Shooting Investigation, Record Heat and Statehouse Moves Lead Des Moines Headlines
Des Moines, IA – March 9, 2026 – Police investigate a West Des Moines shooting as record warmth and Statehouse decisions lead local headlines.
West Des Moines Shooting Under Investigation
Police are continuing to investigate a shooting in West Des Moines that left one person hospitalized. Officers responded late Sunday to reports of gunfire and located an individual suffering from injuries at the scene.
The victim was transported to a local hospital. Authorities have not released additional details about the person’s condition.
Investigators have also not shared information about a possible suspect or what may have led up to the shooting. The case remains active, and residents in the surrounding area may notice an increased police presence as detectives continue collecting evidence and speaking with witnesses.
Des Moines Breaks Another February Heat Record
Even as March gets underway, February’s unusual warmth is still drawing attention. Des Moines recently reached 68 degrees, setting another record high and breaking a previous mark that had stood since 1981.
Meteorologists say it was the city’s third record high temperature of 2026. The stretch of late-winter warmth has been notable in local climate records, standing out as one of the more significant February warm periods in recent memory.
While the mild conditions gave many residents a preview of spring, forecasters caution that winter is not finished just yet. Cooler temperatures — and even a few snowflakes — remain possible before the season officially transitions.
Iowa House GOP Abortion Ban Bill Will Not Advance
At the Statehouse, a proposal that would have banned nearly all abortions in Iowa will not move forward this legislative session.
House Republican leaders confirmed the measure does not have the necessary support to advance this year. The decision effectively halts the bill for now and marks a significant moment in the ongoing debate over reproductive policy in Iowa.
With the proposal stalled, lawmakers are turning their attention to other legislative priorities as the session continues.
Sources
- https://www.kcci.com/article/person-hospitalized-after-shooting-in-west-des-moines-police-investigating/
- https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/february-heat-des-moines-sets-another-temperature-record-monday/ar-AA1WtY
- https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2026/02/16/iowa-house-gop-bill-banning-all-abortions-wont-advance-this-year/
