries.<ul><li>That&#x27;s up from 27 since 2011, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2021 data" data-vars-click-url="https://www.brewersassociation.org/statistics-and-data/state-craft-beer-stats/" data-vars-content-id="ef4f228c-4ed1-4064-8161-b83ce4af9714" data-vars-headline="Iowa&#x27;s craft brews crack $1 billion in economic impact" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.brewersassociation.org/statistics-and-data/state-craft-beer-stats/" target="_blank">2021 data</a> compiled by the Colorado-based Brewers Association</li></ul>

Jason Clayworth

Featured stories

Iowa Cubs owner to extend $16K lease for Des Moines' Principal Park

Axios Des Moines readers share their cutest dog pics

Iowa's craft brews crack $1 billion in economic impact

Second mural in Des Moines dedicated to teen killed by stray bullet

Iowa Democratic voter registrations drop 15%