FROM KCCI: Trump kicks off a yearlong celebration of America's 250th anniversary in Iowa. President Donald Trump turned a heartland festival for the United States' upcoming 250th anniversary into a celebration of himself, basking in a crowd of supporters Thursday night shortly after Congress approved tax cut legislation that he championed. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Man seriously injured in stabbing at Des Moines park. Des Moines police are investigating after a man said he was assaulted and stabbed at a Des Moines park. Sgt. Paul Parizek, Public Information Officer of the Des Moines Police Department, said officers were called to UnityPoint-Iowa Lutheran Hospital at 1:30 a.m. on Thursday about a man who had been stabbed. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: Events to celebrate Fourth of July in Des Moines, central Iowa. The Fourth of July holiday is right around the corner. Get ready to wear your most patriotic outfits and enjoy these Independence Day events in central Iowa. ... READ MORE

Clear Mortgage meteorology

Happy Fourth! Hot again today. Storm chances Saturday into Sunday morning and again Tuesday and Wednesday.

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

Huge new demand for drugs. It’s not what you think
Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that companies trying to outsmart possible tariffs have air shipped $36 billion worth of diabetes-obesity drug hormonal materials from Ireland to the U.S. this year. That’s more than double the total shipped all of last year. These peptide and protein-based hormones feed into a category of drugs that include GLP-1 and newer types of insulin known as analogues. Drug companies like Eli Lilly have been making hormones in Ireland for decades because of low corporate taxes. 

All together, the $36 billion drug shipments weighed 23,400 pounds – less than the weight of four Tesla E trucks. “A very big part of the U.S.-EU trade deficit is accounted for by Ireland alone,” WSJ concluded.

The junk food empire is seriously wounded by these popular drugs which curb appetites. On top of that, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. is trying to force the empire to quit using petroleum dyes and other unnatural ingredients in their products. 

Weekend deals
• The Station on Ingersoll (31324 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines) is running a Fourth of July special today, two chili dogs for $10. 

• Whatcha Smokin' BBQ (Luther, Iowa) serves their smoked prime rib on Friday.

• Friday is Soul Food day at Joppa Experience (1829 Sixth Ave., Des Moines) with fried chicken and oxtail stew joining the usual menu. 

• Because Saturday is an Indiana WNBA game night, the West Des Moines Jethro's have a "Fever Reliever" special of any two appetizers on the Happy Hour menu and two pints of domestic beer for $22.  

• G Mig's has a Saturday special beef stroganoff for $18.50. On Friday, they offer scallops or prime rib dinners for $26-28. 

• Django (1420 Locust, Des Moines) offers a Sunday supper with a roasted half chicken as the main course. The meal includes house salad with red onion, apple, Roquefort and candied walnuts; fresh baguette with whipped butter; roasted fingerling potatoes with fresh herbs; and sautéed haricot verts with caramelized onions and lardons. $30  

• Table 128 (220 S.W. Ninth St., Des Moines) features a Saturday tasting menu including crab fritter and crab ceviche brightened with citrus and a vanilla bean remoulade; grilled wild boar chop paired with house-made tagliatelle in a rich boar Bolognese; and a study in chocolate with chocolate cake, nougat crackle, dark cherries, chocolate sorbet, berry coulis and cocoa nib. $58.

• 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), Hy-Vee stores 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.

• The Continental (407 E. Fifth St., Des Moines) offers BOGO flatbreads Fridays and a blackened chicken sandwich and fries for just $12 on Saturdays. 

• 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 Grille (2491 E. First 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 East Fifth), real Valenciana paella.

• Haiku (1350 31st St., Des Moines) offers free tom ka kai and fried won tons with lunch entrees today.

• 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 melt Sunday special is papa cheeseburgers and side for $9.95. Today they have BBQ melt and side deal for $9.95. 

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

•  Price Choppers have sales on cherries for $1.88/pound, strawberries for $1.88/pound and nectarines for $1.88/pound through Monday.

• Fresh Thyme (2900 University Ave., West Des Moines) begins a week-long sale on Kandy melons at $1.99, baby back ribs at $2.99/pound and snow crab clusters at $9.99/pound through Tuesday. 

•  Fareways have specials through Saturday on hand-tied brats at $3.88/pound, St. Louis pork ribs at $3.99/pound and beef short ribs at $7.99/pound.

• Aldi is selling strawberries for $1.69/pound, fresh pork spareribs for $1.99/pound and bratwurst for $2.99/10 ounces through Tuesday.

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

• MUSIC: Lauren Vilmain/Nick Rueckert Duo plays Louie's Wine Dive (4040 University Ave.) on Sunday at 5 p.m... El Toreado Mexican Bar & Grill on EP True Parkway has live music from The Juan and Only on Friday from 6 p.m... Luke Farland plays Truman’s Pizza Tavern at 2 p.m. Sunday.

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

1776: Continental Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence. In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence, which proclaims the independence of the United States of America from Great Britain and its king.  ... READ MORE

1826: Thomas Jefferson and John Adams die. On July 4, 1826, former Presidents Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, who were once fellow Patriots and then adversaries, die on the same day within five hours of each other.  ... READ MORE

1997: Pathfinder lands on Mars. After traveling 120 million miles in seven months, NASA’s Mars Pathfinder becomes the first U.S. spacecraft to land on Mars in more than two decades. In an ingenious, cost-saving landing procedure, Pathfinder used parachutes to slow its approach to the Martian surface and then deployed airbags to cushion its impact. Colliding with the Ares Vallis floodplain at 40 miles an hour, the spacecraft bounced high into the Martian atmosphere 16 times before safely coming to rest.  ... READ MORE

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