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Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025
Good morning to you! 

A few decades ago, a saying within our industry was often shared that stated, “Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one.” It is attributed to media critic A.J. Liebling, who suggested in 1960 that true journalistic freedom is often limited to those who have the ability to print the news.

Of course, times have changed. When the circulation and readership of paid daily and weekly newspapers took a nosedive two decades ago, I coined a modified phrase, noting that “Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own the distribution systems.”

And I worked to do that, building a network of drivers and more than 1,000 distribution points for CITYVIEW, our related publications and even those printed by other independent publishers. I continue to manage it closely to this day, as I believe that distribution is the most important aspect of our company. We can write great stories, create wonderful layouts and design and sell lots of advertising, but, if it doesn’t get in front of the eyes of our readers, none of that matters.

I also continue to believe in the power of the U.S. Postal system, as we mail more than 2 million copies of our Iowa Living and Times publications annually. We value the relationships we have with local postmasters and their staffs, and we manage that closely as well. If there is a problem, we can quickly identify and resolve it.

As those of you who are reading this via email know, I believe in email as well. The difference, though, is that we don’t own this distribution system. Yes, we own and manage the lists, but it ends there. As some of you with Gmail accounts can attest to, we had problems with email delivery last week that were out of our control. Many of you reached out to me with concerns, expressing how you didn’t receive your Daily Umbrella and wanting to know how to fix this. Then, without any apparent reason, several days of emails were delivered to many of you.

We deal with these problems on a smaller scale each week, usually one or two people who need to add webmaster.com to their contacts list to avoid the email going to spam folders. But this problem was much larger, and it was especially frustrating for us as we couldn’t personally fix it.

Fortunately, you, as our readers, have many options to receive your Daily Umbrella. If the email system is causing delays, you can access the latest edition each morning by 6:30 a.m. directly at www.thedailyumbrella.com. You may want to bookmark that address on your computer. (You can also make the website into a free phone app. Find the simple instructions here.) In addition, we post the Daily Umbrella each weekday morning on CITYVIEW’s Facebook and X pages, as well as Big Green Umbrella Media’s LinkedIn page (and my personal LinkedIn page).

Of course, we don’t own the social media distribution systems, and we are at the tech giants’ mercy to decide who receives what and when, which is concerning to me and should be to each of you, too. In the meantime, those systems do provide an alternative option for those of you who prefer to receive your Daily Umbrella in that manner when email isn't working as it should.

Regardless of how you prefer to access your Daily Umbrella, I am glad that you do. Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
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: Des Moines man critically injured by live power line. A Des Moines man was critically injured on Monday evening after he came into contact with a live power line in the Beaverdale neighborhood. According to the Des Moines Police Department, first responders were sent to the 3400 block of 48th Place shortly before 5 p.m. When they arrived, they found a 49-year-old man with critical injuries. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Des Moines approves utility fee hike to fund struggling DART system despite Council division. Instead of falling on property owners, all energy users could help keep buses on the road in the metro. With a divided vote, the Des Moines City Council approved a possible funding source for the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority on Monday night. Council members voted to increase a utility Franchise Fee from 5 to 7.5 percent. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: More than 650 teacher openings remain listed as first day of school looms in Iowa. Less than a week until school districts can begin their academic years, more than 3,000 jobs are listed on the Iowa Department of Education's hiring hub, “Teach Iowa.” Around 650 of those are in-classroom teaching gigs. "That means that teachers are going to have to do more with less,” Iowa State Education Association President Joshua Brown said. ... READ MORE

 

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: Trump begins planning for Putin-Zelenskyy meeting while affirming US help with security guarantees. President Donald Trump said Monday he’s begun arrangements for a face-to-face meeting between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss a pathway to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while affirming that the U.S. would back European security guarantees aimed at preventing Moscow from reinvading its neighbor once the current conflict ends. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: Hurricane Erin forces evacuations on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, threatens dangerous rip currents. Holly Andrzejewski hadn’t yet welcomed her and her family’s first guests to the Atlantic Inn on Hatteras Island when she had to start rescheduling them, as Hurricane Erin neared North Carolina’s Outer Banks on Tuesday and threatened to whip up wild waves and tropical force winds. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: Teen seriously injured after falling off roof of moving car, Ottumwa police say. A teen was seriously injured in Ottumwa overnight when police say she fell off the roof of a moving car. At around 12:53 a.m. Monday emergency crews were called to the 100 block of Church Street. According to the Ottumwa Police Department, when first responders arrived at the scene they found a 17-year-old girl on the side of the road with serious injuries. Police say witnesses reported that the teen was standing on the roof of a car while it was traveling southbound and fell off. ... READ MORE

 

Clear Mortgage meteorology

Today could bring some morning rain to southwest Iowa, otherwise the rest of the forecast is dry and very nice!

