FROM KCCI: Parent found dead in pick-up line outside central Iowa elementary school. MITCHELLVILLE, Iowa — City authorities and district officials have confirmed reports that a parent of a Mitchellville student died Tuesday outside the school.  ...READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV:  It’s baby season! Blank Park Zoo welcomes twin cotton-top tamarins.  DES MOINES, Iowa — Baby season at zoos typically begins in the spring, but at the Blank Park Zoo the delightful season came early. On Wednesday zoo officials announced the birth of twin cotton-top tamarins.  ...READ MORE

FROM WOI: Man killed in fatal Des Moines shooting Friday identified, DMPD continuing homicide investigation. DES MOINES, Iowa — The Des Moines Police Department has released the identity of the victim in a fatal Valentine's Day shooting that occurred near the 800 block of Maury Street. According to DMPD, a call reporting gunfire came in shortly after 5 p.m. on Feb. 14, and when officers arrived on scene, they found one person with a gunshot injury. ...READ MORE

Clear Mortgage meteorology

Cold weather sticks around through Friday. Warming into next week!

For help with pre-approvals or refinancing, get in touch with Originating Branch Manager Carrie Hansen at carrie.mortgage.

Benefit concert at Plymouth Church
Broadway's Roosevelt André Credit, the great Simon Estes and The Beloved Des Moines Community Mass Choir all return to Des Moines Saturday, Feb. 22, 3 p.m., at Plymouth Church, 4126 Ingersoll Ave. in Des Moines. No tickets required, no reservation necessary, just come and give generously to the love offering for the Youth Development Programs of the GRUBB YMCA. Seating is on a first-come basis. Doors open at 2:30 p.m.
This benefit concert celebrating the Black musical heritage from Spirituals to Gospel, Opera to Broadway with "Roo" Credit, veteran of two Tony Award-winning Broadway productions (“Show Boat” and The Gershwins’ “Porgy and Bess”) and the Met Opera productions of “Porgy and Bess” and “X: The Life and Times of Malcom X,”  Simon Estes will welcome the audience and do a dramatic reading of a Psalm on music. In its third year, The Beloved Des Moines Community Mass Choir will close the program with three inspirational numbers, including Roo's rousing grand finale, “Get On Board!”

Open Mic Poetry Night – Kelsey Bigelow, emcee
Beaverdale Books, Friday, Feb. 21 from 7-8:30 p.m.
Do you love to write poetry? Or read poetry?  If so, grab a friend and head to Beaverdale Books for a free, fun and informal evening of open mic poetry, emceed by Iowa poet Kelsey Bigelow.  

Des Moines Symphony. Feb. 21-22. “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in Concert.”

Stories take center stage at the DMPL Storytelling Festival
. Hear about legends, folk tales, myths and more from a group of accomplished storytellers. Experience the oral tradition of storytelling during the 2025 DMPL Storytelling Festival at Franklin Avenue Library, 5000 Franklin Ave., on Saturday, Feb. 22. Nationally acclaimed storytellers will be at the library all day to share personal stories and traditional tales. There will also be special activities in the children’s area, including a craft and scavenger hunt (10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), and face-painting (from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.). The event is free and open to the public.

Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre. “Mary Poppins Jr.” Feb. 21-March 2. 

— John Busbee, The Culture Buzz

More bad news for booze and George Clooney's brand
U.S. sales volume of tequila, mescal and other agave-based spirits were roughly flat in 2024, according to International Wine and Spirits Record. Sales fell in ultra-premium tequilas (priced between $45 and $99.99) and grew in the middle tiers (priced between $22.50 and $44.99). Diageo said it is now re-positioning Casamigos at a lower price point than its Don Julio brand. Casamigos is the overpriced tequila, probably overvalued because of its association with co-founder George Clooney. Clooney has the luck of the Irish. He sold out to Diageo three years ago for $1 billion when the brand was hitting above its weight class.  

The Brewers Association declared that more places to drink beer closed in the last year than opened. That reversed a long trend.

Thursday specials
•  Sirloin steak dinners are featured specials today at Sully's Irish Pub (860 First St., West Des Moines); Front Row (9956 Swanson Blvd., Clive); and Winn’s Pizza and Steakhouse (122 W. Ashland Ave., Indianola). Southridge Hy Vee has a $10 steak dinner special on Thursdays with $1 going to Southside Cares, The Station on Ingersoll (3120 Ingersoll Ave.) has a ribeye special on Thursdays. 

• Jethro's Thursday special is a pound of boneless "wings" for $8.

• Thursday nights, Moroccan couscous — lemon chicken, beef keftas, five vegetables, harissa — are $17 at Purveyor (505 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines).

• Sprockets (2314 University Ave., Des Moines) offers a breaded pork tenderloin special on Thursdays for $9.99 


• Kids eat free at Scornovacca’s (1930 S.E. 14th St., Des Moines) on Thursdays

• Mariscos El Pirata (6050 S.E. 14th St., Des Moines) offers $2 off all sushi on Thursdays 

• Chuck's (3610 Sixth Ave., Des Moines) has karaoke tonight from 6 p.m.

• ShortE's BBQ (8505 Chambery Blvd., Johnston) has $1 smoked wings Thursdays.  

• Bevy’s Tavern (1300 50th St., West Des Moines) has a special of beef stew and cornbread Thursdays for $13.   

• Amruth Indian Grill (9974 Swanson Blvd., Clive), a recent Tuesday Tout, offers an all-you-can-eat dosa (gram/rice flour crepes) buffet on Thursdays, 5:30-9 p.m. $18.95.  

• The Dam Pub (2710 Beaver Ave., Des Moines) has a throwback Thursday special goulash with garlic toast.  

•  Table 128 (220 S.W. Ninth St., Des Moines) is running a special through Saturday: Skuna Bay salmon with a warm beluga lentil salad, lightly pickled fresno chilis, sugar snap peas and crispy shallot for $23.
 
— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com