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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.

Des Moines' most unique dinner spot is a secret

FlashDine DSM is an al fresco dinig event, where the location is secret until the day of.

Things to Do

One of Des Moines&#x27; most unique dining events is happening Labor Day weekend, but the kicker is — no one knows where until the day of.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="FlashDine DSM" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/events/27698702549790825" data-vars-content-id="b98f745b-d625-4aae-af86-23a8fd234985" data-vars-headline="Des Moines&#x27; most unique dinner spot is a secret" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/events/27698702549790825" target="_blank">FlashDine DSM</a> encourages people to be creative and share in a communal (and a little absurd) dining experience with one another.

Des Moines ER stays can run hours longer than Iowa average

Complex cases and growing demand are testing Des Moines emergency rooms.

ER stays at Des Moines-area hospital systems were roughly one to two hours longer than Iowa&#x27;s statewide median, according to new federal data <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="analyzed by Axios" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/25/americans-er-wait-times-data" data-vars-content-id="dc45490a-691a-450d-8dac-1756cefc9b4c" data-vars-headline="Des Moines ER stays can run hours longer than Iowa average" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/25/americans-er-wait-times-data" target="_self">analyzed by Axios</a>.Why it matters: The data highlights local hospital bottlenecks despite Iowa having some of the nation&#x27;s shortest emergency stays.

Iowa grocery prices face new pressure

War, weather and farm costs could make your next grocery run pricier.

Iowan grocery shoppers could soon feel a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="broader price squeeze" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/30/grocery-inflation-prices-war-diesel" data-vars-content-id="df387a4e-aa3f-459c-b6b2-4612588dc4bc" data-vars-headline="Iowa grocery prices face new pressure" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/30/grocery-inflation-prices-war-diesel" target="_self">broader price squeeze</a> as war, weather and rising farm costs push up food production and transportation costs.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Midwest grocery prices" data-vars-click-url="https://www.bls.gov/regions/mountain-plains/news-release/consumerpriceindex_midwest.htm" data-vars-content-id="df387a4e-aa3f-459c-b6b2-4612588dc4bc" data-vars-headline="Iowa grocery prices face new pressure" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bls.gov/regions/mountain-plains/news-release/consumerpriceindex_midwest.htm" target="_blank">Midwest grocery prices</a> were already 2.2% higher in July than a year earlier, and analysts warn global food inflation could accelerate further.

The Lobe Rangers: These farmers are taking on Iowa's water problem

The group rejects partisan labels and headlines a Des Moines event Monday.

Three northern Iowa farmers are challenging their industry to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="take greater responsibility" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2025/09/29/bloomberg-big-agriculture-iowa-farm-bureau" data-vars-content-id="cf36a5a3-00cf-4e70-a2bf-6f3da0cb985e" data-vars-headline="The Lobe Rangers: These farmers are taking on Iowa&#x27;s water problem" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2025/09/29/bloomberg-big-agriculture-iowa-farm-bureau" target="_self">take greater responsibility</a> for the state&#x27;s water-quality problems — and say that meaningful progress will require regulation.Why it matters: This challenges major farm groups&#x27; and state leaders&#x27; longstanding preferences for voluntary conservation.<ul><li>It also adds insider pressure for a tougher approach to water pollution.</li></ul>

Water Cooler Talk: Who is producing the most nitrates?

Synthetic fertilizer is a major driver behind our rivers' nitrate pollution.

Hello! Welcome to our Water Cooler Talk series, where we answer your questions about our area&#x27;s water quality concerns.Driving the news: A question we got from multiple people:

Iowa group wants solar panels for apartment dwellers and renters

Solar customers' utility companies would give them bill credits based on how much electricity their share produces.

More Iowans could get access to solar energy if the state Legislature expands access to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="community solar" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2017/12/15/apartment-dwellers-and-renters-can-still-get-solar-panels-1513300317" data-vars-content-id="02ec96ee-9f3d-4fa5-b7b3-45a3f4ee7c77" data-vars-headline="Iowa group wants solar panels for apartment dwellers and renters" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2017/12/15/apartment-dwellers-and-renters-can-still-get-solar-panels-1513300317" target="_self">community solar</a> — a concept that allows people to buy a share of a solar panel project.Why it matters: Community solar could give renters and apartment dwellers who can&#x27;t install rooftop panels another way to benefit from solar energy.

Why Ottumwa has avoided water restrictions

Though Ottumwa also draws water from the Des Moines river, the SE Iowa town has avoided watering bans.

