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Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines plans campus expansion

The West Des Moines campus is one of the most popular churches in the state.

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Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines, the largest church in Iowa, plans to expand its campus by 14,000 square feet, per a council meeting— including a gym, teen center and a larger food pantry.Why it matters: The $20 million project, funded through donations, reflects the church&#x27;s efforts to encourage more in-person interactions and accommodate a growing congregation, Pastor Jeremy Johnson tells Axios.

Polk County pushes "Polk Proud" plates

The new campaign urges people to get their vehicles titled locally.

Polk County&#x27;s treasurer is urging car buyers and dealers to title vehicles locally, launching a &quot;Polk Proud&quot; campaign to keep that business in the county.Why it matters: Hundreds of vehicles are being titled in surrounding counties each month, draining thousands in revenue that would otherwise support Polk County services, Treasurer Mary Wells tells Axios.

Iowa among states making early Medicaid choices

States are facing increasing financial pressures.

Iowa is among the first states reshaping its Medicaid budget ahead of nearly <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="$1 trillion in federal Medicaid cuts" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/01/state-budgets-medicaid-austerity" data-vars-content-id="bf3bc7b4-d97f-4472-8dfb-734fc2df52bf" data-vars-headline="Iowa among states making early Medicaid choices" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/01/state-budgets-medicaid-austerity" target="_self">$1 trillion in federal Medicaid cuts</a>, with Gov. Kim Reynolds signing a bill last week to raise taxes on insurers.Why it matters: The move signals potential ripple effects for coverage, costs and state budgets nationwide.

West Des Moines considers $700K bathroom near Jamie Hurd Amphitheater

City staff say it's one of the most requested amenities from residents.

The Jamie Hurd Amphitheater is used for everything from theater performances to symphony concerts, rock cover bands and film screenings.<ul><li>But the one major thing missing for those events is a bathroom with flushable toilets, West Des Moines city staff say.</li></ul>

These Iowa women are creating social outlets for moms who feel isolated

TogetHER offers free events and support for moms dealing with stress, anxiety and isolation.

Health

Two central Iowa moms have launched <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="TogetHER" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569315987958#" data-vars-content-id="a1d40a89-39a3-46d4-954f-2bb79fd40c3f" data-vars-headline="These Iowa women are creating social outlets for moms who feel isolated" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569315987958#" target="_blank">TogetHER</a>, a grassroots organization to help women navigate the mental health challenges of motherhood, especially postpartum.Why it matters: Founders Kayla O&#x27;Connor and Caitlin Merritt say maternal mental health often goes overlooked, even though anxiety, depression and isolation are common experiences for new moms.

Ruan returns grant meant for new downtown child care facility

The project was one of the inaugural awards in a program to address Iowa's child care crisis.

Ruan Transportation Management Systems alerted county officials this month that it is returning a $940,000 state grant to start a downtown Des Moines child care facility, deputy Polk County administrator Sarah Boese tells Axios.Why it matters: The decision highlights some of the challenges and complexities associated with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the state&#x27;s child care crisis" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2023/06/14/childcare-iowa-crisis-report-annie-casey-foundation" data-vars-content-id="f63860ed-fe86-4b03-ad35-7ab209938e85" data-vars-headline="Ruan returns grant meant for new downtown child care facility" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2023/06/14/childcare-iowa-crisis-report-annie-casey-foundation" target="_self">the state&#x27;s child care crisis</a>.

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