Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How new biometric lockers could change daily life for unhoused Des Moines residents

Be sure to catch 8th Anniversary Party on the Des Moines Patch calendar

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Hey hey Des Moines! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How new biometric lockers could change daily life for unhoused Des Moines residents
  • How seven years of twists reshaped Des Moines' downtown soccer stadium plan
  • How DART's school route cuts could change your child's commute

Also on today's calendar: 8th Anniversary Party and 5 more events.

Today's riddle: What is the difference between a jeweler and a jailer? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
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Weather forecast:

  • Thursday: Sunny to partly cloudy, with a high of 83 and low of 62 degrees.
  • Friday: Mostly sunny, temps: high: 86, low: 66. 🌶 Hot!
  • Saturday: Mostly cloudy and breezy, with a high of 89 and low of 74 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Pilot program to provide storage lockers for people experiencing homelessness (who13.com) — Des Moines is launching a six‑month pilot to give people experiencing homelessness secure biometric lockers for vital documents and belongings at St. Vincent de Paul on 6th Avenue. Funded by a $12,000 grant, the program responds in part to the city's camping ban, with hopes of expanding if the initial report to the city shows success.
   

2. The winding, 7-year saga of the downtown Des Moines soccer stadium (desmoinesregister.com subscription) — A long-delayed plan to build a downtown Des Moines pro soccer stadium has now secured major public backing, including city, county, and state funding plus a 50‑year site lease. This timeline walks residents through seven years of shifting construction dates, site cleanup at the former DICO Superfund property, and escalating investment around the proposed stadium district.
   

3. DART changes DMPS bus routes in Des Moines (kcci.com) — Des Moines students and families face fewer DART school bus trips this year, with routes reduced from 45 to 36 and service cut to nine schools. Some students will shift to yellow buses or nearby DART routes, but all DMPS students can still ride DART free after 4:30 p.m. on weekdays and on non-school days with a physical student ID.
   

4. Iowa's Cutest Cat is a West Coast transplant who lives in Des Moines (bluewaterhealthyliving.com) — A tuxedo cat named Tonks, now living in Des Moines' Salisbury Oaks neighborhood with the Goldsmith family, has been crowned Iowa's Cutest Cat by Des Moines Register readers. After relocating from California and long holiday visits here, Tonks won the statewide contest in a landslide, charming voters with her quirky personality and strong local fan base.
   

5. Burns UMC receives GCORR grant to advance community mental health initiative (iaumc.org) — A Des Moines congregation at Burns United Methodist Church just secured a GCORR Action Fund grant to launch its Sacred Healing Spaces mental health initiative. Partnering with St. Paul AME and ForWard Consulting, the program will host healing circles, train clergy in trauma-informed care, and build lasting referral networks to better support underserved residents.
   

📸 Around Des Moines

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Des Moines

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🗓 Events Nearby

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Hello.
    I do a lot of diamond art and I have a lot of plastic trays and pens that come with the kits that I don't use. Is there anywhere I can donate them? I… (Nextdoor Sheridan Gardens)
  • Has anyone else been sick with severe flu symptoms?
    Sharp stomach pains, vomiting, diarrhea, stuffy and runny nose, headache, dizziness, weakness and unsteady on the feet? I was fine Thursday morning… (Nextdoor Fairmont Park)
  • Ag Express Electronics posted a job opening for Inventory Control Specialist in Des Moines. Apply here.
  • BoxLunch / Hot Topic posted a job opening for Part-Time Assistant Manager - Level 2 in Des Moines. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Des Moines here.

Ok Des Moines! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A jeweler sells watches and a jailer watches cells. (Thank you Jean D. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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