April 29 Daily Umbrella: part of search warrant in Huisentruit investigation unsealed; the business of chocolate; PANDA-MONIUM!

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Good morning to you!

Want to know how to identify a clear division in a group of people? It only takes one question, and it has nothing to do with gun ownership. Or immigration. Or transgenders in sports. It is about something many people tend to be much more passionate about — pizza. That’s right, pizza. Or, more specifically, pizza toppings.

Don't believe me? Try to order pizza for a group and ask what toppings they prefer. Get ready for a debate.

I prefer loads of meat on my pizza. Sausage. Pepperoni. Canadian bacon. All of it.

My wife wants a fungus on hers. She says you can’t even taste the mushrooms, which leads me to two questions: How does she know what I can taste? And, if she is correct, why pay to put a topping on a pizza that you can’t taste?

According to research shared in a Huffington Post story, 52% of Americans say pepperoni is one of their three favorite pizza toppings, 34% include sausage, and 31% list mushrooms. Bacon and plain/mozzarella cheese each were named top-three picks by 20% of respondents.

But what about the least favorite toppings? According to the same research, 49% selected anchovies as one of their three least favorite pizza toppings. Also at the bottom were eggplant (disliked by 30%), pineapple (24%) and artichokes (24%).

Speaking of pineapple, which I truly enjoy when combined with Canadian bacon, it is clearly one of the most divisive choices. Where you live and how old you are tend to be the factors. According to the data, people living in the western states are more likely to choose pineapple as a favorite pizza topping, and people 18 to 34 years old also tend to be more into it. Meanwhile, only 9% of Americans 55 or older chose pineapple as a favorite topping, and 28% count it among their least favorites. Those of you who don’t like pineapple on pizza should take a little advice from Time For Timer and “put a little on your plate.”

One may wonder why pizza toppings create such divisive debates. Keep in mind that 73% of Americans say they eat pizza at least monthly, and 21% opt for it at least weekly. As such, pizza is something we frequently associate ourselves with, and that often tends to become personal.

Now, about those pizza crusts…

Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman

President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com

See more of Shane Goodman's columns here.

News headlines

FROM KCCI: Judge unseals part of search warrant in Jodi Huisentruit investigation. A judge unsealed part of a search warrant in the investigation into Iowa news anchor Jodi Huisentruit's disappearance.Huisentruit vanished in June 1995. She was supposed to anchor the morning news at a Mason City station, but never showed up. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: PBM reform bill amended, advanced through Iowa Senate. After multiple attempts over a span of several general assemblies, the bill to add regulations in the state’s pharmaceutical industry passed through the Iowa Senate on Monday afternoon. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: DMPD says missing 10-year-old has been found. Dixie has been found safe and was reunited with her family, according to DMPD. ... READ MORE

Clear Mortgage meteorology

Cooler today. More rain chances Wednesday and Thursday. The weekend looks great!

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

Pollen tracker

Tree pollen: High

Grass pollen: Low

Ragweed pollen: None

The 2025 results: CITYVIEW's Best of Des Moines®

Best New Local Store

1. Kalon Bridal Studio

2. Pop & Nod

3. The Little Book

See all of the results

Tuesday Touts

Los Laureles, the OG of new wave Mexican cuisine in Des Moines since 1993, has $10 lunch combos every day that include frijoles, rice, salad, chips, salsas and two entrees (or poblano relleno).

If that isn't toutful enough, on Tuesdays you can also order an overstuffed, two tortilla taco for just $1.50.

Our friends at the original Niman Ranch, Bill and Nicole Niman, have been fighting the National Parks system for several years now over Point Reyes National Seashore's efforts to shut down centuries-long cattle ranching, supposedly to support the comeback of the tiny tule elk. We have been reporting on this since last year but lately, the San Francisco Chronicle showed up and a front page spread resulted. Last week, the New York Times showed up.

Deals today
• Jethro's Tuesday special is 2 pounds of bone-in smoked wings for the price of one.
• Paula's (524 Elm St., Valley Junction) runs a Tuesday special hot beef sandwich with mashed potatoes, gravy and drink for $13.50 till Memorial Day.
• Opa! (2800 University Ave., West Des Moines) has a buffet featuring fried shrimp, manicotti, chicken piccata, chicken meatballs, garlic knots, pasta alfredo, lamb and chicken, pizza, and all-you-can-eat dessert for $22.99 tonight till 8 p.m.
• Kids meals are half price till 2 p.m. today at Machine Shed (11151 Hickman Road, Urbandale).
• Taco Tuesday brings serious discounts to Mariscos El Pirata (6050 S.E. 14th St., Des Moines), La Familia (1610 Sixth Ave., Des Moines), all Taco John's, The Dam Pub (2710 Beaver Ave., Des Moines), all Abelardo's, all Fernando’s, Malo (900 Mulberry St., Des Moines), Beaver Tap (4050 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines), Los Laureles (1518 E. Grand Ave.), Club 2000 (422 Indianola Road, Des Moines) and Faustino’s (4944 Franklin Ave., Des Moines).
• Today is beef and noodles day at Maxie's Supper Club (1311 Grand Ave., West Des Moines).
• Django (1420 Locust St., Des Moines) has happy hour all night Tuesdays. That means super deals on oysters, shrimp, duck frites, poutine, charcuterie, cheese boards, beers, wine and classic martinis.
• Sully's (806 First St., West Des Moines) has a burger basket special for $12 today.
• Destination Grille (2491 E. First St., Grimes) hosts a Tuesday Burger & Beer special - half-pound burger, chips and dip, with a tap beer of choice, $15.
• The Station on Ingersoll (3124 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines) has a tenderloin Tuesday special with BPT and fries for $10.
• Curbin Cuisine (1325 S.W. Oralabor Drive, Ankeny) offers cheeseburgers and fries for $7.99 on Tuesdays.

