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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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Iowa cuts historic tax credit access for homeowners

Iowa preservationists warn the change could lead to more historic home demolitions.

News

Iowa has largely excluded single-family homes from a historic preservation tax credit program that helped homeowners shoulder the cost of restoring some of the state&#x27;s oldest houses. Why it matters: Preservationists warn that the change removes a financial incentive to save historic homes, which can be far more expensive to restore <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="than to tear down" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2024/01/24/desmoines-demolish-historic-home-approved-city-council" data-vars-content-id="23f592d7-a502-49b3-90eb-a60530a21af4" data-vars-headline="Iowa cuts historic tax credit access for homeowners" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2024/01/24/desmoines-demolish-historic-home-approved-city-council" target="_self">than to tear down</a>.

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 best thing Linh ate: Pho 515

Slurp up some wonton soup ($8) from Pho 515.

Things to Do

<figure><img alt="A gif showing a steaming bowl of wonton soup" height="450" id="6268b4bd-981f-4938-8ffa-138b786cde3d" src="https://images.axios.com/flPs0ab8O693PA4pZmj005Bgn4A=/2026/08/28/1787950587450.gif" width="800"/><figcaption>Wonton soup ($8) from Pho 515. Gif: Linh Ta/Axios</figcaption></figure>Pho is Pho 515&#x27;s namesake, but don&#x27;t sleep on the restaurant&#x27;s simple, slurpable wonton soup.What it is: A soup with pork and shrimp-filled wontons and baby bok choy ($8).

3 tons of hash browns: Waveland tops Des Moines brunch list

A Des Moines breakfast staple earns more local bragging rights.

Food and Drink

<blockquote>&quot;I should have bought into potato futures a long time ago.&quot; — David &quot;Stoney&quot; Stone, owner of Waveland Café.</blockquote>Context: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Waveland Café" data-vars-click-url="https://wavelandcafedsm.com/" data-vars-content-id="5ea1e351-5005-4563-bcdd-566c9441d31f" data-vars-headline="3 tons of hash browns: Waveland tops Des Moines brunch list" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://wavelandcafedsm.com/" target="_blank">The Waveland Café</a> cooks as much as 3 tons of hash browns a month, owner David &quot;Stoney&quot; Stone told Catch Des Moines in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a new video" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQjp5QMNm_o" data-vars-content-id="5ea1e351-5005-4563-bcdd-566c9441d31f" data-vars-headline="3 tons of hash browns: Waveland tops Des Moines brunch list" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQjp5QMNm_o" target="_blank">a new video</a> promoting its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Best Brunch list" data-vars-click-url="https://www.catchdesmoines.com/blog/stories/post/best-brunch-spots-in-greater-des-moines/" data-vars-content-id="5ea1e351-5005-4563-bcdd-566c9441d31f" data-vars-headline="3 tons of hash browns: Waveland tops Des Moines brunch list" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.catchdesmoines.com/blog/stories/post/best-brunch-spots-in-greater-des-moines/" target="_blank">Best Brunch list</a>.

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.

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.

The best thing Linh ate: Savor the Rise's new dinner

The bakery added dinner service with locally-sourced ingredients.

Savor the Rise, one of my favorite bakeries in the Des Moines area, recently <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="added dinner service" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/p/DcgkKo6Gm8r/?img_index=1" data-vars-content-id="942c8ce3-6436-4abd-96c6-fc71b2068d5e" data-vars-headline="The best thing Linh ate: Savor the Rise&#x27;s new dinner" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DcgkKo6Gm8r/?img_index=1" target="_blank">added dinner service</a> featuring locally sourced, seasonal ingredients.What it is: A cute Indianola bakery by day, and at night, the tables are cleared off and the space is transformed with checkered napkins and candlelight.

Wilson's Orchard has its earliest Honeycrisp crop

Heavy rains and high heat resulted in rapid fruit growth.

