Des Moines, Iowa

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Des Moines News
Local news for Des Moines, IA continually updated from thousands of sources on the web.

City Officials Provide New Flooding Update
Residents and city officials are planning for more flooding in Des Moines as crews continue to fill sandbags and add new temporary levees.
Extra Patrols Focus On St. Patty's Partiers
Des Moines police said that St. Patrick's Day partiers should expect to see extra patrols out on Wednesday.
Bedbug Lawsuit: a group of residents from two Des Moines apartment...
Some residents of two Des Moines apartment buildings are suing over what they say is a persistent infestation of bedbugs.
Man wanted in fatal Detroit shoot-out arrested in Des Moines
A man wanted in a car-jacking and shoot-out with Detroit police was arrested Tuesday afternoon by a squad of Des Moines police officers at a convenience store here.
Flooding possible near Des Moines reservoir
Iowa communities along the Des Moines River are getting ready for flooding as the water level of a reservoir north of the capital rises.
Man begs Des Moines officers to kill him
A man allegedly swung a knife at police before begging them to kill him after a desperate fight with two Des Moines officers late Monday.
Levee Concerns: Des Moines City leaders scramble to reinforce Birdland levee
The Birdland levee failed during the floods of '93, it failed again in 2008, and now there's another reason to be concerned.
Driver Stranded As Flood Water Pours Across Street 5min
Des Moines Public Works crews closed George Flagg Parkway early Wednesday morning as flood waters poured over the road.
Fleur Flooding: The city of Des Moines has closed Fleur Drive as water creeps up and over the road
The flooding along the Raccoon River in Des Moines means thousands of people are having to find another way around the metro.
Drug Bust: Des Moines police seize 300 pounds of marijuana
Des Moines police arrested two people and confiscated close to a million dollars of marijuana.
Budget Concerns: Des Moines students, parents and teachers upset with proposed cuts
Des Moines students took concerns about their education to the street this morning.
Shootout In Waterloo Neigborhood
Waterloo Police are searching for the people responsible for a wild west shootout in a residential neighborhood.
Semi-truck headed to Des Moines catches fire
Some paper got hot before it ever got on the presses shortly before 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
Education Funding: Gov. Culver is increasing his pressure on the...
Gov. Chet Culver says he'll veto any state budget that doesn't include an extra $347 million for Iowa's schools.
Drivers, passenger identified in Sunday night Des Moines collision
A two-car collision near Douglas Avenue and 52nd Street sent three people to the hospital Sunday evening.
Flood Preparations Continue 5min
Flood preparations continue as Iowans keep a watch on the sky and the rivers. Ice jams caused basements to flood in Fort Dodge over the weekend and may do the same in northern Iowan as snow continues to melt.
Dubuque Night in Des Moines proves popular as always
City Council Member David Resnick played the saxophone, chamber President Molly Grover served food and City Manager Mike Van Milligen delivered dessert for the governor's children.
U.S. education secretary to visit Cedar Rapids, Des Moines
Iowans are invited to share their views on federal education policy at a series of five forums today through Sunday organized by U.S. Sen.
Rising Water: Iowa officials monitor river levels with crests still days away
Authorities say an ice jam on the Des Moines River caused some flooded basements in central Iowa, but officials are preparing for more long-term problems.

City Description

Des Moines (pronounced /dɪˈmɔɪn/) is the capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857. It is named after the Des Moines River, which may have been adapted from the French Rivière des Moines, literally meaning "River of the Monks." The five-county metropolitan area is ranked 91st in terms of population in the United States according to 2008 estimates with 556,230 residents according to United States Census Bureau. The city proper population was 198,682 at the 2000 census. Des Moines is a major center for the insurance industry and also has a sizable financial services and publishing business base. In fact, Des Moines was credited with the "number one spot for U.S. insurance companies" in a Business Wire article. The city is the headquarters for the Principal Financial Group, the Meredith Corporation, Ruan Transportation, EMC Insurance Companies, and Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. Other major corporations such as Wells Fargo, ING Group, Nationwide Mutual Insurance