DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines City Council on Monday approved plans for a $250 million housing project — the biggest in the history of Des Moines. Hubbell Realty will build Gray’s Station in a wooded area south of W. Martin Luther King Parkway along the Raccoon River downtown. Gray’s Station will include some 1,200 homes, including single-family units, cluster houses, condos and apartment buildings. The project also features open park space and retail.
DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Two activists admitted to causing damage to the Dakota Access Pipeline and equipment used to construct it Monday. Jessica Reznicek and Ruby Montoya claimed responsibility for the damage yesterday at the Iowa Utilities Board in Des Moines. The two were taken into custody after they damaged the Iowa Utilities Board sign. They claimed to have started several pieces of construction equipment on fire in several Iowa locations, and damaging pipeline valves with torches.
DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A U.S. Supreme Court case could pave the way for sports betting to come to Iowa’s casinos, according to KCRG-TV. The state of New Jersey has appealed to the high court to have restrictions on sports betting relaxed. Nevada is currently the only state in the country where sports betting is legal. But if the court rules for New Jersey, it could open the door for other states to decide to legalize sports gaming.
DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – An icon at Drake University in Des Moines turns 100 this week. KCCI-TV reports Paul Morrison has worked for the Bulldogs Athletics Department so long, he’s known as Mr. Drake. Despite having retired three decades ago, you’ll still find him in the office most days. Over the weekend, Drake threw a 100th birthday party for Morrison. Instead of gifts, he asked that friends donate to Drake University instead, so that another generation of kids can have the opportunities he did.
DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The corpse flower at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden is blooming. WHO-TV reports overnight, the Titan arum began unfurling and the rare flower is now in full bloom. It’s called the “corpse flower” because when it blooms it smells like a rotting corpse. Staff call the flower, “Carrion My Wayward Son,” or Carrie for short–like in the horror movie.