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Microsoft's AI epicenter is an Iowa water hog

Company is told it must "significantly reduce peak water usage" before expanding.

News

How Iowans are helping Ukrainians raise hogs

Raising pigs is a more profitable way of using grain supply.

Dog euthanizations on the rise in Des Moines

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa's dog intakes are also up.

Kum & Go officially sells

Maverik — Adventure's First Stop is now the nation's 11th largest convenience store chain.

Business

A new communal commercial kitchen is opening in West Des Moines

The new commercial shared kitchen opens Friday with an open house.

Food and Drink

Culinary Annex, a new shared <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="commercial kitchen space" data-vars-click-url="https://www.dsmculinary.com/about-us" data-vars-content-id="be649507-b6dd-473d-8ec2-035aa603949f" data-vars-headline="A new communal commercial kitchen is opening in West Des Moines" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.dsmculinary.com/about-us" target="_blank">commercial kitchen space</a>, opens in Valley Junction Friday.Why it matters: Shared kitchen spaces give budding chefs the opportunity to start a business without incurring the costs and risks of purchasing their own space, equipment and licenses.

Inflation wiped out Iowans' wage increases last year

The good news? Inflation is cooling down and more recent numbers are promising.

Despite wage bumps for local workers last year, inflation wiped out any monetary gains for Des Moines households, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new U.S. Census data" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/12/real-incomes-fell-last-year-no-wonder-americans-were-bummed-out" data-vars-content-id="a5281e3d-9e42-4007-83c6-9fb116e5d7f5" data-vars-headline="Inflation wiped out Iowans&#x27; wage increases last year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/12/real-incomes-fell-last-year-no-wonder-americans-were-bummed-out" target="_self">new U.S. Census data</a>.Why it matters: Iowa families feel the pain when they&#x27;re buying groceries or fueling up, though it likely hasn&#x27;t been significant enough to cause major changes in leisure spending, University of Iowa economics professor Anne Villamil tells Axios.

A map showing median household income across the U.S.

How Des Moines airport executive director Kevin Foley starts his day

It's extra busy at the airport as its leaders try to renovate the travel hub.

Des Moines airport executive director Kevin Foley is busier than ever managing a bustling airport that&#x27;s outgrown its 75-year-old infrastructure.Why it matters: Passenger traffic has roared back, showing the need for expansion to accommodate more flights and expedite lines.

Why Des Moines' suburbs are modernizing office spaces

As developers try to fill their vacancies, they're getting creative with amenities.

Developers in the suburbs are modernizing their office buildings to try and attract more tenants.Why it matters: Nearly 80% of the metro&#x27;s new office leases last quarter happened in the western suburbs

an illustration of a person with a briefcase walking in front of a burnt orange background with graph paper overlay

Downtown Des Moines' office vacancies slowly recovering

Vacancies are ticking down in downtown Des Moines' offices.

While downtown office vacancies are showing signs of recovery from pandemic-era losses, it will take creativity by developers to fill larger spaces, says TJ Jacobs of commercial brokerage firm CBRE.Why it matters: Full office spaces bring more foot traffic to surrounding areas, helping nearby retailers and restaurants.

an illustration of a person with a briefcase walking in front of a teal background with graph paper overlay

Future data center projects in West Des Moines will only be considered if Microsoft can implement technology that can &quot;significantly reduce peak water usage,&quot; <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the Associated Press reports" data-vars-click-url="https://apnews.com/article/chatgpt-gpt4-iowa-ai-water-consumption-microsoft-f551fde98083d17a7e8d904f8be822c4" data-vars-content-id="e9dd0b50-d1d0-4074-a352-765c94178cee" data-vars-headline="Microsoft&#x27;s AI epicenter is an Iowa water hog" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://apnews.com/article/chatgpt-gpt4-iowa-ai-water-consumption-microsoft-f551fde98083d17a7e8d904f8be822c4" target="_blank">the Associated Press reports</a>.Why it matters: Microsoft&#x27;s five WDM data centers — the &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="epicenter for advancing AI" data-vars-click-url="https://news.microsoft.com/source/features/ai/west-des-moines-iowa-ai-supercomputer/" data-vars-content-id="e9dd0b50-d1d0-4074-a352-765c94178cee" data-vars-headline="Microsoft&#x27;s AI epicenter is an Iowa water hog" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://news.microsoft.com/source/features/ai/west-des-moines-iowa-ai-supercomputer/" target="_blank">epicenter for advancing AI</a>&quot; — represent more than $5 billion in investments in the last 15 years.

