Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How new zebra mussels in the Des Moines River could hit your tap
Also, don't miss Candlelight: Holiday Special Featuring 'The Nutcracker" & More on the Des Moines Patch calendar
Morning Des Moines! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- How new zebra mussels in the Des Moines River could hit your tap
- Why Food Bank of Iowa needs Des Moines help after the holidays
- How one West Des Moines family keeps Abby’s memory alive each Christmas
Also on today's calendar: Candlelight: Vivaldi's Four Seasons and 4 more events.
Find out what's happening in Des Moinesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Today's riddle: What did the clock say when it ran out of batteries? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Des Moinesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Friday: Partly sunny, with a high of 50 and low of 37 degrees.
- Saturday: Times of clouds and sun, temps: high: 58, low: 36.
- Sunday: Windy and much colder, with a high of 38 and low of 12 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
📰 News we're reading
1. Invasive Zebra mussels discovered in Des Moines River (who13.com) — Zebra mussels have been discovered on the Central Iowa Water Works intake in the Des Moines River, raising concerns for Des Moines-area water infrastructure and costs. Des Moines Water Works and the Iowa DNR are monitoring the infestation and exploring control methods, as the invasive species can clog pipes, disrupt ecosystems, and worsen algae blooms across central Iowa waterways. 
2. Food Bank of Iowa seeking donations, volunteers ahead of new year (kcci.com) — Right now in Des Moines, Food Bank of Iowa is catching its breath after a tough year of lost USDA funding and a government shutdown, but leaders warn bigger challenges may loom in 2026. The organization is distributing up to 170,000 pounds of food daily across 55 counties with the same staff and trucks, and is urging residents to keep donating and volunteering well past the holidays.
3. Parents of 7-year-old keep her legacy alive with holiday book giveaway (desmoinesregister.com subscription) — A West Des Moines family is keeping 7-year-old Abby Clingan’s memory alive by gifting “The Giving Tree” each Christmas to a Sacred Heart kindergarten student, echoing nights she spent reading at home. Their tradition, along with ties to the Des Moines Playhouse and other local tributes, offers grieving families a heartfelt example of honoring a child’s legacy.
4. Two charged after separate overnight firearm incidents in Des Moines (kcci.com) — Des Moines police say two separate overnight incidents led to firearm-related charges for a man and a teenage boy. One driver was arrested after a pursuit and alleged drug and gun possession, while a 16-year-old was subdued inside an apartment where officers recovered a handgun and reported no injuries.
5. Feeling holiday stress? University of Iowa research looks into ways to cope (kcci.com) — Des Moines readers dealing with holiday stress may be interested in new University of Iowa research on how the brain’s coping pathways can build resilience and reduce health risks from chronic stress. The work, led by psychologist Jason Radley, uses animal studies to understand how active coping rewires the prefrontal cortex and offers practical takeaways like planning ahead, facing stressors directly, and caring for both mind and body.
📸 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!
★ Featured events ★
- Candlelight: Holiday Special Featuring 'The Nutcracker” & More
World Food Prize Hall of Laureates, 100 Locust St, Des Moines
4:30 pm
Saturday December 27
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Candlelight: Vivaldi's Four Seasons
Scottish Rite Consistory , 519 Park St , Des Moines
6:30 pm - Candlelight: Tribute to Adele
Scottish Rite Consistory 519 Park Street Des Moines, Iowa 50309
8:45 pm - Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings
World Food Prize Hall of Laureates , 100 Locust St , Des Moines
6:30 pm - Snow Dogs Meetup
Paws & Pints , 6218 Willowmere Dr , Des Moines
4:00 pm - 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
Friday December 26
Saturday December 27
Sunday December 28
Wednesday December 31
📣 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!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Festival of Trees + Lights
Edencrest at The Tuscany , 1600 8th St SE , Altoona
9:00 am - Winter Wonderland Holiday Pop-Up
Wilson's Orchard & Farm (Des Moines) , 3201 15th Ave , Cumming
10:00 am - Forever Fit
Norwalk Easter Public Library , 1051 North Ave , Norwalk
10:00 am - Girls Basketball: Bondurant-Farrar vs Carlisle (Varsity)
Bondurant-Farrar High School
8:00 am - Richie Lee & the Fabulous 50's
Prairie Meadows Casino, Racetrack, & Hotel , 1 Prairie Meadows Dr , Altoona
11:00 am
Friday December 26
Saturday December 27
Monday December 29
Tuesday December 30
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
- I just wanted to come on here and thank every single person that had came through from a few days before and last minute gifters for a 8yr old Christmas miracle!!!
Words can’t express how grateful I am for the people who helped make a Christmas happen for my son!! I’ve been crying because of the help you guys… (Nextdoor Indianola Hills) - Update: Pet Reunited
Belle, a dog who went missing in Des Moines, IA, has been safely reunited with their family after 1 hours, 2 minutes. Message from Owner: "Our… (Nextdoor Norwood)
- Iowa Staffing posted a job opening for Front Desk Night Auditor in Des Moines. Apply here.
- MercyOne posted a job opening for Ruan Neurology Front Desk Supervisor in Des Moines. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Des Moines here.
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 guess I’m out of time.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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