FROM KCCI: U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley leaves open possibility of 2028 run. U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, currently the longest-serving senator in Washington, D.C., is leaving the door open for another reelection bid in 2028. Speaking to the news media on Tuesday, the 91-year-old Republican told reporters to “ask me the question in a couple of years,” saying he would consider the same factors he has “through several re-elections, and that is family considerations and whether or not I can do the job.” ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Des Moines Water Works awarded $9.7 million from 3M in ‘forever chemical’ litigation. In late July 2025, Des Moines Water Works was informed that the utility would receive $9.7 million in a multi-district litigation case involving 3M and DuPont. The lawsuit stems back from 2023, where several public water systems across multiple states took action against the two companies. Those taking part in the settlement, including DMWW, alleged that they have suffered harm from the presence of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAs) in drinking water sources. These “forever chemicals” are used in products across the board, some that resist heat, oil, stains, and are in firefighting foam. These chemicals have been linked to cancers, issues with pregnant women and infants and child development. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: What's behind the shortage of OB-GYNs? A Des Moines-area health care facility is expanding its OB-GYN team, but leaders say there is still a lot of work to be done to address shortages in the region. Any county across the country can be labeled a "maternal care desert," which is defined as an area without a hospital, birthing center or standalone OB-GYN office. However, in Iowa, one in every three counties holds that designation, according to the nonprofit March of Dimes. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: Israeli military says strikes on Gaza hospital targeted a Hamas camera, without providing evidence. The Israeli military said Tuesday that its double strike on a Gaza hospital that killed 20 people targeted what it believed was a Hamas surveillance camera. But the first strike killed a cameraman from the Reuters news agency doing a live television shot, according to witnesses and health officials. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: Spate of hoax calls about active shooters stir fear at college campuses around the U.S. Miceala Morano scrambled for cover behind a green screen in the University of Arkansas broadcast room after she received a campuswide alert about an active shooter. As officers outside donned bullet proof vests and searched for an intruder, the 21-year-old journalism student called her grandmother, telling her, “As of right now, I’m safe. I love you.” ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: Large fire engulfs chicken confinement in Taylor County. At least a dozen agencies are working to extinguish a large structure fire at a chicken farm northwest of Clearfield in Taylor County on Tuesday evening. The Creston Fire Department shared a video showing the Lenox Fire Department assisting in putting water on the fire. The Taylor County Law Enforcement Center confirmed that at least three buildings are engulfed in flames. ... READ MORE

Clear Mortgage meteorology

A spotty shower is possible early today. Otherwise expect beautiful weather through Sunday!

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

Woebegone Wednesday
Is Cracker Barrel having its own Bud Light moment? Its makeover plans are not pleasing anybody while alienating their core customers. Their stock plunged $100 million the day after they revealed their new logo, which offed their old man, his rocking chair and his cracker barrel. Steak & Shake called Cracker Barrel out on X, suggesting they need to fire their new CEO. 

Cactus Bob's closed down after 20 years in Johnston. They were there before Jethro's was even an idea in Bruce Gerleman's mind. Barbecue lives on in central Iowa, though. Vote for your choice as "Ultimate BBQ" here

Deals today 
• Kelly's Little Nipper (1701 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines) offers any burger with a side for $10 on Wednesdays. 

• Exile (1514 Walnut St., Des Moines) offers a $12 burger basket with fries and a beer on Wednesdays. 

• Beaver Tap (4050 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines) offers $8 French toast or pancake breakfasts and $2 tacos, $9 wraps and $10 half pounds of wings on Wednesdays. 

• Johnny's Italian Steakhouses have a chicken Madeira special on Wednesdays before 4 p.m., $15 including beverage.

• Smoking Goat Pub (3015 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines) has a $10 classic burger and beer all day. 

• Gilroy's (1238 Eighth St., West Des Moines) has all you can eat fried chicken dinners on Wednesdays, $21.99 after 5 p.m. Brian Congdon will play on the patio there from 6 p.m. tonight.

