🌱 Patch AM: How badly did winter storms snarl flights at Des Moines Airport?

Hey hey Des Moines! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How badly did winter storms snarl flights at Des Moines Airport?
• Want your art roaming Iowa thanks to Des Moines’ Blank Park Zoo?
• How one West Des Moines mom turned fear into vital support

Also on today's calendar: Snow Dogs Meetup and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: I’m trying to think of a new cloud joke. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Sunday: A wintry mix in the morning, with a high of 42 and low of 11 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
• Monday: Windy and much colder, temps: high: 21, low: 13.
• Tuesday: Clouds and sun; not as cold, with a high of 37 and low of 27 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Airport travelers cope with cancellations after Christmas (who13.com) — Hundreds of Des Moines travelers are dealing with post-Christmas flight cancellations after winter storms scrubbed more than 1,000 flights nationwide, including multiple Allegiant trips to Florida. Families who had planned beach getaways are now stuck rebooking, and the Des Moines Airport is directing passengers to its website for the latest flight status updates.
   

• Iowa artists are needed for statewide celebration of community, conservation (kgloam.com) — Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines is recruiting Iowa artists to design life-sized lion silhouette sculptures for a new Roar & Explore art trail celebrating the zoo’s 60th anniversary. Twenty-six winning designs will be installed around Iowa from April through Labor Day, tying into a major lion conservation center expansion planned for 2026.
   

• West Des Moines mother helps parents after she was supported through child's down syndrome diagnosis (weareiowa.com) — A West Des Moines mom is turning her difficult twin pregnancy and Down syndrome diagnosis into support for other parents facing similar news. After another mother comforted her with a Jack’s Basket of resources, she now volunteers to bring that same reassurance to families navigating new diagnoses.
   

📸 Around Des Moines

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Des Moines

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Sunday December 28

• Snow Dogs Meetup
  Paws & Pints , 6218 Willowmere Dr , Des Moines
  4:00 pm

Wednesday December 31

• New Year's Eve Party
  Smash Park Des Moines 6625 Coachlight Dr West Des Moines, IA 50266
  11:00 am
• Noon Year's Eve Ball Drop
  Paws & Pints , 6218 Willowmere Dr , Des Moines
  12:00 pm

Monday January 5

• Girls Basketball: North Polk vs Des Moines Roosevelt (JV1)
  Roosevelt High School Des Moines, IA 50312
  6:00 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 (Junior Varsity)
  Roosevelt High School Des Moines, IA 50312
  5:30 pm
• Boys Swimming: Ottumwa vs Des Moines Roosevelt (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

Saturday January 10

• Social Saturday: SNOW DAY
  Des Moines Art Center , 4700 Grand Ave , Des Moines
  11:00 am
• Smells Like Nirvana Tribute & Dead Original Live in Concert
  Wooly's , 504 E Locust St , Des Moines
  8:00 pm

📣 Des Moines Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

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 Des Moines PatchAM possible:

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

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Please HELP!!!
  The kids fur baby took off about an hour ago in the pleasant hill area!! Right by hyvee in pleasant hill please please if anyone sees her let me know… (Nextdoor Beaverdale North)
• We are in Douglas acres near E 32nd and Aurora and found a beautiful husky which we have now in our house.
  Owner must identify collar, sex and name when arriving (just to be cautious!). We have dogs too and they're outside for a few hours while we have our… (Nextdoor Douglas Acres)

• McDonald's posted a job opening for McDonald's Janitorial in Des Moines. Apply here.
• UnityPoint Health posted a job opening for Housekeeper-Mid Day Shift-Methodist in Des Moines. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Des Moines here.

🗞 Nearby News

Ankeny

• A New Year's resolution for our Representatives: Vote for Iowans, not billionaires (stormlake.com)

Ok Des Moines! 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 haven’t the foggiest.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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