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Heart of America eyes East Village for a new HQ

A five-story building is proposed across from Des Moines' former City Hall.

News

Heart of America is proposing a five-story office building in Des Moines&#x27; East Village, potentially relocating its Quad Cities-based headquarters to the riverfront area.Why it matters: The proposal could help activate a prominent yet undeveloped city-owned parcel across from the vacant City Hall as Des Moines seeks to redevelop <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="several former municipal sites" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2025/07/25/des-moines-city-hall-vacant-armory-relocate" data-vars-content-id="ae23431e-7873-41c1-a215-d5095c77732d" data-vars-headline="Heart of America eyes East Village for a new HQ" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2025/07/25/des-moines-city-hall-vacant-armory-relocate" target="_self">several former municipal sites</a>.

After cyclists fight back, city councils rethink biking ordinances

Their city councils are considering new proposals following critiques from the cycling community.

Two Des Moines metro cities are revising proposed e-bike ordinances after pushback from local cyclists.Why it matters: Clive and Waukee city leaders say they want to limit the reckless use of high-powered electric devices, but cycling advocates say their proposals would also restrict where regular cyclists could go.

Here's how Steelers pick and Iowa Hawkeye Gennings Dunker starts his day

The offensive lineman played for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Gennings Dunker, the Iowa Hawkeye offensive lineman drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, is definitely a morning person.<ul><li>&quot;Naturally with football and early workouts you need to start your day early to make the most of it,&quot; he tells Axios.</li></ul>

Iowa retailers say D.C. law fuels unfair shakedowns

Small businesses say private enforcement has created a settlement machine that they can't afford to challenge.

Two Des Moines retailers say a D.C. law firm and a nonprofit are using consumer protection laws to squeeze thousands of dollars from businesses over online sale prices.Why it matters: Consumer protection laws are meant to prevent deceptive pricing, but Iowa retailers say private enforcement has created a settlement machine that small businesses can&#x27;t afford to challenge.

How Iowa's United Methodist churches are evolving

While churches have consolidated, some have found new life with bilingual services.

For the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church" data-vars-click-url="https://www.iaumc.org/" data-vars-content-id="b263b30d-0b7a-426b-92cf-98a73c941bb1" data-vars-headline="How Iowa&#x27;s United Methodist churches are evolving" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.iaumc.org/" target="_blank">Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church</a>, aging congregations, shifting demographics and costly building upkeep have led to the closure of some local churches, but also new and more diverse forms of worship.Why it matters: Consolidations within the denomination has also opened doors for communities that weren&#x27;t previously served.Flashback: Methodist identity has long been rooted in neighborhood churches, where people gathered seven days a week rather than just Sundays, says the Rev. Jaye Johnson of Iowa UMC.

Des Moines Diocese reports 51% increase in new Catholics

More people are converting to Catholicism in recent years.

Religion

The Diocese of Des Moines has seen a 51% surge in new Catholics this year, with 400 converts recorded compared to 265 in 2025.Why it matters: The local figures are part of a broader national trend, which <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the New York Times says" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/26/us/catholics-converts.html" data-vars-content-id="22399ca9-3e8c-49a1-9642-d1c65bbbc441" data-vars-headline="Des Moines Diocese reports 51% increase in new Catholics" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/26/us/catholics-converts.html" target="_blank">the New York Times says</a> is producing some of the highest convert numbers in recent years.

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.

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.

A new Catholic worship takes root in Des Moines

A 1,000-year-old worship tradition has arrived in Des Moines.

A new kind of Catholic worship is in Des Moines.State of play: Des Moines now hosts a regular <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Byzantine Catholic Divine Liturgy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.byzantineiowa.org/" data-vars-content-id="ba73183c-90db-438d-b975-37d301ade839" data-vars-headline="A new Catholic worship takes root in Des Moines" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.byzantineiowa.org/" target="_blank">Byzantine Catholic Divine Liturgy</a> — a service rooted in Eastern Catholicism that looks and feels different from the Roman Catholic Mass most people know.

Pew: Fewer Iowans are identifying as Christians

More people are willing to identify as "religiously unaffiliated" in the state.

Fewer Iowans are attending church or identifying as Christian, per new 2023-24 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Pew Research Center" data-vars-click-url="https://www.pewresearch.org/religious-landscape-study/state/iowa/?selectedYear=2024&amp;activeChartId=3a8f3c134548c747729410b467b526e7&amp;dialogId=ceb6de178408877c807a87240a94cc4c" data-vars-content-id="03566dda-0104-4d39-b686-e3c6a050ea0e" data-vars-headline="Pew: Fewer Iowans are identifying as Christians" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.pewresearch.org/religious-landscape-study/state/iowa/?selectedYear=2024&amp;activeChartId=3a8f3c134548c747729410b467b526e7&amp;dialogId=ceb6de178408877c807a87240a94cc4c" target="_blank">Pew Research Center</a> data.Why it matters: Religion is a part of a &quot;larger social puzzle&quot; that has historically provided a built-in community, Drake University professor Brad Crowell tells Axios.

Iowa LGBTQ+ pastor to be ordained after Methodist vote

Her ordainment comes a month after the church repealed its longstanding ban on LGBTQ clergy.

Rev. Jordan Derhammer Capek of West Des Moines United Methodist Church will be ordained as a full elder on Sunday.Why it matters: She&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="openly gay" data-vars-click-url="https://wdmumc.org/leadership/#:~:text=Reverend%20Jordan%20Derhammer%20Capek" data-vars-content-id="1787bf93-ce85-4205-b0e4-0d2b49d37d4e" data-vars-headline="Iowa LGBTQ+ pastor to be ordained after Methodist vote" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://wdmumc.org/leadership/#:~:text=Reverend%20Jordan%20Derhammer%20Capek" target="_blank">openly gay</a>, and her ordination comes a month after the church repealed its longstanding ban on LGBTQ clergy.

A line chart shows changes in religious identification in Iowa from 2014 to 2024. The percentage of individuals who said they identify as Christian decreased from 77% to 62%. Meanwhile, the percentage who said they're unaffiliated increased from 21% to 31% during the same period.