• Haiku (1315 31st St., Des Moines) lets kids 11 and under eat free with adults on Wednesdays. Hot sour soup and eggrolls are comped today with lunch entrees.  

• Wednesdays bring steak night to Club 2000 (422 Indianola Road, Des Moines). Steaks are cooked to order with salad, potato and bread, $14.99.

• Angry Goldfish (2301 S.W. Ninth St., Des Moines) offers hot beef sandwiches with mashed potatoes and gravy for $11.50 on Wednesday. 

• Curbin' Cuisine (1325 S.W. Oralabor Road, Ankeny) offers traditional gyros for $7 Wednesdays. 

• Wine bottles are half price on Wednesdays at Trostel's Greenbriar (5910 Merle Hay Road, Johnston). The Continental (407 E. Fifth St., Des Moines) also has half-priced bottles on Wednesdays. 

• G Mig's (128 5th St., Valley Junction) offers a special lasagna dinner today with salad and garlic bread for $19.25.

• Barntown's (9500 S.E. University Ave., West Des Moines) Wednesday specials are a pound of chicken tenders with fries and two sauces for $11.99, plus $13 core pitchers of beer.

• Wednesday is Biryani Festival at Chowrastha (5910 Ashworth Road, West Des Moines). Buy two and a third is free.

• Tacos Mariana's (1305 University Ave. , Des Moines) and The Station (3124 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines) have specials on tacos today. 

• Village Inns offer free pie with entrees on Wednesdays. 

• It's lasagna day at Maxie's Supper Club (1311 Grand Ave., West Des Moines) and breaded pork tenderloin day at Eastside Eddie's (3517 E. 26th St., Des Moines).

• Panka Peruvian (2708 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines) has live jazz Wednesday. 

• Chuck's (3610 Sixth Ave., Des Moines) offers $5 off pizza on Wednesdays.

• Curbin Cuisine (1325 S.W. Oralabor, Ankeny) has $7 gyros on Wednesdays. 

• Bordanaro's (6108 S.W. Ninth St., Des Moines) has a Wednesday-Thursday only special on carryout pizza. They start at $6.50 for a 10-inch cheese pie. Each ingredient added is an extra charge, but this pretty much adds up to half-price pies.

• Kwik Stars' Wednesday special is eight pieces of fried chicken for $10. Their fried chicken is ridiculously good for a convenience store.  

• On Wednesdays, you can get any burger with fries for $10.99 at Tito's Lounge (3916 N.W. Urbandale Dr, Urbandale). 

• Jethro's have $9.95 BPT sandwiches, including a side of choice, on Wednesdays.  

• Hy-Vee Market Grilles are offering a cheeseburger and fries Wednesday special for $8.

• Fresh Thyme (2900 University Ave., West Des Moines) begins a week long sale on T-bones at $12.99/pound, 8-inch fruit pies at $5.99 and Kandy melons at $2.99.

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

1776: British forces defeat Patriots in the Battle of Brooklyn. During the American Revolution, British forces under General William Howe defeat Patriot forces under General George Washington at the Battle of Brooklyn (also known as the Battle of Long Island) in New York. ... READ MORE

1883: Krakatoa explodes with massive force. One of the most powerful volcanic eruptions in recorded history occurs on Krakatoa (also called Krakatau), a small, uninhabited volcanic island east of Sumatra and west of Java, on August 27, 1883. Heard 3,000 miles away — and believed to have produced the loudest sounds in human history — the explosions threw five cubic miles of earth 50 miles into the air, created 120-foot tsunamis and killed 36,000 people. ... READ MORE

1916: Romania enters World War I. On August 27, 1916, after Romania declares war on Austria-Hungary, formally entering World War I, Romanian troops cross the border of the Austro-Hungarian Empire into the much-contested province of Transylvania. ... READ MORE

 www.history.com