Urbandale’s Webster Elementary School and Grinnell’s Davis Elementary are among five Iowa schools named National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2015. The honor is for overall academic excellence, or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student groups. A state educational task force is recommending a new science exam for public schools. The exam aligns with…… MORE
Des Moines’ city hall is getting an overhaul…and it means some of its operations will have to temporarily relocate. The historic building is getting new heating and cooling equipment, and a new sprinkler system. The 3-million dollar project is expected to start next summer. Des Moines’ 25-year comprehensive plan will include downtown development…and the city…… MORE
Des Moines’ city manager says he’s waiting for a detailed list of concerns from the city’s fire fighters’ union to see what can be done to ease tension in the department over leadership. 86 percent of the union’s members voted no confidence in the chief this summer. They’ve been making their complaints via social media.…… MORE
Plan DSM was on display last night at Bright Grandview Clubhouse for the first of four public meetings. Mayor Frank Cownie says they’ll incorporate the feedback into the final draft sometime in February, and will rewrite codes to comply with it. The next meeting is Tuesday at Polk County River Place. Building up Iowa’s relationship…… MORE
A commercial delegation from China is in Des Moines today finalizing more than a dozen contract for Iowa products. Overall exports to China for the first half of this year are up more than 63 percent from the same time last year, making China the state’s third-largest export market. Iowa saw an uptick in its…… MORE
Iowa’s governor was among five U-S governors who met with China’s president yesterday in Seattle to discuss ways to work together on clean energy technology. The gathering signed an agreement to cooperate on boosting businesses that create renewable and clean energy. Governor Branstad says a Chinese delegation will be visiting Des Moines tomorrow. Republican state…… MORE
The Justice Department awarded more than 19-million dollars in grants to dozens of police departments seeking to start using body cameras, but only one Iowa city was among the recipients. The Dubuque Police department already had 60-thousand dollars in matching funds for the cameras, and received the allocation, while Des Moines was turned down for…… MORE
A Sioux County state senator will submit a bill in the legislature to block the Des Moines Water Works’ pollution suit against three upriver counties. Randy Feestra previously proposed a boycott of Des Moines businesses as a way of fighting the suit. Governor Branstad will head to Seattle this week to meet with the president…… MORE
The price of gas continues to dip in Iowa. GasBuddy says prices are down more than 9 cents per gallon from a week ago, and more than 37 cents from this time last month. Prices in greater Des Moines are hovering around 2-27 per gallon. Analysts say that while crude oil prices have been picking…… MORE
You’ll be able to register to vote online, starting the first of the year. Iowa’s secretary of state says if you have a valid Iowa driver’s license or photo ID, you can visit a state website and input the numbers from your ID to register, and it will go to a state database. You’ll still…… MORE
