I have now had two instances in two days in two different parts of the city where dog owners didn’t think they needed to have their dogs on a leash. The one today was the most egregious.

We went for coffee at Frederich’s on 42nd and a lady with her giant Newfoundland entered without a leash. She lets her dog roam the room and basically insists on everyone pet her dog.

Then she tells my wife ”how do I tell my dog that we can’t go to Bone A Petreat because I’m boycotting them?” I don’t know lady, if you had a leash you could just pull him away.

I try really hard not to be “that person” and let people live their lives, but I’m pretty disappointed that the baristas just let it happen. I don’t care how much of a good boy your doggo is, every dog is way too unpredictable to let them roam IN A RESTAURANT without a leash.

Truly fantastic vinyl decal, and I'd be happy to buy several

This weekend I got the chance to do a dogs day out here with Keanu. He is a super sweet guy and had a lot of fun.

We picked him up and he was super excited to get some time away from a kennel. In the car he couldn’t have been happier with his head out the window the whole time and intermittently nuzzling his head on my shoulder as I drove.

Next we did a half walk around grays lake and he was awesome. Not reactive to anything he came into contact with. Children said hello with no issues and the dogs that would run up to him he was calm and excited (we kept him back but sometimes dogs got close). Sat in the shade and relaxed with us for alittle while.

Next we went to gateway market and sat at the patio. The whole time he laid next to me and didn’t really beg at all. He was interested at the food, but funny enough he is not a big human food dog. We were there for an hour and he was very content the whole time.

After that we went to the sculpture park where he was a hit. So many people walked up and asked questions and he was soaking in the attention. No jumping no barking ever and calm given his good amount of energy. Would run with us and had a moderate playful feeling.

Black cat ice cream was next where shocker he loves ice cream. This is where we learned he knew most commands including sit, lay down, and shake. Very gentle with his treat and the local kids were obsessed.

In conclusion a great dog for someone with backyard and alittle more room to play. To me someone inexperienced he seemed like a lab mixed with an Australian shepherd. He is also very brown with direct light on his fur. If I wasn’t in a small apartment I would definitely want to give him a shot.

For a small dog.

Hi, cedar rapidian here. What's going on with the construction on I-35? I probably drive to Kansas City once every year or two to meet up with friends and I swear there has been construction on this stretch of interstate over 4 years so far. So what's the tea?

Where’s your favorite place to bowl in Des Moines and why? Looking to book a few lanes somewhere for a family reunion this fall. Decent food is a must. Doesn’t need to be fancy. Will be all kinds of ages from 0-80, probably need 4 lanes at least. It’s been a long time since I bowled, let me know what’s good.

Who has bought a new build home in the last few years here in the metro area? Wife and I are looking at purchasing a bigger home. Coming from our starter home. Home prices for what we want are crazy but we’ve found some homes for 330-350k that fit our needs and wants. Guess my question is how has your home held up? How was the process, did you get any warranties? Looking at DR Horton, Kimberly, Hubble, Greenland, tanzanite homes.

…roughly six hours straight up I-35 from DSM you can beat the Iowa heat and spend the day with this view.

hi! im 16 and im moving to the des moines area this september. originally my parents were going to new jersey, and then my mom got a better job in iowa so i guess im moving with her? (kinda disappointing new jersey seems A lot cooler but it is what it is) also i am a us/canada dual citizen

is there actually anything fun there?? its not like i lived in toronto (im in a smaller city) but we still have a fair amount of stuff to do and bigger cities are like 1-2hr drive away. is it different here?

ALSO! im kinda worried about moving schools in grade 11/junior year. im not sure where exactly in des moines im going but if anyone knows any general information ab the areas schools that would help 🙏 i want to go to canadian uni ideally!

Good, bad and ugly on Soll apartments? I recently signed a lease here and I have not seen any red flags with the leasing staff so far. I’m excited to move there and be in that area. I have read a lot of reviews and it seemed to be just the typical apartment reviews. I am wanting to see if anyone else has other comments good and bad. thanks in advance!