Hi! Welcome to our &quot;Water Cooler Talk&quot; series, where we answer your water quality questions.A Des Moines resident asks: &quot;Is CIWW/the Des Moines metro the only utility-serviced region that is going on restrictions due to high nitrate levels?&quot;<ul><li>&quot;I believe Ottumwa pulls its water from the Des Moines River, too. Are they seeing the same nitrate levels as Des Moines/CIWW? If so, why are they not placing restrictions on users? If they are not, what&#x27;s happening downstream to make Ottumwa better off than Des Moines?&quot;</li></ul>Answer: Ottumwa&#x27;s raw water has averaged slightly fewer nitrates this year than Des Moines&#x27;, thanks in part to geography.<ul><li>The Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, Des Moines&#x27; main sources, converge downtown, and then flow into Lake Red Rock before reaching Ottumwa, which is 90 minutes southeast of the capital city, Ottumwa Water Works general manager Tim Albert tells Axios.</li><li>That reservoir acts like a buffer, smoothing out nitrate spikes rather than passing them straight through.</li><li>Ottumwa is also farther downstream, diluting the water from the higher nitrate sources in northwest Iowa, says Michael Schmidt of the Iowa Environmental Council.</li></ul>By the numbers: Ottumwa&#x27;s river water has averaged around 10 mg/L nitrate this year, Albert says. The average level coming out to customers has been 7.83 mg/L. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The EPA&#x27;s maximum allowable level" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2025/07/30/nitrate-risk-iowa-drinking-water" data-vars-content-id="95b63208-067f-4dd9-9508-a4813f958ad9" data-vars-headline="Why Ottumwa has avoided water restrictions" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2025/07/30/nitrate-risk-iowa-drinking-water" target="_self">The EPA&#x27;s maximum allowable level</a> for drinking water is 10 mg/L.<ul><li>The average source water levels this year for the Raccoon River are 13.27 mg/l, and Des Moines River is 10.75 mg/L, per <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Central Iowa Water Works" data-vars-click-url="https://www.dmww.com/news_detail_T37_R407.php" data-vars-content-id="95b63208-067f-4dd9-9508-a4813f958ad9" data-vars-headline="Why Ottumwa has avoided water restrictions" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.dmww.com/news_detail_T37_R407.php" target="_blank">Central Iowa Water Works</a>.</li></ul>Plus: Albert says that municipality runs completely differently — Ottumwa has no nitrate removal facility. Instead, it blends river water with a separate, nearly nitrate-free supply from old sand mining pits west of the city.<ul><li>The city&#x27;s treatment plant was also built in the 1960s, when leaders expected much bigger population growth that never happened.</li><li>That left Ottumwa with more capacity than it needs. The 12-million-gallon-a-day plant peaked at just 7.6 million gallons on its busiest day in 2025.</li><li>Most of Ottumwa&#x27;s water use goes to industry, not residents, which also helps ease the irrigation pressure.</li></ul>Yes, but: Ottumwa isn&#x27;t immune to nitrate problems, Albert says. He would like the state to help pay for newer filtration technology, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="similar to the $25 million Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds" data-vars-click-url="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2026/05/01/gov-kim-reynolds-introduces-farm-to-faucet-water-quality-package/" data-vars-content-id="95b63208-067f-4dd9-9508-a4813f958ad9" data-vars-headline="Why Ottumwa has avoided water restrictions" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2026/05/01/gov-kim-reynolds-introduces-farm-to-faucet-water-quality-package/" target="_blank">similar to the $25 million Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds</a> gave to improve Central Iowa Water Works&#x27; filtration system.Editor&#x27;s note: This story has been corrected to show Ottumwa is southeast (not southwest) of Des Moines.

Plug-in solar gets Iowa push

Without regulatory changes, utilities could require customers to unplug them.

Business

A Des Moines lawmaker is pushing to allow Iowans to use plug-in solar kits — devices that connect to standard home outlets and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="offset electricity use" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2026/01/07/urbandale-solar-panel-saves-money" data-vars-content-id="28bc1f13-4624-4102-acd4-8b5ea4c76f44" data-vars-headline="Plug-in solar gets Iowa push" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2026/01/07/urbandale-solar-panel-saves-money" target="_self">offset electricity use</a>.Why it matters: The systems could offer a cheaper, more practical solar option, Rep. Sean Bagniewski (D-Des Moines) tells Axios.

