FROM KCCI: Des Moines Diocese urges vigilance after Minneapolis shooting. The Diocese of Des Moines has warned pastors and schools in Central Iowa to be vigilant following a shooting in Minneapolis, with state public safety officials reminding Iowans of their Safe and Sound program to help prevent school shootings. "When I first heard about it, my heart just sank," said Anne Marie Cox from the Catholic Diocese of Des Moines. Cox learned about the shooting as soon as the news broke on Wednesday morning. The diocese quickly communicated with local pastors and school administrators to increase vigilance. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: 2 dogs die in house fire on Des Moines’ west side. Two dogs died in a house fire on the city’s west side Wednesday afternoon. At around 2 p.m., the DMFD responded to a report of a house fire in the 4600 block of Kingman Boulevard. According to the DMFD, when crews arrived on the scene there was heavy fire coming from the back of the house. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: 'There is a war against depression and anxiety': Iowa schools say cellphone bans boost student mental health, academics. While Iowa's House File 782 has been signed into law for months now, students are entering their first full year with a mandatory cellphone ban in effect. For Hoover High School, this will be the school's second year implementing smartphone rules, while Valley High School has had one in place for the last couple of years, according to Principal Shane Christensen. However, this new statewide policy has allowed them to really hone in on distraction-free learning. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: Mass Russian drone and missile attack kills 15 and injures 48 in Ukraine’s capital. Russia bombarded the Ukrainian capital with drones and missiles early Thursday, including a rare strike in the city center, killing at least 15 people and wounding 48, local authorities said. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: What we know about the shooter who killed 2 and wounded 17 in Minneapolis. Authorities are working to learn the motive of the shooter who fired into a Minneapolis Catholic school’s church during Mass, killing two children and injuring 17 worshippers. Officials identified the shooter as Robin Westman, 23, and said Westman was found dead in the parking lot from what they believe was a self-inflicted gunshot. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said authorities were searching a vehicle in the parking lot believed to be the shooter’s and three associated residences in the area. They also were scouring content that Westman allegedly scheduled to be released on YouTube and has since been removed from the platform. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: Gov. Reynolds orders flags to half-staff in tribute to Minnesota school shooting victims. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has ordered all flags immediately lowered to half-staff until sunset on Sunday. The gesture is to pay tribute to the victims in Wednesday's shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic school. In a statement, Reynolds called the shooting "unspeakably senseless violence against innocent and defenseless children." ... READ MORE

Clear Mortgage meteorology

Dry and very nice weather through Saturday. A slight rain chance on Sunday, with what appear to be better rain chances Monday and Tuesday. Temps stay warm/mild.

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

The rebranding of Cracker Barrel, which we wrote about yesterday, is over. The company received so much backlash from their loyal customers that they nixed their bland new logo and went back to their traditional one. Now, Hooters is rebounding from bankruptcy with a $30 million rebranding campaign that will make the company “less risqué.” That was their entire brand. So, why rebrand a name which is itself risqué?  

Mee Mochi is bringing chewy mochi doughnuts, soft serve and taiyaki — a fish-shaped waffle — to 772 Hickman Road. They are open till 9 p.m. because these doughnuts are not just for breakfast. 

New laws took effect in July in Iowa that effect restaurants and customers. 1.) THC beverages are now treated like booze in transport. Driving with an open container is now criminal. Store the beverages in your trunk. 2.) It is now a felony-level crime to alter a gift card with intent to fraud.

Thursday deals
• Hy-Vee Market Grilles are running a breakfast special Monday through Friday, order one and get second half priced.

• Beaver Tap (4050 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines) offers $10 country fried breakfasts and $9 tenderloins or shrimp/fish tacos on Thursdays. 

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

•  Steaks: Sirloin steak dinners are featured specials today at Johnny's Italian Steakhouses (before 4 p.m.), 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. The Station on Ingersoll (3120 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines) has a ribeye special on Thursdays. Gilroy's (1238 Eighth St. West Des Moines) offers ribeyes and sirloins only on Thursdays after 5 p.m. 

• 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.

• ShortE's BBQ (8505 Chambery Blvd., Johnston) has $1 smoked wings Thursdays.  

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

• Bevy’s Tavern (1300 50th St., West Des Moines) has a special of beef stew and cornbread Thursdays for $13.   

• 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. 

• Haiku (1350 31st St., Des Moines) offers free tom yum soup and edamames with lunch entrees today.

• Price Chopper stores have sales through Tuesday on red or green grapes at $1.69/pound, whole watermelons at $3.99 and frozen catfish nuggets at $2.29/pound.

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

1917: President Woodrow Wilson picketed by women suffrafgists. On August 28, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson is picketed by suffragists in front of the White House, who demand that he support an amendment to the Constitution that would guarantee women the right to vote. ... READ MORE

1952: “Red Scare” dominates American Political spaces. As the presidential election of 1952 begins to heat up, so do accusations and counteraccusations concerning communism in America. The “Red Scare”—the widespread belief that international communism was operating in the United States—came to dominate much of the debate between Democrats and Republicans in 1952. ... READ MORE

1963: Martin Luther King Jr. delivers “I Have a Dream” speech at the March on Washington. On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., the African American civil rights movement reaches its high-water mark when Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his "I Have a Dream" speech to about 250,000 people attending the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The demonstrators—Black and white, poor and rich—came together in the nation’s capital to demand voting rights and equal opportunity for African Americans and to appeal for an end to racial segregation and discrimination.. ... READ MORE

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