FROM KCCI: Iowa Board of Regents appoints new president. The Iowa Board of Regents has selected Robert Cramer as its new president, following Sherry Bates' resignation. Bates served on the board for more than a decade and was elected president in February 2024. In retirement, Bates said she plans to spend more time with her family. As her successor, Cramer will become the 24th regents president. His leadership term expires April 30, 2026. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Iowans recognized at Governor’s Lifesaving Awards for heroic actions. Four Iowans were honored at the Statehouse on Wednesday for saving lives during the annual Governor’s Lifesaving Awards. The annual event is hosted by Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Public Safety. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: Former Iowa chief judge sentenced to 3 days in jail after pleading guilty to OWI. An Iowa judge was sentenced to three days in jail after pleading guilty to drunk driving. Adria Kester, the former chief judge of the state’s Second Judicial District, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to her first charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, court records show. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: Putin says there are points he can’t agree to in the US proposal to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin says that some proposals in a U.S. plan to end the war in Ukraine are unacceptable to the Kremlin, indicating that any deal is still some way off despite intense shuttle diplomacy by American envoys. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: Federal agents launch immigration crackdown in New Orleans. Federal agents began hitting the streets of New Orleans on Wednesday in the Trump administration’s latest immigration crackdown across the U.S., looking to round up immigrants accused of violent crimes, a Homeland Security official said. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: Volunteer fire chief saves Iowa dog that fell through a frozen pond. A southeast Iowa dog is back home safe after being rescued from a nearly dire situation on Tuesday. The Wapello County Sheriff's Office received a call about a dog that had fallen through a partially frozen pond. Deputies on scene found the dog treading water and unable to climb onto the ice, a Facebook post said. ... READ MORE

Clear Mortgage meteorology

Near-record or record cold today. Things get a little better Friday and Saturday, with highs near 30. Slight snow chance early Sunday on another cold day.

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

Jingle in the Junction
The Historic Valley Junction Foundation is excited to continue celebrating the season with Jingle in the Junction on Dec. 4, 11 and 18 from 5-8 p.m. each evening. Enjoy free horse-drawn trolley rides, singers and musicians, Santa’s mailbox, ice sculpting, treat vendors and other surprises. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be greeting visitors in the office at Historic City Hall, 137 Fifth, from 6-8 p.m. during each Jingle. 

Triple Header of Holiday stage entertainment begins Friday
• Ankeny Community Theatre. "Miracle on 34th Street" the play. Dec 5-14. 
• Iowa Stage Theatre Company. "A Christmas Carol." Dec. 5-21. 
• Des Moines Playhouse. "Disney’sFrozen." Dec. 5-27. 

Onstage Opportunities Abound
• AUDITIONS – Ankeny Community Theatre. "Pride@Prejudice." By Daniel Elihu Kramer. Sunday, Dec. 7, 6:30 p.m., Monday, Dec. 8, 6:30 p.m. 
• AUDITIONS – Tallgrass Theatre Company. "Disenchanted." Sunday, Dec. 7, 1 p.m., and Monday, Dec 8, 6 p.m.
• AUDITIONS – Des Moines Playhouse. "The Lightning Thief." Monday, Dec. 8, 6 p.m. 

New entertainment venue needs staff
The Ingersoll will fill its staffing needs (PT and FT), anchored by a Career Fair Dec. 5 (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.) and Dec. 6 (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.) at the French Way, 413 Euclid Ave. Seeking servers, FOH Lead, bartenders, sous chef, runners, kitchen staff, stage manager, ushers, box office staff, greeters, light and sound tech, stagehands. Bring documents that establish identity (SSN card, valid ID/DL or passport) and employment authorization, and resume. 

— John Busbee, The Culture Buzz

The latest beef with Big Beef
Tyson announced it will close its Lexington, Nebraska, processing plant for beef due to the smallest cattle inventories in 70 years. That takes 3,200 jobs down. It also slowed down its Amarillo plant, laying off another 1,700. That makes sense on paper but, because the USDA accused the big four beef processors of manipulating the price of beef, this is a bad look for Tyson. As reported here previously, Omaha Steaks is predicting $10/pound burger prices by 2026, and they are increasing their sales of chicken. 

Arby's is a Texas born and headquartered fast food chain that has always been mostly about beef. They are now advertising a two for $6 new "steak nuggets" sandwich that has garnered rave critical reviews for a fast food product. The Washington Post's restaurant critic called them “as close to real BBQ as fast food gets.” Then the Post announced its restaurant critic would no longer be anonymous.

Deals today
• Chelsea's Courtyard (100 MLK) has buck burgers Thursdays. $1!

• Istanbul Grill Cafe & Bakery (3281 100th St., Urbandale) has a Thursday special of $11.99 for a döner wrap with fries as well as $5 off döner plate which comes with Turkish salad and your choice of rice or bulgur. 

•  Hot beef sandwiches are a Thursday special at Club 2000. 

• Maxie's (1311 Grand Ave., West Des Moines) Thursday special for $20.95 is half a fried chicken with potato, side of spaghetti and a salad. Lunch and dinner.

• Mullets Norwalk offers two two-topping pizzas for $20 on Thursdays 4 p.m. to close.

• Buzzard Billy's (615 Third St., Des Moines) has $2 off appetizers on Thursdays.

• Whatcha Smokin? (Highway 17, Luther) has a pork belly burnt ends special on Thursdays.

• 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.

• Steak Nights: 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.

• Mullets has a Thursday pizza special - buy one large specialty pizza and get a free 14-inch two-topping pizza.

• Kids eat free at Scornovacca’s (1930 S.E. 14th St., Des Moines) 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.

• 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.

• Aldi stores haves sales through Tuesday on avocados at 49 cents, navel oranges at $2.99/4-pound bag and boneless pork shoulders at $1.79/pound.

• Fresh Thyme (2900 University Ave., West Des Moines) has sales on fresh snow crab clusters at $10.99/pound, baby back ribs at $2.99/pound, regal king salmon fillets at $21.99/half pound, and Atlantic salmon fillets at $5.99/pound. All through Tuesday.

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

1917: Psychiatrist reports on the phenomenon of shell shock. Well-known psychiatrist W.H. Rivers presents his report The Repression of War Experience, based on his work at the Craiglockhart War Hospital for Neurasthenic Officers, to the Royal School of Medicine, on this day in 1917. Craiglockhart, near Edinburgh, was one of the most famous hospitals used to treat soldiers who suffered from psychological traumas as a result of their service on the battlefield.  ... READ MORE

1969: Police kill two members of the Black Panther Party. Black Panthers Fred Hampton, 21, and Mark Clark, 22, are gunned down by 14 police officers as they lie sleeping in their Chicago, Illinois, apartment. About a hundred bullets had been fired in what police described as a fierce gun battle with members of the Black Panther Party. However, ballistics experts later determined that only one of those bullets came from the Panthers’ side. In addition, the “bullet holes” in the front door of the apartment, which police pointed to as evidence that the Panthers had been shooting from within the apartment, were actually nail holes created by police in an attempt to cover up the attack. Four other Black Panthers were wounded in the raid, as well as two police officers. ... READ MORE

2012: Typhoon “Pablo” kills over 1,000 people in the Philippines. On Dec. 4, 2012, Bopha, a Category 5 typhoon nicknamed “Pablo,” struck the Philippines. Rushing flood waters destroyed entire villages and killed over one thousand people, in what was the strongest typhoon ever to strike the Southeast Asian islands. ... READ MORE

 www.history.com