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

 
Pollen tracker
 
Tree pollen: None
Grass pollen: Low
Ragweed pollen: None
 
 
The 2025 results: CITYVIEW's Best of Des Moines®
 

 

Best Local Place to Worship

1. Lutheran Church of Hope

2. Valley Church

3. Walnut Creek Church

 
See all of the results
 

Tuesday touts
 
The city's most eclectic street fest is back this week. World Food & Music Festival will feature more than 50 vendors from across 25 countries. They will cover Western Gateway Park in downtown Des Moines from Friday, Aug. 22, through Sunday, Aug. 24. Unlike the state fair, there is no cover charge to enter and buy food. The food will be a lot healthier, too. Check the lineup out here and go hungry.

Restaurant Week is up and running. Most top restaurants are offering bargain fixed price menus through Sunday. Lunch from $20 and dinners from $40 with the most expensive $79. Menus

Deals today
• Mickey's Irish Pub (50 S.E. Laurel St., Waukee) has a special $7 half-pound burger with a side all day Tuesday. 

• Kelly's Little Nipper (1701 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines) offers a Tendy's Tuesday tenderloin basket with a drink for $11.50.

• Hy-Vee Market Grilles are running a breakfast special Monday through Friday of buy a breakfast, get one half priced. 

• Eastside Eddie's (3517 E. 26th St., Des Moines) has a Tuesday special cheeseburger with fries, tots or salad and a drink for $10.

• Beaver Tap (4050 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines) offers $7 breakfasts and $8 burgers Tuesdays.

• Pelican Post (265 50th St., West Des Moines) offers a special smashburger with cheese, fries and a draft beer for $10 on Tuesdays.

• Johnny's Italian Steakhouses have a beef stroganoff special on Tuesdays, $14 including beverage.

• Smoking Goat Pub (3015 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines) hosts 222 BBQ today from 5-9 p.m.

• Gateway Market will sample wine 4-6 p.m. for a free tasting on Tuesday.

• Red Robin stores are featuring a $10 cheeseburger with an "endless side" on Tuesdays.

• Jethro's Tuesday special is 2 pounds of bone-in smoked wings for the price of one. Because tonight is an Indiana WNBA game night, the West Des Moines Jethro's has a "Fever Reliever" special of any two appetizers on the Happy Hour menu and two pints of domestic beer for $22.

• Paula's (524 Elm St., Valley Junction) runs a Tuesday special pulled pork sandwich with fries and drink for $13.50 till Labor Day. 

• 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, 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., Des Moines), Club 2000 (422 Indianola Road, Des Moines), The Continental (407 E. Fifth St., Des Moines), Gilroy's (1238 Eighth St., West 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.

• G Mig’s (128 Fifth St., Valley Junction) offers a Tuesday special 8-ounce prime sirloin, baked potato, mixed vegetables and garlic bread for 19.95.

• Haiku (1350 31st St., Des Moines) offers free fried tofu/miso with lunch entrees today.

• Angry Goldfish (2301 S.W. Ninth, Des Moines) has $10 burger and fries and a drink on Tuesdays.

• Hy-Vee Market Grilles are offering a tenderloin Tuesday special with potato salad for $7.

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

 
 
Featured in the current issue of CITYVIEW
 

CARS IN THE CITY
Des Moines Concours d’Elegance celebrates 25 years

By Jackie Wilson

Among a sea of monster trucks and oversized gray SUVs, classic and vintage cars certainly stand out. A 1957 Chevy may not have Apple Car Play, but it does have chrome tailfins, a spacious back seat and a turquoise colored frame. Yet, you rarely see these cruising along I-235.

