Iowa's soil in the right-of-way of the Dakota Access Pipeline is still recovering roughly six years after the project was installed.

Why it matters: Three companies are proposing new pipeline projects that would cross Iowa to capture carbon dioxide from ethanol and fertilizer plants.

• Environmental impacts and the future of agriculture in the area are under debate.

Threat level: During the two crop seasons after the Dakota Access Pipeline's installation in 2016, crop yields in the right-of-way of the project fell as much as 25%, according to an Iowa State University study published late last year.

• Recovery is ongoing, researchers found.

Catch up fast: The nearly 1,200-mile Dakota underground pipeline cuts diagonally across Iowa to an oil terminal near Patoka, Illinois. It went into service in 2017.

• About 150 feet of right-of-way was necessary for pipeline trenching and construction, including portions of an ISU agricultural research farm near Ames.

What they found: The project caused severe subsoil compaction and impaired soil structure that can discourage root growth and reduce water infiltration, ISU researchers concluded.

What they're saying: The three proposed carbon pipelines may not be as big or deeply trenched. If that's the case, it could help minimize yield losses, Mehari Tekeste, an assistant agriculture professor who led the study at ISU, told Axios last week.

• Navigator CO2 Ventures — whose proposal includes areas in northern Polk County — is confident that crop losses would be short term due to a restoration process, spokesperson Andrew Bates told Axios yesterday.
• Farmers will get a 240% reimbursement for yield losses throughout the life of the Navigator project, Bates said.

The other side: Keokuk County farmer Steve Roquet told Axios that Dakota Pipeline officials made him a similar 240% reimbursement promise in 2016.

• But it's calculated in such a way that it fails to fully cover losses, he said.

Of note: Dakota Access Pipeline officials didn't return a call seeking comment.

What to watch: If Navigator's proposal gets state approval, construction could begin in 2024.

Nina's Tacos opened late last year and its atypical menu — along with the story behind the restaurant — make it worthy of a visit.

State of play: A year ago, Nina Tejeda, a single mom of four children, was working three jobs, she told Axios.

• Her homemade tacos were popular among friends, who last year convinced her to buy a food truck and launch a business.
• She made enough money from a few festivals to quit her other jobs and open her new, permanent spot.

State of plate: Nina's offers more than two dozen menu items, ranging from a Mexican-style pizza to ramen with birria.

• Birria — a meat stew that's cooked with chiles and other seasonings for hours — is the star ingredient of many of Tejeda's dishes.
• Jason tried three quesa tacos, which included birria in a toasted, double shell taco with cheese. ($3.64 each) Yum.

⏰ Open: Tuesday-Saturday from noon to 8pm; Sunday, 11am-6pm.

• 1301 E. Watrous Ave., DSM.

Share Tejeda's story.

🗳 An Ankeny petition drive calling for a special school board election was called off yesterday due to COVID-19 infections, organizers announced. (Facebook)

📈 Iowa's COVID-19 death rates could near the state's previous peak of 425 weekly deaths from late 2020. The CDC projects Iowa will reach 400 deaths per week by Feb. 15. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

🏀 Hawkeye basketball star Caitlin Clark was named the Big Ten Player of the Week for the fourth consecutive time. (Sports Illustrated)

Polk County's portion of property taxes for low-income seniors and people with disabilities would be rebated under a proposal announced this week by Supervisor Matt McCoy.

Why it matters: It could mean hundreds of dollars in savings a year for roughly 20,000 homeowners.

Driving the news: McCoy will officially introduce the proposal at a meeting at 9:30am today.

What he's saying: McCoy cited the county's budget surplus, saying the local government can afford the proposal's estimated revenue loss, which could be up to $8 million in the first year.

Yes, but: The county's budget planning process for the fiscal year that starts in July is well underway.

Of note: The four other supervisors recently approved a resolution to remove McCoy from nearly all of his board appointments.

• McCoy is also running for re-election this year.

⏳ We handpick the best among the rest with our local job listings.

1. Americas client solutions architect networking and security at VMware.
2. PC/LAN technician at Shazam.
3. Performance media-service model transformation at Accenture.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Post a Job.

We've shared a few of the unique challenges new refugees in Des Moines are facing, like getting access to oral care and finding housing.

• Yes, but: There are ways that everyday Iowans can lend a hand.

State of play: The nonprofit Des Moines Refugee Support collects donations to help families feel more acclimated, said Alison Hoeman, who helped start the group.

What they want: Just a few simple items can help make the adjustment easier, especially for the Afghan refugees.

• For example: Sewing machines and fabrics to make clothes, big carafes to serve tea and round baking pans for bread.
• Or: Large-area rugs, as many of the apartments are hardwood.

What else: Read the whole list.

• Plus: Hoeman's Amazon wishlist includes items that are a high priority for the refugees.

Where to donate: Redeemer Presbyterian Church on Feb. 5 from 3-6pm.

Have a larger donation? More info on where to drop it off here.

Des Moines City Council altered its meeting procedural rules again for the sixth time in the last two years, including one that requires all motions be seconded to proceed with discussion.

• Indira Sheumaker, who took office this month, noted that she's only the third Black person ever elected to the council and said the timing "is very suspect."