FROM KCCI: Iowa becomes first state approved for federal education funding waiver. Iowa just made history in how it can spend federal education money, a move state leaders say could shift millions of dollars and thousands of staff hours away from paperwork and back into classrooms. The U.S. Department of Education approved a first of its kind waiver for Iowa on Wednesday, giving the state new flexibility over how certain federal education dollars are managed. It is the first state in the nation to receive approval under the federal government’s Returning Education to the States initiative. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: UnityPoint Health shares influenza numbers as positive cases soar nationwide. UnityPoint Health is releasing numbers that showcase just how many patients are testing positive for influenza, allowing Iowans to get a local look at a national trend of increasing cases. Below is a list of the number of patients who have tested positive for influenza A or B at UnityPoint clinics from December 21 to January 7. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: Mitchellville resignations reflect national rise in local government tension. The future of the city government in Mitchellville is still up in the air following the resignation of two city councilmembers in recent days. Data shows the recent turmoil, though still unusual, reflects a broader national trend: Rising tension in local government and a growing number of elected officials choosing to step down. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: Rubio plans to meet with Danish officials next week to talk about US interest in Greenland. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he plans to meet with Danish officials next week after the Trump administration doubled down on its intention to take over Greenland, the strategic Arctic island that is a self-governing territory of Denmark. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: Minneapolis on edge after fatal shooting of woman by ICE officer. Minneapolis was on edge Thursday following the fatal shooting of a woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer taking part in the Trump administration’s latest immigration crackdown, with the governor calling for people to remain calm and schools canceling classes and activities as a safety precaution. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: Multi-county car chase ends in standoff, arrest. Iowa State Patrol said a car chase that started in Cedar County ended with a man being arrested near Davenport. Officials said they tried to stop the driver of a pickup truck with Michigan license plates before he drove off, heading east on I-80. The driver was eventually stopped on the Jersey Ridge Road overpass in Scott County where he refused to get out of the car, causing traffic to be shut down before he was eventually taken into custody. ... READ MORE

Clear Mortgage meteorology

Clouds move back in today, with rain late. Friday looks dry. Rain will change to snow Friday into the day Saturday.

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

Getting down on the bears

Bad ass bears are headlining the news in Japan almost daily the last two months. Bear attacks in Akita Prefecture of Japan have: killed 14 people, injured 330, reduced civic traffic to COVID Era levels; encouraged restaurants to get rid of automatically opening doors; inspired women to attach rows of bells to their backpacks when going out; created new laws permitting rifles and killing of aggressive bears; and inspired several insurance companies to issue “bear insurance” for tourists and businesses — to cover damages, including canceled hotel reservations, which are piling up, up to $50,000. (NHK - Tokyo)

Bear meat is legal to eat in the U.S. but illegal to sell or buy. Bears are often full of parasites that can make humans seriously ill, or dead. Only eat bear meat that has been cooked to 165 degrees.

Don’t eat road kill until further instructions are available

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), aka “zombie deer disease" has been found in Arkansas and Tennessee. Humans can contract “mad cow disease” from eating venison with CWD. It is fatal.

Deals today

• Sale Barn Cafe (Lamoni) is offering hot beef sandwich specials today.

• Guesthouse Tavern and Oyster (9500 University, West Des Moine) offers spaghetti dinners with 8-ounce meatballs and salad for $22 on Wednesdays.

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

• Meat loaf is today's special at Crouse Cafe (115 E. Salem, Indianola).

• 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 pizza for $20 on Thursdays 4 p.m. to close.

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

• Whatch 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 2 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 this Des Moines 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, green peppers at $1.49/3 pack, and grapefruit $3.99/ five pound bag.

• Fresh Thyme (2800 University Ave., West Des Moines) is running a sale through Sunday on bone-in chicken breasts at $1.99/pound, boneless ribeyes at $18.99/pound and through Tuesday on fresh salmon filets at $7.99/pound.

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

1963: “Mona Lisa” exhibited in Washington. At the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, the Mona Lisa, is exhibited for the first time in America. Over 2,000 dignitaries, including President John F. Kennedy, came out that evening to view the famous painting. The next day, the exhibit opened to the public, and during the next three weeks an estimated 500,000 people came to see it. The painting then traveled to New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it was seen by another million people. … READ MORE

2002: President George W. Bush signs No Child Left Behind Act into law. On Jan. 8, 2002, President George W. Bush signs the No Child Left Behind Act into law. The sweeping update to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 created new standards and goals for the nation’s public schools and implemented tough corrective measures for schools that failed to meet them. Today, it is largely regarded as a failed experiment. … READ MORE

2016: Infamous drug lord “El Chapo” is captured by Mexican authorities. In the early hours of Jan. 8, 2016, Mexican authorities apprehend the drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. It was the third time that the law caught up to El Chapo, a figure whose crimes, influence and mystique rival those of Pablo Escobar. … READ MORE

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