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

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Meals on Wheels launches hydroponics farming at new Des Moines campus

It includes a public restaurant and a hydroponic garden.

News

Iowa's gray foxes are disappearing — and researchers don't know why

The 10-pound mammals play an important role in Iowa's ecosphere.

The Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner shares his dating style and hair tips

The star of The Golden Bachelor gives us his full hair regimen.

Culture

MidAmerican Energy to build 9-acre downtown park

Two Rivers Park will be adjacent to the Market District.

Gerry Turner, the 72-year-old star of &quot;The Golden Bachelor,&quot; will decide who he wants to spend the rest of his life with in the series&#x27; <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="upcoming finale" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCPIqmTEl8Q&amp;ab_channel=BachelorNationonABC" data-vars-content-id="cf3778a3-ab61-4716-8d6e-0a3175033e1c" data-vars-headline="The Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner shares his dating style and hair tips" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCPIqmTEl8Q&amp;ab_channel=BachelorNationonABC" target="_blank">upcoming finale</a> on Nov. 30.Why it matters: The prime-time television show features contestants in their 60s and 70s, helping normalize <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="dating for older adults" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2023/09/28/gerry-turner-golden-bachelor-iowa" data-vars-content-id="cf3778a3-ab61-4716-8d6e-0a3175033e1c" data-vars-headline="The Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner shares his dating style and hair tips" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2023/09/28/gerry-turner-golden-bachelor-iowa" target="_self">dating for older adults</a>.

Des Moines school adds 3D mural for those with visual impairments

The new mural model helps include all students in the art experience.

The Harkin Institute is unveiling a special 3D mural model at King Elementary in Des Moines Monday.Why it matters: The piece will help people with visual impairments experience an existing mural through touch and Braille.<ul><li>It is meant to heighten awareness of disabilities, too.</li></ul>

A 3D printed mural with a hand over it showing braille

Local TikTok creator is Des Moines' unofficial cheerleader

Sarah Booz recently moved to DSM from New York City.

Meet Sarah Booz — <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a TikTok creator" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahbooz?lang=en" data-vars-content-id="1a7cc533-34d0-4865-961e-341d00e59f38" data-vars-headline="Local TikTok creator is Des Moines&#x27; unofficial cheerleader" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahbooz?lang=en" target="_blank">a TikTok creator</a> who shares her favorite places around Des Moines while wearing funky earrings and showing off her pet bird, Porkchop.Why it matters: The New York City transplant is helping us get over our Midwest timidness by openly and authentically talking about what makes Des Moines great.

Sarah Booz in front of Iowa State Fair mural

Des Moines' not boring: Wander Women group

The group guides women on trips and offering classes on outdoors skills.

Things to Do

Go on a backpacking trip, hike through fall foliage or learn how to make campfire cocktails through <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Wander Women" data-vars-click-url="https://wanderwomenmidwest.com/" data-vars-content-id="6aa8f85d-752b-4e95-a279-02a52c7fe436" data-vars-headline="Des Moines&#x27; not boring: Wander Women group" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://wanderwomenmidwest.com/" target="_blank">Wander Women</a>.Why it matters: The local outdoor business offers women and non-binary people a less intimidating way of discovering Iowa&#x27;s outdoor scene while learning new skills, co-owner Kerri Sorrell tells Axios.

New Des Moines art exhibit invites you to touch the collection

"Underneath Everything" is on display at the Des Moines Art Center through Sept. 10.

Go ahead — touch this art.What&#x27;s happening: The Des Moines Art Center is celebrating its 75th anniversary with a free exhibition, &quot;Underneath Everything,&quot; which features ceramics.

Former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad helps pay for a mausoleum makeover

A public unveiling is set for next month.

Historic preservationists are painting a new face on the remains of a local mausoleum.Why it matters: It replicates the roughly 150-year-old monument&#x27;s historic look before its crumbling entrance was barricaded with a concrete slab.

Islamic Center of Des Moines to open new cemetery

The significant move will help ease financial costs for grieving families.

The Islamic Center of Des Moines is preparing to acquire its own cemetery for the first time — a significant move that will help them follow Muslim traditions and ease financial costs for grieving families.Why it matters: Muslims follow a specific set of traditions for funerals, including washing bodies after death and conducting burials as quickly as possible.

Check out this Altoona resident's "Barbie vault"

A walk-in closet has become a display case for a 300+ Barbie collection.

&quot;Barbie&quot; hits <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="some metro theaters" data-vars-click-url="https://www.fridleytheatres.com/movie/Waukee-ThePalmsTheatres/Barbie#" data-vars-content-id="1626dea0-6533-4232-8669-03c1e4f87185" data-vars-headline="Check out this Altoona resident&#x27;s &quot;Barbie vault&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.fridleytheatres.com/movie/Waukee-ThePalmsTheatres/Barbie#" target="_blank">some metro theaters</a> today and Amanda Kieler of Altoona is ready.Zoom in: Kieler has her own &quot;Barbie vault&quot; — a large walk-in closet of more than 300 dolls that she&#x27;s collected since childhood.

