Good morning, Des Moines.

Start-up companies from Argentina, India and Nigeria will pitch for $65,000 in prize money at the World Food Prize Foundation’s Innovate for Impact challenge in downtown Des Moines next Wednesday — with top awards of $50,000, $10,000 and $5,000 — as judges review ideas for global impact.

The number of businesses on the state’s Choose Iowa website doubled since January after it was created during the pandemic to meet the demand for local food.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig urged Iowans to shop local — noting that the directory now includes products from fresh produce to horticultural goods.

Award-winning teacher Patrick Brennan, known for challenging his Merrill Middle School students with thoughtful questions, died unexpectedly on Oct 16th.

His death has left his family and school community in mourning while both Merrill and Roosevelt High offer counseling to help students cope.

More than 450 students at Capitol View Elementary received new bikes, helmets, and locks from nonprofit Variety—local volunteers built the bikes and Bike World professionals checked each for safety, marking a special moment for the children.

Four candidates are running for three seats on the Ankeny school board ahead of the Nov.

4 election—incumbent Joy Burk and challengers Roxanne Petersen, Julian Rachu and Jeff Schumacher shared their plans for student support, fiscal responsibility and safe learning environments.

Six candidates for the Johnston School Board answered questions at a forum held at Johnston High School on Oct.

14th (ahead of the Nov. 4th election) to share their plans for the local school system.

Yellow Banks Park in eastern Polk County offers bright fall colors on 600 acres with camping, archery, fishing, and boating by the Des Moines River + Native American artifacts and a burial mound add historic interest.

The park is free to enter and is open all year with camping available from April through November.

Iowa now gives kinship caregivers the same financial support as foster care parents under a federal rule that lets the state set its own kinship licensing requirements—over 350 kinship households have been referred since the change began on July 1.

The new rule also cuts the licensing process to about two months with fewer training classes, helping keep foster youth with family members.

Today, a state panel predicted Iowa tax revenue would fall 9 percent during the current budget year compared to the period ending June 30 and cut its March estimate by $375 million due to higher unemployment, lower soybean prices, and recent tax cuts—lawmakers and the governor offered differing views about Iowa’s finances. The panel said revenue will stabilize and start to grow in 2027 if there is no recession.

Mary Charlton, the Iowa Cancer Registry director, said at the Iowa Cancer Summit in Ankeny that lawmakers must raise the tobacco tax by at least one dollar to lower lung cancer deaths—counties in Iowa are seeing rising lung cancer rates and high radon levels in homes make smoking even more dangerous.

Micah Norby, a 7-year-old boy from Greenfield, will serve as Iowa's Kid Captain in the game against Penn State this week.

He received gene therapy at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital before his 6th birthday to help manage his Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and his condition has since stabilized.

New Functional Fitness Class at DM Yoga and Wellness

This FUNctional fitness class will increase your strength for everyday living!!

Turn it On! Mural Festival

1-3 p.m. — 901 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA — Free entry — Celebrate the unveiling of an AR mural by Leon Keer while enjoying live jazz music.

Doom Gong with Evander Ellsbury

7:00-8:30 p.m. — xBk Live — Tickets start at $38 — Experience an unforgettable evening with Doom Gong in Des Moines.

Nurse Blake Comedy Show

7:00 – 8:30 PM — Hoyt Sherman Place — Ticket prices starting at $51 — Enjoy a night of laughter with Nurse Blake at this renowned venue.

Storytelling with Analogies

4:00 – 5:30 p.m. — Principal Financial Group — Free entry — Enhance your communication skills by crafting analogies that simplify complex concepts.

Light+ Iowa

2:30-7:30 p.m. — The Tea Room — Free entry — Explore innovative lighting solutions with expert insights and enjoy live music and appetizers.

Tyler Rich Concert at Wooly's

7-8:30 p.m. — Wooly's — Tickets from $49 — Experience the energetic vibes of Tyler Rich live in Des Moines.

To Grandmother’s House We Go

9 a.m. — Brown's Woods — Entry Fee $40 — Tackle a spooky trail run on the unpaved paths of Brown's Woods with options for 5k, 10k, or 15k distances.

Beggar's Brunch at Exile Brewing

10 AM – 2 PM — Exile Brewing Company — Free entry — Celebrate Beggar's Night with costume fun and bingo for prizes.

Weekly Art Nights with Art is Rad

6-8 p.m. — Big Grove Brewery & Taproom — $10 per artist — Unleash your creativity with a new hands-on art activity each week.

K-pop Meet-up

5-6 p.m. — Des Moines Public Library - Central Library — Free entry — Connect with fellow K-pop fans, trade photocards, and enjoy snacks and music.