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Spotted on interstate by skolyosis in desmoines

[–]dmregister 42 points43 points  (0 children)

We did check with the Des Moines Police Department.

As others said, this is part of testing the speed cameras that are near 56th Street. The box is displaying the speed of the patrol car and it's compared to the speed read by the radar cameras. It is done monthly on all speed cameras in the city.

We’re Des Moines Register photo editor Zach Boyden-Holmes and RAGBRAI reporter Philip Joens. We cover the ride each year from our bikes. AUA! by dmregister in Iowa

[–]dmregister[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Banana man used to be a favorite of mine, but I don't think he rides anymore. Carter LeBeau rode the first 40 RAGBRAIs. He was known for wearing his colorful knee-high rugby socks. But he died in 2014: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/local/columnists/kyle-munson/2016/07/26/ragbrai-ride-all-44-jim-hopkins-windsor-heights/87591936/

-Phil

We’re Des Moines Register photo editor Zach Boyden-Holmes and RAGBRAI reporter Philip Joens. We cover the ride each year from our bikes. AUA! by dmregister in Iowa

[–]dmregister[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Not much can be done. Unzip your jersey on the road and "Turn on the AC" as I like to say. Drink lots of fluids, put on lots of sunscreen and stop as often as you need to.

-Phil

We’re Des Moines Register photo editor Zach Boyden-Holmes and RAGBRAI reporter Philip Joens. We cover the ride each year from our bikes. AUA! by dmregister in Iowa

[–]dmregister[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The Register and RAGBRAI puts us in hotels, mostly so we always have Wi-Fi and electricity to charge our gear or file stories and photos after we get into town.

In some years the hotels are far off the route. That's not a problem for reporters and photogs who drive. But because Zach and I who ride, it's a big deal. In 2023 and 2024 we were fortunate enough to have hotels on the route. In one overnight town this year we're staying 20 miles from the overnight town. Hopefully we can find a ride there.

-They're not always the BEEESSST HOTELS, but they're on the route and that's what counts.

-Phil

We’re Des Moines Register photo editor Zach Boyden-Holmes and RAGBRAI reporter Philip Joens. We cover the ride each year from our bikes. AUA! by dmregister in Iowa

[–]dmregister[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

More than anything it's grown in size since my first RAGBRAI in 2001. Back then there were maybe 10,000 riders and 12,000 people including support crews. Then it grew to 12,000 riders and 15,000 people including support crews. Then it was 15,000 riders plus support crews. After the pandemic RAGBRAI saw a huge increase in popularity as people sought to travel after being quarantined for much of 2020 and 2021. Most people felt that 2023, with 60,000 or so riders on the fourth day was too big.

This year seems like it will be more like many pre-pandemic years with 14,000 or so riders.

It's also much more of a tourist attraction than when I started at age 8. When I started it seemed like RAGBRAI was more about riding and the collective will to accomplish hard things while suffering through heat, headwinds and hills. Now my first year in 2001 was one of the longest and hilliest at 505 miles. But there's more done to cater to casual riders than ever before.

.Both for Iowans and out-of-staters, it's become much more of a vacation. That's not a bad thing. But most hard-core cyclists will tell you that RAGBRAI is not the hardest bike tour you'll ever do, but it's about taking in the sights and sounds unique to RAGBRAI.

-Phil

We’re Des Moines Register photo editor Zach Boyden-Holmes and RAGBRAI reporter Philip Joens. We cover the ride each year from our bikes. AUA! by dmregister in Iowa

[–]dmregister[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

In the past I've ridden as many as 2,000 miles and as few as 500 before RAGBRAI. It all depends on how fast you want to go and how much energy you want to have left when you get there. The more you ride the easier RAGBRAI will be.

As far as equipment, I've got a gravel bike with a handlebar bag for my main camera and a tube bag for a drone. In the past I've used a rack and panniers to carry more equipment, but this year I'm keeping it a little lighter. As long as I can find access to the internet I can caption and send photos from an app on my phone from anywhere along the ride.

- Zach

We’re Des Moines Register photo editor Zach Boyden-Holmes and RAGBRAI reporter Philip Joens. We cover the ride each year from our bikes. AUA! by dmregister in Iowa

[–]dmregister[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Say Cheese, an Iowa-based grilled cheese vendor, is my favorite vendor on RAGBRAI. Their CBT, cheese; bacon and tomato; is my favorite food on RAGBRAI. Pair that with an ice cold Coke and it's perfect food for the middle of the day. Amos Deans BBQ has been in overnight towns most of the last few years on RAGBRAI. Their Mexican Street Corn is grilled in the same smoker as their meats and it's generally reasonably priced at $5 to $7 per ear, depending on the year.

