Des Moines City Council approves changes to Merle Hay Mall hockey arena project
In 2021 the mall and the Des Moines Buccaneers announced a multi-million-dollar project to build a 3,500-seat ice hockey arena that leaders hoped would rejuvenate the surrounding area. But in July, roughly two years after the project broke ground, the Buccaneers pulled out of the project citing its cost and contractual issues.
Cooper DeJean, teammates to compete in charity softball game at Principal Park
After nearly a year of the project being stalled, the mall announced that it would go on with the project with a few changes and new tenants.
According to mall leaders, the plans now include just one sheet of ice, sports courts, and pickleball courts. Those who would use the multi-use space would include the Drake Hockey Team, Iowa Demon Hawks, and others.
In order to continue with the project, the Des Moines City Council and Urbandale City Council have to approve the amended project application for state funding. The project jumped through one of those hurdles on Monday with the Des Moines City Council's stamp of approval. The Urbandale City Council is expected to vote on the amendment on April 15.
Metro News:
Des Moines City Council approves changes to Merle Hay Mall hockey arena project
Ankeny police requests help locating missing teen
1 dog killed in Ankeny house fire Monday
Drake welcomes new men's basketball coach Eric Henderson
Renaissance Faire returns to Ames next weekend
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USA Today
2 days ago
- USA Today
Vic Fangio provides clarity on key questions facing the Eagles' secondary
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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Philadelphia Eagles' Cooper DeJean is getting more comfortable at playing safety
Cooper DeJean has been getting reps at safety during training camp ahead of his second season in Philadelphia.


New York Times
3 days ago
- New York Times
Cooper DeJean debuted at cornerback in training camp. What does this mean for the Eagles?
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Advertisement 'Usually, it does become pretty obvious to everybody as to who's going to win the job,' Fangio said. 'That hasn't happened yet. I think they all have done a good job in and of their own way. Had good moments, not so good moments. So we haven't reached that conclusion yet.' Fangio said he isn't yet considering making DeJean a full-time cornerback. Such a move, Fangio said, would require 'someone to develop at the nickel position and someone not to develop at the corner position.' Fangio also said DeJean doesn't yet have enough meaningful, NFL-level cornerback snaps to be properly evaluated. For that reason, it's fair to question why the Eagles chose to spend four weeks of snaps on developing DeJean at safety — a source of greater investment. Drew Mukuba's breakout preseason debut offered the sort of promise the Eagles would expect more from a second-round pick than what they invested at cornerback. 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Darius Cooper, a rising undrafted wide receiver, punctuated Ringo's apparent relegation by beating Ringo on back-to-back plays with the second-team units: first, on a slant; second, by stopping quickly on a back-shoulder throw along the right sideline, leaving Ringo to helplessly turn his head in surprise several yards downfield. Jackson, McWilliams and Jakorian Bennett are the most reliable options remaining. (The Eagles signaled indifference in Eli Ricks by playing him only during the final 11 snaps of Saturday's preseason game against the Browns.) None of them inspires confidence yet. Bennett, whom general manager Howie Roseman acquired Aug. 4 to strengthen the position battle, remains a hopeful gamble who could keep DeJean at nickel. Bennett is steadily improving after a poor first week of practice. Fangio noted Monday that Bennett 'just got here' and that they 'need to give him a full opportunity with the other guys.' Bennett peppers his teammates with questions in his effort to catch up, and he's been texting Parker and cornerbacks coach Roy Anderson to schedule personal review sessions that range from 15 minutes to an hour. Advertisement 'I'd be lying if I said that it was easy,' Bennett said. 'But I would say that they do a good job with helping me acclimate. I feel like I'm a pro for a reason. Like, I'm going to come in and do things the right way. I'm just gonna continue to keep chopping.' Fangio's inclusion of McWilliams as a cornerback with the first-team defense is also notable. There's a face-value takeaway: Fangio believes the fifth-round rookie is challenging for a starting role at outside cornerback. But, beyond that, Fangio had been training McWilliams as DeJean's backup nickel. That McWilliams is now taking on first-team reps at outside cornerback infers that Fangio believes he has a good enough grasp of his responsibilities in the slot. McWilliams said Monday, 'I feel like I got (nickel) down a lot.' He's still mastering knowing where his help is while playing nickel in Fangio's system, which dictates whether he defends a receiver with inside or outside leverage. Fangio's rhetoric makes it clear he isn't yet confident enough in McWilliams to start him at nickel. But the Eagles drafted the 5-10, 191-pound defensive back knowing he could offer versatility. McWilliams primarily played outside cornerback during his final college season with UCF. In 2023, at UAB, he totaled nearly a fourth of his snaps in the slot, according to Pro Football Focus. It's worth monitoring McWilliams' progress as the preseason draws to a close. He appears to be the most capable of replacing DeJean if called upon. 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But DeJean was drafted as a cornerback out of Iowa, where he was a unanimous All-American in 2023. His coverage ability and ball skills are self-evident; his NFL peers ranked him No. 60 on this year's Top 100 list. His training camp reps will build on the work he began during OTAs, and he said his individual drills and team reps at nickel involve 'the same man-to-man progressions as a corner.' Advertisement Asked last week if he could plug in at cornerback if called upon, DeJean said, 'I'm prepared.' 'I'm sure they'll let me know and make sure that I'm ready if that happens,' he said. • Wide receiver Darius Cooper saw first-team reps during team drills on Monday. He hauled in a downfield pass along the right sideline from Jalen Hurts, finding a space between Quinyon Mitchell and Reed Blankenship. Cooper continues to make the Eagles' upcoming cut-down day even tougher for a wide receiver room that got even more crowded upon the John Metchie III trade. Jalen Hurts Eagles • Starting linebacker Zack Baun was not included in Monday's practice report, which indicated that he was a full participant for the first time since suffering a back contusion that sidelined him for seven practices. Baun returned with limitations for five practices, but only participated in 7-on-7 drills. • Offensive guard Kenyon Green returned with limitations after missing five practices with a shoulder injury. Green, the player compensation in the C.J. Gardner-Johnson trade, will be battling for a roster spot in a crowded offensive line room. Trevor Keegan, a 2024 fifth-round pick, was the second-team left guard. Darian Kinnard was the second-team right guard. • Practice report: Wide receiver A.J. Brown (hamstring), left guard Landon Dickerson (knee), cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields (hamstring), safety Lewis Cine (groin) and Brandon Johnson (groin) did not practice on Monday. Starting right tackle Lane Johnson was given his second rest day of training camp. 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