Polk County News

A Des Moines teenager on trial for first-degree murder allegedly threw the first punch that led to a man's fatal beating in August.

Iowa law enforcement will conduct a training exercise at the Iowa State Capitol Thursday evening, officials said.

An agreement approved Tuesday made public a portion of a closed Des Moines school board meeting in May where a Polk County judge said "inappropriate" topics were discussed.

Bondurant-Farrar's schools superintendent told about 300 parents Tuesday night that district officials "clearly ... have some work to do with our own crisis plan" after a string of threats at schools.

Polk County is working closely with city and school officials across the county to update its disaster preparedness plans.

The Iowa Transportation Commission on Tuesday approved new rules that would give state transportation officials control over whether speed and red light cameras are placed by cities and counties on state supervised highways and interstates.

Most older adults in the Des Moines area want to continue living in their homes and participating in their neighborhoods as long as possible, which is good news for the area, advocates said this morning.

An Iowa inmate, once sentenced to life in prison after being convicted in her great-aunt's murder, was released this morning after the state parole board granted her a "compassionate release" last week.

Margaret Reed opened her Sunday newspaper and was surprised to see her father's smiling face.

Greg Sparks, West Des Moines' city manager of three years, plans to move on from his job with the city.

A manslaughter charge has been dropped againsta Des Moines man who was arrested after he allegedly provided methadone that led to a teen's 2011 overdose.

High school students from across Polk County will gather this week to learn about how to participate in the Iowa caucuses, which are a famous and exclusive part of the nation's political system.

What you need to know to start your day, including weather, police radar locations and road closures: The snow has stopped, but area crews are expected to still be out plowing this morning.

Altoona Veterinary Hospital works with four-legged patients from throughout eastern Polk County as well as Des Moines and its western suburbs.

A review of law enforcement overtime policies in Iowa by The Des Moines Register found: * Some agencies do not set a maximum number of hours employees are allowed to work in a given week or pay period.

A lifelong love of photography has prompted Pleasant Hill shutterbug Kolby Cook to channel his creative talents into a 4-H project that will help pay for his club's upcoming trip to Washington, D.C. Cook, a member of the Pleasant Hill Discoverers 4-H Club, suffers from carpal-tarsal osteolysis, a disease that dissolves his joints and confines him ... (more)

The trial for a Bondurant man facing a sex abuse charge after allegedly having sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl has been rescheduled for February.

A town meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Bondurant-Farrar Middle School to discuss security measures with parents after a string of threatening messages has led to absences and evacuations at schools, according to a statement from school and law enforcement officials.

A group opposed to a warehouse development in eastern Polk County filed a complaint with the Iowa Public Information Board last week.

Two new mayors under the age of 30 will take office in Pleasant Hill and Mitchellville next year.