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🌱 Patch AM: Why Walmart’s second Ankeny store won’t be in your backyard

You won't want to miss ARL Pug-ly Sweater Bar Crawl on the Ankeny Patch calendar

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Hey there, Ankeny! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • Why Walmart’s second Ankeny store won’t be in your backyard
  • Which Ankeny driver just got a $230 speeding ticket in Minnesota?
  • How did Ankeny warehouses end up in a federal oil probe?

Also on today's calendar: Outlets of Des Moines Hosts LifeServe Blood Drive and 4 more events.

Find out what's happening in Ankenyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: I once read a book about anti-gravity. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Ankenyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Friday: Low clouds and breezy, with a high of 28 and low of 2 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
  • Saturday: Colder with snow, 1-3", temps: high: 7, low: -13.
  • Sunday: Mostly sunny and cold, with a high of 8 and low of 2 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Ankeny land now slated for apartments, Walmart shifts search (who13.com) — Ankeny officials have approved a 540-unit apartment complex along North Ankeny Boulevard, ending plans for a second Walmart at that site after strong neighborhood opposition and traffic concerns. The Bricktowne Piper Phase 2 project will use existing private roads, add hundreds of parking spaces, and include landscaping and directed lighting to buffer nearby homes, while Walmart continues searching for another Ankeny location.
   

2. Fines 12-11-25 (lakefieldstandard.com) — An Ankeny driver appears on Minnesota’s latest list of traffic fines, cited for speeding at $230, alongside motorists from several other states and Iowa towns. While the violations occurred in Minnesota, it’s a reminder that Ankeny residents’ driving records follow them across state lines.
   

3. Federal indictment links Iowa warehouses to multistate stolen cooking-oil ring (cbs2iowa.com) — Ankeny warehouses are at the center of a newly announced federal case alleging a multistate scheme to steal and resell used restaurant cooking oil. Prosecutors say trucks hauled stolen oil to facilities in Ankeny and Des Moines before it was sold and the proceeds laundered. Several Iowa residents are charged, with trial set for early 2026.
   

4. Iowa license-plate cameras may be invading your privacy, ACLU claims (desmoinesregister.com subscription) — Automated license-plate cameras are now in use in Ankeny and many other Iowa communities, and a new ACLU-backed report warns they may threaten residents’ privacy. The study highlights inconsistent rules on how long data is kept, who can access it, and how widely it’s shared, and urges cities to pause contracts until statewide protections are in place.
   

5. Droning on: Part 1 (nwestiowa.com) — Ankeny gets a brief nod as Iowa considers a drone-as-first-responder program similar to one already operating in California, while northwest Iowa agencies describe how drones are transforming search-and-rescue and emergency response. Local readers get a look at how law enforcement uses aerial cameras, thermal imaging, and strict FAA rules to find missing people, manage disasters, and weigh new privacy concerns.
   

📸 Around Ankeny

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • COOPER IS HOME SAFE!!!
    Missing dog in Ankeny near NE 5th and Delaware. His name is Cooper. (Nextdoor Diamond Hills)
  • Whose kitty is this in Georgetown neighborhood?!
    He comes to my door like once a week to see my kitty but runs away when I open the door. I am certain this kitty and mine hang out together when… (Nextdoor Georgetown)
  • Molly Maid posted a job opening for Professional House Cleaner in Ankeny. Apply here.
  • Cadence Education, Inc. posted a job opening for Preschool Teacher 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 couldn’t put it down.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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