Wooly's is at risk of losing its ability to sell alcohol after the property was deemed a "nuisance" because it violated the city's noise ordinance, according to city documents.

Why it matters: The East Village staple, which offers a stage for local and touring artists, is one of the city's few midsize music venues.

Driving the news: A zoning enforcement officer is recommending the Zoning Board of Adjustment reconsider the building's conditional use permit after noise levels in the area immediately outside the venue exceeded 65 decibels, the most allowed by the city.

• Two valid noise complaints were confirmed by police, Zoning Enforcement Officer Chris Heilskov tells Axios.

How it started: Noise complaints from a nearby property owner, Chuck Larson, prompted police to monitor the venue's sound, and they determined it violated city code, Loyd Ogle, a local attorney in the music industry, tells Axios.

• "Persistent mid-afternoon noise disturbances" have disrupted business operations for tenants at 510 E. Locust St., Mike Richards, an attorney for 510 E. Locust LLC, told Axios in a statement.
• Richards says the venue has declined his clients' requests for Wooly's to move the venue's sound check schedule from earlier in the day to 5pm.

The other side: Josh Ivey, co-owner of the venue, says they were "taken off guard" by the zoning officer's recommendation, saying they haven't dealt with major issues like this before.

• As more businesses and people move into the East Village, he hopes the issue is just a part of "growing pains" between the venue, city officials and the neighborhood, he says.

Details: Musicians at Wooly's occasionally conduct sound checks earlier in the day and neighboring businesses can hear them, Ogle says.

• Most nearby workers are gone in the evenings when the concerts occur.

Tension point: Wooly's tries to hold the majority of its sound checks after 4:30pm, but it's difficult to force that schedule on national touring acts, Ogle explains.

• Many of those acts simply wouldn't agree to play at Wooly's if a later sound check was required, and that would hurt the venue just as much as losing a liquor license, he says.

The big picture: Des Moines has spent years balancing live music venues and the noise they can cause for neighbors.

What's next: The Zoning Board of Adjustment will consider the Wooly's issue on Sept. 25.

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Des Moines' traffic department is recommending the construction of new speed humps along three busy streets in multiple neighborhoods.

Why it matters: Other types of road safety efforts have met resistance from city residents who contend they go too far and overly impede traffic.

Driving the news: DSM Transportation Safety Committee meets Tuesday to consider the projects.

• Williams/East 42nd Street — between East University Avenue and Easton Boulevard — would include nine humps and a raised crosswalk.
• Center Street — between 28th and 29th streets — would see three humps.
• Hull Avenue — between 2nd Avenue and North Union Street — would get six.

Flashback: Des Moines adopted a citywide traffic calming program in 2017. Dozens of speed humps have since been added.

• Last year, the city also adopted "Vision Zero," a safety goal that includes multiple projects to reduce lanes of traffic in favor of bike- and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, as part of a "road diet" plan.

What's next: If approved, the projects would be constructed in 2027.

🏈 Iowa State defeated Iowa 20-19 during last Saturdy's Cy-Hawk game. (KCCI)

⛽️ Casey's convenience store chain will grow faster in the coming months than initially anticipated. (Radio Iowa)

📚 Some Iowa teachers fear even asking students how they're feeling will unintentionally break a new state law. (Des Moines Register)

💵 Property tax reform is the top priority for Iowa House Republicans next year. (Radio Iowa)

⭐️ Today's headline maker: Tony Voss of DSM

Raygun owner Mike Draper starts his days with a 4:30am jog. But don't confuse him with those types of early-morning athletes.

• "I just go like three miles," Draper tells Axios. "Which is kind of demoralizing, because then you hear Chuck Grassley runs three miles. So I'm doing like an octogenarian Senator training routine."

Driving the news: Since 2005, the Des Moines-based print shop has grown into an iconic Midwest business with stores in Kansas City, Lincoln, Chicago and Omaha.

What they're saying: Even though Draper could move just about anywhere else, the Van Meter native says he plans on staying in Des Moines "'till the bitter end," even when there's prettier pastures and the state's politics shift more red. (His business is known for its "progressive humor.")

• "I'm project-driven among all else," Draper says. "And so, the store as a project is infinitely interesting to me more than like, location, travel, activities, hobbies."

Here's how Draper starts his day:

⏰ Wake up: 4:30am at the beginning of the week and 6am by the end of it.

🍳 Breakfast: White tea from his miniature Gong Fu Tea setup at home and then black iced coffee from Daisy Chain. No food.

💡 His advice to budding entrepreneurs: If you're just in it to make money — don't.