FROM KCCI: Des Moines police recover guns at two schools over three weeks. DES MOINES, Iowa — In the last three weeks, Des Moines experienced two incidents where firearms were discovered on school premises. In both instances, disputes between students escalated, leading to one student discarding a handgun outside the school.  ...READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Legislation that gives local police ICE deportation responsibilities advances. DES MOINES, Iowa — An Iowa House subcommittee advanced a bill on Thursday that would require local law enforcement to participate in immigration programs. The bill says that no later than the beginning of the next year, every law enforcement agency in the state will enter into written agreements with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to participate in immigration programs.  ...READ MORE

FROM WOI: Des Moines teen sentenced to 20 years in prison for 2023 crash that killed elderly couple. During his sentencing, Kameron Wright said he took full responsibility for the crash that killed Fred and Mary Lehman. ...READ MORE

Clear Mortgage meteorology

One more chilly day to get through before we’re treated to weekend warming. Possible rain chances next Tuesday and Wednesday.

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

B-Bops, Central Iowa's largest chain, announced it will open its first eastern Iowa store, in Cedar Rapids, and plans to expand to the Quad Cities, too. (CR Gazette)

Wallet studied numerous prices to determine where people spend the most and least parts of their incomes in restaurants. The results showed that the factor that mattered most was the cost of housing — real estate, mortgages and rentals. New Jersey (1.5%), Maryland (1.54%) and Massachusetts (1.54%) were the top three places for the lowest percentages of income spent eating out. Mississippi (2.64%), West Virginia (2.57%) and Arkansas (2.49%) were the bottom three. Iowa was stuck in the middle with Utah. 

Weekend deals
• Park Street Kitchen & Bar (455 Park St., Des Moines) has "Friday with live music" from Keith Davis from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

• Fish Fry Friday night specials can be found at Machine Shed (11151 Hickman Road, Urbandale), Red Lobster (3838 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines), Cracker Barrel (11701 University, Clive), Bevy’s Tavern (1300 50th St., West Des Moines). Pelican Post (265 50th St., West Des Moines) adds fried shrimp to their all-day fish fry buffet. Lent dinners begin next Friday which means Culver's will be bringing back its walleye dinners. 

• Table 128 (220 S.W. Ninth St., Des Moines) is running a chef's special Saturday that features chicken schwarma and a salad of octopus, calamari, tuna, olive, egg, radicchio and xató sauce. Three courses for $58. Wine parings available, too.  

• Tito’s Lounge (3916 N.W. Urbandale Drive, Urbandale) now has brunch on Fridays. 

• Court Avenue Brewing Company (309 Court Ave., Des Moines) hosts Saturday and Sunday breakfast buffets for $23.99.

•  Maxie's Supper Club's (1311 Grand Ave., West Des Moines) Friday special is chicken and noodles over mashed potatoes - $16.95 all day. They also have prime rib dinners on Friday and Saturday for dinner only, $30-38. 

• Fresh Thyme (2900 University Ave., West Des Moines) has a sale on whole cauliflower and heirloom navels both at 99 cents/pound and boneless, skinless chicken breasts at $1.99/pound through Tuesday.

• Price Chopper stores have a sale now on Best Choice frozen steamable vegetables at 99 cents, strawberries at $2.50/pint and Sugardale bacon at $3.99/pound through Monday. 

• Today is the last Friday for Jethro's burger bundle — half pound cheeseburgers with a choice of one side, $9.95. The deal is going on vacation for Lent. 

• Aldi has a sale on mandarins at $2.99 a 3-pound bag, USDA Choice short ribs for $7.29/pound and lots of St. Pat's party stuff through Tuesday. 

• Fareway has a sale on fresh catfish fillets and USDA Choice T-bones both $9.99/pound through Saturday. They also have a sale on navel oranges for 99 cents/pound.  

•  Westown Tap (3530 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines) offers $12 flatbreads on Fridays.

• Willie James Shay plays Sonny's Pizza Bistro (6494 N.W. Sixth Ave., Des Moines) Friday from 5:30... Taylor King plays Kelly's Little Nipper (1701 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines) at 7 p.m. Friday... The Juan and Only plays El Fogon Saturday night. 

• Paula's (524 Elm St., Valley Junction) runs a Friday special meat loaf with mashed potatoes, gravy and drink for $13.50 this week.

• Opa! (2800 University Ave., West Des Moines) hosts a fundraiser for the Animal Rescue League Sunday 4:45-8 p.m. with spaghetti dinners starting at $20.

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com