🌱 Patch AM: How new SNAP rules will change grocery shopping in Urbandale Sunday

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

In today's newsletter:

• How new SNAP rules will change grocery shopping in Urbandale Sunday
• How did 2025’s biggest Iowa stories touch Urbandale?

Today's riddle: I think I’ll wear only one boot today. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: Cloudy, with a high of 41 and low of 14 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
• Thursday: Mostly sunny and colder, temps: high: 29, low: 19.
• Friday: Partly sunny, with a high of 29 and low of 21 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• SNAP food restrictions take effect Jan. 1 across Iowa (kcci.com) — Starting Jan. 1, SNAP users in Iowa, including Urbandale residents, will no longer be able to use EBT cards for soda, candy, and some prepared foods. State officials say the law is meant to encourage healthier eating, while hunger advocates argue it stigmatizes low-income families and creates confusion over which items, like certain granola bars, still qualify.
   

• Iowa's top news stories of 2025 (wvik.org) — Urbandale residents are reminded that Planned Parenthood closed its local clinic this year, leaving only Des Moines and Iowa City locations operating in the state. The statewide news roundup also highlights major 2025 developments, from tax cuts and transgender rights changes to water restrictions, school bond votes, and the return of fallen Iowa National Guard soldiers.
   

📸 Around Urbandale

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 Urbandale

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Thursday January 1

• New Year's Day
  Urbandale, IA Calendar
• Civil Service Commission- no meeting held
  Urbandale, IA Calendar , 3600 86th Street , Urbandale
  9:00 am

📣 Urbandale 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

Wednesday December 31

• Library closes early at 5:00 p.m. for the New Years Holiday
  Johnston Public Library - Johnston IA 50131
  5:00 pm

Thursday January 1

• City Buildings Closed New Year's Day
  Grimes, IA Calendar Grimes, IA 50111

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

• Girls Basketball: Des Moines Roosevelt vs Des Moines East (JV1)
  Roosevelt High School Des Moines, IA 50312
  4:45 pm
• Boys Basketball: Des Moines Roosevelt vs Des Moines East (JV1)
  Roosevelt High School Des Moines, IA 50312
  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
• Boys Basketball: Des Moines Roosevelt vs Des Moines East (JV2)
  Roosevelt High School Des Moines, IA 50312
  6:15 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 Urbandale 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

• Discovered seepage and cracked tile from underneath toilet.
  Need someone to diagnose the problem (toilet, honeycomb, tile)? And fix whatever needs to be fixed! (Nextdoor Waterford Landing)

• The Cleaning Authority posted a job opening for Housekeeper House Cleaner in Urbandale. Apply here.
• BootBarn, Inc. posted a job opening for Inventory Control Associate in Urbandale. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Urbandale here.

🗞 Nearby News

Johnston

• Top Iowa Political Stories of 2025 (radioiowa.com)
• Ticketing begins Jan. 1, 2026 for violating Iowa's ‘Hands-free' driving law (kgloam.com)
• Iowa PBS to screen new cartoon in February (mississippivalleypublishing.com)

West Des Moines

• Here are the best new restaurants that opened in 2025 (desmoinesregister.com)
• Bird flu outbreak kills hundreds of Canada geese at Maffitt Reservoir (desmoinesregister.com)
• An Iowa Restaurant Has Made the New York Times' ‘Best Dishes of 2025′ List (khak.com)

Ok Urbandale! 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 heard there’s only a 50 percent chance of snow.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

• Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
• Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
• List items for sale or services offered

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook