News
Iowa bans transgender care for minors
Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
Iowa is among more than 20 states where legislators are trying to limit gender-affirming care for transgender people, according to data collected by the ACLU.
Why it matters: The wave of more than 100 pieces of legislation this year across the country highlights a broad effort driven by people and politics that reach far outside Iowa.
Ann Lebo, former Iowa education director, takes state job
Ann Lebo. Photo courtesy of the Iowa Department of Education
Ann Lebo, the former director of the Iowa Department of Education, started a new job this week as the performance results administrator for Early Childhood Iowa (ECI).
Catch up fast: Lebo announced her resignation in February, soon after Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law that allows families to use taxpayer money to pay for private school tuition.
Des Moines debuts bicycle footrests at traffic stop
DSM resident Jeff Bock using one of DSM's new bicycle footrests. Photo courtesy of Carl Voss
Bicycle footrests were recently added to the east/west bike lane intersections of Ingersoll Avenue at Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway.
Why it matters: The rests intend to improve safety by giving bicyclers incentive not to blow through a light — it's a more comfortable way to steady a bike while waiting in traffic.
Des Moines Art Center director Jeff Fleming prepares for retirement
Jeff Fleming with Joyce J. Scott. Photo courtesy of Des Moines Art Center
For the last 25 years, Des Moines Art Center director Jeff Fleming has worked at the metro's fine art institution.
- Next month, after helming it for the last 17 years, Fleming is retiring to focus on his own personal art projects.
"Iowa is no longer a destination" for teachers, recruits warn
Interim Superintendent Matt Smith at East High School on Feb. 13. Photo courtesy of DMPS
Des Moines Public Schools is increasing its investment into staff retention as it becomes more difficult to recruit teachers — particularly from out of state.
Why it matters: Teacher shortages create challenges in maintaining a normal school day.
- In the past, metro districts have been forced to combine classrooms, substitute study halls for classes and get teachers to cover more often.
Des Moines gets new Megabus routes
Passengers board a Megabus to New York in Washington in 2009. Photo by Jay Mallin/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Des Moines residents will soon have new transportation options to get around the state and country.
Driving the news: Megabus is partnering with Burlington Trailways to expand the company's bus route options from Des Moines.
Des Moines' most hated highway spot
A gif showing the changes between the West Mixmaster from 1985 to July 2022. Screenshots via Google Earth
We asked our readers a few weeks ago about your most hated highway ramps in the metro — and the answer was overwhelmingly the West Mixmaster.
Why it matters: You described it to us as "stress-inducing," a "big loopty loo" with a "double gauntlet" and a "cluster."
Des Moines launches a new, merged neighborhood association
Three neighborhood groups have merged — Fort Des Moines, Magnolia Park and South Park — to form the new South Central DSM neighborhood association.
Why it matters: Recognized city neighborhood associations receive government assistance and can generally better organize to accomplish goals.
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