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

Featured in the current issue of CITYVIEW

BUSINESS FEATURE
The business of chocolate

By Lindsey Giardino

Chocolate isn’t just a treat. It’s a business built on creativity, strategy and its fair share of planning. At three metro chocolate shops, owners are doing all that and more to satisfy sweet tooths everywhere.

The art of trying something new
Chocolate Storybook on Grand Avenue in West Des Moines is a family business. Meg and Steve Shearer bought the quaint chocolate store in 2002, partly because they had fallen in love with the chocolate. They knew that, if they enjoyed it so much, other people would, too.

The store’s chocolate is handmade by a small team that produces everything using just one copper kettle, one marble slab and one chocolate enrober. ...

Featured home for sale

Post listings here for $50. Contact jolene@iowalivingmagazines.com for details.

$425,000

30570 Old Portland Road
Adel, IA 50003

Check out this spacious acreage property offering peace, privacy and potential — just outside of Adel. Sitting on nearly 4.5 acres, this three-bedroom, four-bath home provides room to breathe and space to grow. Inside, you'll find more than 1,700 square feet of living space, plus a finished walkout basement, perfect for additional living or entertaining space. ...

See the listing here.

See more homes for sale

SOLD: Featured commercial real estate transaction

1835 MONDAMIN AVE., DES MOINES
SALE DATE: 2024-12-26
SALE PRICE: $102,000
SELLER: JRG GROUP LLC
BUYER: CASTILLO, LUIS
ACRES: 0.215
SQUARE FEET: 1,760

More transactions

Featured in the current
issue of West Des Moines / Jordan Creek Living magazine

Overseeing volunteers
Hotovec says it is the best part of her job.

By Lindsey Giardino

Although Mindy Hotovec’s official title at West Des Moines Human Services is executive assistant to the director, her responsibilities extend far beyond that role. Her favorite? Coordinating the volunteers who support the department’s various initiatives, all aimed at assisting low-income residents, older seniors and individuals with disabilities in the community. West Des Moines Human Services currently has 115 volunteers working across its programs, which include the food pantry, clothing closet, food rescue program, ELL program, and front desk.

“Our volunteers logged more than 15,000 hours in 2024,” Hotovec shares. “We would not be able to offer these programs without them.” ....

Sports headlines

FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: How Cam Ward erased any doubts Titans would draft him No. 1. It was the last week of February in Indianapolis and Tennessee Titans coach Brian Callahan already had a pretty good idea of what was going to happen two months later when his team would pull the proverbial magnet off the board and call in the first pick of the 2025 NFL draft. ... READ MORE

FROM ESPN.COM: Cavaliers cap off historic sweep with 55-point win over Heat. Cleveland left no doubt on its way to Round 2, finishing off the most lopsided series in NBA playoff history. ... READ MORE

FROM YAHOO SPORTS: Brandon Nimmo ties Mets franchise record with 9 RBI in 19-5 drubbing of Nationals. Brandon Nimmo's 2025 season with the New York Mets was off to a rough start, but the outfielder broke out in a big way Monday. He tied a franchise record while doing so. ... READ MORE

1429: Joan of Arc relieves Orleans. During the Hundred Years’ War, the 17-year-old French peasant Joan of Arc leads a French force in relieving the city of Orleans, besieged by the English since October. ... READ MORE

1974: President Nixon announces release of Watergate tapes. On April 29, 1974, President Richard Nixon announces to the public that he will release transcripts of 46 taped White House conversations in response to a Watergate trial subpoena issued in July 1973. The House Judiciary committee accepted 1,200 pages of transcripts the next day, but insisted that the tapes themselves be turned over as well. ... READ MORE

2004: World War II monument opens in Washington, D.C. On April 29, 2004, the World War II Memorial opens in Washington, D.C. to thousands of visitors, providing overdue recognition for the 16 million U.S. men and women who served in the war. The memorial is located on 7.4 acres on the former site of the Rainbow Pool at the National Mall between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. The Capitol dome is seen to the east, and Arlington Cemetery is just across the Potomac River to the west. ... READ MORE

www.history.com

Birthdays and notables

Happy birthday, Scott Cooley, Aaron Tecklenberg and Christi Adams!

These celebrities were born on this date: Zubin Mehta, Duane Allen, Tommy James, Jerry Seinfeld, Leslie Jordan, Xochitl Gomez, Uma Thurman, Willie Nelson, Katherine Langford, Bailey Payne, Master P, Michelle Pfeiffer

SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

Morning chuckle

The answer to the last riddle: What happened at the impromptu party at the Chinese zoo? PANDA-MONIUM! - Peri Van Tassel, Gail Tomlinson, William Snyder, Gail Tomlinson, Charles Golliher, Lori Bluml.

Today's riddle: What’s the best way to get the hospital after breaking your foot?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

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kerry@iowalivingmagazines.com

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