FROM KCCI: Urbandale teens charged with robbing Norwalk teen, threatening to shoot him. Central Iowa authorities have arrested four teens after a drug deal ended in a robbery and assault. Norwalk police say a teenager contacted an Urbandale teen, identified as Alonzo Tucker, 17, of Urbandale, about a drug transaction. Tucker and three other people came to Norwalk and assaulted the Norwalk teen and threatened to shoot him, police say. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Tennessee man charged with statutory rape of WDM teen reported missing over the weekend. A Tennessee man is facing multiple rape charges after deputies say he took a 13-year-old West Des Moines teen to Tennessee over the weekend. On Tuesday, the West Des Moines Police Department announced that a 13-year-old girl who had been reported missing over the weekend had been found in Jefferson County, Tennessee, and that it was likely she wasn’t alone during the journey. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: Community sends off Iowa National Guard soldiers to Middle East. This week, about 1,800 Iowa National Guard service members are being deployed to the Middle East. That means it will likely be a year before they see their loved ones again. At the new West Des Moines training facility on Wednesday, 214 soldiers were recognized. They’ll be supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, international efforts to defeat ISIS. ... READ MORE

Clear Mortgage meteorology

A few scattered showers are possible in the afternoon and early evening today. Warming then takes us into the weekend, with a small rain chance Saturday and a better one late Tuesday.

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

About Time Theatre Company – at The Haunt Speakeasy. “Squeamish.” Iowa's newest theatre company launches with this dynamic show. May 30-31, June 6-7. 

Des Moines Performing Arts. “Hamilton.” National Tour spends two weeks at the Civic Center. June 3-15.

Every twist and knot tell a story in "The Ties That Bind" 
Join professional dance company Hurley & Dancers for a modern dance milieu on Friday, May 30, and Saturday, May 31 at 7 p.m. at Des Moines DanzArts Studio, 2150 Delavan Drive, No. 8, West Des Moines. Suggested donation $20/10. Original choreography by Julie Betts, Elizabeth Ferreira, Alissa Hamer, Kathleen Hurley, Lisa Lewis and William Schneider. For more information, email hurley.kathleen@gmail.com.
 
Iowa High School Musical Theatre Awards showcase hundreds of Iowa high school students at IHSMTA Showcase
Des Moines Performing Arts (DMPA) will welcome hundreds of students from high schools across the state to perform on the Civic Center stage for the annual IHSMTA Showcase presented by EMC Insurance Companies. The Showcase will take place Thursday, May 29, at 7 p.m. It will be livestreamed online statewide through Iowa Public Broadcasting Station.
 
Belin Quartet beckons with another season of scintillating classics
The Civic Music Association is proud to present the 2025 season. Every Tuesday from June 3 through July 8, the Belin Quartet will perform at Salisbury House and Gardens at 5:30 p.m. In case of inclement weather, the performances will be held at the Des Moines Central Library.

Polk County Heritage Gallery – “Iowa Exhibited”
One of this dedicated group’s signature exhibitions runs through June 26 in the Beaux Art magnificence of the former Des Moines Post Office lobby in the Polk County Building.

— John Busbee, The Culture Buzz

The junk food empire strikes back, again.
The U.S. government is rolling out plans for making America healthy again at high speed. One week ago, a news conference of six cabinet secretaries included the Secretary of Defense. Because? So few high school graduates can pass military physicals (nearly 70% according to the Department of Health and Human Services) that health is now considered a matter of national security. The conference announced a crusade to rid children's diets of junk food, petroleum and particularly sugar and its many lab-created imitators — like the high fructose corn syrup that has walked so closely with obesity rates that they are often mistaken for each other.
 
Like all crusades, this one has sparked a defiant resistance. One rebel faction is led by JM Smucker which is sending a “Munchie Mobile” on road trips into MAHA territory to promote Twinkies, Ding Dongs and Donettes. The mobile force will hand out free junk food daily at 4:20 p.m. to align with the stoners it hopes to convert to the resistance. 
 

Deals today
• Ruth's Chris (Ashworth Road at Jordan Creek Parkway) has a Thursday special with their decadent RBAR burgers going for $16. 

•  Steaks: 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), and Hy-Vee Market Grilles. Gilroy's has both sirloin and NY strip specials. The Station on Ingersoll (3120 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines) has a ribeye sandwich special on Thursdays for $12 with side. 

• 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.  

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

• 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.  

• Destination Grille  (2491 E. First St., Grimes) has a "Comfort Thursday" special chicken fried De Burgo, a gluten free spin on DSM's classic. $16

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

• The Continental (407 E. Fifth St., Des Moines) has $7 loaded fries on Thursdays. 

• Aldi is selling  mangos for 69 cents, green grapes for $1.69/pound and asparagus for $2.49/pound through Tuesday.

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

1953: Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reach Everest summit. At 11:30 a.m. on May 29, 1953, Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay, a Sherpa of Nepal, become the first known explorers to reach the summit of Mount Everest, which at 29,035 feet above sea level is the highest point on earth. The two, part of a British expedition, made their final assault on the summit after spending a fitful night at 27,900 feet. News of their achievement broke around the world on June 2, the day of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, and Britons hailed it as a good omen for their country’s future. ... READ MORE

2005: Danica Patrick becomes the first woman to lead Indy 500. On May 29, 2005, 23-year-old Danica Patrick becomes the first female driver to take the lead in the storied Indianapolis 500. . ... READ MORE

2014: Laverne Cox becomes first transgender person to appear on the cover of TIME magazine. On May 29, 2014, Laverne Cox, the transgender actor and advocate best known for her Emmy-winning performance on Orange Is the New Black, appears on the cover of TIME magazine's June 14 issue for their story "The Transgender Tipping Point." The moment is widely cited as a turning point for transgender representation in mainstream media. ... READ MORE

 www.history.com