FROM KCCI: Cold weather safety urged after recent death in Des Moines. Des Moines police and emergency officials are urging residents to take precautions as dangerously cold temperatures settle over central Iowa, following a death that investigators say may be linked to cold exposure. Des Moines police detectives are conducting a death investigation after a 51-year-old man was found dead Wednesday in the 2800 block of Southeast 14th Street. Officers and Des Moines Fire Department medics were called shortly after 11 a.m. to a trailer park, where maintenance workers discovered the man in an exterior carport-style space of a vacant trailer. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Proposed law brings bachelor’s programs to Iowa community colleges. As Iowa faces significant workforce gaps, a proposed law would allow community colleges to close those gaps by offering higher levels of education. In a study issued by State Representative Taylor R. Collins, it was found that there is a need for workers in fields like healthcare, IT, advanced manufacturing, education and skilled trades. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: Des Moines Public Schools cancel classes Friday due to extreme cold. Des Moines Public Schools announced classes are canceled for Friday ahead of an extreme cold spell hitting the state. The Local 5 Weather Team anticipates temperatures to be in the single digits with a potential wind chill around -40.  ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: Trump rolls out his Board of Peace, but it’s not clear how many leaders will join him. President Donald Trump on Thursday inaugurated his Board of Peace to lead efforts at maintaining a ceasefire in Israel’s war with Hamas, insisting “everyone wants to be a part” of the body he said could eventually rival the United Nations — despite many U.S. allies opting not to participate. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: Anti-ICE protest at Minnesota church leads to arrests but no charges for journalist Don Lemon. A prominent civil rights attorney and at least two other people involved in an anti-immigration enforcement protest that disrupted a service at a Minnesota church have been arrested, Trump administration officials said Thursday, even as a judge rebuffed related charges against journalist Don Lemon. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: Dubuque tavern fire causes $190K loss, investigation underway. A significant fire broke out at The Airline Inn on Thursday, prompting a swift response from the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office, Key West Fire, Dubuque Fire, and East Dubuque Fire. ... READ MORE

Clear Mortgage meteorology

The well-advertised arctic blast has arrived, and these frigid temperatures will last through the weekend. Subzero wind chills will linger until Monday it appears. In addition, light snow will fall across Iowa Saturday, causing travel issues.

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

Weekend deals 
• Hy-Vees offer $5 fish and chips Fridays, $14 ribs Saturdays and eight-piece chicken buckets for $10 on Sundays.

• Machine Shed (11151 Hickman, Urbandale) offers smoked prime rib on Saturday only. Whatcha Smokin? (Luther) offers smoked Dino beef ribs on Saturday only. 

• Chicken fettucine is today's special at Crouse Cafe (115 E. Salem, Indianola). Sunday, pan fried chicken is on special.

• Saturday is wine sampling day at Graziano Brothers.

• ShortE's BBQ (8805 Chambery Blvd., Johnston) offers  "kids eat free" deals on Friday and Saturday. They have a Friday special pulled pork sandwich, fries and fountain drink for $12. 


• Amruth (9974 Swanson Blvd., Clive) has 20 dishes on their Saturday and Sunday buffet, noon to 4 p.m. Of course, there will be dosas.

• Waterfront stores' Saturday special includes cocktail shrimp or raw oysters on the half shell for half price until 4 p.m.


• Guesthouse Tavern and Oyster (9500 University, West Des Moines) offers Surf & Turf specials Fridays and $33 prime rib dinners Saturdays.


• Gilroy's (1238 Eighth St., West Des Moines) does Saturday and Sunday brunch buffets for $24.99 for adults. Kids 6 and younger eat free.

• Rube's steakhouses offer a prime sirloin special on Sundays only, $29.

• Beaver Tap (4050 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines) offers $9 Philly cheesesteaks or hot honey chicken plus $8 biscuit and gravy breakfasts on Fridays.

• Smoking Goat Pub (3015 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines) offers walleye or steak dinner specials tonight and karaoke after 9 p.m. They have a 10 for $10 wings deal on Sundays. 

•  Jethro's Sunday special is burger baskets with fries for $9.95. Fridays they have open-faced turkey sandwiches with mashed potatoes and gravy for $12. 

• G Mig 's has Friday prime rib dinners with baked potatoes and asparagus for $32 or cod on risotto with red cream sauce for $28. Saturday's special is chicken and noodles with mashed potatoes for $18.50.

• Heavenly Asian (225 Fifth St., Valley Junction) has an all-day Friday sale on orange chicken served with soup, crab Rangoon, egg roll and rice, $14, available for dine-in and phone carry-out.

• Destination Grille (2491 E. First St., Grimes) has a $40 prime rib dinner special Friday and Saturday. 

• Court Avenue Brewing Company (309 Court Ave., Des Moines) hosts Saturday and Sunday breakfast buffets for $23.99.

• Aldi stores have sales through Tuesday on navel oranges at $2.49/4-pound bag, blueberries at $2.29/pint, and ground wagyu at $4.99/pound.

• Fareways have specials through Saturday on Bartlett and red Bartlett pears at $1.48/pound, chicken hindquarters at $1.29/pound and AE yogurts for $.48.

• Whole Foods (4100 University Ave., West Des Moines) offers $1 oysters on Fridays with good selection and free shucking.

• Fresh Thyme (2800 University Ave., West Des Moines) is running a sale through Tuesday on fresh Atlantic salmon filets at $10.99/pound, rainbow trout filets at $5.99/pound and BOGOs on 400 items. 

• Price Chopper stores have sales through Monday on frozen spareribs at $1.99/pound, red or gold potatoes at $2.99/5-pound bag and Boston Market frozen dinners at $2.99 each.

Music
Drew Peer plays Kelly's Little Nipper at 7 p.m. Friday… El Toreado Mexican Bar & Grill on EP True has live music from The Juan and Only on Friday from 6 p.m... Marilyn Maye plays Ingersoll Theater at 5:30 p.m. Friday and a noon show there Saturday… David Watson plays Cabaret Sports Bar & Grille, Ankeny, at 7 p.m. Saturday... Willie Shay plays Simon’s at 7 p.m. Friday... Tanner Taylor Organ Trio plays Louie’s Wine Dive at 5 p.m. Sunday... 10 Fold Return play Mickey's Irish Pub, Waukee, at 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

1849: Elizabeth Blackwell becomes the first woman to receive a medical degree. At a graduation ceremony at a church in Geneva, New York on Jan. 23, 1849, Geneva Medical College bestows a medical degree upon Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman in the United States to receive one. Despite the near-uniform opposition of her fellow students and medical professionals, Blackwell pursued her calling with an iron will and dedicated her life to treating the sick and furthering the cause of women in medicine. … READ MORE

1907: Charles Curtis of Kansas becomes the first Native American elected to the U.S. Senate. Charles Curtis of Kansas becomes the first Native American to be elected to the United States Senate on Jan. 23, 1907. His tenure later as Herbert Hoover's vice president made him the highest-ranking Native American ever to serve in the federal government. … READ MORE

1997: Madeleine Albright becomes first female secretary of state. The day after her unanimous confirmation by the U.S. Senate, Madeleine Albright is sworn in as America’s first female secretary of state by Vice President Al Gore at the White House. As head of the U.S. State Department, Albright was the highest ranking female official in U.S. history, a distinction that led some to declare that the “glass ceiling” preventing the ascension of women in government had been lifted. … READ MORE

www.history.com