For readers in Des Moines, this page covers city council decisions, election results, public policy and civic life. Reporting follows government administration and the debates that arise from shifts in local law.
The city council is considering an ordinance that would bar devices faster than 20 mph from public trails, sidewalks and streets.
Live Poll
Should high-speed e-scooters be banned from sidewalks and trails in your community?
Live Poll
Do healthcare concerns play a deciding role in how you plan to vote this midterm?
The MAHA PAC organized an event to support Republican candidates ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
Council and Planning Commission held a joint study session on zoning as state housing targets and shrinking red light camera revenue press on the city budget.
A longtime Des Moines resident was deported to Mexico following his arrest while traveling to work in September 2026.
Live Poll
Do you believe national politicians campaigning for local candidates helps those candidates win their elections?
The U.S. Representative served as the featured speaker at an annual dinner event in Des Moines.
Live Poll
Should employers guarantee annual wage increases for unionized workers in their contracts?
The union representing facility staff will begin formal talks for a new contract ahead of its December 31 expiration.
Day to day, that means the passage of municipal ordinances, the certification of election results, public board appointments and the budgetary sessions that define services. Coverage reaches across the city and the communities around it as civic life unfolds. Zoning changes and infrastructure projects are common points of friction that shape how the city grows. Shifts in administrative leadership and the resulting policy pivots serve as the most frequent drivers of change in the local political landscape.
