West Des Moines News

City officials in Cedar Rapids and in Dubuque convinced the new Iowa Flood Mitigation Board on Monday to interpret the local "skin-in-the-game" provision of a new state funding law for flood protection projects in a way that will lessen rather than increase the costs to local communities.

Tasty Tacos, Des Moines' homegrown Mexican food restaurant chain, is expanding. A new Tasty Tacos is scheduled to open this fall on Mills Civic Parkway in front of the Wal-Mart store in West Des Moines.

Bartlett & West, an engineering firm with an office in West Des Moines, has announced it has been recognized as one of the nation's top 500 design firms by Engineering News-Record.

Dozens of extra police, firefighters and medics will be on duty next month in Des Moines when thousands of cyclists roll into the capital city for a much-anticipated RAGBRAI stop.

The band is known for hits like "Lips of an Angel" and "Use Me." Hinder's fourth album, "Welcome to the Freakshow," came out in December.

Drive past the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union headquarters and you may mistake it for an insurance office or computer firm like many of its West Des Moines neighbors.

Writers, artists and dealers from around the state will be on hand selling comics, artwork and other merchandise.

West Des Moines police say 45-year-old Mary Jo Dahms turned herself in Thursday and was released on bond.

Cathy Angel created the "Making Reading Heavenly" reading program in hopes of motivating teachers, helping students progress with their reading skills and providing a better tool for teachers to teach language arts with, according to her website.

Tasty Tacos announced Friday it is opening up in West Des Moines. The announcement came via the restaurant's Facebook page.

Two northern long-eared bats were discovered near the multimillion-dollar Alice's Road project, but no Indiana bats were captured during the recent mist net survey, Central College biology professor said.

The stolen items were valued at $2,100. The man also reported $200 worth of windows were broken.

Tama County Solid Waste Disposal Commission members met in closed session with a pair of West Des Moines lawyers on Thursday night, May 30. Upon returning to open session, commission members voted to hire the lawyers, John Roehrick and Carlton Salmons, to provide legal services over "threatened litigation" according to the minutes of the meeting.

BOXHOLM -The outrage sparked by the abduction and slaying of 15-year-old Kathlynn Shepard could help bring about meaningful change to sentencing laws in Iowa, Noreen Gosch said today.

It operates through its subsidiaries American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company, American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company of New York, and Eagle Life Insurance Company.

Oklahoma rockers Hinder will make a tour stop at West Des Moines' Val Air Ballroom on Sunday, June 16. Devour the Day and Acidic will serve as the opening bands.

What you need to know to start your day, including weather, police radar locations and road closures: Mostly sunny and a little cooler with light winds.

If you're thinking of treating dear old dad to a steak dinner for Father's Day this weekend, there are plenty of options in town.

Safety Town teaches young children how to stay safe around strangers, fire, water, traffic, buses and poison.

Authorities are receiving reports of homes and businesses "completely damaged'' by severe weather and multiple tornadoes in northern Iowa.