Iowa Republican candidates are using transgender people in their television and social media advertisements to villainize their Democratic opponents.

Driving the news: In a new Facebook ad sponsored by Iowa Sen. Jake Chapman’s campaign, the Republican accuses Democrat Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott of being a "radical activist" and "voting to allow biological males to compete in girls sports."

• The ad references a new law passed earlier this year that bans transgender girls from playing in K-12 and collegiate sports that align with their gender identity.
• Trone Garriott voted against it, while Chapman was a vocal leader for it.

What they're saying: Trone Garriott told Axios that Chapman is "resorting to misleading and mean-spirited attacks," to detract from his voting record.

What's happening: Brenna Bird, a Republican running for Iowa Attorney General, accused incumbent Tom Miller of freeing a sex offender in a new television ad "because the man had a sex change."

• The ad references Josie Smith, an Iowa sex offender who identified as a man when she was convicted of sexual contact with a minor in 2012 and 2013. Smith was paroled in 2020 — after transitioning— but the state tried and then abandoned efforts to to commit her to a treatment program for sex offenders upon release.
• Smith was sent back to prison this year after obtaining child pornography, according to the Storm Lake Times.

Meanwhile, Miller said Bird's ad is "enormously deceptive."

• The AG's office attempted to commit Smith to a treatment facility upon her release, but a state expert determined she did not meet the criteria to be a "sexually violent predator" because she started transitioning in 2017 and had lower testosterone levels.

The other side: “This ad isn’t about transgender people, it’s about protecting children. It’s about a sexual predator allowed free by Tom Miller. He can try to change the subject all he wants, but the facts speak for themselves.” Marshall Moreau, Bird for Iowa Campaign manager, said in a statement.

The big picture: Using transgender people in negative campaign ads is on the rise nationally, said Keenan Crow, spokesperson for One Iowa, an LGBT advocacy group.

• "The Brenna Bird thing is trying to maximize on the groomer myth that we're seeing all across social media and going back to archaic myths about LGBTQ people being more likely to be sex offenders, which we know isn't true," Crow said.
• "It's incredibly destructive and wrong to weaponize rhetoric against marginalized communities."

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A $10.5 million apartment building will be constructed in the Sherman Hill neighborhood, under a preliminary agreement approved by the Des Moines City Council this week.

State of play: Hoyt Investments, an Iowa company, is proposing a 47-unit, four-story building at 610 16th St.

• It's currently a vacant lot adjacent to the Crescent Chevrolet Building.

Details: Des Moines would provide just over $1.7 million in tax incentives.

• Hoyt has agreed to an affordable rent structure for most of the apartments under the preliminary agreement.

Meanwhile: Hoyt is also planning a multi-residential "infill reuse project" just west of the apartment building at 1619 High St., which is currently a single-family house.

• That project will have 15 units and is expected to be considered by the city council in the near future.

What's next: A final agreement on the Sherman Hill apartment will be completed in the coming weeks.

• Construction is anticipated to begin in the spring and take just over a year to complete.

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🧠 The Greater Des Moines Partnership is brainstorming new ways to improve downtown, including reducing traffic lanes on the Ninth Street Bridge, widening pedestrian paths to the East Village and creating more green space. (Business Record)

🛒 Hy-Vee will build a micro-fulfillment center in WDM. (Business Record)

🏗 Southeast 14th Street is the target of a new revitalization plan by the city of DSM. (KCCI)

⚾️ The Savannah Bananas — a baseball team likened to the Harlem Globetrotters — will play at Principal Park next year. Date: TBD. (WHO-13)

⭐️ Today's headline maker: Noah Beacom of DSM.

Gusto Pizza Bar officially returned to DSM this week after a summer move and temporary hiatus.

• The new location, 2301 Ingersoll Ave., is four blocks away from the longtime "mothership" that closed in July for the move.

Catch up fast: Plans to take Gusto "to the next level" were in the works since 2019 but delayed due to the pandemic, owners said in a press release Wednesday.

• The new spot has a private room and a more elaborate menu with an expanded drink menu.

On the menu: New pizzas, sandwiches and pasta bakes.

• Sweet corn mac 'n' cheese bake with bacon and corn bread. ($14)
• Betty Crocker, a Chicago deep-dish pizza with roasted chicken and gravy, havarti, peas, carrots and onions. ($16)

On Jason's plate: I started with an order of onion ring poutine. It comes with beef barbacoa, barbecue sauce, queso and jalapeno. ($13)

• I kept that theme running with a barbacoa Detroit-style pizza, which included adobe sauce, mozzarella, avocado and beef au jus for dipping. ($17)

🥩 Thought bubble: Beef juice to dip pizza? Such an unexpected and surprisingly yummy twist.

• I've missed you, Gusto. Welcome back.

Of note: Gusto's WDM restaurant permanently closed last month so staff can focus on its new and larger location, owner Josh Holderness told Axios Wednesday.

Hours: Daily from 11am-10pm and until 11pm on Saturday and Sunday.

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Correctly identify where Jason is in the DSM metro and we'll put you in a drawing for some free Axios swag.

• Look for the answer — and a story about this spot — in tomorrow's newsletter.