FROM KCCI: Without Reynolds or Bird, Iowa Republicans recalculate 2026 governor’s race. For the first time in nearly 20 years, Iowa voters will choose a new governor without an incumbent on the ballot. With no term limits and no incumbent running in 2026, this open-seat race isn’t just about the next four years. It could set Iowa’s course for decades.  ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Juvenile injured in Des Moines shooting Thursday. A juvenile was injured in a shooting in Des Moines Thursday afternoon. At around 4:40 p.m. officers with the Des Moines Police Department responded to the 1100 block of 10th Street on a report of gunfire heard in the area. According to the DMPD, as officers responded to the scene, a Des Moines hospital reported that an individual showed up at the emergency department with a gunshot wound at around the same time the shooting was reported. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: Iowa officials, businesses anticipate flooding as threat looms. The chance for heavy rainfall Thursday night into Friday, predicted by the Local 5 weather team, is bad news for some outdoor businesses and cities. Since opening for the summer season in mid-June, Seven Oaks Recreation in Boone has shut down its canoeing, kayaking and tubing services on most days. That's because heavy rainfall in the Fort Dodge area raised the levels of the Des Moines River where the activities are held. ... READ MORE

Clear Mortgage meteorology

Scattered storms are a possibility today. More storms tonight into Saturday morning, then we stay dry until Tuesday.

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

Weekend deals
Barring a last hour trade breakthrough, a 20% tariff on Mexican tomatoes goes in effect Monday. That will be paid by supermarkets and wholesalers and will likely raise the prices of the cheapest supermarket tomatoes as early as next week. Homegrown tomato season is about to soar here and no one has to settle for inferior supermarket tomatoes until October or later. 

• Smoking Goat Pub (3015 Merle Hay Road) offers walleye or steak dinner specials tonight plus karaoke after 9 p.m. They have a 10for $10 wings deal on Sundays. 

• IHMVCU hosts Food Truck Frenzy with the first 50 people in line at 3990 Merle Hay Road eating free. This Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., will be catered by Egg Roll Ladies. 

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

• Because Friday and Sunday are Indiana Fever game days, the West Des Moines Jethro's will have a "Fever Reliever" special of any two appetizers on the Happy Hour menu and two pints of domestic beer for $22.  Sunday special is papa cheeseburgers and side for $9.95. Today they have BBQ melt and side deal for $9.95. 

• G Mig's (128 Fifth St., Valley Junction) has Friday prime rib dinners for $29.50 or walleye with asparagus for $25.95. 

• Django (1420 Locust St., 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 for $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 second and fourth Friday 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) has brunch on Fridays, 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.

• 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.   

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

•  Price Choppers have sales on peaches and nectarines at $1.49/pound and on strawberries and blueberries at $2/pint through Monday.

• Fresh Thyme (2900 University Ave., West Des Moines) has sales on lobster tails at $4.99 each, USDA prime porterhouse steaks at $17.99/pound and organic mini watermelons at $2.99 each through Tuesday. 

•  Fareways have specials through Saturday on cucumbers at 77 cents, zucchini at 99 cents and boneless half-pound pork chops at 3 for $5.

•  Aldi stores have specials through Saturday on Rainier cherries at $4.69/pound, avocados at 69 cents and spare ribs at $1.99/pound.

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

Free music: Two Guys Named Dave and Steve O’Brien plays Louie's Wine Dive (4040 University Ave.) on Sunday at 5 p.m. El Toreado Mexican Bar & Grill on EP True 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. Jake & TK plays Kelly's Little Nipper at 7 p.m. Friday. Shirley Temple’s Pleasure plays Truman’s Pizza Tavern at 5 p.m. Friday. Willie Mac & The Lost Cousins play Covered Bridges Winery, Winterset at 2 p.m. Saturday. Fred Gazzo Quintet plays Anna Dolce Ristorante, West Des Moines at 6 p.m. Saturday.

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

1804: Aaron Burr slays Alexander Hamilton in duel. On July 11, 1804, in one of the most famous duels in American history, Vice President Aaron Burr fatally shoots his long-time political antagonist Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton, a leading Federalist and the chief architect of America’s political economy, died the following day. ... READ MORE

1914: Babe Ruth makes MLB debut. On July 11, 1914, in his major league debut, George Herman “Babe” Ruth pitches seven strong innings to lead the Boston Red Sox over the Cleveland Indians (now known as the Cleveland Guardians), 4-3. ... READ MORE

1995: U.S. establishes diplomatic relations with Vietnam. Two decades after the Fall of Saigon, President Bill Clinton establishes full diplomatic relations with Vietnam, citing Vietnamese cooperation in accounting for the 2,238 Americans still listed as missing in the Vietnam War. ... READ MORE

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