🌱 Patch AM: Are you ready for Ankeny’s one-day free Christmas tree pickup?

Hi Ankeny! We have the latest buzz right here. Let's keep you in the loop and get this morning started right! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Are you ready for Ankeny’s one-day free Christmas tree pickup?
• How a new autism law changes coverage for Ankeny families
• Why more Ankeny residents are spotting sick birds near local waterways

Today's riddle: I quit my job as a banker. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Friday: Partly sunny, with a high of 29 and low of 20 degrees.
• Saturday: Partly sunny, temps: high: 36, low: 20.
• Sunday: Periods of clouds and sun, with a high of 39 and low of 28 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. How to dispose of Christmas trees around the Des Moines metro (weareiowa.com) — Ankeny residents can get free curbside pickup of live Christmas trees on Jan. 5, with services sweeping the city once, so trees must be curbside by 7 a.m. No tags are required, but trees must be bare of decorations, stands, and bags, and artificial or flocked trees aren’t accepted. Homes with private garbage service may still participate by using a nearby city curb.
   

2. New state law expands insurance coverage for Iowans with autism (kcci.com) — An Ankeny family is welcoming a new Iowa law that removes dollar and age caps on autism insurance coverage, allowing therapies to continue into adulthood. The change, effective Jan. 1, bans limits on autism treatment visits and offers long-term security for families statewide who rely on speech, occupational, and Applied Behavior Analysis therapies.
   

3. Iowa bird rehab overwhelmed by avian flu calls (kcci.com) — Ankeny residents are among those increasingly calling wildlife rehabilitators about sick and dead waterfowl as avian flu spreads around the Des Moines metro. Iowa Bird Rehabilitation and state wildlife officials say they’re overwhelmed and urge people not to touch affected birds, instead reporting clusters and keeping pets away while limited crews handle cleanup and tracking.
   

4. Disability rights lawyers threatened with budget cuts, reassignments (newsfromthestates.com) — An Ankeny family’s fight to secure a specialized wheelchair for their 7-year-old son shows how crucial federally funded disability-rights lawyers can be when insurers deny care. That local success story is now at risk, as the Trump administration seeks deep cuts and reassignments that advocates say could sharply reduce legal help for Iowans with disabilities.
   

📸 Around Ankeny

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📣 Ankeny Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Monday January 5

• Girls Basketball: North Polk vs Des Moines Roosevelt (JV1)
  Roosevelt High School Des Moines, IA 50312
  6:00 pm
• Johnston City Council Meeting
  Johnston, IA Calendar , 6221 Merle Hay Road PO Box 410 , Johnston
  7:00 pm
• Girls Basketball: North Polk vs Des Moines Roosevelt (Varsity)
  Roosevelt High School Des Moines, IA 50312
  7:30 pm

Tuesday January 6

• Boys Basketball: Des Moines Roosevelt vs Des Moines East (JV1)
  East High School Des Moines, IA 50316
  4:45 pm
• Girls Basketball: Des Moines Roosevelt vs Des Moines East (JV1)
  East High School Des Moines, IA 50316
  4:45 pm
• Boys Swimming: Ottumwa vs Des Moines Roosevelt (Varsity)
  Roosevelt High School Des Moines, IA 50312
  5:30 pm
• Boys Swimming: Ottumwa vs Des Moines Roosevelt (Junior Varsity)
  Roosevelt High School Des Moines, IA 50312
  5:30 pm
• Girls Basketball: Des Moines Roosevelt vs Des Moines East (Varsity)
  East High School Des Moines, IA 50316
  6:15 pm
• Boys Basketball: Des Moines Roosevelt vs Des Moines East (JV2)
  East High School Des Moines, IA 50316
  6:15 pm
• Girls Basketball: Des Moines Roosevelt vs Des Moines East (JV2)
  East High School Des Moines, IA 50316
  7:45 pm
• Boys Basketball: Des Moines Roosevelt vs Des Moines East (Varsity)
  East High School Des Moines, IA 50316
  7:45 pm

Wednesday January 7

• Tree Board Meeting
  Grimes, IA Calendar
  5:30 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Ankeny PatchAM possible:

• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Word of caution.
  Before buying power recliners at Homemakers ask the what the warranty is if the power quits working. We had our sofa and loveseat for 3 months and… (Nextdoor Ashland Meadows)

• Sam's Club posted a job opening for Merchandise and Stocking Associate in Ankeny. Apply here.
• ABM Industries posted a job opening for Warehouse Janitorial Cleaner - Days in Ankeny. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Ankeny here.

Ok Ankeny! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I just lost interest.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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