Fixer-uppers are scaring off Des Moines home buyers

We asked local selling experts about fixes worth making.

Real Estate

Des Moines homeowners looking to sell for top-dollar should be thinking: renovations.Why it matters: Homebuyers already hampered by <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="gravity-defying prices" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/17/housing-prices-affordability-rise-fall-2023-goldman-sachs" data-vars-content-id="19802d0e-4a0d-4d56-a0d6-85f75ecb7a94" data-vars-headline="Fixer-uppers are scaring off Des Moines home buyers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/17/housing-prices-affordability-rise-fall-2023-goldman-sachs" target="_self">gravity-defying prices</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="mortgage rates" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/22/mortgage-rates-current" data-vars-content-id="19802d0e-4a0d-4d56-a0d6-85f75ecb7a94" data-vars-headline="Fixer-uppers are scaring off Des Moines home buyers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/22/mortgage-rates-current" target="_self">mortgage rates</a> don&#x27;t want to spring for a place that looks like an HGTV &quot;before&quot; photo. (Unless you&#x27;re actually <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="on" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/PieTownProductions/posts/738354464957983?ref=embed_post" data-vars-content-id="19802d0e-4a0d-4d56-a0d6-85f75ecb7a94" data-vars-headline="Fixer-uppers are scaring off Des Moines home buyers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/PieTownProductions/posts/738354464957983?ref=embed_post" target="_blank">on</a> <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="HGTV" data-vars-click-url="https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/entertainment/television/2023/06/08/hgtv-show-house-hunters-comes-to-central-iowa-with-real-estate-agent-thomas-payne-and-local-couple/70303180007/" data-vars-content-id="19802d0e-4a0d-4d56-a0d6-85f75ecb7a94" data-vars-headline="Fixer-uppers are scaring off Des Moines home buyers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/entertainment/television/2023/06/08/hgtv-show-house-hunters-comes-to-central-iowa-with-real-estate-agent-thomas-payne-and-local-couple/70303180007/" target="_blank">HGTV</a>.)<ul><li>&quot;If the home is ready to go, buyers feel more comfortable biting off the higher payment,&quot; local broker <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Jen Stanbrough" data-vars-click-url="https://jenstanbroughrealestate.com/" data-vars-content-id="19802d0e-4a0d-4d56-a0d6-85f75ecb7a94" data-vars-headline="Fixer-uppers are scaring off Des Moines home buyers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://jenstanbroughrealestate.com/" target="_blank">Jen Stanbrough</a> tells Axios.</li></ul>

Illustration of two hammers forming an "X" shape. 

BLK and Bold is Iowa's fastest-growing company

The Black-owned coffee company has grown over 7000% in three years.

BLK &amp; Bold, a local <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Black-owned coffee company" data-vars-click-url="https://blkandbold.com/" data-vars-content-id="9a753c9b-c30d-4686-a01f-eb4069866b33" data-vars-headline="BLK and Bold is Iowa&#x27;s fastest-growing company" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://blkandbold.com/" target="_blank">Black-owned coffee company</a>, was Iowa&#x27;s fastest-growing private business between 2019-2022 by growing 7,404%, according to Inc. 5000&#x27;s 2023<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" list" data-vars-click-url="https://www.inc.com/inc5000/2023" data-vars-content-id="9a753c9b-c30d-4686-a01f-eb4069866b33" data-vars-headline="BLK and Bold is Iowa&#x27;s fastest-growing company" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.inc.com/inc5000/2023" target="_blank"> list</a>.Why it matters: People don&#x27;t often associate thriving Black-owned businesses with Iowa — especially since the state&#x27;s population is nearly 90% white, co-founder Rod Johnson tells Axios.

Rod Johnson and two cans of BLK and Bold Cold Brew

City assesses bathroom contractor a $78K late penalty

The city hired Graphite despite concerns from several council members.

A $77,500 penalty is being assessed against Graphite, a Des Moines contractor that finished a city park bathroom project more than five months late, according to final payment documents going before the City Council today.Why it matters: It&#x27;s an example of how a 2017 state law can bind a local government to choose contractors based on the lowest bid rather than their track records.

Iowa's sports bet totals drop $200+ million

The inaugural excitement of sports betting is waning.

Sports

Iowans placed $208 million less in sports bets during the fiscal year that ended in June as compared to the previous year, according to a Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) report.Why it matters: The 8% drop — from $2.455M to $2.247M — marks the first fiscal year cooldown since Iowa launched legalized sports gaming in August 2019.

Illustration of a die with different sports balls as the dots. 

Business 🏦