Good morning, West Des Moines.

A Valley Junction shop owner said inflatable Halloween costume sales have been rising for years and are now boosted by planned No Kings protests today at noon at the Iowa State Capitol and at 4 p.m. at Summerbrook Park—adding political energy to a trend fueled by teens and pop culture. The shop sold out of its supply and ordered more costumes to meet growing demand.

Former Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts faces an additional federal charge for filing a false I-9 form in 2023—court documents report he falsely claimed citizenship during the hiring process, adding to earlier charges including a federal firearms offense.

Iowa’s general fund revenues for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 were cut by 8.4%—a drop of $816.6 million—due to legislative tax cuts, though the state still holds $6 billion in reserves and faces challenges from tariffs and slow hiring.

Iowa officials continue to let households sign up for LIHEAP heating help even though federal funding remains uncertain—both the Senate and House have proposed bills to add more aid despite the shutdown.

Early applications for those with elderly or disabled residents began on October 1st with over 15,000 submissions, while general applications will open November 1st with a deadline of April 30th; utility shut offs will not occur from November 1st.

On Friday, the American Heart Association hosted its Go Red for Women event in Des Moines and raised $115,000 to support women’s heart research as nearly 45% of women over 20 live with heart disease.

The event featured personal stories and promoted learning CPR — a simple step that may help save lives.

DOOM GONG Concert

7-8:30 p.m. — xBk Live — Tickets starting at $63 — Experience an unforgettable night with the captivating sounds of Doom Gong.

Des Moines Career Fair

9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — Hilton Des Moines Downtown — Free entry — Connect with top employers across various sectors to take the next step in your career.

Storytelling with Analogies

4:00 – 5:30 p.m. — Principal Financial Group — Free entry — Discover how to make complex data relatable through creative analogies in an engaging, hands-on workshop.

Drop-In Tech Help

2-3 p.m. — Des Moines Public Library - Central Library — Free service — Get support for your electronic devices in a friendly environment.

The Outreach Project

1-3 p.m. — Des Moines Public Library - Central Library — Free entry — Connect with community resources and support services at the library's outreach event.

Spooky Science

9 AM – 4 PM — Science Center of Iowa — Free for SCI members — Enjoy hair-raising experiments and creepy-crawly critters at this family-friendly Halloween event.

Beggar's Brunch at Exile Brewing

10 AM – 2 PM — Exile Brewing Company — Fun for the whole family — Test out costumes and enjoy Haunting Bingo for prizes ahead of Beggar's Night.

Weekly Art Nights with Art is Rad

6-8 p.m. — Big Grove Brewery & Taproom — $10 per artist — Unleash your creativity with hands-on art activities for all ages and skill levels.

K-pop Meet-up

5-6 p.m. — Des Moines Public Library - Central Library — Free entry — Trade photocards, snack, and enjoy K-pop with fellow fans.

Koyo Concert

6:00-8:30 PM — Wooly's — Tickets from $49 — Experience a lively evening of music at Koyo's performance.