Des Moines Daily Brief: Downtown protest, radar patrols, and late-week storms

Local Headlines

Des Moines, IA – March 5, 2026 – Downtown protest slowed traffic, police posted radar zones, storms loom late week, and Guard homecomings are set.


Des Moines is seeing a busy stretch downtown, with a major march earlier this week and more events and weather changes on the way.

Local headlines

Downtown protest halted traffic near Locust and Third

A Monday evening demonstration drew dozens of people into the street in the core of downtown, briefly stopping cars while marchers chanted and carried signs. The rally focused on opposition to recent U.S. military action in Iran and included calls for Congress to play a larger role in authorizing strikes.

Police share this week’s mobile radar and speed-trailer locations

The Des Moines Police Department posted a day-by-day schedule of mobile radar enforcement on major corridors, including stretches of Indianola Avenue, SE 14th Street, Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, 6th Avenue, Fleur Drive, Ingersoll Avenue, and Hickman Road. Two speed trailers are also slated for SE McKinley Avenue and Park Avenue through March 13.

Sun returns Thursday, then storms could arrive overnight into Friday

Forecasters expect clouds to break Thursday afternoon with highs pushing toward the upper 50s to around 60. A stronger system is projected to bring thunderstorms late Thursday night into Friday, with hail and damaging wind listed as the main concerns. Rain could linger into Friday morning, and the tornado risk is currently described as low.

National Guard welcome-home ceremonies scheduled at the airport

Welcome-home events for returning Iowa National Guard members are planned for Saturday, March 7, including a 1:45 p.m. ceremony at the 132d Air Wing at Des Moines International Airport that is not open to the public. Additional ceremonies are also expected March 12, with times to be announced.

Looking ahead

Downtown will also host the Iowa boys state basketball tournament at Casey’s Center from March 9–13, bringing teams and fans into the city for a week of games. If you’re planning a night out before then, a new weekly roundup lists live music options across Des Moines through the weekend, including shows at venues in the Court Avenue area and beyond.

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