Iowa's only full-time Islamic school is hoping the state's new private school scholarship program can help bolster its enrollment and provide funds to improve classrooms.

Why it matters: AlRazi Academy in West Des Moines serves as a "bridge" for newly immigrated families from the Middle East, principal Ihsan Yaseen tells Axios.

• Kids who attend AlRazi can transition more easily into public schools, thanks to staff that help them acclimate to life in the U.S., Yaseen says.

Driving the news: School began yesterday for AlRazi's close to 60 students between kindergarten and fifth grade.

• By 2024-25, Yaseen hopes the school will be accredited, which will qualify it for the state's voucher program. That will help it expand up to eighth grade and 300 total students.

What's happening: AlRazi is finishing renovations this year after receiving over $300,000 in grants from the state over the last three years.

• School officials renovated classrooms, added a kitchen, built a playground and purchased a school bus with the funds.
• State officials are holding a comprehensive site visit in October to check if the school meets accreditation standards.

Flashback: AlRazi started nearly 20 years ago and moved to its current Valley Junction space in 2012 as the school expanded, Yaseen says. It accommodated students up to eighth grade.

Yes, but: After COVID hit in 2020, the school closed its doors and partnered with local public schools to provide online lessons for the year.

• It reopened in 2021-22 but with fewer staff and students, cutting down to just kindergarten through fourth grade, Yaseen says. They added fifth grade this year.

Of note: Though it's an Islamic school, students do not have to be Muslim to attend and can opt out of religious courses.

What's next: The school receives daily calls about using funds from the new program to attend, Yaseen says.

• That would help families who can't afford the currently $475 monthly tuition.
• If the school can start accepting the vouchers, officials plan to use the funds to improve staff pay, build an indoor gym and purchase more library books.

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Corn — the Midwest's golden child — is making us all a little more miserable right now.

Driving the news: A heat dome encompassing most of the central U.S. this week is causing dangerously hot conditions, and "corn sweat" isn't making things much better.

State of play: Scientifically known as evapotranspiration, "corn sweat" is the process of corn releasing vapor into the air after absorbing water through its roots.

• The vapor is sticking around and contributing to the region's higher-than-normal moisture levels, National Weather Service meteorologist Rod Donavon tells Axios.
• While corn sweat is never the main reason for major heat, it can add to it.

The big picture: Even though states like Arizona may be the same temperature as Iowa right now, the humidity makes the heat feel significantly worse in the Midwest.

• Phoenix clocked in at 101° yesterday afternoon while its heat index felt the same. Meanwhile, Des Moines hit 97°, but the heat index was 114°, according to the NWS.

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🏈 Hawkeye defensive tackle Noah Shannon was suspended for the season after acknowledging his involvement in sports wagering. Iowa says it will appeal the NCAA's decision. (ESPN)

🚨 Federal narcotics investigations led to at least 10 metro site searches. (WHO-13)

🥳 The former Riverwalk Hub restaurant is now open for public rentals.

⭐️ Today's headline maker: Emily Kessinger of DSM.

Friday

👄 Try some new eats: The World Food & Music Festival returns to Western Gateway Park this weekend.

• Free admission and parking! Friday-Saturday, 11am-10pm; 11am-5pm Sunday.

🪕 Catch a concert: The Avett Brothers are at Wells Fargo Arena at 7pm.

• Tickets start at $49.

Saturday

🥾 Become a trailblazer: A mini training event and hike for recreational trail volunteers at Brown's Woods in WDM is at 9am.

• Free!

🙊 Get some laughs: Comedian Craig Ferguson's "The Fancy Rascal Tour" is at Hoyt Sherman Place at 8pm.

• Tickets start at $40.

Sunday

🎶 Listen to the beat: Local band Haywire is at Haines Park in Altoona at 6pm.

• Free!

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💼 Check out who's hiring on our Job Board.

1. Director, Sales Development at Innovation Refunds.
2. Controller at Robert Half.
3. Executive Creative Director at Strategic America.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Use code FIRST50 for $50 off your first job post.

📬 Hit reply and correctly guess the busy DSM location where Jason has no sidewalk and we'll add you to a drawing for a free Axios shirt.

• Check back tomorrow for the answer and a story about this spot.

The Iowa State Fair was awarded a "certificate of shame" yesterday by PETA.

Zoom in: The Staggeringly Worst Example Award is "for climate, cruelty and cholesterol obliviousness."

• The Deep-Fried Bacon Brisket Mac-n-Cheese Grilled Cheese epitomizes those problems, the group said in a statement.

💬 Our thought bubble: This is just "a little warm up" grease for Minn. Gov. Tim Walz at today's start of the Minnesota State Fair.