🌱 Easter S. Bunny, Polk County Prosecutor + Pia The Pig At Iowa ARL

Happy Saturday, neighbors! Let's get this day started off right. These are the most important things happening today in Des Moines.

First, today's weather:

A severe afternoon t-storm. High: 75 Low: 46.

Here are the top three stories today in Des Moines:

1. Several hundred criminal cases in Polk County have a unique prosecutor name listed: "Easter Santa Bunny." According to a report from the Iowa Capital Dispatch, online docket sheets for hundreds of Polk County cases transferred the prosecution from an assistant county attorney to the mythical character. The situation is reported to stem from a recent realignment of cases within the county attorney's office, with "Easter Santa Bunny" being used as a placeholder name until work on all digital case transfers could be completed. (KCCI Des Moines)
2. The Animal Rescue League of Iowa's Second Hand Ranch houses barnyard animals of all kinds — including pigs. Pia the pig, currently staying at the ranch, is looking for his forever home. He is reported to be between one and two years of age and is currently neutered and microchipped. Watch the full interview with Carrie Spain, ARL Second Chance Ranch Coordinator, at the link. (Local 5 - weareiowa.com)
3. On Friday, Casey's cut the ribbon on a new Des Moines store with a unique model. Like its other locations, the store on Forest Avenue offers pizza, drinks, and snacks, but differs in one key way: there are no gas pumps. That same day, Casey's also opened its newest traditional store on Ingersoll Avenue. (KCCI Des Moines)

Today in Des Moines:

• LifeServe Blood Donation Drive At Outlets Of Des Moines (9:00 AM)
• Earth Day At The Garden: Free Admission At Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden (10:00 AM)
• Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Music Festival At Gas Lamp (4:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• On May 24, Des Moines Area Community College at Perry’s VanKirk Career Academy Summer Youth Internship Program will return for its third year. The program seeks to make a difference for local youth by providing students with work-readiness training, workplace experience, and hourly wages for summer employment. (Theperrychief)
• A Des Moines woman has turned her bread-making hobby into a business. Visit the link for the full profile on Chelsa Smith, owner of Bread By Chelsa B. (Local 5 - weareiowa.com)
• The Iowa Events Center announced it is now Sensory Inclusive Certified through KultureCity. The convention center said on Facebook, "Providing an exceptional guest experience is one of our top priorities, so we have taken the necessary steps to earn the Sensory Inclusive™ Certification." (Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• National Hug A Plumber Day (April 25)
• Social Security Seminar on 4/27 & 4/28 (April 27)
• Add your event

Loving the Des Moines Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

• Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe
• Get your local business listed in front of readers

Alrighty, you're all good for today. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— Sean Peek

About me: Sean Peek is a writer and entrepreneur with a degree in English Literature from Weber State University. Over the years, he has worked as a copywriter, editor, SEO specialist, and marketing director for various digital media companies. He currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.