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Here's what Rod Stewart's cancellation cost the Iowa State Fair

The 81-year-old rocker missed out on his $1 million performance fee.

News

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Rod Stewart&#x27;s canceled" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2026/08/11/rod-stewart-cancels-iowa-state-fair-show" data-vars-content-id="733ad709-bfbf-40c2-b5af-40d88db12b99" data-vars-headline="Here&#x27;s what Rod Stewart&#x27;s cancellation cost the Iowa State Fair" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2026/08/11/rod-stewart-cancels-iowa-state-fair-show" target="_self">Rod Stewart&#x27;s canceled</a> Iowa State Fair concert triggered nearly $950,000 in ticket refunds, but the fair avoided a major financial hit because it never paid his $1 million performance fee.Why it matters: Stewart&#x27;s no-show left money and attendance on the table, even as the fair still broke records.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources ending Iowa Outdoors

The long-running outdoors magazine is ending after this year.

Iowa Outdoors, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources&#x27; long-running magazine, is coming to an end this year.Why it matters: The decades-old publication highlighted everything special about Iowa&#x27;s wildlife and outdoors, from unique animal species to hidden treasures and histories of our state parks.

Iowa's Trump tariff tab hits $1.7 billion

The tariff burden equals about $1,276 per Iowa household.

Iowa importers have paid an estimated <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="$1.7 billion in tariffs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/27/trumps-tariffs-hardest-hit-states" data-vars-content-id="dcf344ff-ca09-4268-8fa4-5e227ffb17b8" data-vars-headline="Iowa&#x27;s Trump tariff tab hits $1.7 billion" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/27/trumps-tariffs-hardest-hit-states" target="_self">$1.7 billion in tariffs</a> imposed by President Trump from January 2025 through June of this year.Why it matters: The tariff bill is directly hitting Iowa businesses, especially manufacturers that rely on imported inputs.

Things to do this extended weekend: Sept. 4-7

The Des Moines Symphony plays for free for two nights at Water Works Park.

Things to Do

Here&#x27;s what to do during the long weekend.

This Ankeny mom is opening a giant play cafe for kids, and coffee for adults

Whimsy & Wonder Play Cafe will cater to all kids and parents alike.

Business

An Ankeny mom is opening an inclusive, kid-friendly cafe where their parents can connect (or disconnect) without helicoptering their kids.Why it matters: Megan Holtz was inspired to create a fun space for her 8-year-old son, Vinny, who has sensory processing disorder. Now she&#x27;s opening <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Whimsy &amp; Wonder Play Cafe" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/whimsyandwonderplaycafe/" data-vars-content-id="5511c029-c47f-40ce-b2ae-945f05f978c3" data-vars-headline="This Ankeny mom is opening a giant play cafe for kids, and coffee for adults" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/whimsyandwonderplaycafe/" target="_blank">Whimsy &amp; Wonder Play Cafe</a> this fall, along with her husband, Mitch.

Caring Hands plans accessible community garden

The raised garden beds could help provide education for people of all abilities.

From the parking lot to the garden beds, a local nonprofit wants to build a community garden in Altoona that people of all abilities can dig into.The big picture: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Caring Hands" data-vars-click-url="https://caringhandsiowa.org/" data-vars-content-id="e4aef3d9-4266-43d9-978a-e14065065cf2" data-vars-headline="Caring Hands plans accessible community garden" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://caringhandsiowa.org/" target="_blank">Caring Hands</a> wants to build a $1 million ADA-accessible community garden outside its outreach center in Altoona, chief development officer Amanda Eggers tells Axios.

A giant indoor slide park is opening in Clive

The giant slide at the Iowa State Fair has some competition: A 33,000-square-foot indoor park with 13 slides is opening Friday in Clive.Driving the news: Two Altoona families are opening <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Slick City Action Park" data-vars-click-url="https://slickcity.com/ia-west-des-moines/?gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=23894701419&amp;gbraid=0AAAAA_SKzOmpB-rYzFOWqvWn6hL9joLXD&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwguLSBhDLARIsAH-yPrE081TVBvv51BFdmMS71GEZ8dvpGlOZSXX2i-0BuoxzU1kl5lqGdwEaAmGPEALw_wcB" data-vars-content-id="0135a57d-1211-4706-989a-7696419fc980" data-vars-headline="A giant indoor slide park is opening in Clive" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://slickcity.com/ia-west-des-moines/?gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=23894701419&amp;gbraid=0AAAAA_SKzOmpB-rYzFOWqvWn6hL9joLXD&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwguLSBhDLARIsAH-yPrE081TVBvv51BFdmMS71GEZ8dvpGlOZSXX2i-0BuoxzU1kl5lqGdwEaAmGPEALw_wcB" target="_blank">Slick City Action Park</a>, a Texas-based chain, at 9999 University Ave., near Valley West Mall, in the former Joann Fabrics.

