h digitalfootprint web 728x90

News

Taste of the Junction logo

Taste of the Junction hosting 13th annual Multicultural Festival

Taste of the Junction will host its 13th annual Multicultural Festival Thursday through Saturday in Valley Junction. The three-day festival celebrates the histories and cultures of the community’s founding African American, Mexican, Serbian and European residents. This year’s events include The Junction Speaks on Thursday at Tallgrass Theatre honoring descendant families, Jazzin’ in the Junction…

image

Des Moines fire chief announces retirement

After 16 years as chief of the Des Moines Fire Department, John TeKippe has announced his retirement effective Dec. 22. After serving in the United States Navy, TeKippe began his career as a firefighter with the West Des Moines Fire Department. In 1996, he joined the Des Moines Fire Department working his way from firefighter…

The Harkin Institute logo

Harkin Institute announces 2025 symposium on long-term care and retirement security

The Harkin Institute will host the 2025 Harkin Retirement Security Symposium: Inclusive Long-Term Care Policies and Supports on Oct. 16 in Washington, D.C. The day-long conference will convene policymakers, researchers and advocacy organizations working on long-term care policy. The program includes discussions on federal, state and workplace policies supporting caregivers, caregiving experiences, and their impact…

principal lg full

Deanna Strable elected Principal board chair

Principal Financial Group announced Deanna Strable, president and CEO, has been elected chair of the board by the company’s board of directors, effective Sept. 2. Strable succeeds Dan Houston, who will conclude his service on the board of directors after serving as chair since 2016. Strable was named president and CEO of Principal in November 2024 after a…

DART logo

DART ridership increases to 3.75 million rides in fiscal year 2025

The Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority announced it provided 3,753,065 rides across all transit services in fiscal year 2025, an increase of nearly 7% from the previous year. Ninety-five percent of that ridership comes from DART’s fixed bus routes. Over the 11 days of the 2025 Iowa State Fair, DART provided more than 263,000…

Water cleanup Getty

Great Outdoors Foundation and ICON Water Trails launch annual fundraising campaign

The Great Outdoors Foundation and ICON Water Trails has launched the fifth annual Wild Prairie Showdown, an eight-week peer-to-peer campaign to raise awareness, support and capital for conservation and recreation efforts in Central Iowa. Two local contestants, Jon Kallen of Jennings Kallen Advisors competing for the Great Outdoors Foundation, and Molly Hanson of RDG Planning…

Goss

Iowa’s Rural Mainstreet Index drops 14.2 points

The Rural Mainstreet Index for August fell for the 10-state Midwest region and lowered significantly in Iowa. Iowa’s exports, however, were up. For the overall region, the index fell to 48.1, which is below growth neutral. It’s the sixth time this calendar year that the index has sunk below growth neutral, or 50.0. The number…

June jobless rates map

Interactive map shows July jobless rates of Iowa communities

Adair, Carroll, Osceola, Sioux and Taylor counties have the lowest jobless rates among Iowa’s 99 counties with 2.8% of workers unemployed, new data from Iowa Workforce Development shows. Among Iowa cities, the Carroll micropolitan statistical area has the lowest jobless rate, also at 2.8%. Statewide, 3.7% of Iowa’s workforce was unemployed in July, data released last…

wellabe web 080125 300x250