News | Carl Voss

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Let's Catch Up! March '26

QUIETLY LEARNING ENGLISH SKILLS “My granddaughter wants balloons for her birthday party,” Sue Huber tells her English Language Learning (ELL) students. “Now, write that sentence.” The former Peace Corps volunteer is one of 12 devoted teachers who dedicate their Tuesday and Thursday evenings to teaching English at Trinity Las Americas United Methodist Church. When I visited, 19 eager students were taking part in this learning opportunity. The nonprofit 8th & College Connection

Let's Catch Up! February '26

KNOCK AND DROP EXPANDS TO 5-DAY PANTRY What began as one woman’s after-hours effort to deliver food to Latino families on Wednesdays has expanded into a five-day operation. Zuli’s Knock and Drop now operates weekdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., serving all Des Moines neighbors. This growth shows how one person’s vision and drive can spark community change. Zuleyma “Zuli” Mendez began the program in her garage on March 4, 2020. As demand outgrew her space, Zuli and her volunteers

Let's Catch Up! January '26

BUSIEST YEAR EVER FOR MYDSMMOBILE See something. Say something. Public Works, Engineering, and Neighborhood Services will sort it. Des Moines residents embraced the myDSMmobile app for reporting City issues—15 categories in all, with 7,058 tickets opened in 2025. That’s an uptick from 6,946 the previous year. Potholes were once again the largest category, with 2,256 reports (32 percent of the 2025 total), and up from 2,021 in 2024. Public Works director Jonathan Gano told me

Let's Catch Up! December '25

POTHOLES, SNOW & THE ENVIRONMENT In addition to overseeing nearly 400 employees, Public Works Director Jonathan Gano is stepping up in 2026 to become president of the Iowa Environmental Council (IEC), dovetailing with his City duties and longtime interests. Jonathan and I sat down at Scenic Route Bakery for coffee and a chat about how a leadership role for this nonprofit fits nicely with his City role. But first, a little background. Jonathan told me that as a teenager growi

Let's Catch Up! November '25

TRAINING TOWER FOR FIREFIGHTERS Fire Marshal Jon Lund, left, and Captain Steve Kiburz stand outside the training tower that is part of the new Fire Station 4 under construction at 1505 Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway. The $15.8 million station is expected to open in early 2026. The five-story training tower, shown in the background, will serve firefighters from all 11 Des Moines stations. The cost to build the tower and the covered trench (below grade) is estimated at $300,000

Let's Catch Up! October '25

VOTE YES: OUR CITY NEEDS STRONG SCHOOLS State and federal funding for public schools has taken painful cuts in recent years. And those cuts threaten the communities that depend on them for more than simply educating children without regard for ability to pay. “Public schools often provide economic benefits for communities,” asserts the Learning for Justice program of the Southern Poverty Law Center, “including employment, economic opportunities, and encouragement for famili