After years of planning from the Des Moines Performing Arts, Cowles Commons in downtown Des Moines will open in two weeks. DMPA Vice President Mary Kramer spoke at the media event earlier today at the plaza, and said the project is an example of many community organizations and companies coming together. Cowles Commons was funded by $12 million from private and public organizations, and began construction in 2013.
Des Moines Parks and Rec just unveiled a new trail head at Grandview Park earlier this afternoon. Funding for the 2 mile trail was provided by Drake University and Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Des Moines City Council member Bob Mahaffey said this addition helps the city continue to emphasize the importance of parks and trails to the community.
Democrat presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has opened five offices in Iowa. The new locations are in Ames, Council Bluffs, Des Moines, Dubuque, and Iowa City. Clinton is expected to be back in Iowa on June 13th and 14th…but the locations haven’t been announced yet.
House prices are still inching up in greater Des Moines. CoreLogic says they increased one-point-3 percent in April from the previous month, and 3-point-9 percent year-over-year.
Haz-mat experts are now a part of the bird flu cleanup in Iowa. 15 members of the Iowa Hazardous Materials Task Force were called in over the weekend to help clean and disinfect contaminated poultry farms across the state.
State lawmakers can see the finish line to the session…earlier this afternoon, in less than 30 minutes, a bill that gives 561 million dollars in spending to the state’s prison system and the Department of Public Safety cleared both houses and is on the governor’s desk for review.
Coming soon to an Iowa vending machine near you…calorie information on your beverages. Balance Calories Iowa says the goal is to decrease beverage calories in the American diet by 20 percent per person by 2025. The group is also promoting a consumer engagement program to reach teens on their own terms.
A medical study done in part by the University of Iowa has found easy steps taken before surgery can cut the rate of surgical-site infections by up to 40 percent. The study finds things like checking the patient for staph bacteria and giving post-op meds help patients fight off infections after they come out of surgery.
The state department of transportation is almost done installing 24 driver’s license kiosks across the state. The new kiosks can be used for Iowa residents to renew or replace their driver’s licenses without having to wait in line at the DMV. Six are located in the Des Moines metro and one will be in Ames.
Most elected officials in Iowa may soon have to post a phone number or email address online. The bill that requires government officials to give people a direct point of contact cleared both the state Senate and House yesterday. Right now…all but two members of the Senate list their home phone numbers online.
