DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines woman is fighting City Hall to protect the lush garden she has created along a parking strip. The Des Moines Register reports that Des Moines officials have asked 74-year-old Mary Farrell to cut back or remove the plants she has in the border strips near her home.

City code says borders between the street and sidewalk can only contain grass or naturally occurring plants. City traffic engineer Jennifer McCoy says Farrell’s vegetation limits room on the sidewalk.

Farrell says she understands the safety concerns but that her garden provides beauty and has positive environmental effects. Farrell’s appeal of the city code has been put on hold. She has until Aug. 29 to trim plants that are encroaching on the sidewalk.

INDIANOLA, Iowa (AP) — The skies over southern Iowa will be dotted with nearly 100 hot air balloons through early August. The National Balloon Classic has begun in Indianola and will run through Aug. 4.
Balloon pilots compete for points and prizes every morning and every evening in the classic, filling the sky with the brilliant color and unique shapes of the balloons. On the ground, those attending the festival will enjoy live music and other entertainment, food vendors and rides. Balloon rides will also be available for purchase.

Police in Red Oak, Friday night, arrested a man for Public Intoxication. 57-year old Tony Joe Christensen, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 8:20-p.m. in the 1500 block of Broadway Street. He was transported to the Montgomery County Jail, and held on a $300 cash bond.

Rita Hart, state Senator and Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor under Iowa Gubernatorial candidate Fred Hubbell, will attend the Cass County Fair, Italian Fest, and Asian Fest today (Saturday), to share the Hubbell-Hart vision to get Iowa growing by putting people first. According to the campaign, Hart will be at the Cass County Democratic Party fair booth in the Commercial Building, at around Noon today.

Senator Rita Hart

Afterward she travels to Des Moines and Cedar Rapids, for the two other events. Hart is expected to discuss with fairgoers what her campaign says are cuts in the current administration’s funding for services that Iowans depend on, and Gov. Reynolds’ prioritizing wasteful corporate giveaways.

The Hubbell-Hart campaign says they “Will restore fiscal responsibility to the budget and prioritize investments in health care and education.”