Local news
Des Moines
Polk County, Iowa
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Cedar Rapids police PIT maneuver ends in deadly crash
A police chase through four Iowa counties ended in a fatal head-on crash Friday after a Cedar Rapids officer used a PIT maneuver to stop a suspect’s vehicle. The suspect’s car struck a vehicle driven by a 16-year-old…
Iowa drivers warned to stay safe during peak deer mating season
The Iowa State Patrol is warning drivers that deer are more active as the mating season, or rut, reaches its peak, increasing the risk of collisions. Troopers advise motorists to avoid distractions, watch roadsides…
Des Moines post office shooting suspect told police to kill her, court documents say
New court documents reveal that Jennifer Pledger, the suspect in a recent shooting at a Des Moines post office, urged police to kill her during her arrest on a nearby bike trail. Pledger faces attempted murder charges…
Board: U.S. attorney plagiarized application to become a judge
Iowa’s Attorney Disciplinary Board sanctioned federal prosecutor Michael S.A. Hudson over extensive copying in his application for a district court judgeship. The board said the 2026 application repeatedly used the…
2nd Suspect in Downtown Marshalltown Robbery in April Arrested in Des Moines
Dewayne Edward Rowley, 59, was arrested in Des Moines on Nov. 3 on outstanding warrants tied to an April break-in at a Marshalltown business. He faces charges including first-degree theft, third-degree burglary…
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1 hospitalized after large fight at Des Moines Roosevelt
A teenager was hospitalized after a large fight outside Roosevelt High School in Des Moines on Tuesday morning. Police remained at the scene shortly after noon to investigate, and the school district had been contacted…
PHOTOS: Missing children in Iowa
A gallery lists children from Iowa who are recorded as missing in the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children database, including their names, ages, last-known locations and dates last seen. The entries…
Report: wet start to November slows Iowa harvest
Wet conditions at the start of November slowed Iowa’s harvest, leaving farmers with 1.7 suitable fieldwork days during the week ending Nov. 8, according to the USDA’s latest crop report. By Monday, 72% of the corn crop…
Des Moines weather: Another sunny and warm day before cooler changes
Des Moines will see another sunny, unusually warm day Tuesday, with highs in the mid-60s across much of Iowa and lighter winds under high pressure. Cooler, breezier conditions are expected Wednesday, followed by highs…
Des Moines Public Schools, JG Consulting settle lawsuit over Ian Roberts' vetting
Des Moines Public Schools has reached a legal settlement with JG Consulting, the firm responsible for the hiring of former superintendent Ian Roberts. The district had filed a lawsuit alleging the firm failed to…
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Iowa’s Next Governor Joins the Very Short List of Politicians Who Used to Be Models
Iowa's incoming governor has drawn public attention for a unique career background, joining a very exclusive group of American politicians who previously worked as professional models. While the transition from the…
Iowa Winter Weather: How 1 Inch of Water Can Become 20 Inches of Snow
Winter storms in Iowa can produce very different snowfall totals from similar amounts of moisture. One inch of liquid precipitation may yield about five inches of heavy, wet snow or up to 20 inches of lighter snow…
Des Moines library introduces recipe library for community sharing
The East Side Library in Des Moines has launched a Recipe Library where visitors can borrow up to five recipe cards at a time and try them at home. The library is also inviting community members to contribute recipes…
24-team college football playoff could help Iowa teams
A planned expansion of the College Football Playoff to 24 teams could give Iowa and Iowa State more chances to reach the postseason, while ending conference championship games. The change adds 11 playoff games and is…
Des Moines Git-N-Go closes stores but denies shutdown
Des Moines-based convenience store chain Git-N-Go says it is not going out of business, despite store closures, inventory shortages and rumors of a shutdown. Several locations, including stores in Winterset, Norwalk…
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Iowa appeals Satanic Temple Capitol display ruling
Iowa state officials have filed an appeal with the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to block a Satanic Temple holiday display at the State Capitol. This legal action follows a judge's recent temporary injunction…
Rob Sand says Medicaid changes to begin 'day one' in office
Iowa Gov.-elect Rob Sand says he plans to begin the process of ending the state’s privatized Medicaid system on his first day in office, while acknowledging the change will take time. Sand also named Abe Rakov as his…
Des Moines court documents detail post office shooting
New court documents reveal that Jennifer Pledger, the suspect in the Des Moines Main Post Office shooting, demanded that police kill her during her arrest. Pledger faces multiple counts of attempted murder after…
Iowa receives $216 million to boost rural health care
Iowa has received more than $216 million in federal funding to improve rural health care, including cancer treatment and prevention. The award is the second year of funding from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid…
Iowa governor-elect Rob Sand names 3 to team, says compromise is only option with Republican majorities
Iowa governor-elect Rob Sand has named three people to his transition team, including Democrat Abe Rakov, Republican-turned-independent Brian Lohse and former Iowa GOP chairman Mike Mahaffey. Sand said compromise will…
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Iowa awarded $216 million to help with rural health care needs
Iowa has received slightly more than $216 million from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for the second year of its Healthy Hometowns Rural Health Transformation Program. State officials announced the award…
Iowa Gov.-elect Rob Sand emphasizes need for Iowa government to work together
Iowa Gov.-elect Rob Sand says his priorities will require cooperation with the Republican-led Legislature, which will share power after his election. In an interview with Iowa PBS, Sand discussed restricting data…
Study projects Iowa will have largest left congressional shift in the nation
A study by the Institute for Legislative Analysis projects that Iowa’s congressional delegation will shift sharply left when its new members take office in January. The outgoing delegation aligned with the Republican…
2026 Iowa High School Football Semifinal Interviews
Interviews regarding the 2026 Iowa High School Football Semifinals have been released. The coverage features insights from players and coaches as they reflect on the high-stakes games and the journey to the state…
Governor-elect Rob Sand holds first press conference since election
Governor-elect Rob Sand is holding his first press conference since his historic victory last week. The current state auditor, who became the first Democrat to win the position in 20 years, is beginning his transition…
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Des Moines police asking for help finding missing endangered teen
The Des Moines Police Department is seeking the public's assistance in locating 16-year-old Isabelle, who has been missing since last week. Authorities report that the teenager is endangered, as she is without necessary…
Iowa Governor-Elect Rob Sand's Prada Past Meets GOP Reality
Iowa Governor-elect Rob Sand, a former fashion model, faces the challenge of fostering bipartisanship in a state legislature controlled by Republicans. After ending a 20-year Democratic drought in the gubernatorial…
Iowa Governor-Elect Rob Sand holds first news conference
Iowa Governor-Elect Rob Sand is holding his first news conference today to discuss the ongoing transition of his administration. Sand, the first Democrat elected to the state's top office in 20 years, has appointed…
Des Moines motorcyclist killed in crash near east mixmaster
A 61-year-old Des Moines man, Frederick Olson, died Sunday afternoon in a motorcycle crash near the east mixmaster. According to the Iowa State Patrol, the incident occurred on Interstate 80/35 when the motorcycle left…