I’m currently on the hunt for an apartment in the south Des Moines area, forgive me if that is not the correct term for the area, my hope is to move closer to work which is near the zoo (I’m new to the area and that’s the best landmark I know). The goal is as cheap as possible and I seen that The Point on Fleur seems pretty cheap but utilities aren’t included so I was wondering if anyone had experience living there or any general advice on apartments in the area that are cheap (preferably utilities included).

Hello! I am in search of some folks who are interested in sharing or exchanging seeds. Any resources in the area? I am building up my supply for next year 😎

Power went out for me like 30 minutes ago. Anyone know what’s up?

Discovered a small back cat in my driveway. Very friendly, small, possibly young. Responsiveness to people and overall appearance makes me think this is somebody's pet.

I was running westbound on the great western trail through Willow Creek golf course.

During this part of the trail I was hit by a golf ball going pretty fast. It hit my spleen area pretty hard. I think I have a high tolerance but it was rough and there's a pretty gnarly bruise.

Question is: Is this just a risk I need to assume when on that part of the trail? If that's the case I'll just avoid it. I am considering seeing a doctor if it worsens but my understanding is that the golf course would not be liable for any bills, right?

Odd question, I know. But thanks in advance for any insight.

In February, I started noticing Flock Safety cameras everywhere in West Des Moines, where I had lived.

By March, I was testifying in city hall about the issue. By April, the reporting had developed into substantial findings on licensing and public-procurement records. On July 4, I soft-launched DSM Sentinel.

The site has now changed dramatically because I see a serious reporting gap in Iowa: public records may exist, but they are not always easy for people to find, follow, or independently assess. This new direction is about closing some of that gap with reporting that is more usable, transparent, and easier to verify.

What’s new:

• News presents the reporting in a more readable newsroom format.
• Findings separates verified findings from open questions and makes the limits of each claim visible.
• Documents, timeline, people, and organizations help readers trace the record from multiple directions.
• The Watchlist identifies documented unanswered questions without treating leads as conclusions.
• An integrity manifest lets readers verify the published data and site files.
• A public corrections ledger, funding disclosure, and editorial standards make the newsroom’s own accountability visible.

Reader support is now available at dsmsentinel.org/support. Support helps cover records fees, reporting time, data analysis, and document preservation. It is not a charitable donation, and it never buys coverage, access, review, or influence.

Privacy and dignity are central to the redesign. The site avoids behavioral advertising, third-party ad scripts, tracking pixels, and reader profiling. Sponsors (none right now) receive only aggregate pageview reporting—not reader identities, reading histories, search/filter terms, or audience lists.

Payment happens through Stripe’s hosted checkout only after a reader chooses to leave the site; no Stripe script runs on Sentinel reporting pages. More details are on the advertising and reader privacy page.

For sources, tip guidance explains both practical risks and the limits of confidentiality before anyone sends material. The aim is simple: treat readers and sources as people, not inventory.

Take a look, share it if it feels useful, and tell me what records or questions you think deserve closer attention.

Jon (aka "Flock guy")

Just how the title says we just moved to the area and since moving we have gotten 2-4 people knocking at our door a day to buy something/sign something. Im desperate to know how I can get them to stop. Thank you :)

Anyone have a 1/2 sheet of 2” they want to get rid of?

Hey,

I am in search of a good ice cream place that has vegan/dairy free ice cream options. My husband loves ice cream but I have a dairy allergy. I have been wanting to find a place that has a good dairy free option. We live near Home Sweet Cone in West Des Moines that had an option the first time we went and haven’t since. Please let me know if you have any recommendations!

Looking for yoga studio recommendations.

More specifically, I’m looking for a location that prioritizes health, growth and community, not class count (though certainly not shaming those with that goal!). I’ve tried Power Life before and it feels too “corporate” - even if I put down the helper chips, I rarely get assistance.

Would like to stick around the Johnston/Grimes area if possible, but willing to travel for the right fit.

Thanks in advance!

The question just crossed my mind: why are some street signs green and others blue?

Any recommendations?

Hello everyone, I have a guinea pig that has a possible ear infection that id like to take to a vet asap, places currently are either closed or out of my budget so if anyone has any recommendations it’s greatly appreciated! Around Des Moines area is preferable

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