All eyes are on Gov. Kim Reynolds' desk, where a bill scaling back early voting in Iowa awaits her signature after it passed the state Legislature late Wednesday.

• Why it matters: Iowans cast a record-breaking 1 million early votes in 2020. But under the bill, they would have less time to send out their absentee ballots if they want to vote by mail in future elections.

The bill would:

• Reduce early voting days from 29 to 20.
• Close polls at 8pm instead of 9pm.
• Require absentee ballots to arrive by the time polls close, versus being postmarked the day before the election.
• Shorten deadlines for absentee ballot requests and voter pre-registration to 15 days before Election Day. (It's currently 10.)
• Create felony charges for county auditors who don't follow election guidance from the Iowa Secretary of State, according to IPR.

The state of play: Republicans agree voter fraud was not an issue in Iowa last year.

• But legislators like Sen. Jim Carlin (R-Sioux City) said they're skeptical of election integrity in other states, which he said is the motivation for the bill, according to Radio Iowa.

Democrats argue the bill suppresses votes and creates unnecessary barriers when there was no evidence of fraud in the most recent election.

• "Are voters asking for one less hour to vote?" said Rep. Jennifer Konfrst (D-Windsor Heights) according to the Register.

Reynolds herself confirmed there was no election fraud locally.

• But she said she believes there are ways to "enhance and improve" Iowa's elections.

What to watch for: Reynolds' spokesperson told the Register she is not signing any bills this week.

• If she does sign it into law, expect lawsuits.

There will be $2.2 million in losses at the Iowa Events Center this fiscal year, according to a new Polk County estimate.

• The losses comes from the convention center side of operations, which includes Hy-Vee Hall, where trade shows are often held.
• The Wells Fargo Arena side of the operation is projected to turn a $120k profit.

Why it matters: It’s your money. Polk County government is on the hook to cover the gap for convention center operations.

Context: The pandemic is to blame.

• Local officials projected a $900,000 loss to convention operations in May of 2020. But event disruptions have been far more extensive than that early forecast.
• Snow removal and utilities have also cost more in recent months than was initially budgeted.

The good news: Events Center plans are picking up as vaccine distribution widens and the pandemic subsides, general manager Chris Connolly told us.

• The Iowa Barnstormers are set to play a full season this year, albeit a bit delayed.

The city’s three golf courses experienced a significant surge in business in 2020, a financial report sent to the city council last week shows.

• The reason is no surprise: It’s an activity where social distancing comes naturally, Parks and Rec director Ben Page said in a memo to the DSM City Council.

But here is a shocker: DSM’s increase in rounds played — 31% — was more than double the national figure (14%), according to The National Golf Foundation.

🔍 Iowa will launch a COVID-19 vaccine locator today.

💉 Essential workers and people with disabilities in Iowa can start getting their shots in early March, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Thursday. (Associated Press)

😔 A Windsor Heights lawmaker says she got hate messages and was featured on the "Jihad Watch" website after she shared a Muslim prayer before the Iowa Senate earlier this month. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

🌊 Flood insurance rates might go down for DSM homeowners. (Des Moines Register)

Polk County’s vacant treasurer position will be filled by appointment on March 9, supervisors agreed this week.

• The office vacancy is a result of the recent death of longtime treasurer Mary Maloney.

The appointment is through 2022, filling the remainder of Maloney’s final term in office.

But residents can file a petition calling for a special election, which could shorten the appointee's tenure (unless of course they ran and won).

• A petition needs at least 25,876 signatures, 10% of the 258,755 votes cast by Polk voters in November’s presidential election.
• It would be due within two weeks of the March 9 appointment.

Last week we reported how certain commercial property segments in Polk County will increase in value by as much as 35% in upcoming reassessments.

• Reassessments will be mailed before April 1.

That got our wheels spinning: What businesses are currently sitting on the priciest parcels?

Here they are, according to assessed values listed by Polk County Assessor.

1. Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino: 1 Prairie Meadows Drive, Altoona, $136 million.

2. Wellmark: 1331 Grand Ave., Des Moines, $114.8 million.

3. Nationwide Mutual Insurance: 1100 Locust St., Des Moines, $93 million.

4. Linden Street Investors (Kum & Go headquarters): 1459 Grand Ave., Des Moines, $91.4 million.

5. Microsoft Corporation: 550 SE White Crane Rd, West Des Moines, $85.3 million. (No photo available)

Hundreds of artifacts from early metro-area civilizations have been donated to Polk County in the last 30 years and now conservationists want to put them on permanent display.

Driving the news: Polk County Conservation has raised about $22,000 for an exhibit at the Jester Park Nature Center, which will cost about $60,000, employee Lewis Major told Jason.

Details: The artifacts were mostly found in or around the Yellow Banks Park area and represent more than 12,000 years of human inhabitance.

• The collection includes arrowheads, axes, celts, pottery sherds and a rare bannerstone.

The goal is for the exhibit to open in the spring of 2022.

Read more and donate here.