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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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Microsoft's AI epicenter is an Iowa water hog

Company is told it must "significantly reduce peak water usage" before expanding.

News

How Iowans are helping Ukrainians raise hogs

Raising pigs is a more profitable way of using grain supply.

Dog euthanizations on the rise in Des Moines

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa's dog intakes are also up.

Kum & Go officially sells

Maverik — Adventure's First Stop is now the nation's 11th largest convenience store chain.

Business

Inflation wiped out Iowans' wage increases last year

The good news? Inflation is cooling down and more recent numbers are promising.

Despite wage bumps for local workers last year, inflation wiped out any monetary gains for Des Moines households, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new U.S. Census data" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/12/real-incomes-fell-last-year-no-wonder-americans-were-bummed-out" data-vars-content-id="a5281e3d-9e42-4007-83c6-9fb116e5d7f5" data-vars-headline="Inflation wiped out Iowans&#x27; wage increases last year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/12/real-incomes-fell-last-year-no-wonder-americans-were-bummed-out" target="_self">new U.S. Census data</a>.Why it matters: Iowa families feel the pain when they&#x27;re buying groceries or fueling up, though it likely hasn&#x27;t been significant enough to cause major changes in leisure spending, University of Iowa economics professor Anne Villamil tells Axios.

A map showing median household income across the U.S.

How a cemetery pond could improve Des Moines' water

It's part of a series of "holistic" solutions to water problems.

A pond at Glendale Cemetery could help Des Moines better manage stormwater under a plan going before the City Council next month.Why it matters: It could reduce flood risks and improve water quality.

After 20 years, Des Moines' mayor won't seek re-election

He and his family now want to focus more on their business.

Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie won&#x27;t seek re-election in November, he announced in a five-page thank you letter to the city Thursday.Why it matters: After almost 20 years, Cownie is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the longest-serving mayor" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2022/07/21/frank-cownie-des-moines-longest-serving-mayor-mulls-another-run" data-vars-content-id="1792fe99-aedf-4e0f-b967-81e3f8ce2e15" data-vars-headline="After 20 years, Des Moines&#x27; mayor won&#x27;t seek re-election" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2022/07/21/frank-cownie-des-moines-longest-serving-mayor-mulls-another-run" target="_self">the longest-serving mayor</a> in DSM history.

Why Des Moines' suburbs are modernizing office spaces

As developers try to fill their vacancies, they're getting creative with amenities.

Developers in the suburbs are modernizing their office buildings to try and attract more tenants.Why it matters: Nearly 80% of the metro&#x27;s new office leases last quarter happened in the western suburbs

an illustration of a person with a briefcase walking in front of a burnt orange background with graph paper overlay

Meet Grant Gillon, Altoona's "MasterChef" finalist

Grant Gillon has always felt passionate about cooking.

Grant Gillon of Altoona has always felt passionate about cooking, but he was unsure until recently if he had the chops to cook in the big leagues.Driving the news: There isn&#x27;t a question anymore, now that Gillon made the finale of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;MasterChef" data-vars-click-url="https://www.hulu.com/series/masterchef-45d67197-5346-4adb-9d90-6ed2d7b7bd85" data-vars-content-id="c4cdc14a-1719-454c-9c12-4c1de318d1d7" data-vars-headline="Meet Grant Gillon, Altoona&#x27;s &quot;MasterChef&quot; finalist" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.hulu.com/series/masterchef-45d67197-5346-4adb-9d90-6ed2d7b7bd85" target="_blank">&quot;MasterChef</a>&quot; — the popular network cooking competition show that Gordon Ramsay hosts.

Where to find the COVID-19 booster in Des Moines

The new boosters are recommended for everyone 6 months and older.

