FROM KCCI: How Polk County plans to enforce new hands-free driving law. Law enforcement is preparing to enforce a new hands-free driving law starting this summer that will restrict technology use behind the wheel. Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the legislation last week barring people from handling devices like, cellphones, tablets, gaming devices and pagers while driving. Instead, drivers must use a hands-free driving setting to make calls, texts or operate functions like navigation while driving. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: 6-year-old autistic boy confirmed dead in Altoona drowning. A 6-year-old boy has died after first responders pulled him from a pond Tuesday afternoon in Altoona. The child has been identified as Elliot Shur, a resident of Altoona. In a press release from the Altoona Police Department, his family said they “will remember him for his warm smile that brought joy to those around him.” ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: Without optimal state funding, some school districts may turn to property tax increases. Iowa school districts had been waiting for months to hear exactly how much school funding they’d receive from the state for the next fiscal year. Now, moving forward, they have an April 30 deadline to meet to submit final budgets. ... READ MORE

Clear Mortgage meteorology

On and off light shower chances today. Warming into the weekend and staying seasonably mild next week.

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

Des Moines Performing Arts. “Hadestown.” The national tour of this Tony Award-winning show runs April 11-13. 

Ankeny Community Theatre. “Witness for the Prosecution” by Agatha Christie. Through April 13. 

AUDITIONS – Ankeny Community Theatre for “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams. Wednesday, April 16 and Thursday, April 17, at 6:30 p.m. at Ankeny Community Theatre. Runs June 6-15. Director: Charissa Hamel. 

Second Oboe Chair Opening Announcement
The Des Moines Community Orchestra announces an opening for the Second Oboe Chair. Auditions will be held on the morning of Saturday, April 12, with the specific audition times TBD. Oboists can access the audition excerpts here.

Applications now open for community outreach program and volunteers
The Des Moines ArtsFestival presented by Nationwide has opened applications for the Community OutreachProgram presented by the MidAmerican EnergyFoundation. The award-winning program offers non-profit organizations the opportunity to participate in the Festival and share their mission and programming with thousands of guests free of charge, thanks to funding from the MidAmerican Energy Foundation. The Des Moines Arts Festival is June 27-29 in Western Gateway Park. Applications close May 9; selected organizations notified on or by May 19.

— John Busbee, The Culture Buzz

Internet food report
When it first looked like Tik Tok might be shut down without an American buyer, Americans flocked to RedNote. Now they are staying for the food, inspired by Chinese recipes. There has been a particular frenzy around one humble, homestyle dish rarely served at Chinese restaurants in the U.S. — steamed egg custard, or jidan geng, which looks like flan but isn’t sweet.

It's a simple recipe, involving just eggs and water and a pinch of salt, but even Chinese cooks who try it for the first time often fail to get the water-egg ratio right and either overcook or undercook the eggs, resulting in either an unattractive beehive or a watery blob. It's now an internet sensation and Wall Street Journal reports Chinese restaurants in the U.S. are adding it to their menus. 

GoodSons (2815 Beaver Ave., Des Moines) wins the local April Fools Day food prank award for their awesome looking octopus panini special. I fell for it because I wanted it to be for real.  

Deals today
 
• Buzzard Billy's has $2 off appetizers all day and night on Thursdays.
 
• Chelsea's Courtyard Diner (300 MLK Blvd., Des Moines) has the ridiculous bargain of $1 burgers on Thursdays. 4-9 p.m. That folks is a loss leader. 

• Sirloin steak dinners are featured specials today at Sully's Irish Pub (860 First St., West Des Moines), Front Row (9956 Swanson Blvd., Clive), Winn’s Pizza and Steakhouse (122 W. Ashland Ave., Indianola). The Station on Ingersoll (3124 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines) has a ribeye sandwich special at $12 Thursdays. Hy-Vee Market Grilles have strip steak dinners tonight for $10.

• 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.  

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

• 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) offers an all-you-can-eat dosa (gram/rice flour crepes) buffet on Thursdays 5:30-9 p.m. $18.95.  

•  Red Lobster's Thursday special is shrimp or chicken Alfredo on linguini for $15.

• GoodSon's (2815 Beaver Ave., Des Moines) has DJ Bingo tonight. 

• Aldi has a sale on frenched racks of lamb $9.99/pound, bone-in USDA Choice ribeye roasts at $8.99/pound and chicken wings at $2.49/pound. Through Tuesday. 

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

1963: Atomic submarine USS Thresher sinks in the Atlantic, killing all on board. On April 10, 1963, the USS Thresher, an atomic submarine, sinks in the Atlantic Ocean, killing the entire crew. One hundred and twenty-nine sailors and civilians were lost when the sub unexpectedly plunged to the sea floor roughly 300 miles off the coast of New England. ... READ MORE

1815: Indonesian volcano erupts, killing more than 100,000. On April 10, the most powerful volcanic eruption in human history begins in earnest when Indonesia's Tambora volcano sends ash 20 miles into the atmosphere and boiling liquified rock starts streaming down its slopes. Its "cacophony of explosions" could be heard hundreds of miles away and, within hours, nearby villages ceased to exist, forests were incinerated and massive lava flows plowed into the sea, redrawing maps of the island.... READ MORE

1834: Arson uncovers torture chamber in mansion of New Orleans enslaver. On April 10, 1834, a fire at the LaLaurie mansion in New Orleans, Louisiana, leads to the discovery of a torture chamber where enslaved workers are routinely brutalized by Delphine LaLaurie. Rescuers found a 70-year-old black woman trapped in the kitchen during the fire because she was chained up while LaLaurie was busy saving her furniture. The woman later revealed that she had set the fire in an attempt to escape LaLaurie’s torture. She led authorities up to the attic, where seven slaves were tied with spiked iron collars. ... READ MORE

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