Daily
West Des Moines
Friday, November 14th, 2025
Good morning, West Des Moines. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 14th of November.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Joy Nicole Ali, CEO of The Joy of Curls, educates foster parents on caring for kids’ textured hair with plant-based formulas—part of National Adoption Month initiatives aimed at supporting cultural ties for Black foster families. The company also announced a Holiday Sip and Shop event at AC Marriott Hotel in Des Moines on November 21 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. WHO13
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Lefty’s Live Music announced via Facebook on Thursday that the venue will close after ten years of operation, with a final show on December 21 from 5 to 9 p.m. The space is now listed for sale + its future remains uncertain. WHO13
- ➤ Lefty's Live Music in the Drake neighborhood will close at the end of the year after 10 years in operation. Owners Anne Mathy and Erik Brown said they named the venue for their rescue dog Lefty, who died in 2022, and will honor his memory as the venue shuts its doors. KCCI
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Stuart Anderson of the Iowa Department of Transportation briefed commission members on Wednesday that travel volume increased by 0.1% and fatal accidents dropped 24% below the five-year average. He said that 234 people died on Iowa roadways this year—far less than the five-year average of 298. Radio Iowa
- ➤ The Iowa DOT is closing eastbound I-80 between Grand Prairie Parkway and the southwest mixmaster tonight at 8:30 p.m.—the road will reopen at 5 a.m. tomorrow—with further overnight closures on Monday and Tuesday nights for grading and concrete work to expand the highway to six lanes. Des Moines Register
- ➤ Chad Staudenmaier, owner of Valley West Corner Store, said he is worried that the urban development plan will increase dangerous traffic at the Valley West Drive and Westown Parkway intersection—he prefers places where cars do not come and go too fast. Mayor Russ Trimble said the city is watching the intersection closely and will act if the new development worsens the hazard. WHO13
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ The Iowa Wild hosts a Star Wars night today at 7 p.m. and will hold Veterans Appreciation night tomorrow at 6 p.m.—today's game features mystery puck sales for Special Olympics Iowa while tomorrow's game offers an Iowa Aeros hat giveaway for the first 1,500 fans and a postgame jersey auction that supports Mis-Iowa Council and Scouting America. WHO13
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Morning Meet Up – MoM November Gathering
10-11 a.m. — The Slow Down Coffee Co. — Free entry — Connect with fellow parents of Asian & Pacific Islander children in a supportive environment.
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Malcolm Wells - Student Harmonica Giveaway With Lesson
2-3 p.m. — Des Moines Public Library - Central Library — Free entry — Discover the joy of the harmonica in this all-ages music lesson and giveaway.
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SSBCI Lunch and Learn - Des Moines
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. — Elevator Co-Warehousing — Free entry — Discover how Iowa's $96 million investment supports local small businesses.
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Hoyt Sherman Art Classes
5:30-7:30 p.m. — Hoyt Sherman Place — Registration required — Explore your creativity at art classes designed for mentorship matches.
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Baby Rhyme Time
9:30-10:00 AM — 1000 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA — Free entry — Enjoy a lively session of rhymes, songs, and playtime for babies and caregivers.
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Iowa CPCU I-Day 2025
7:30 AM – 1:30 PM — Nationwide Insurance — Registration required — A day of insightful sessions including a keynote by Sinikka Waugh focused on risk management and insurance opportunities.
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Open Mic Poetry Night
7-8 p.m. — Beaverdale Books — Free entry — Celebrate creativity at this quarterly gathering of poets and spoken word enthusiasts.
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Downtown Winter Farmers' Market
8 a.m. — EMC Expo Center — Free entry — Shop for holiday foods and gifts while enjoying local entertainment and supporting small businesses.
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Downtown Winter Farmers' Market
8 AM – 2 PM — EMC Expo Center — Free entry — Explore holiday food, gifts, and live entertainment while supporting local vendors.
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Weekly Art Nights with Art is Rad
6-8 p.m. — Big Grove Brewery & Taproom — $10 per artist — Unleash your creativity with new hands-on art activities each week, welcoming all ages and skill levels.
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TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
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Welcome to the Daily West Des Moines, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the West Des Moines, Iowa community. If you like the Daily West Des Moines, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in West Des Moines.
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