Axios Des Moines

Des Moines Water Works is considering a $50+ million plan to build wells north of the metro to help remediate struggles with high nitrates, CEO Ted Corrigan tells Axios.

Why it matters: The project would be a big investment that could influence future water rates and help reduce the utility's operation costs.

Catch up fast: Nitrates are naturally occurring compounds that can be harmful when excessive in drinking water.

• Fertilizers, wastewater treatment plants and septic systems are common water nitrate contributors.

Zoom in: DSM Water Works operates its nitrate removal facility when levels are high, which can cost upwards of $10,000 a day.

• The facility ran 405 days in the last 10 years, costing nearly $5 million, according to utility data requested by Axios.

What they're saying: Water Works has for years recognized the need for additional nitrate removal capacity as the utility grows, Corrigan said.

• Radial collector wells, which use a natural filtration process, could offer a long-term and efficient solution for up to 25 million gallons of water a day, Corrigan said.
• The wells would simultaneously help the utility avoid growing problems with algae blooms.

What's next: The project has been added to the utility's overall $362 million five-year capital improvement plan but its review is ongoing.

• If plans move forward, the wells would likely be constructed on public land along the Des Moines River and with cooperation of the Army Corps of Engineers, Corrigan said.

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Police released the names of the two Des Moines teenagers killed in Monday afternoon's downtown shooting.

• Rashad Carr, 16
• Gionni Dameron, 18

Catch up fast: The shooting occurred at "Starts Right Here," an education and monitoring program for at-risk youth started by local rapper and activist Will Keeps.

• Preston Walls of DSM, 18, was arrested for murder soon after the event.
• Keeps was shot while trying to escort Walls from the building and remains hospitalized in serious condition, police said yesterday.

Of note: All three teens were known to be involved in gangs, police said.

• Investigators believe a gang dispute prompted the shooting.

What's next: Walls remains in the Polk County Jail on a $2.5 million bond.

• A preliminary hearing in his case is scheduled for Feb. 3.

Statewide union membership grew last year, per recently released data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The big picture: 10.1% of U.S. workers were unionized in 2022, down from 10.3% in 2021 and a high of 20.1% in 1983, the first year the BLS reported comparable figures, Axios' Nathan Bomey writes.

Zoom in: The share of Iowa workers represented by a union increased by nearly half a percent last year, from 8.3% to 8.7%.

The bottom line: 2022 was a high profile year for unionizing efforts, including Planned Parenthood Iowa workers and Grinnell students.

🏀 During a win against previously undefeated No. 2 Ohio State on Monday, Iowa's Caitlin Clark joined Dwyane Wade as the only college basketball player this century to record a triple-double against an AP top-two opponent. (ESPN)

Des Moines Police said they confiscated a gun from a student at East High School yesterday. (KCCI)

🍴 Former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad was named the president of the World Food Prize. (WHO-13)

A mom said her 1-year-old daughter was burned by bleach at Yellow Brick Road Early Childhood Development Center in Grimes. (KCCI)

The DSM City Council agreed to pay $45,000 to settle a racial profiling lawsuit filed by a man who alleged police stopped and cuffed him in 2018 without probable cause. (KCCI)

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

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Keeping thousands of theater-goers happy is a uniquely challenging role that Jeff Chelesvig, president and CEO of Des Moines Performing Arts, has been doing for 28 years.

• He's rubbed shoulders with some of the industry's biggest names, but the simple pleasure of a good word game (the New York Times' Spelling Bee, more specifically) is still how he likes to start his mornings.
• "I play it until I get the 'genius' because I have to get the genius," he says.

We asked Chelesvig about the rest of his morning routine:

⏰ Wake up: 6:30-6:45am. Usually he'd frequent the gym in the morning, but after a bout of COVID-19 over the holidays, "it's been a little hard to get back into."

🍌 Breakfast: Yogurt, cereal and coffee.

🗞️ What he's reading: Several news sites and email follow-ups until he walks into work at the civic center.

🌙 Pro tip: He goes into work a little bit later and stays after most people are gone to better concentrate.

• "I find it's a little quieter."

✏️ Hit reply and tell us whose local morning routine you'd like to read about.

"Joni's Wish" is a children's book that comes out in March about a girl who discovers a friend is unable to ride bikes with her because of a disability.

• It was written by Jon Phillips, a board member of Variety — the Children's Charity of Iowa.

Why it matters: The book is based on real stories about Iowa children assisted by Variety who lack access to common items because they often need expensive customized equipment.

🎉 Get it first: Proceeds of a Feb. 21 launch party will help purchase mobility equipment for a child.

• Tickets are $100 and include a signed copy of the book.
• 5:30pm at NCMIC Insurance, 14001 University Ave. in Clive

Of note: The book can also be pre-ordered online. ($20)