George Santos introduces expulsion resolution in potential final act in Congress

The House is slated to vote to expel Santos on Friday.

Politics & Policy

Ahead of a vote that could make him the first House lawmaker to be expelled in more than 20 years, Rep. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="George Santos" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/28/george-santos-expulsion-vote-republicans-majority" data-vars-content-id="c7450d99-da7b-4552-a983-4be840a7ed9c" data-vars-headline="George Santos introduces expulsion resolution in potential final act in Congress" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/28/george-santos-expulsion-vote-republicans-majority" target="_self">George Santos</a> (R-N.Y.) is introducing an expulsion resolution on Thursday targeting a House lawmaker from his own state. Why it matters: Santos — who faces an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="uphill battle in a vote" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/28/republicans-george-santos-resign-expulsion" data-vars-content-id="c7450d99-da7b-4552-a983-4be840a7ed9c" data-vars-headline="George Santos introduces expulsion resolution in potential final act in Congress" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/28/republicans-george-santos-resign-expulsion" target="_self">uphill battle in a vote</a> to remove him from office following a scathing House Ethics report — is seeking an expulsion vote on Rep. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Jamaal Bowman" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/22/house-ethics-jamaal-bowman-fire-alarm" data-vars-content-id="c7450d99-da7b-4552-a983-4be840a7ed9c" data-vars-headline="George Santos introduces expulsion resolution in potential final act in Congress" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/22/house-ethics-jamaal-bowman-fire-alarm" target="_self">Jamaal Bowman</a> (D-N.Y.), who pulled a fire alarm in one of the House office buildings.

George Santos expulsion spurs rare bipartisanship among House lawmakers

Rep. Robert Garcia encouraged fellow Democrats to support Republicans' expulsion measure.

House Democrats and Republicans finally have something they agree on: booting Rep. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="George Santos" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/30/george-santos-jamaal-bowman-expulsion-resolution" data-vars-content-id="4eec0a24-5338-46c4-8b6e-5526cda73c0f" data-vars-headline="George Santos expulsion spurs rare bipartisanship among House lawmakers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/30/george-santos-jamaal-bowman-expulsion-resolution" target="_self">George Santos</a> (R-N.Y.) from Congress.Driving the news: In an email sent to Democratic congressional offices on Thursday, Rep. Robert Garcia&#x27;s (D-Calif.) office advocated for Republicans&#x27; resolution to expel the embattled Long Islander.

GOP speculation mounts that McCarthy will exit Congress early

Multiple GOP lawmakers expect former House Speaker <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Kevin McCarthy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/12/mccarthy-gop-elections-2024" data-vars-content-id="dbdacc28-b2ed-40c2-a4cb-3bf4792a4d9b" data-vars-headline="GOP speculation mounts that McCarthy will exit Congress early" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/12/mccarthy-gop-elections-2024" target="_self">Kevin McCarthy</a> (R-Calif.) to step down from his seat before the end of the year, Axios has learned.Why it matters: The potential exit of McCarthy — who privately told donors he is looking to &quot;get the hell out,&quot; according to a source familiar with the conversation — could leave the House GOP with an even narrower majority.

Trump unleashes grievances, warnings in wild 24 hours on Truth Social

Trump warned that his indictments have opened up a "very big and dangerous Pandora's Box."

Former President Trump has spent the last 24 hours on Truth Social unleashing a torrent of grievances, vengeful promises and links to online conspiracy theories about his political rivals.Why it matters: Trump&#x27;s online rhetoric has <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="frequently dipped into violent extremism" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/10/04/trumps-words-turn-violent-pressure-builds" data-vars-content-id="4ce9173c-4439-425e-8986-ec54c92037e6" data-vars-headline="Trump unleashes grievances, warnings in wild 24 hours on Truth Social" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/10/04/trumps-words-turn-violent-pressure-builds" target="_self">frequently dipped into violent extremism</a> since he left office, escalating as his legal troubles have mounted. Public fatigue and the pro-Trump echo chamber created by Truth Social have at times softened the shock value of the GOP front-runner&#x27;s daily musings.

Rep. George Santos expelled from Congress in historic vote

Santos is the first Republican to be expelled from the House.

The House on Friday voted to expel Rep. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="George Santos" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/12/19/george-santos-republican-congress-biography" data-vars-content-id="235bb126-9767-4b36-a5c3-4560ae03474e" data-vars-headline="Rep. George Santos expelled from Congress in historic vote" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/12/19/george-santos-republican-congress-biography" target="_self">George Santos</a> (R-N.Y.) over his many fabrications on the 2022 campaign trail and his two federal indictments.Why it matters: The vote makes Santos just the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sixth lawmaker" data-vars-click-url="https://history.house.gov/Institution/Discipline/Expulsion-Censure-Reprimand/" data-vars-content-id="235bb126-9767-4b36-a5c3-4560ae03474e" data-vars-headline="Rep. George Santos expelled from Congress in historic vote" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://history.house.gov/Institution/Discipline/Expulsion-Censure-Reprimand/" target="_blank">sixth lawmaker</a> – and first Republican – to be expelled from the House in U.S. history.