Philip Joens

1 week ago | desmoinesregister.com | Philip Joens

A 12-unit apartment building is planned for the Highland Park business district, in Des Moines, potentially costing $2.6 million. Developer Jake Sparks aims to provide "quality, respectable, safe housing" complementing the neighborhood. The city's Urban Design Review Board approved it and the previously announced Goldfinch Lofts, a mixed-use mass-timber building will occupy the former Bank of America site on Ingersoll Avenue.

1 week ago | desmoinesregister.com | Philip Joens

Chocolaterie Stam, a Des Moines confectioner, faces increased costs due to tariffs on European chocolate and Chinese packaging. The company, which imports high-quality chocolate from the Netherlands, has already raised prices due to drought-related cocoa shortages. While a 90-day tariff freeze offers temporary relief, the owners anticipate further price increases and decreased consumer spending.

1 week ago | desmoinesregister.com | Philip Joens

RAGBRAI 52 will be shorter and flatter than usual. Easy, right? Not so much as you might think. Even the most experienced riders will feel sore muscles and sore bottoms as the second-shortest edition of the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa treks 406 miles July 20-26 from Orange City to Guttenberg, said David Ertl, a USA Cycling certified coach. RAGBRAI 52Ert has written a training blog for RAGBRAI.com since 2009.

1 week ago | desmoinesregister.com | Philip Joens

Philip JoensThursday July 25, 2002 -- Peg Ray of Evansville, IND, holds a squealing pig for a photo at the fairgrounds in Nashua, Iowa. Riders could have their picture taken with a farm animals and tractors and have the photo emailed home. White Rodney, Copyright 2002 The Des Moines RegisterBrian Arthur of Pendleton, Indiana, kisses Eggs, a baby pig at the Swine Cuddles booth in West Bend during RAGBRAI on Monday, July 24, 2017.

1 week ago | desmoinesregister.com | Philip Joens

Each day this week, the Des Moines Register will be presenting one of the daily maps for RAGBRAI 2025. Here's today's. Miles: 61.6.Feet of climb: 2,340. Theme: Tire Dip and RAGBRAI Jersey Day. Pass-through towns: Aurora, Stanley, Lamont, Dundee, Garber. Meeting town: Edgewood. Highlights: Riders will get scenic views of the Mississippi River on portions of the final cruise into Guttenberg. But they will have to work for them.