West Des Moines United Methodist Church held a benefit concert Thursday night in its parking lot to help raise money for flood victims. Attendees listened to Bob Pace and The Blues Groove along with a host of other blues and rock’n’roll greats from the Des Moines area. Nearly 300 area residents attended, and more than $9,000 was collected in donations. All of the donations will be given directly to Des Moines residents in the Birdland area affected by the June floods. Any homeowners from the Birdland area who would like to apply for those relief funds can contact the church for more information, or fill out the online form at www.wdmumc.org

Mercy Medical Center will open its newest addition this Wednesday. The 20,000-square-foot emergency department has been undergoing construction of the new addition, which is expected to improve patient flow, reduce patient waiting times and provide faster access to emergency treatment. The new additions include an ambulance garage, expanded trauma and treatment areas, a new main entrance and patient waiting area.

Principal Financial Group Inc. is expected to release its second-quarter profits at the close of markets today. Analysts, on average, expect Principal to earn 95 cents per share on sales of $2.8 billion during the second quarter, according to a survey by Thomson Financial. The company will discuss its earnings tomorrow in a conference call scheduled for 9 a.m. Iowa time.

Iowa Telecommunications Services Inc. will participate in the RBC Capital Markets Technology, Media & Communications Conference in San Francisco, this Wednesday, and Craig Knock, vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer, will be speaking at the conference. An online simulcast and replay of the company’s presentation will be available Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. Iowa time on the company’s Web site at www.IowaTelecom.com under “Investor Relations,” or at www.wsw.com/webcast/rbc91/iwa.

The Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) will expand its regular No. 1 bus route to Pleasant Hill starting today. The No. 10 Pleasant Hill, an extension of the No. 1 West Des Moines/Fairgrounds route, will provide peak-hour weekday service between Pleasant Hill and Des Moines. The new service will connect with the No. 1 bus at East 30th Street and Grand Avenue and make scheduled stops on Sherrylynn Boulevard and Northeast 56th Street in Pleasant Hill. The cost for the service will be $1.50 one-way, or $42 per month with the purchase of a DART monthly pass that is good for unlimited rides during the month of issue.