The city of Des Moines wants to install lights on nine holes at Waveland Golf Course to extend playing hours into the evening.

Why it matters: The project would open up tee times and generate more revenue, city staff say, though some nearby residents are concerned about light pollution and transparency.

State of play: The nine holes are by the west and north sides of the course near I-235, 56th Street and University Avenue, Jenny Richmond, assistant parks and recreation director, tells Axios.

• The placements are meant to limit exposure to neighbors and the woodlands on the east side, she says.
• The lights could allow for other evening programming, including movie nights and sledding.

How it started: Musco Lighting approached the city about the project a year ago and offered to front the estimated $1.5 million installation cost, after installing a similar project in Conrad.

• C-Corporation, which manages the city's golf courses, would pay Musco back through a revenue-sharing arrangement with low costs to the city, Richmond says.
• Musco would use specialized "DarkSky" sports lighting equipment and finish by the end of May.

Yes, but: Some residents near the course say they are concerned about light pollution and its impact on wildlife, as well as the Drake Observatory.

• Chris Collins moved to a home off Polk Boulevard in 2024 after living near Top Golf in West Des Moines, where the lights "pretty much ruined the evening," he tells Axios.
• Molly Berggren has lived in the neighborhood for a decade and worries about the nearby bird sanctuary and losing the neighborhood feel of Waveland, noting the amplified noise from private events at the course.
• "We see bald eagles," Berggren says. "It's just the coolest thing to be able to experience this right where we live."

Between the lines: Residents also question the transparency of the process — the City Council approved a 15-year contract with C-Corp last December and granted an exception to bypass competitive bidding.

• A memo to councilmembers also outlined a partnership with Musco Lighting to illuminate Waveland, though the city must still approve the final agreement between Musco and C-Corp, expected next month.

What they're saying: Richmond says the city has worked with C-Corp since 2006, and no competitors expressed interest in managing the courses.

What's next: People are encouraged to attend an open house detailing the project tonight at 6pm at the Waveland clubhouse.

Millionaire for Life, the Iowa Lottery's first new national lotto game in more than a decade, began sales this week.

Why it matters: The lottery generates tens of millions of dollars annually for state programs and causes, including support for veterans and public safety.

• The new game aligns with a broader industry trend of diversifying lottery offerings to reduce reliance on Powerball and Mega Millions' jackpot cycles, Iowa Lottery CEO Matt Strawn tells Axios.

State of play: The game costs $5 per play, with players picking five numbers from 1 to 58 plus a Millionaire Ball from 1 to 5.

• The top prize is $1 million a year for life.
• It's being played in 31 states and jurisdictions, and Iowans can purchase tickets until 9:15pm the day of the daily drawing.

Zoom in: The game replaces Lucky for Life, a game whose player enthusiasm had stagnated, Strawn says.

By the numbers: The odds of winning the top prize in the new Millionaire game are 1 in nearly 23 million.

Yes, but: That's still better than the Lucky game, which offered a top prize of $1,000 a day for life and had odds of 1 in nearly 31 million.

• DSM resident Shelby Willis won Lucky's grand prize in November 2024 and was the only top-prize winner among tickets purchased in Iowa before the game was retired.

The intrigue: Iowa's foray into sports betting has not dented lottery sales, which have met or exceeded projections in recent years, Strawn says.

• The top five Iowa Lottery sales retailers in the fiscal year that ended in July were Cedar Rapids Hy-Vee food or drug stores, each generating at least $876,550 in sales.

What's next: More national draw games will likely reach the market sooner than in the past decade, Strawn says.

Iowa importers paid over $566 million in tariffs that are now in limbo after the Supreme Court struck down a swath of President Trump's tariffs last week.

Why it matters: Roughly $126 billion nationwide could be subject to refunds.

• But it's unclear who would get the money, or when.

Catch up quick: The overturned tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) likely made a few things more expensive — from clothes and medical supplies for hospitals to fruits, vegetables and liquor.

Yes, but: They were only one piece of Trump's broader tariff agenda.

After the ruling, Trump said he would impose a blanket 10% tariff on all nations under a separate trade law.

• The next day he raised the global tariff to 15%.

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🏷️ The USDA's South Building in Washington, D.C., will be sold following years of advocacy from U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), who argued it was nearly vacant and costing taxpayers unnecessary expense. (Reuters)

🎓 Iowa State is ending a program that promised free tuition for Des Moines students at King and Moulton Elementary schools, which are in some of the city's lowest-income zip codes. (KCCI)

💵 The director of Drake's wrongful convictions clinic was fired and accused of mishandling a nearly $3 million gift. However, a police investigation ended with no charges and her attorney says the university misunderstood the situation. (Des Moines Register)

🚔 A stolen vehicle pursuit that reached speeds of more than 120 mph ended on a dead-end street near the 1800 block of University Ave. in DSM without injury. Two teenagers were arrested and taken to a juvenile detention center. (WHO-13)

💸 Students at Iowa's private colleges that don't close their diversity, equity and inclusion offices would lose access to a state grant of up to $7,500 per year under a bill advancing in the House. (Iowa Public Radio)

🍨 Correctly guess Jason's location by 4pm today for a chance to win a free scoop of ice cream at Scoops by Beth, which launches its regular weekly hours today.

• The winner will be named in tomorrow's newsletter.