Poultry industry officials and government researchers will gather today and tomorrow in Des Moines to discuss next steps if the bird flu virus returns this fall or next spring. The virus resulted in the deaths of 48 million birds, decimating flocks in Iowa.
IDOT is keeping an eye on Congress this week, to see what will be the fate of the federal highway fund. The fund is set to expire on Friday. It pays half the expenses of the state’s road projects.
I-235 is carrying a lot more traffic than engineers predicted when they planned the freeway 16 years ago. A Business Record analysis shows the number of cars and trucks traversing the stretch in western Des Moines and West Des Moines has exceeded what planners estimated for 2020.
Des Moines Water Works customers are going to be on the hook for more than one-and-a-half million dollars this year in nitrate removal costs…that’s the word from CEO Bill Stowe. He says it could lead to double digit rate increases for customers.
Des Moines is considering making some changes to its tax abatement programs…changes that are not winning points with home builders. The proposal would cut the 5-year 100-percent abatement on single family homes to a declining schedule. It would also eliminate the 5-year 100-percent abatement on new multi-family construction outside of the targeted area.
Iowa is seeing an increase in the number of work permits for 14-and-15-year-olds. Many of the workers are filling in gaps in the regular workforce, although they are restricted from some jobs, such as construction, manufacturing or running fry machines.
UnitedHealthcare is shelling out more than a million dollars in bonuses total to 60 Iowa doctors as part of its Medicare Quality Program. Apparently not all healthcare providers are pushing prevention, however. The CDC says fewer than half of adults over 65 are up to date with core preventative services, despite getting regular checkups from their doctors.
West Des Moines’ city council is taking a look at plans for a proposed Jordan West development at the southwest corner of Jordan Creek parkway and EP True parkway. Ryan Construction initially planned an office park to go there, but now it’s looking at a 200-unit multi-family project as well as storefronts and office space.
Some free music to soothe the soul tonight in Windsor Heights…The Windsor Heights Music in the Park Concert Series happens every Tuesday night at Colby Park, starting at 7 PM.