West Des Moines considers denser, more walkable neighborhoods

West Des Moines is reexamining its zoning code for the first time in 30 years.

West Des Moines is considering a new zoning district that would let developers build denser, more affordable neighborhoods.Why it matters: Suburbs are known for their wide sprawl and huge backyards, but the new &quot;blended neighborhood&quot; district could create more entry-level homes in walkable neighborhoods.

Development grows fast in Cumming

Development grows fast in Cumming as new coffee shop, apartments open

Development

Most suburban growth around Des Moines follows the familiar pattern of large apartment complexes and sprawling single-family subdivisions, but <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Middlebrook" data-vars-click-url="https://middlebrookfarm.com/live-in-the-agrihood" data-vars-content-id="275fcfe2-fd40-4526-b47d-6f3be92d31d0" data-vars-headline="Development grows fast in Cumming" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://middlebrookfarm.com/live-in-the-agrihood" target="_blank">Middlebrook</a>, an &quot;agrihood&quot; that is being constructed in Cumming, is modeled on Iowa&#x27;s walkable small towns.The big picture: The 800-acre agrihood by Diligent Development will include a town center, mixed housing types, local restaurants, outdoor recreation, farms and a community garden, says Tim Portzen, manager at Diligent.

Two of Des Moines' oldest and vacant buildings could get new life

Developers are exploring housing and storefronts near B&B Grocery.

Redevelopment of two of Des Moines&#x27; oldest commercial buildings, located across the street from B&amp;B Grocery in the Columbus Park neighborhood, could begin as early as next year.Why it matters: The project would convert long-vacant, fire-damaged buildings into housing and storefronts while preserving part of the neighborhood&#x27;s pre-Des Moines identity as the independent town of Sevastopol.

Polk County could build affordable housing at churches and strip malls

A new report identifies potential available land that could be home to more entry-level homes.

A new report from the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Polk County Housing Trust Fund" data-vars-click-url="https://www.pchtf.org/_files/ugd/ba4e6e_587fb86f1e2f4853886535211fde087c.pdf" data-vars-content-id="fae23384-3f6f-4523-b869-4581f7bfff13" data-vars-headline="Polk County could build affordable housing at churches and strip malls" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.pchtf.org/_files/ugd/ba4e6e_587fb86f1e2f4853886535211fde087c.pdf" target="_blank">Polk County Housing Trust Fund</a> identifies hundreds of underused properties across the metro, from church parking lots to vacant office parks, as potential sites for affordable &quot;missing middle&quot; housing.Why it matters: The Des Moines metro is one of the fastest growing in the Midwest, but our housing construction is stuck at two extremes: single-family homes and large apartment complexes.

Thrasher's Hardware building is up for sale

The east side building is available for purchase.

An east side building that was once home to the iconic Thrasher&#x27;s Hardware store is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="up for sale" data-vars-click-url="https://www.crexi.com/properties/2349537/iowa-3001-e-14th-sthttps:" data-vars-content-id="1188daf2-d8e3-453d-beeb-fb50f246c5eb" data-vars-headline="Thrasher&#x27;s Hardware building is up for sale" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.crexi.com/properties/2349537/iowa-3001-e-14th-sthttps:" target="_blank">up for sale</a>.Why it matters: 3001 East 14th St. hasn&#x27;t seen much use in recent years, but now that it&#x27;s up for sale, there are interested buyers who want to bring it back to life, says Matt Connolly, a commercial broker with Iowa Realty Commercial.

Valley West corridor makeover begins in West Des Moines

West Des Moines is beginning a long-term redevelopment of the University Avenue and Valley West Mall area.

West Des Moines officials are reimagining the aging Valley West Mall area as a denser, more walkable district, starting with a block near Valley West Drive and Westown Parkway.Why it matters: The corridor still draws a steady number of visitors, and decisions made now could shape how it evolves over the next 10 to 20 years.

Kwik Star plans new West Des Moines location

The new 9,000-square-foot store would open off Valley West Drive.

Kwik Star plans to build a new convenience store at Westown Parkway and Valley West Drive <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="at the former Iowa Realty site" data-vars-click-url="https://www.loopnet.com/property/3501-westown-pky-west-des-moines-ia-50266/19153-32004882602000/" data-vars-content-id="dbfa634e-1367-4b50-aefe-b50520b4d136" data-vars-headline="Kwik Star plans new West Des Moines location" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.loopnet.com/property/3501-westown-pky-west-des-moines-ia-50266/19153-32004882602000/" target="_blank">at the former Iowa Realty site</a>, according to West Des Moines city officials.State of play: The company has proposed demolishing the existing building and constructing a 9,100-square-foot convenience store with eight gas pumps at the northwest corner of the intersection.

Development 🏗️

This Ankeny mom is opening a giant play cafe for kids, and coffee for adults

Caring Hands plans accessible community garden

A giant indoor slide park is opening in Clive

West Des Moines considers denser, more walkable neighborhoods

Development grows fast in Cumming