Good morning, West Des Moines.

Firefighters are investigating the cause of a fire that broke out early Wednesday morning at Storage Rentals of America in the 3200 block of NW Prairie Lane near Saylorville—damaging several storage units, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

State park inspectors were dismissed from a lawsuit after 11-year-old Michael Jaramillo died in 2021 when his family's raft overturned on an Adventureland ride on the Raging River, injuring his brother and father and leaving the ride closed—his family will pursue a negligence claim against the previous park owners with a trial scheduled for June in Polk County.

Des Moines Public Schools announced Tuesday that Jackson Elementary will transition into a pre-K to eight Montessori school funded by an $800,000 donation from the Thomas and Linda Koehn Foundation.

Principal Cindy Wissler said staff will begin training now with Montessori classes starting in fall 2026—part of a district plan to reimagine education.

On Wednesday, the Iowa House voted 82-11 to remove the sales tax on toilet paper and the bill will take effect July 1 if signed into law.

The measure is projected to reduce state fund receipts by about $6 million this fiscal year and save consumers nearly $9.1 million annually by 2030—making a needed essential more affordable.

The Iowa DOT participated in National Work Zone Awareness Week as warmer weather increased road construction activity.

DOT Work Zone Operations Engineer Brian Worrel warned drivers to reduce distractions and follow posted speed limits and signs + keep a safe distance to protect work zone workers and motorists.

The Outreach Project

1-3 p.m. — Des Moines Public Library - Central Library — Free entry — Connect with community resources through advocates providing essential information.

Maria’s Cerveza-Ride

10 AM – 5 PM — Exile Brewing Company — $30 per rider — Enjoy a fun-filled 14-mile ride with friends while supporting a local non-profit.

Cancer Patient & Survivor Self-Care Retreat

9 a.m. – 3 p.m. — UnityPoint Health - John Stoddard Cancer Center — Free entry — Immerse yourself in healing with forest bathing and art therapy designed for cancer patients and survivors.

Mini Gardens Workshop

3:00 – 3:45 PM — Des Moines Public Library - Central Library — Free entry — Create whimsical Mini Gardens in honor of National Garden Month with all materials provided.

Beyond Birth: Baby's First Year

9-11 a.m. — Des Moines Public Library - Central Library — Free entry — A weekly postpartum support group offering valuable insights for new parents and their babies.

After School Adventures: May Baskets

3:45-4:30 p.m. — West Des Moines Public Library — Registration required — Craft your own paper May baskets to celebrate spring and May Day festivities.

I Spy: Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month

All day — Des Moines Public Library - Central Library — Free entry — Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with a fun picture scavenger hunt for kids.

City Voices Spring Recital

6:30-8 p.m. — Hoyt Sherman Place — Free entry — Experience a vibrant spring recital featuring talented students performing classical, contemporary, and musical theatre works.

Secret Series Skate Contest

2-6 p.m. — Lauridsen Skatepark — $10 entry waived with t-shirt — All ages and skill levels compete with unique obstacles in a vibrant skateboarding community event.

Food for the Hungry Volunteer Event with We The Kingdom

5:30-10:30 p.m. — Hoyt Sherman Place — Volunteer participation required — Support the fight against poverty while enjoying live music.