Health

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Updated COVID-19 vaccines" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/22/covid-booster-variants-weeks" data-vars-content-id="1c034584-0269-45f8-aeda-8411e9fbe096" data-vars-headline="Where to find the COVID-19 booster in Des Moines" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/22/covid-booster-variants-weeks" target="_self">Updated COVID-19 vaccines</a> meant to target more recent strains of the virus will soon hit arms in Iowa.Driving the news: A new CDC recommendation that updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna be given to anyone ages 6 months and older clears the way for reformulated shots to be made available.Why it matters: Amid a<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" months-long uptick" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/01/covid-cases-uptick-summer-2023-new-variant" data-vars-content-id="1c034584-0269-45f8-aeda-8411e9fbe096" data-vars-headline="Where to find the COVID-19 booster in Des Moines" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/01/covid-cases-uptick-summer-2023-new-variant" target="_self"> months-long uptick</a> in cases, the Biden administration is facing pressure to make the updated vaccines available to help stave off a repeat of last year&#x27;s &quot;tripledemic&quot; of respiratory diseases,<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" Axios&#x27; Adriel Bettelheim writes." data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/12/cdc-advisors-endorse-updated-covid-vaccines" data-vars-content-id="1c034584-0269-45f8-aeda-8411e9fbe096" data-vars-headline="Where to find the COVID-19 booster in Des Moines" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/12/cdc-advisors-endorse-updated-covid-vaccines" target="_self"> Axios&#x27; Adriel Bettelheim writes.</a>

Illustration of a hand reaching for a syringe.

Future data center projects in West Des Moines will only be considered if Microsoft can implement technology that can &quot;significantly reduce peak water usage,&quot; <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the Associated Press reports" data-vars-click-url="https://apnews.com/article/chatgpt-gpt4-iowa-ai-water-consumption-microsoft-f551fde98083d17a7e8d904f8be822c4" data-vars-content-id="e9dd0b50-d1d0-4074-a352-765c94178cee" data-vars-headline="Microsoft&#x27;s AI epicenter is an Iowa water hog" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://apnews.com/article/chatgpt-gpt4-iowa-ai-water-consumption-microsoft-f551fde98083d17a7e8d904f8be822c4" target="_blank">the Associated Press reports</a>.Why it matters: Microsoft&#x27;s five WDM data centers — the &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="epicenter for advancing AI" data-vars-click-url="https://news.microsoft.com/source/features/ai/west-des-moines-iowa-ai-supercomputer/" data-vars-content-id="e9dd0b50-d1d0-4074-a352-765c94178cee" data-vars-headline="Microsoft&#x27;s AI epicenter is an Iowa water hog" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://news.microsoft.com/source/features/ai/west-des-moines-iowa-ai-supercomputer/" target="_blank">epicenter for advancing AI</a>&quot; — represent more than $5 billion in investments in the last 15 years.

Map: Iowa's peak fall foliage schedule

Iowa's drought is expected to bring fall colors prematurely.

Things to Do

It&#x27;s almost fall, y&#x27;all — and that means it&#x27;s leaf-peeping time.Why it matters: Your window to view the bright hues might be trickier to predict, as<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" climate change" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/06/13/climate-extremes-warming-charts-concerns" data-vars-content-id="a1a35feb-54d4-4e0f-a8f5-4d8a9bc7ae2d" data-vars-headline="Map: Iowa&#x27;s peak fall foliage schedule" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/06/13/climate-extremes-warming-charts-concerns" target="_self"> climate change</a> impacts when leaves change — and<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" how colorful they get" data-vars-click-url="https://www.neefusa.org/story/climate-change/leaves-they-are-changing#:~:text=How%20Climate%20Change%20Affects%20the,together%20to%20mute%20fall%20colors." data-vars-content-id="a1a35feb-54d4-4e0f-a8f5-4d8a9bc7ae2d" data-vars-headline="Map: Iowa&#x27;s peak fall foliage schedule" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.neefusa.org/story/climate-change/leaves-they-are-changing#:~:text=How%20Climate%20Change%20Affects%20the,together%20to%20mute%20fall%20colors." target="_blank"> how colorful they get</a>.

Ankeny backyard chickens get closer to fruition

The Ankeny City Council is holding a public hearing on backyard chickens Monday.

The Ankeny City Council is holding a public hearing Monday to consider allowing hens in residents&#x27; backyards — a major step in showing that personal poultry ownership has some traction after more than a decade of discussion.Why it matters: Raising chickens helps connect people with their food and teaches self-sufficiency, says Ruth Nguyen, a chicken proponent in Ankeny.

Iowans urged to turn off lights to help birds migrate safely

Over 80% of birds in North America migrate overnight.

Millions of birds are expected to migrate through Iowa and the Midwest over the next few nights, according to the Iowa DNR.Why it matters: Lights illuminating from our homes can make their journeys more difficult.

A heat map showing bird migration increasing in Iowa Sept. 15

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