FROM KCCI: Des Moines celebrates election of first American pope. St. Theresa's Catholic Church in Des Moines is celebrating the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope, marking a new chapter for the Catholic Church. Father Mike Mahoney welcomed parishioners to watch the announcement as white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel Thursday morning, signaling the election of the new pope. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: 1 hospitalized after Des Moines shooting Thursday night. A shooting in the Indianola Hills Neighborhood sent one person to the hospital. At around 7:31 p.m. Thursday, officers with the Des Moines Police Department responded to a report of a shooting in the 2100 block of SE 3rd Street. When first responders arrived, they found an adult male with a gunshot wound to the leg, the DMPD said. Personnel from the Des Moines Fire Department transported the victim to a hospital with what police say is a non-life-threatening injury. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: Iowa senator's resolution challenging marriage equality surprises colleagues. On Wednesday, state Sen. Sandy Salmon filed a resolution asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn its 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges ruling and "restore the natural definition of marriage, a union of one man and one woman." Now, we’re learning some of Salmon’s colleagues in the Senate didn’t even know this idea was on the table. ... READ MORE

Clear Mortgage meteorology

Dry conditions and warmth keep rolling on!

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

Celebrity restaurant news. Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce announced a late July opening for their first steakhouse. It will be called "1587 Prime" and be in the downtown Kansas City Loews Hotel. The entrance to the 238-seat, two-floor restaurant will have a stadium tunnel and a private entrance for VIPs plus a 10-foot-wide refrigerated meat display.

Just because Sunday Is Mother's Day: The Periodic Table in the magnificent Hotel Grinnell will serve a Mother's Day brunch 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. - $25 with 12 and younger half priced... Machine Shed offers special buffets this Sunday $18 from 7-10 a.m.; $30 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; $28 after 3 p.m. Kids 6-12 are half price and kids younger than 6 eat free... Trostel’s Greenbriar hosts a Sunday buffet 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. $30, $14 kids, free younger than 6... Jethro's Jambalaya (Waukee) and Jethro's Ames will host a Mother's Day buffet 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Ames takes reservations... Splash will be open Mother's Day from 3-8 p.m. with normal menu.
 
Weekend deals
 
• Aldi stores are celebrating German week with lots of frozen foods. We love their strudels.

• Heavenly Asian (225 Fifth St., Valley Junction) has an all-day Friday sale on orange chicken served with soup, crab Rangoon, egg roll and rice. $14, available for dine-in and phone carry-out.

• Fish Fry Friday specials can be found at Machine Shed (11151 Hickman Road, Urbandale), Red Lobster (3838 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines), Cracker Barrel (11701 University, Clive), The Station on Ingersoll, Pelican Post (265 50th St., West Des Moines), and Bevy’s Tavern (1300 50th St., West Des Moines).

• Brenda Tran offers a fabulous Friday buffet every week at Vietnam Cafe - Merle Hay Mall Food Court, 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. - $18.95.  

• Bawarchi (6630 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines) has Friday-Sunday specials on paneer kebabs, chicken curry and goat curry.

• Mickey's in Yale (217 Main St., Yale) has hot beef sandwich lunches and all you can eat fish dinner specials today.

• Chicago Speakeasy (1520 Euclid Ave., Des Moines) offers BBQ beef and marinated roast beef sandwiches on special for Friday lunch.

• 801 Chophouse (801 Grand Ave., Des Moines) offers Sunday supper specials that deliver deep discounts on filet, prime rib and red king salmon dinners.

• Destination Grill (2491 E 1st St, Grimes) has a $40 prime rib dinner special Friday and Saturday. 

• Tito’s Lounge (3916 N.W. Urbandale Drive, Urbandale) now has brunch on Fridays as well as Saturdays and Sundays. 

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

• Friday night is paella time at Purveyor (505 E. Grand, Des Moines, officially, but really on E. Fifth), real Valenciana paella.

• 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. 

• Jethro's Sunday special is Papa cheeseburgers and side for $9.99. 

• Chicken Heat (1101 Army Post Road, Des Moines) offers $1 wings on Friday.  

• Price Choppers have sales on strawberries at $2/pound, frozen tilapia fillets at $4.49/pound and frozen egg noodles at $2.49/pound, through Monday.

• Fareway has deals this week on beef fajitas mix at $6.99/pound, sweet pepper coleslaw at $3.88/pound and chicken hindquarters at $1.38/pound through Saturday. 
 

• Aldi is selling pork bellies for $3.29/pound, blueberries for $2.49/pint and chicken thighs for $2.49 through Tuesday.

• Fresh Thyme (2900 University Ave., West Des Moines) begins a week-long sale on lobster tails at $4.99/pound, raspberry oranges and gold nugget mandarins at $2.99/3-pound bag, and salmon fillets at $9.99/pound, through Tuesday. 

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

• Nick Rueckert / Aaron Ehrlich Duo plays Louie's Wine Dive (4040 University Ave.) on Sunday at 5 p.m.

• The El Toreado Mexican Bar & Grill on EP True Parkway has live music from The Juan and Only on Friday from 6 p.m.. Willie James Shay plays Sonny’s Pizza Bistro Friday at 5:30 p.m. Brittany Sword plays Kelly's Little Nipper at 7 p.m. Friday.

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

Des Moines Performing Arts - “& Juliet”
Through May 11, the national touring production of the award-winning “& Juliet” takes the Civic Center stage with its highly energized, captivating experience. 
 
A most worthy road trip to southwest Iowa – “Destination: Art Church and Art House”
The event is scheduled for May 10 outdoors, with a rain date of May 11. Art Church and Art House will be open, offering Pop-Up services. The inaugural Art Church Festival aims to become an annual tradition. Please bring a lawn chair and a friend, and relax.

Iowa Exhibited – presented by the Polk County Heritage Gallery
One of this dedicated group’s signature exhibitions runs May 8 – June 26 in the Beaux Art magnificence of the former Des Moines Post Office lobby in the Polk County Building. Opening reception Thursday, May 8, 6:30-8 p.m.

Des Moines Playhouse – Kate Goldman Family Theatre. “Alice in Wonderland.” Through May 18.

Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre. “The Laramie Project.” Through May 11.

— John Busbee, The Culture Buzz

1914: Woodrow Wilson proclaims the first Mother’s Day holiday, On May 9, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson issues a presidential proclamation that officially establishes the first national Mother’s Day holiday to celebrate America’s mothers.
 ... READ MORE

1926: Explorer Richard Byrd claims to have flown over the North Pole, According to their claims, polar explorer Richard E. Byrd and co-pilot Floyd Bennett fly over the North Pole on May 9, 1926, in the Josephine Ford, a triple-engine Fokker monoplane. It would have been the first time an aircraft flew over the top of the world. The pair had taken off from Spitsbergen, Norway, and reportedly covered the 1,545-mile trip to the pole and back in 15 hours and 30 minutes.. ... READ MORE

1974: House votes to initiate impeachment proceedings against President Nixon, The House of Representatives Judiciary Committee opens impeachment hearings against President Richard Nixon, voting to impeach him on three counts on July 30. ... READ MORE

 www.history.com