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Iowa's Wallace Building is coming down — its underground tunnel stays

State officials haven't revealed how the tunnel might be used in the future.

News

An underground tunnel linking the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="mostly demolished" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2025/11/24/wallace-building-iowa-demoltion-mold-historic" data-vars-content-id="a8c52ecb-7479-4ec9-be94-43873e62cb48" data-vars-headline="Iowa&#x27;s Wallace Building is coming down — its underground tunnel stays" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2025/11/24/wallace-building-iowa-demoltion-mold-historic" target="_self">mostly demolished</a> Henry A. Wallace Building to the Capitol and other state offices is being closed but not torn down.Why it matters: The link is potentially valuable if the state reimagines the site.

Valley West corridor makeover begins in West Des Moines

West Des Moines is beginning a long-term redevelopment of the University Avenue and Valley West Mall area.

West Des Moines officials are reimagining the aging Valley West Mall area as a denser, more walkable district, starting with a block near Valley West Drive and Westown Parkway.Why it matters: The corridor still draws a steady number of visitors, and decisions made now could shape how it evolves over the next 10 to 20 years.

Des Moines City Council approves 15-year golf contract with no public bid

Des Moines did not go to public bid for the management of its three public golf courses.

After some Des Moines residents said they felt left in the dark about the decision to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="light Waveland Golf Course" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2026/02/26/des-moines-light-up-waveland-golf-course-evening" data-vars-content-id="e9b187b4-b7b8-4aee-87a6-d1e9768c5b81" data-vars-headline="Des Moines City Council approves 15-year golf contract with no public bid" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2026/02/26/des-moines-light-up-waveland-golf-course-evening" target="_self">light Waveland Golf Course</a>, they are questioning the city&#x27;s choice to enter into a 15-year contract with Des Moines&#x27; longtime golf course management partner without a public bid.Why it matters: The city has not put its golf course management contract out for public bid in nearly 20 years, and the new agreement locks in C Corporation through at least 2040 to manage and generate revenue from Waveland, Blank and Grandview golf courses.

As festivals fill Des Moines streets, restaurants feel the pinch

One restaurant owner says he loses five figures in weekend sales when streets close.

Business

Frequent weekend street closures for downtown Des Moines festivals cut into nearby restaurants&#x27; most profitable hours and are worsening <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="an already difficult time" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2026/02/06/des-moines-restaurants-closing-fast-economy" data-vars-content-id="e1f43d6c-d3f7-49f8-b853-b092b9023bc3" data-vars-headline="As festivals fill Des Moines streets, restaurants feel the pinch" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2026/02/06/des-moines-restaurants-closing-fast-economy" target="_self">an already difficult time</a> for table-service spots, managers of several businesses tell Axios.Why it matters: Festivals are meant to boost downtown vitality and foot traffic, but if that activity doesn&#x27;t translate into restaurant sales, the city could be trading year-round businesses for occasional events.

Airport expansion gulps 22,000 truckloads of dirt and counting

Over 400 million pounds of dirt have been moved to Des Moines International Airport so far.

Travel

Des Moines&#x27; <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="airport expansion" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2025/12/15/waymo-robotaxis-autonomous-airport-parking" data-vars-content-id="3d055e1b-69ce-4d32-990d-13d72d76c954" data-vars-headline="Airport expansion gulps 22,000 truckloads of dirt and counting" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2025/12/15/waymo-robotaxis-autonomous-airport-parking" target="_self">airport expansion</a> requires a staggering amount of earth — already around 22,000 truckloads and counting.Why it matters: The dirt work is an evident and disruptive early stage of the multi-year terminal project, which is reshaping the airport&#x27;s footprint and traffic patterns along Fleur Drive.

Survey: Some say Des Moines' new airport logo flew in from Minneapolis

But most Axios readers believe the new logo is fine.

The new logo at Des Moines International Airport (DSM) is still flying high, but <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="our readers aren&#x27;t fully convinced" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2025/06/02/des-moines-airport-logo-minneapolis-branding" data-vars-content-id="dee2e1d2-dda8-4a16-aa53-d9ff57b739d6" data-vars-headline="Survey: Some say Des Moines&#x27; new airport logo flew in from Minneapolis" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2025/06/02/des-moines-airport-logo-minneapolis-branding" target="_self">our readers aren&#x27;t fully convinced</a> it wasn&#x27;t done with our northern neighbors at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport (MSP) in mind.Catch up quick: DSM unveiled the logo last month as it prepares for a new terminal anticipated to open in 2027.

Iris Aisle is a nature-filled, micro-wedding sanctuary near Des Moines

It stands out in an era of show-stopper weddings with big budgets and long guest lists.

Culture

Hidden away in Winterset, there&#x27;s an intimate venue where you can get married, buy cannabis products and even get a tattoo.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Iris Aisle" data-vars-click-url="https://www.irisaisle.com/" data-vars-content-id="bfed1996-e5b3-446c-8725-3adb46dbeb4c" data-vars-headline="Iris Aisle is a nature-filled, micro-wedding sanctuary near Des Moines" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.irisaisle.com/" target="_blank">Iris Aisle</a> has a glass conservatory that hosts &quot;micro weddings&quot; — a maximum of 75 people.

📈 Car insurance and tariffs

Tariffs could make Iowa car insurance more expensive

A choropleth map of the U.S. showing the projected percentage increase in the annual cost of car insurance from June to December 2025, assuming reciprocal tariffs are implemented. Most states are projected to see an increase of 6% to 8%, with Florida expected to experience the highest rise at nearly 10%.

Travel

Airport expansion gulps 22,000 truckloads of dirt and counting

Tariffs could make Iowa car insurance more expensive

Survey: Some say Des Moines' new airport logo flew in from Minneapolis

Des Moines Thanksgiving travel peaks

Iris Aisle is a nature-filled, micro-wedding sanctuary near Des Moines