Wilson&#x27;s Orchard &amp; Farm <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="in the Des Moines metro" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2026/07/13/a-new-floating-art-piece-also-captures-nitrates-in-iowa-water" data-vars-content-id="3a4994cd-ec1a-4b0b-bfee-14e2491e3969" data-vars-headline="Wilson&#x27;s Orchard has its earliest Honeycrisp crop" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2026/07/13/a-new-floating-art-piece-also-captures-nitrates-in-iowa-water" target="_self">in the Des Moines metro</a> will open Honeycrisp picking today, the earliest in the farm&#x27;s history <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="since it was founded in 1980" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/wilsons.ciderhouse.dsm/posts/pfbid02BoNyRU5VjXqGFTiBtGt6KxEvm1jfrAM3bbJVhi82WqncpVYBxKK3rZiDKXw57S3fl" data-vars-content-id="3a4994cd-ec1a-4b0b-bfee-14e2491e3969" data-vars-headline="Wilson&#x27;s Orchard has its earliest Honeycrisp crop" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/wilsons.ciderhouse.dsm/posts/pfbid02BoNyRU5VjXqGFTiBtGt6KxEvm1jfrAM3bbJVhi82WqncpVYBxKK3rZiDKXw57S3fl" target="_blank">since it was founded in 1980</a>.Why it matters: For Iowa growers, &quot;normal&quot; timing is becoming harder to count on as unpredictable weather patterns become more frequent, says Wilson&#x27;s Orchard general manager Jacob Goering, whose parents own the farm.

Pancheros opening second Waukee location next month

The burrito franchise has lots of love in Iowa.

Shelly and Tyson Robinson, the longtime franchise owners of the Pancheros locations in West Des Moines and Johnston, are opening a third store in Waukee next month at the corner of Grand Prairie Parkway and Ashworth Road.Why it matters: Call it Pancheros or call it &quot;Panch,&quot; the soft-pressed tortillas are a quintessential part of an Iowan diet, next to Midwest icons like breakfast pizza and pork tenderloins.

We tried the new deep-fried cookie dough pie at the Iowa State Fair

Minneapple Pie made a big splash with its debut at the Iowa State Fair.

Linh here. I hate myself for saying this, but my favorite new fair food happens to be from Minnesota.What it is: Deep-fried cookie dough pie served with a choice of homemade vanilla or cinnamon ice cream ($12).

We tried the Iowa State Fair's bacon-brisket mac-and-cheese donut

The donut has been getting rave reviews on social media.

Linh here. The Rib Shack, a popular fair food vendor, is serving up the wildest doughnut you can imagine: The Ultimate Bacon-Brisket Mac &amp; Cheese Donut ($7).<ul><li>With Patton Oswalt&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="famous 2007 comedy bit" data-vars-click-url="https://www.eater.com/2020/1/27/21078673/patton-oswalt-kfc-famous-bowl-bit-eater-bowl-bowl" data-vars-content-id="15798463-05a4-4b21-ad96-9f227773704d" data-vars-headline="We tried the Iowa State Fair&#x27;s bacon-brisket mac-and-cheese donut" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.eater.com/2020/1/27/21078673/patton-oswalt-kfc-famous-bowl-bit-eater-bowl-bowl" target="_blank">famous 2007 comedy bit</a> about KFC Famous Bowls in mind, I set out to try it.</li></ul>

Iowa State Fair 2026: We tried the Cinnamozza Kdog

The new Korean corn dog is smothered in cinnamon, sugar and Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

Linh here. And I believe the most quintessential &quot;fair food&quot; comes from Korea — specifically, Korean corn dogs.What it is: Cinnamozza Kdog ($18). It&#x27;s on a stick. It&#x27;s fried. And it&#x27;s full of stretchy mozzarella cheese.

Iowa State Fair 2026: We tried Parmesan ice cream

The cheesy ice cream is a nod to the 18th century.

Linh here. I don&#x27;t want to brag, but I eat a lot of Parmesan cheese. (I&#x27;ve got shredded and shaved right now.)<ul><li>So when I saw that Bubbly was serving up a Parmesan cheese ice cream, I knew I had to try it.</li></ul>What it is: An homage to the 18th century, when cheese ice cream was a popular delicacy.

Food and Drink 🍽

The best thing Linh ate: Pho 515

3 tons of hash browns: Waveland tops Des Moines brunch list

Des Moines' most unique dinner spot is a secret

The best thing Linh ate: Savor the Rise's new dinner

Wilson's Orchard has its earliest Honeycrisp crop