Polk County could see the expiration of affordability agreements at up to 10 apartment complexes — representing as many as 623 units — in the next five years, according to a new analysis by the Polk County Housing Trust Fund (PCHTF).

Why it matters: Affordable housing is already in short supply across the Des Moines metro, especially for residents with the lowest incomes.

• Rent at apartments or homes with soon-to-expire incentives could surge, causing more families to face housing instability or homelessness, local officials warned.

Catch up quick: Federally supported housing incentives provide property owners with subsidies or tax credits in exchange for offering long-term, below-market rents to low-income families.

• Agreements often last for decades, but many are set to expire soon, per the PCHTF, an agency that helps coordinate affordable housing.

State of play: The preservation report is the first detailed overview of the future of metro housing as programs like the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, which gained widespread use in the 1990s, approach their expiration dates.

• In total, it identified 13 properties that, collectively, have 741 affordable homes across Polk, Dallas and Warren counties with affordability end dates by 2030.

Yes, but: The report also shows that 837 homes or apartments are planned or under construction.

• That's a "healthy pace of production" but more modest when factoring in the potential losses and the growing need for housing, per the report.

Context: Iowa faces a significant affordable housing shortage, with only 38 housing units available for every 100 extremely low-income households, according to the latest report by the National Low-Income Housing Coalition.

• The metro had some of the largest disparities between incomes and housing costs in the state, according to the coalition.

What they're saying: It's usually cheaper to preserve affordable units than to build and enroll new ones, Toby O'Berry, PCHTF's executive director, told Polk County supervisors in a meeting last month.

• And the projects coming online may not serve the same low-income populations, meaning that some of the metro's most affordable housing options could be gone, he said.

What we're watching: Whether Polk County leaders take steps — including funding, policy support and direct engagement with property owners — to prevent expiring properties from converting to market-rate rents.

• PCHTF will begin outreach to owners soon, spokesperson Matt Hauge tells Axios.

The Iowa DOT has launched a new program designed to help young drivers with violations learn from their mistakes before dangerous habits take hold.

Why it matters: "Alive at 25" is aimed at helping drivers aged 14-25 understand the risks tied to their choices behind the wheel, including distracted driving, speeding and peer pressure.

• The program launched in Iowa in August.

How it works: Drivers under 18 who are at risk of getting their license suspended for 30 days can take the online program instead, says DOT Driver Education program manager Vania Boyd.

• The four-hour Zoom course helps them recognize risky road behaviors and learn state laws on seat belts, cellphone use and impaired driving.
• They also learn defensive driving techniques and the influence of peer pressure from friends who may be passengers.
• "When the radio is blaring and everyone's laughing and having a great time, these young drivers ... do not have the full experience yet to deal with distractions," Boyd says. "Sometimes they might not be as confident to say, 'Hey, I'm having a hard time focusing, can you please lower the music?'"

Stunning stat: In 2024, 5,000 young Iowans with an intermediate license had received suspensions and would have been eligible to enter the program, Boyd says.

• She says there's been an increase in distracted driving, as well as young people not wearing seat belts.

State of play: When the program launched in August, 116 people registered and 106 of them took the course and had their suspensions lifted, Boyd says.

• The program costs $60, and all parents can choose to enroll their kids, even if they don't have any violations.
• Eligible drivers facing a suspended license will get a letter in the mail to help them sign up, but interested families can also sign up online.

The bottom line: "We just want to be able to take time to reset the core behavior, transition it to a positive behavior, and then put them back on the road to feel confident," Boyd says.

A norovirus that causes extreme vomiting is on the rise again.

Why it matters: Nicknamed the "winter vomiting disease," the highly contagious norovirus has arrived weeks ahead of expectations, per the CDC.

By the numbers: Cases of norovirus have doubled over the last few weeks, according to new data from the CDC.

Zoom in: Norovirus can cause extreme vomiting and diarrhea due to inflammation of the stomach and intestines, per the CDC.

• Roughly 20 million people contract the norovirus every year, per Scientific American.

Threat level: The norovirus is super contagious and spreads quickly, according to multiple health officials, mainly through drops of body fluids or contact with contaminated surfaces or food.

• The virus can linger for several days or weeks, and spread quickly through highly populated environments like nursing homes, day care centers and cruise ships, the AMA reports.

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💰The DSM City Council will consider allocating $7 million to help build a public plaza planned for the Pro Iowa Soccer Stadium project. (Council agenda)

💵 A reward for information that leads to finding longtime missing Iowa television anchor Jodi Huisentruit has been doubled to $100,000. (KCCI)

🫣 A former DSM Register reporter is "adding unhinged phrases" to vintage clothing, with one about getting a lobotomy at the Mall of America going viral. (Axios)

🍽️ Iowa schools are accumulating millions of dollars in unpaid lunch fees as families struggle to meet household needs. (DSM Register)

Linh here. We got our Christmas tree from the Scouts, and we're ready for the holidays in our household.

State of play: In the spirit of all that is 2025, we topped our tree with a labubu angel — the cutest, ugliest ornament of them all.

Hit reply and share a picture of your favorite ornament! We'll share them in a future newsletter.