Stories from surrounding communities, closest first.
The Simpsonian · Des Moines, IA
Nearby: Des Moines, IAI am someone who is always down for a concert. My ideal concert would be at a small venue or even a dive bar rather than a stadium concert. One of my favorite venues is Wooly’s in downtown Des Moines, which has a capacity of just under 700 people. From almost anywhere in the venue, you can see the stage and get a good view of the performer. Not to mention, smaller performers often work harder to make a stronger connection with their fans. I have met artists like Braxton Keith and Wyatt Flores while simply waiting in line to watch them perform. There is something special about getting to wish your favorite artist good luck before they step on stage. It creates a more personal experience that you will not find at a stadium show. One of the best parts of seeing smaller artists is watching them grow. I saw Megan Moroney perform on the free stage at the Iowa State Fair in 2023. About nine months later, I saw her at Vibrant Music Hall for around $40.
Iowa Capital Dispatch · Des Moines, IA
Nearby: Des Moines, IAThe Iowa Board of Medicine is fighting to sanction an emergency room physician who allegedly “drank to excess and used cocaine, opiates, mushrooms, and marijuana,” often within 24 hours of working. According to the Iowa Board of Medicine, Dr. Chad Becker, who once practiced at UnityPoint Health’s Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, admitted routinely consuming an excessive amount of drugs and/or alcohol prior to 2022, resulting in a referral to the Iowa Physician Health Program for treatment. According to the board, Becker ultimately chose not to comply with the program’s requirements and so the issue of his substance abuse was referred back to the board in November 2022. In February 2026, the board ruled a license suspension of 90 days was warranted, as was an $8,000 civil penalty. Becker then went to Polk County District Court, seeking judicial review of that sanction as well as the board’s subsequent refusal to grant him a new hearing on the matter.
Mapleton Press · Des Moines, IA
Nearby: Des Moines, IAHeath Streck, Schleswig native, was currently named as the Medical Center Director for the Iowa City VA Health Care System. Streck retired from military service with 34 years of combined experience in the U.S. Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve, bringing significant leadership, strategic planning, and organizational management expertise to his VA roles. He began his VA career in April of 2009 as the Chief Financial Officer for the VA Central Iowa Health Care System in Des Moines, and then transitioned in 2014 to the Iowa City Health Care System as the Associate Director/Chief Operating Officer. Throughout his VA career, Streck has held multiple key positions, including serving as Acting Director of the St. Cloud VA Health Care System and Associate Director of the Montana VA Health Care System.
Church News · Waukee, IA
Nearby: Waukee, IAAMES, Iowa — Protecting religious liberty is essential to regain the social cohesion that many feel has been weakened in the United States, Elder Alexander Dushku, a General Authority Seventy, said about religious liberty and human flourishing during the keynote address at the Iowa Religious Freedom Day Symposium on Oct. 15. Religious liberty fosters mutual respect, said Elder Dushku, who is also The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ general counsel. “When we protect one another’s freedom to believe and worship, we honor the inherent dignity of each person, and we build the trust and social cohesion essential in a pluralistic nation like ours, whose system of government requires us to work together.” The all-day symposium was co-sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Iowa State University’s Center for Cyclone Civics, among other local sponsors.
Texas Reporter · Williamson, IA
Nearby: Williamson, IAAn October review of Texas law enforcement reporting identified 44 matters involving alleged or confirmed misconduct, including 14 arrests during the month and at least seven newly filed professional standards complaints. The cases range from a Border Patrol agent charged with killing his wife to officers disciplined for dismissing a racial profiling complaint, failing to investigate calls for help and misusing surveillance technology. In Williamson County, newly obtained records prompted seven additional complaints alleging dishonesty, disparaging internal communications, possible misuse of driver’s-license information and failures in the sheriff’s office’s internal affairs process. Those seven complaints were verified through sent correspondence; they are not a statewide total. The review covers incidents and disciplinary matters reported or substantially updated Oct. 1-31.
Iowa Capital Dispatch · Ames, IA
Nearby: Ames, IACyRide, the bus system in Ames, has updated its firearms policy amid a lawsuit from an Iowa State University student who alleges the bus system’s former firearms ban went against Iowa code. In a Nov. 5 meeting, the Ames Transit Board unanimously adopted a motion to change CyRide policies “insofar as they prohibit the possession of firearms on transit vehicles” and instead place a notice for passengers that carrying a firearm on the ISU campus could violate university policy and state law, according to an email from CyRide Director Barbara Neal. The policy was brought under scrutiny by the Iowa Firearms Coalition and ISU junior Natalie Gibson, who currently has a petition filed in court against the City of Ames for the former firearms policy and is seeking damages. “We do not have further comment on the Board’s decision due to pending litigation on the subject,” Neal said in her email.
