Good morning, West Des Moines.

The Italian-American Cultural Center of Iowa opened at the historic Butler Mansion in Des Moines and began offering museum, education, and event space earlier this fall.

The seven-floor property (42,000 sqft) will host rotating exhibits, language and cooking classes, and rentable suites for weddings and Airbnbs.

Blank Park Zoo opens a new lion exhibit today that is three times larger than the old habitat, features rocks, grass and a model plane for elevation and shade, and added three lions to support breeding and its Wild Iowa conservation campaign.

Microsoft bought more than 600 acres in Woodward for $95 million and said it will cover power costs, limit and replenish water use, and create local jobs; city officials say agreements could take at least 18 months, with construction not expected for at least two years.

The Iowa Clinic sent UnityPoint Health a letter saying it may end their 30-year partnership starting in 2027, citing unresolved contracts, patient care operations, and communication issues, and it says it would prefer to resolve those problems to keep the relationship.

A guide published Oct.

28 highlights regional Chinese dishes — from mapo tofu to soup dumplings — and where to try them around Des Moines.