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The abandoned UnityPoint Hospital in Marshalltown, handed over to the city in June, is sparking legal drama as its former owners appeal the transfer, halting the city’s plans to assess and repurpose the site. With courts weighing in, the future of this vacant landmark hangs in the balance — and everyone’s watching to see if the city’s ownership holds or if this legal tug-of-war drags on. Listen in...

A nine-year-old girl, Madalaine-Rose Berger, died in a July Fourth crash in South Dakota when her father, Zachary Berger, rolled a utility vehicle while making a turn — a tragedy that has led to felony charges including vehicular homicide and abuse of a minor. Though Berger and a teen passenger escaped injury, Madalaine-Rose was not wearing a seatbelt and died at the scene. This isn’t the first ti...

Iowa sports betting saw a massive $185 million in wagers in June, but sportsbooks took a major hit—revenue dropped over 20% despite only a 3% dip in total bets. Bettors walked away with more winnings, leaving operators like Circa Sports Iowa in the red. Over 95% of action was online, with Crown IA Gaming and Betfair Interactive US leading the market—but even they saw profit declines. The state’s s...

Clive Festival Water Slide Returns | Des Moines News

Jason Halkias, a pizza pilgrim from Davenport, Iowa, has visited 228 Pizza Ranch locations since 2005—and he’s not stopping anytime soon. What began in Muscatine as a personal quest has turned into a nationwide obsession, fueled by his love for the unique, communal vibe of these buffet spots. After hitting 100 locations in 2023, he’s now chasing every new opening, driven by the thrill of the hunt...

A tragic Fourth of July ATV crash in Iowa claims the life of nine-year-old Madie Berger, leaving her family devastated and sparking serious legal consequences for Zachary Berger, the driver indicted on charges including vehicular homicide and DUI. A 16-year-old boy was also injured in the collision. Berger, currently held on a $50,000 bond, faces court on July 28th — a case that underscores the de...

A convicted felon sentenced to 20 years for accidentally shooting his friend Tony Young—Des Moines’ first homicide of the year—pleaded guilty while admitting he was drunk and high. The gun, found tossed in a creek, discharged during a failed attempt to unload it. Young’s family, visibly shattered, described him as a beacon of love and light, now missing from their lives. His mother mourns the sile...

Iowa’s drought situation is improving, with most of the state now drought-free after recent storms, but ten percent—mostly in the north and west—still faces moderate drought, especially in the northwest where dry June conditions linger under a possible September drought watch. Moderate drought already stresses crops like corn and soybeans, risking pod abortion and lower yields. While the next week...

Des Moines just welcomed its new tallest residential tower—515 Walnut, now standing at 33 stories and 347 feet, with 390 apartments ready to redefine urban living. After years of delays, legal hurdles, and pandemic-driven cost spikes, this $150 million project is finally complete to the top, with interiors set to finish by May 2027. Offering a mix of studio to two-bedroom units—with 10% affordable...

After 22 years at the helm, Iowa State’s longest-serving athletics director, Jamie Pollard, is stepping down — planning to retire in June 2027 unless a successor is found sooner. Under his leadership, fundraising soared from $9M to a projected $53M annually, and over $400M was invested in new facilities. His tenure also brought 24 Big 12 titles across eight sports and two national AD of the Year h...

Iowa State’s longest-serving athletic director, Jamie Pollard, is retiring after 22 years — the longest tenure of any Power Four AD — with his last day set for June 30, 2027, or sooner if a successor is found. His departure, announced unexpectedly on Friday, sent shockwaves through the college sports world, as fans and analysts praised his transformative leadership that propelled multiple programs...

The Coop Chicken Fingers is exploding across the Midwest—four new drive-thru locations are on the way, with two already crushing it in Kansas and two more hitting Iowa this fall. Built on a simple promise: premium chicken fingers without the premium price, they’re adding a new Fox Sauce to satisfy cravings and fueling growth with their wildly popular Ames spot. Neon fox signs and strategic expansi...

A tenant vanished from a luxury Iowa City penthouse, leaving behind $14,000 in unpaid rent and a wrecked space—police are now hunting them down as the landlord fights to recover losses and figure out what drove someone to abandon such a high-stakes situation. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN: advertise@thednn.ai This is an aut...

