Daily
West Des Moines
Friday, June 20th, 2025
Good morning, West Des Moines. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 20th of June.
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Woodland Cemetery in Des Moines offers a free self-guided tour that uses QR codes—linking visitors to videos of over 100 Juneteenth figures including freedom seekers like Alexander Armstrong and abolitionist Delia A. Webster. The tour highlights roughly 15 key stories from gravestones and is complemented by online videos from Des Moines Parks and Recreation. WHO13
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ A heat dome is forecast to bring extreme heat to Iowa and the Midwest this weekend — with daytime highs in the 90s that may feel 20 degrees hotter due to high humidity and overnight lows only in the mid-70s — which raises concerns about heat-related illnesses for residents. KCCI
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Ambassador Dina Kawar from Jordan visits West Des Moines today to meet with local business leaders + political representatives. Des Moines Register
- ➤ Iowa native astronaut Peggy Whitson will command the Ax-4 mission as the crew—including members from India, Hungary and Poland—prepares to launch early Sunday at 2:42 a.m. Central time after delays from weather and technical issues at Kennedy Space Center, and they will spend two weeks on the International Space Station conducting over 60 experiments. Radio Iowa
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ A new report by the Commonwealth Fund ranked Iowa’s health system 18th of 50 states and found low drug overdose deaths and fewer cost barriers but high obesity rates — Sara Collins warned that federal plans to add Medicaid work requirements and cut the Affordable Care Act may raise the uninsured rate. Radio Iowa
LIFESTYLE NEWS
- ➤ Holiday Aquatic Center in West Des Moines is open today as park managers check lifeguards and safety measures amid high heat—local officials urge swimmers to drink water and reapply sunscreen. The guide also lists many regional pools, splash pools, and spraygrounds for residents to cool off this summer. KCCI
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Fast Henry Duo Live Performance
12-3 p.m. — Annie’s Irish Pub — Free entry — Enjoy the local sounds of Fast Henry Duo while relaxing at your favorite Irish pub.
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Summer Music Series: Jonas Magram
5-7:30 p.m. — Exile Brewing Company — All-day happy hour with $4.50 pints — Enjoy live music and patio vibes at this local summer event.
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Meet Author Nikki Erlick
6-7 p.m. — Des Moines Public Library - Central Library — Free admission — Explore the imaginative world of Nikki Erlick's latest novel 'The Poppy Fields' and enjoy a book signing.
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MY PAINTING ERA CAMP! Day 1: 1989
9 AM – 12 PM — Painting with a Twist — Cost info not provided — Pick a painting, invite friends, and enjoy step-by-step instruction with local artists.
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Lunch & Learn: Resources for Small Businesses
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. — Elevator, a Co-Warehousing Community — Free — Discover game-changing resources and network with fellow entrepreneurs while enjoying a complimentary lunch.
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Wiggles and Giggles
9:15-9:45 a.m. — Des Moines Public Library - Central Library — Free entry — Enjoy a lively storytime with movement, music, and rhyming for the little ones.
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Guided Tours at the Pappajohn Sculpture Park
11-11:45 a.m. — Pappajohn Sculpture Park — Free entry — Discover the art and stories behind the sculptures in this vibrant park.
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NAMI Family Support Group
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. — Des Moines Public Library - Central Library — Free of cost — A peer-led support group fostering insight and support for adults with loved ones experiencing mental health challenges.
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Summer Music Series: David Watson
5-7:30 p.m. — Exile Brewing Company — $4.50 pints — Enjoy live music and patio vibes at this weekly event featuring a local artist.
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Rooftop Yoga with Feel Good Frequency
7-8 p.m. — The Shop DSM - Event Center — Refunds available up to 7 days before the event — Experience a rejuvenating rooftop yoga session amidst beautiful views.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.
~ Marie Curie
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