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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

Iowa native Gerry Turner takes center stage on "The Golden Bachelor"

The new ABC show could help showcase the sexuality of older adults.

Things to Do

America&#x27;s favorite dating reality show &quot;The Bachelor&quot; launches a new spin-off tonight featuring older adults called &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Golden Bachelor" data-vars-click-url="https://abc.com/shows/the-golden-bachelor" data-vars-content-id="b8603bf9-8c9b-4077-98d4-91190f2e17e2" data-vars-headline="Iowa native Gerry Turner takes center stage on &quot;The Golden Bachelor&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://abc.com/shows/the-golden-bachelor" target="_blank">The Golden Bachelor</a>.&quot;Driving the news: Iowa native Gerry Turner, 72, is the star of the show. He&#x27;s seeking a second chance at love after his wife<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" died from a sudden illness" data-vars-click-url="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2023-08-31/golden-bachelor-gerry-turner" data-vars-content-id="b8603bf9-8c9b-4077-98d4-91190f2e17e2" data-vars-headline="Iowa native Gerry Turner takes center stage on &quot;The Golden Bachelor&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2023-08-31/golden-bachelor-gerry-turner" target="_blank"> died from a sudden illness</a> in 2017.

How BLK & Bold cofounder Rod Johnston starts his day

Rod Johnson of BLK & Bold begins his day by watching the sun rise.

Rod Johnson, co-founder of local coffee company <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="BLK &amp; Bold" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2023/09/12/blk-and-bold-iowa-fastest-growing-company" data-vars-content-id="cb0df57b-356e-488b-ae07-66445493bc3b" data-vars-headline="How BLK &amp; Bold cofounder Rod Johnston starts his day" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2023/09/12/blk-and-bold-iowa-fastest-growing-company" target="_self">BLK &amp; Bold</a>, fully embraces the identity of &quot;morning person&quot; — and now &quot;Iowan&quot; after moving to Des Moines from California three years ago.State of play: As an entrepreneur running the state&#x27;s fastest-growing private business, he likes to begin his days with some &quot;me time,&quot; enjoying a quiet start and watching the sunrise.

How an Axios reporter scored Brandi Carlile's guitar pick

Carlile used the pick at the Bourbon & Beyond music festival.

Music

👋 Jason here. I&#x27;m back in Des Moines this week after spending four fantastic days at the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bourbon &amp; Beyond" data-vars-click-url="https://bourbonandbeyond.com/lineup/" data-vars-content-id="bf187270-9a09-41a4-8eb9-cbb9f6a88665" data-vars-headline="How an Axios reporter scored Brandi Carlile&#x27;s guitar pick" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bourbonandbeyond.com/lineup/" target="_blank">Bourbon &amp; Beyond</a> music festival in Louisville, KY.<ul><li>A highlight was taking home one of Brandi Carlile&#x27;s guitar picks.</li></ul>

Des Moines weekend planner: Sept. 22-24

The Des Moines Streetstyle Open is this weekend.

<h2 class="text-h6 !font-sans !font-normal !leading-[1.2em]">Friday</h2>🎹 Enjoy the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Civic Music Association&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://civicmusic.org/concerts/" data-vars-content-id="649e3736-6860-4b33-87ac-4da51db0a2b6" data-vars-headline="Des Moines weekend planner: Sept. 22-24" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://civicmusic.org/concerts/" target="_blank">Civic Music Association&#x27;s</a> regular season concert kickoff featuring Grammy-nominated pianist Alfredo Rodriguez at the Temple Theater, 7:30pm. <ul><li>Tickets: $34-$69.</li></ul>

Des Moines' not boring: Wander Women group

The group guides women on trips and offering classes on outdoors skills.

Go on a backpacking trip, hike through fall foliage or learn how to make campfire cocktails through <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Wander Women" data-vars-click-url="https://wanderwomenmidwest.com/" data-vars-content-id="6aa8f85d-752b-4e95-a279-02a52c7fe436" data-vars-headline="Des Moines&#x27; not boring: Wander Women group" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://wanderwomenmidwest.com/" target="_blank">Wander Women</a>.Why it matters: The local outdoor business offers women and non-binary people a less intimidating way of discovering Iowa&#x27;s outdoor scene while learning new skills, co-owner Kerri Sorrell tells Axios.

Map: Iowa's peak fall foliage schedule

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

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>.

Kitty Axios is readying for adoption

Interested forever families can inquire with the Animal Rescue League of Iowa.

👋 Jason here with an update about Axios, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the stray kitten that tucked itself" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2023/07/12/cat-running-engine-car-adoption-desmoines-axios" data-vars-content-id="f01ad89a-5011-4683-a643-56de2328a2a6" data-vars-headline="Kitty Axios is readying for adoption" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2023/07/12/cat-running-engine-car-adoption-desmoines-axios" target="_self">the stray kitten that tucked itself</a> into my car and took a ride in July.State of play: The<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" Animal Rescue League of Iowa" data-vars-click-url="https://www.arl-iowa.org/adopt/find-a-pet/pet-list/cat/" data-vars-content-id="f01ad89a-5011-4683-a643-56de2328a2a6" data-vars-headline="Kitty Axios is readying for adoption" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.arl-iowa.org/adopt/find-a-pet/pet-list/cat/" target="_blank"> Animal Rescue League of Iowa</a> (ARL) spent weeks caring for her in a behavioral modification program.

Axios reporter Jason Clayworth stands with an ARL employee holding the kitten he found. 

Porchfest brings live music to Des Moines' front yards

The event showcases 23 different artists on 23 porches.

Porchfest DSM is back for its second year in the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Union Park neighborhood" data-vars-click-url="https://www.porchfestdsm.org/" data-vars-content-id="59aa6a44-ecdb-4988-a21e-c8bf3d18ada0" data-vars-headline="Porchfest brings live music to Des Moines&#x27; front yards" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.porchfestdsm.org/" target="_blank">Union Park neighborhood</a>.State of play: Sunday&#x27;s festival features 23 different musical artists on 23 different porches who each play 45-minute sets.

World Food Festival's taste menu price doubles to $2

Inflationary pressures hit the popular Des Moines event.

The World Food &amp; Music Festival starts today with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="18 new vendors" data-vars-click-url="https://www.dsmpartnership.com/worldfoodandmusicfestival/attend/food" data-vars-content-id="662ce020-c6ee-4642-a7bb-df6e31c8ade2" data-vars-headline="World Food Festival&#x27;s taste menu price doubles to $2" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.dsmpartnership.com/worldfoodandmusicfestival/attend/food" target="_blank">18 new vendors</a> and a taste menu that has doubled in price.Catch up fast: The downtown event started almost 20 years ago with about two dozen vendors.

Where to vacation within two hours of Des Moines for Labor Day weekend

There's a few unique spots within a two hour drive of Des Moines.

Did the fray of the start of school leave you without plans for Labor Day? Don&#x27;t fret.<ul><li>There are plenty of fun places within a short driving distance to help you disconnect from the metro next weekend.</li></ul>

An aerial view of camper vans parked within Whiterock Conservancy.

Things to Do 🗓