Swimming season is heating up — but not all beaches are safe. For the week of July 10, eleven Iowa state beaches got a “hold up” warning due to elevated E. coli or algae levels, with spots like Backbone Beach and Lake Darling Beach on the list. Four beaches have cleared the safety threshold, including Beeds Lake and Pine Lake South. Always verify before you dive — two beaches are temporarily off t...

After 22 transformative years as Iowa State’s athletics director — the longest-serving AD in school history and the longest-tenured active AD among Power Four schools — Jamie Pollard is stepping down on June 30, 2027, to embrace retirement with his wife Ellen. He’s announcing his exit now to give the program ample time to find a successor amid the seismic shifts reshaping college sports. From thei...

Window washers at Blank Children’s Hospital traded squeegees for capes, transforming their daily routine into a superhero spectacle for young patients. Dressed as Batman, Thor, and the Flash, they brought comic-book magic to hospital rooms, turning tough days into moments of pure joy. For kids like six-year-old Wyatt and three-year-old Abbie, the visit sparked excitement and energy, lifting spirit...

At 1:30 AM on a Friday, a frantic call led deputies to a stopped big rig on I-80 in Poweshiek County—where a man was found dead in a ditch after the driver claimed to have struck something. Authorities haven’t yet released the victim’s identity, but the medical examiner is on the case, with an autopsy pending. The Iowa State Patrol is leading the investigation into this tragic, high-stakes crash t...

A respected Iowa pollster, Ann Selzer, is facing off against former President Trump in court as his legal team tries to shut down her pre-2024 poll showing Kamala Harris ahead in Iowa — a poll now being called election interference. Selzer’s lawyers are pushing back fiercely, demanding the lawsuit be dismissed, with a key hearing set for Friday at the Polk County Courthouse. This legal showdown pi...

Allegiant Air just pulled off a $1.5 billion buyout of Sun Country Airlines — a major shake-up that could unlock a whole new world of travel options for Des Moines flyers. While operations will stay separate for 18-24 months, the merger promises more routes, especially to tropical destinations like the Caribbean and South America, without jacking up prices. Both airlines are budget champs and the...

At 1:30 AM on a Friday, a chilling discovery unfolded on I-80 in Poweshiek County: a deceased man found in the ditch after being struck by a semi truck. The driver, who thought he’d hit something, pulled over as deputies arrived. Authorities are now racing to identify the victim through autopsy and investigation, while the Iowa State Patrol works to reconstruct the events leading up to the fatal c...

A deadly two-vehicle crash on Highway Six near Amana in Iowa County has left one person dead, prompting a full investigation by the Iowa State Patrol as emergency crews worked to manage the scene — a sobering reminder of road dangers and the lives lost too soon. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN: advertise@thednn.ai This is an...

Central Iowa Water Works just shattered its own nitrate removal record, running nonstop for 179 days — beating last year’s 177-day streak — to keep drinking water safe as nitrate levels spiked in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers. The facility’s eight specialized vessels are working overtime, and to help, officials slapped a lawn watering ban on 600,000 customers in June, slashing daily usage from...

Measles is making a comeback in Iowa — a vaccinated traveler brought it home from abroad, sparking a public health alert. With over 2,200 U.S. cases already this year — and nearly 9 in Iowa last year — experts warn that international travel and falling vaccination rates are fueling the resurgence. Once declared eliminated in 2000, measles is sneaking back into our communities, reminding us that va...

Urbandale is launching a partial special census in April 2027 to capture its booming population growth—now estimated at over 48,000, up from 45,580 in 2020—focusing only on rapidly developing northwest neighborhoods hit by a housing boom, skipping a full count to save money while still securing vital state and federal funding. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.c...

Labor and delivery services at CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs are shutting down after August 31, forcing expectant moms to travel to Omaha—just across the river—for care. The hospital blames a critical shortage of OB/GYNs and specialized staff, not Medicaid cuts as some have suggested. This isn’t an isolated case: it’s the third birthing unit to close in Iowa this year, with more to follow. By 20...