If you want to see top-of-the line classic cars, attend the Des Moines Concours d’Elegance on Sept. 7 at the Pappajohn Sculpture Park. Now in its 25th year, the free event features more than 100 meticulously restored classic cars in 11 classes of vehicles, including exotics, muscle, pickup trucks and more. It includes family-friendly activities plus food trucks. ...

 
Read more
 
Featured home for sale
 
Post listings here for $50. Contact jolene@iowalivingmagazines.com for details.
 
$480,000

4809 Stonebridge Road
West Des Moines, IA 50265

Located in a neighborhood with mature trees and quick access to shopping, dining, parks, and anywhere in the metro, this beautiful two-story awaits. This home has been thoughtfully maintained over the years and features 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and plenty of character throughout....

  
See the listing here.
 
See more homes for sale
 
SOLD: Featured commercial real estate transaction
 
2000 E. GRAND AVE., DES MOINES
SALE DATE: 2025-04-08
SALE PRICE: $900,000
SELLER: 2000 E GRAND AVE LLC
BUYER: 2000 E GRAND AVENUE LLC
ACRES: 0.756
SQUARE FEET: 11,944
 
More transactions
 
Featured in the current
issue of Altoona Living magazine
 

Hometown roots
Allen returns to live in the neighborhood where she grew up.

By Lindsey Giardino

Krista Allen is a hometown girl. She grew up in Altoona and has lived in the community nearly her entire life, except for a few years away at college.

She and her husband, Tony, chose to buy their first home in Altoona because they like the community and its proximity to family. They also wanted their children to grow up similarly to how they did, surrounded by loved ones.

The Allens’ current home sits in what Allen describes as an older part of Altoona — the very same neighborhood she grew up in, in fact.   ...

 
Read more
 
Sports headlines
FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: Rob Manfred Opens Up on Possibility of Expansion, Geographic Realignment. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said Sunday during the ESPN broadcast of the Little League Classic between the Mariners-Mets that he can see the possibility of expansion and geographic realignment taking place in the future.  ... READ MORE
 
FROM ESPN: Justin Jefferson practices with Vikings for 1st time in 25 days. Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson practiced Monday for the first time in 25 days as he continues to recover from the left hamstring strain he suffered last month. ... READ MORE
FROM YAHOO SPORTS: Jannik Sinner retires with apparent illness in first set vs. Carlos Alcaraz while trailing 5-0. Fresh off a win over Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final, Jannik Sinner was clearly not himself on Monday in a rematch of the rivals and the top two players in the world. ... READ MORE
 

1791: Benjamin Banneker writes to Thomas Jefferson, urging justice for African Americans. On Aug. 19, 1791, the accomplished American mathematician and astronomer Benjamin Banneker pens a letter to then-Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson corresponds prolifically with luminaries from around the world, but Banneker is unique among them: the son of a free Black American woman and a formerly enslaved African man from Guinea, Banneker criticizes Jefferson’s hypocritical stance on slavery in respectful but unambiguous terms, using Jefferson’s own words to make his case for the abolition of slavery. ... READ MORE

1909: First race is held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. On Aug. 19, 1909, the first race is held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, now the home of the world’s most famous motor racing competition, the Indianapolis 500.  ... READ MORE

1964: The Beatles kick off first U.S. tour at San Francisco’s Cow Palace. On Aug. 19, 1964, more than six months after taking the East Coast by storm, the Fab Four travel to California to take the stage at the Cow Palace in San Francisco for opening night of their first-ever concert tour of North America.. ... READ MORE

 www.history.com

 
Birthdays and notables
 

Happy birthday, Shelli Pulley!

These celebrities were born on this date: John Stamos, Ethan Cutkosky, Lexi Jayde, Siena Agudong, Christina Perri, Melissa Fumero, Manny Jacinto, John Deacon, Nico Hulkenberg

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

 
Morning chuckle

The answer to the last riddle: Why should you bring an umbrella to the ice cream shop? BECAUSE OF THE SPRINKLES!  - Irving Stone, Sunny Liston, Carolyn Rogers, Gail Tomlinson, Bill Snyder, Sharon Hill Watkins

Today's riddle:What’s a football player’s favorite ice cream?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

 

To advertise in the Daily Umbrella or the Johnston Living magazine, contact:

Andrea Hodapp
Account Executive
Office: 515-953-4822 ext. 322
Mobile: 515-883-0523
andrea@iowalivingmagazines.com

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