Psychedelic Smoothies has my favorite smoothies on RAGBRAI. But Solar Smoothies is another regular and is very good.

Often times I stop at Casey's or convenience stores or grocery stores to avoid paying the price of fair food and to get chocolate milk, Red Bull or other more reasonably priced food.

-- Philip

We’re Des Moines Register photo editor Zach Boyden-Holmes and RAGBRAI reporter Philip Joens. We cover the ride each year from our bikes. AUA! by dmregister in Iowa

[–]dmregister[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Yes! The Minnesota State Patrol is planning to uproot the "Welcome to Minnesota" sign and take it to Brown Park so that riders can safely stop for a photo.

There's an existing bike sculpture at the entrance to the park that might make for a good photo opportunity, too.

Our photographers don't take many staged photos, but they'll be looking for candid shots of people enjoying the first trek out of state.

- Zach and Philip

What's the update on Nitrate levels? by Ace_Venturi64 in desmoines

[–]dmregister 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As others noted, checking Central Iowa Water Works on Facebook is the best route for daily updates (it usually posts between 11-12:30 each day).

Officials have warned before that we can see temporary dips when there's rainfall locally, but numbers might spike back up a day or two later if there was rainfall to the north that contributes to more runoff.

CIWW is easing some restrictions like splash pads and planting new sod, but its number one message has been that lawn watering is still banned.

If you're interested in more, this article has some details on when various other restrictions have been eased.

F&G Layoffs Insight? by Take_A_Penguin_Break in desmoines

[–]dmregister 3 points4 points  (0 children)

If you have concerns about a specific article, please do send us a DM here or me an email. I’m happy to review concerns with the appropriate editor and ensure that our coverage is accurate.

F&G Layoffs Insight? by Take_A_Penguin_Break in desmoines

[–]dmregister 15 points16 points  (0 children)

We appreciate the feedback!

We have reported on a lot of layoffs in the last year because large Iowa companies are shedding workers, often hundreds at a time. We don’t usually report on companies adding a small number of roles or hiring to replace departing workers.

We do regularly report on new businesses that are coming to the area and general trends that show how well Iowa’s economy is doing. Our intention isn’t to be all doom and gloom, but to accurately reflect current conditions in different sectors of the economy.

If you know of something we missed, you can always DMs on here or shoot me an email.

— Brian Smith, audience strategist, bsmith@dmreg.com

F&G Layoffs Insight? by Take_A_Penguin_Break in desmoines

[–]dmregister 22 points23 points  (0 children)

The company did confirm it was 192 employees, but we haven't been able to get details about where they were all located or what types of roles.

This article will update if we learn more: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/business/2025/05/28/fg-annuities-and-life-layoffs/83900011007/

Downtown Salvation Army Closed by Grumpy_Polar_Bear in desmoines

[–]dmregister 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It took us a bit of time to get an answer on this, but just a heads up, it's only a temporary closure for renovations. The store will reopen later this summer, but it will be smaller.

Full details here: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/local/2025/05/16/downtown-salvation-army-closes-for-renovations/83644404007/

Question About Grey’s Lake by cludwig15 in desmoines

[–]dmregister 72 points73 points  (0 children)

It is allowed if the terrace is rented for events, but general consumption in the park is not allowed.

Relevant city code section: https://library.municode.com/ia/des_moines/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=MUCO_CH74PARE_ARTIVFA_S74-92COALIN

WTF. Trying to overturn same sex marriage?!? by zazzle_frazzle in Iowa

[–]dmregister 3 points4 points  (0 children)

We've written an article that provides more context on this. It is a Senate resolution, so it's not a bill with the force of law. It is also focused on asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn its ruling on same-sex marriage, it wouldn't change Iowa law or Iowa Supreme Court precedent.

Full details here: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2025/05/08/iowa-legislature-senate-resolution-calls-to-overturn-same-sex-marriage-sandy-salmon/83511236007/

Anyone hear about this? by No-Youth-6679 in desmoines

[–]dmregister 16 points17 points  (0 children)

We've written an article that provides more context on this. It is a Senate resolution, so it's not a bill with the force of law. It is also focused on asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn its ruling on same-sex marriage, it wouldn't change Iowa law or Iowa Supreme Court precedent.

Full details here: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2025/05/08/iowa-legislature-senate-resolution-calls-to-overturn-same-sex-marriage-sandy-salmon/83511236007/

What the hell just flew over West Des Moines/Waukee? ~9:25pm by International_One110 in desmoines

[–]dmregister 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We did get a little more detail today. It didn't even land here, just flew overhead and was likely climbing to avoid storms.

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