Down on the farm

Des Moines-based urban planner and landscape architect Dennis Reynolds is at work in a farm field near Cedar Rapids, putting to play the principles of New Urbanism that he often advocates with ag-based development.

Reynolds, …

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NOTEBOOK: Sweet and helpful news

The Food Bank of Iowa and the Wallace Centers of Iowa have a recipe for helping food-insecure Iowans. 

The two nonprofits have partnered up to grow and distribute sweet potatoes this year on land at …

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NOTEBOOK: Urbandale, Alleman have it in the bag

The Metro Waste Authority’s annual friendly plastic bag recycling competition among local cities featured Urbandale’s come-from-behind victory and another score in Alleman. Urbandale had finished second to Grimes in the amount collected by weight last …

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NOTEBOOK: Future of journalism: unknown

A cross section of local journalists assembled by Drake University April 15 said the future of journalism will hang in part on connecting with people’s lives, being willing to innovate and retaining integrity. 

The event …

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A Closer Look: Courtney Shaw

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Courtney Shaw grew up in Austin, Texas, and went to school at Oklahoma State. So Des Moines was a bit out of her universe when her husband got a job here. 

“I’ve moved progressively north,” …

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The Elbert Files: Finding the future

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The question facing many of the metro area’s best minds is how to continue the remarkable growth we’ve experienced in recent decades.

There are several ways to approach that question, but one essential is transportation. …

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