A new floating art piece also captures nitrates in Iowa water

The artwork aims to highlight Iowa's water quality concerns while combining art and science to provide a solution.

Environment

Step aside, grandma — a new public art piece at Wilson&#x27;s Orchard doubles as a quilt and a water filter that can clean up nitrates.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;It&#x27;s in the Water&quot;" data-vars-click-url="https://declarations.art/news-nitrate-cleaning-quilt/" data-vars-content-id="89b8c192-d706-4f9b-a444-7b1df9288539" data-vars-headline="A new floating art piece also captures nitrates in Iowa water" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://declarations.art/news-nitrate-cleaning-quilt/" target="_blank">&quot;It&#x27;s in the Water&quot;</a> aims to highlight Iowa&#x27;s water quality concerns, while combining art and science to help provide a solution.

WDM Water Works moves to protect lakes from pollution

The water utility wants to add protections to lakes on the south side of town.

West Des Moines Water Works (WDMWW) wants to protect four lakes as drinking water sources before industrial development moves farther into the area and potentially threatens the supply.Why it matters: Water from <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Maffitt Reservoir" data-vars-click-url="https://www.dmww.com/parks___events/maffitt_reservoir.php" data-vars-content-id="5550d413-7a43-42d9-8a09-5cbd61b3571f" data-vars-headline="WDM Water Works moves to protect lakes from pollution" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.dmww.com/parks___events/maffitt_reservoir.php" target="_blank">Maffitt Reservoir</a> and Crystal Lake already helps offset high nitrate levels in the Raccoon River and serves as drought backup.

I live in Iowa. Which water filter should I buy?

A reverse osmosis system is the most practical system to remove nitrates at home.

Welcome to our new series, Water Cooler Talk, where we answer your water quality and food questions.<ul><li>We got several questions last week about buying a reverse osmosis (RO) water filtration system, so let&#x27;s dive in.</li></ul>

Iowa GOP nominee pulls off upset after critiquing "big ag"

Zach Lahn, a MAHA-backed candidate, criticized big ag in Iowa.

Zach Lahn won the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Iowa GOP gubernatorial nomination" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2026/06/03/iowa-governor-zach-lahn-feenstra-primary" data-vars-content-id="8ba57b9c-26c9-413f-9ad8-ea0a710f5f5e" data-vars-headline="Iowa GOP nominee pulls off upset after critiquing &quot;big ag&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2026/06/03/iowa-governor-zach-lahn-feenstra-primary" target="_self">Iowa GOP gubernatorial nomination</a> after doing something almost no Republican in this state does: criticize &quot;big agriculture,&quot; per <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Washington Post" data-vars-click-url="https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/06/08/zach-lahn-wins-iowa-republican-governor-primary-after-blasting-pesticides/" data-vars-content-id="8ba57b9c-26c9-413f-9ad8-ea0a710f5f5e" data-vars-headline="Iowa GOP nominee pulls off upset after critiquing &quot;big ag&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/06/08/zach-lahn-wins-iowa-republican-governor-primary-after-blasting-pesticides/" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>.Why it matters: Once shied away from, the public health impact of Iowa&#x27;s industrial farming is on the ballot for both sides of the aisle.

Massive landfill fire erupts in Des Moines hours after city warning

Metro Waste Authority fires nearly tripled in 2025.

<figure><img alt="A video of a landfill fire." height="450" id="f3fc9e56-ff7f-4647-ac80-bc2b95907d9f" src="https://images.axios.com/HxfGd9MD4TbUyByiTFDZ1NDQQKI=/2026/05/19/1779190402770.gif" width="800"/><figcaption>The fire at Metro Park East Landfill earlier this month is suspected to have been caused by lithium batteries or rechargeable electronics that ignited when compacted. Video: Courtesy of Metro Waste Authority</figcaption></figure>One of the largest landfill fires in metro history erupted hours after waste officials warned Des Moines leaders this month about their growing battle against improper battery disposal.Why it matters: Unbeknownst to many residents, rechargeable devices such as vapes, smartphones and electric toothbrushes are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="turning household trash into fire hazards" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2026/03/25/discarded-batteries-causing-fires-in-des-moines-metro-landfills" data-vars-content-id="0c001f30-bc03-4a29-969c-6c3a037202be" data-vars-headline="Massive landfill fire erupts in Des Moines hours after city warning" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2026/03/25/discarded-batteries-causing-fires-in-des-moines-metro-landfills" target="_self">turning household trash into fire hazards</a>.