FROM KCCI: Bill banning schools from teaching about gender theory, sexual orientation passes Iowa House subcommittee. Iowa lawmakers are considering a bill banning Iowa schools from teaching students about gender theory or sexual orientation. House File 2121 would apply to students in grades 7-12. It would expand the current law already in place for students in kindergarten through sixth grade and would also apply to charter schools. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Iowa mom accused of trying to sell child now facing charges in a stabbing. An Iowa mother accused of trying to sell her infant is now facing charges in a stabbing case. Tiffany Smith, 33, was arrested and charged in January after the Oskaloosa Police Department said she tried to sell her one-month-old child. Criminal complaints accuse Smith of giving her child to a family member of the potential buyer and later demanding $10,000 from the potential buyer for her child or the return of her child. The child was returned to Smith, but court records say the Department of Human Services removed the child from her care. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: Central Iowa student takes home national welding award. "A one-in-2,000 student" — that's how instructors describe Max Wardell, a senior at Ankeny High School and welding student at Des Moines Public Schools' Central Campus. Wardell recently brought honors home to the Hawkeye State, beating 250 of the best high school welders in the country for first place at the Missouri Welding Institute competition. ... READ MORE

With unwavering determination and sharp focus, this bald eagle is observing the Des Moines River, poised to dive for its next meal. - Photo by Paul Houston. Send your photos to tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com. 

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: Zelenskyy says 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died fighting Russia’s invasion. Fighting against Russia’s 4-year-old invasion has cost the lives of 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers, according to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as a U.S. envoy described two days of talks between Moscow and Kyiv officials as “detailed and productive.”  ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: Trump’s border czar pulling 700 immigration officers out of Minnesota immediately. The Trump administration is reducing the number of immigration officers in Minnesota but will continue its enforcement operation that has sparked weeks of tensions and deadly confrontations, border czar Tom Homan said Wednesday. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: Eastern Iowa police shoot, kill man with machete. A Marion Police officer shot and killed an 18 year-old man who officers said had advanced on them with a machete Wednesday morning, KCRG reports. Marion police responded to the 4100 block of Deer Valley Drive around 7:50 a.m. Wednesday. Police said the 18 year-old man had asked a neighbor to call police so he could speak with an officer. ... READ MORE

Clear Mortgage meteorology

Forties move into the forecast. Warm and dry weather into next week!

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

February’s First Friday at Mainframe Studios
A vibrant evening celebrating art, creativity and community. EMBODIED, curated by Lydia Nong. 5-8 p.m., Friday, Feb. 6.

- Interactive Art: Join Brittany Brooke Crow for a live figure drawing activity.
- Music: Enjoy chamber music by Quartet 515.
- Food & Drink: Delicious offerings from Tangerine Food Co., Reyes Tamales, Mama Africa, LeeTy Delights and Not Your Average Bar.
- Open Studios: Explore five floors of workspaces, connect with local artists, and see new work in progress.

Des Moines Performing Arts. Kimberly Akimbo. National Tour. Feb. 3-8. 

Senior and Junior Terrace Hill Piano Competitions applications open Monday, Feb. 9. Since 1986, the Terrace Hill Endowment for Musical Arts Board strives for the Terrace Hill Piano Competition to represent the talented young musicians from across the state of Iowa. Information about this competition, with cash awards for top participants, plus application forms, entry fees, and video submissions can be found at terracehill.iowa.gov/thema.

Des Moines Performing Arts – Temple Comedy Series. The Naked Magicians. Feb. 12-14, five shows. 

Poetry Palooza – My Favorite Poems. Feb. 14, 2-4 p.m., Free. Sparkling wine and chocolate included. 

— John Busbee, The Culture Buzz

Fat phobia fallback. Robert Kennedy’s health movement has touted beef tallow, made from the melted-down fatty tissue of cattle carcasses, as a seed-oil alternative. Tallow's backers cite health concerns linked to seed oils, including inflammation. But the American Heart Association still endorses seed oils. Steak & Shake led the way here switching to tallow-cooked french fries. 

Dairy is hot again. Demand for yogurt, cottage cheese and butter is helping fuel the growth. Full-fat products in particular are selling and are backed by the new dietary guidelines. U.S. sales of whole milk rose 5% by volume in the 52 weeks ended Dec. 13, according to the market-research firm NIQ. That compares with a 1% decline for all cow’s milk over the same period. 

How many hot sauces is too many? Frank’s Red Hot has four new sauces out in time for Super Bowl parties: Garlic Parmesan Wing Sauce & Dip; Spicy Maple Wing Sauce & Dip, with aged cayenne peppers, molasses and maple syrup; Pineapple Hawaiian Wing Sauce & Dip, with pineapple juice, cayenne peppers and soy sauce; and Ghost Pepper Ranch Sauce, in squeeze bottles.

Deals today
• Thursdays are triple-decker Reuben day at Graziano Brothers (1601 S. Union St., Des Moines).
 
• Quarter pound cheeseburgers and chicken sandwiches are $3.39 each on Thursdays at Kwik Star.
 
• Bennigan's (4800 Merle Hay Road, Urbandale) has a $10.99 burger, fries and a pint deal on Thursdays.
 
• Taco pizzas are the Thursday special at Walker's Place (475 N.E. Broadway Ave., Des Moines).
 
• Sale Barn Cafe (Lamoni) is offering shrimp basket specials today.
 
•  Meat loaf is today's special at Crouse Cafe (115 E. Salem, Indianola).
 
•  AJ's (Prairie Meadows) has an early bird menu on Wednesday and Thursday from 4-6 p.m. Half pound burgers with frites, $15; pasta and chicken dinners, $20-22; seafood and steak dinners, $27-30. Prime rib dinners for $30 all night.
 
• 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, Des Moines) 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 45 cents, chicken wings at $1.99/pound, and St. Louis ribs at $2.49/pound.

• Fresh Thyme (2800 University Ave., West Des Moines) is running a sale through Sunday on chuck roast at $7.99/pound and King crab legs at $29.99/pound. They have sales through Tuesday on chicken wings at $1.99/pound. 

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

1994: White supremacist convicted of killing Medgar Evers. On Feb. 5, 1994, white supremacist Byron De La Beckwith is convicted in the murder of African American civil rights leader Medgar Evers, over 30 years after the crime occurred. Evers was gunned down in the driveway of his Jackson, Mississippi, home on June 12, 1963, while his wife, Myrlie, and the couple’s three small children were inside.   … READ MORE

2012: Husband of missing Utah woman kills self and two young sons. On Feb. 5, 2012, 36-year-old Josh Powell, who had been in the public eye since police labeled him a person of interest in the 2009 disappearance of his 28-year-old wife, Susan, locks out a social worker then kills himself and his two sons, ages 5 and 7, by setting fire to his Graham, Washington, home. … READ MORE

2003: Secretary of State Colin Powell speaks at UN, justifies US invasion of Iraq. On Feb. 5, 2003, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell gives a speech to the United Nations that is both highly consequential and full of assertions that would be revealed to be weak or lacking in credibility.  … READ MORE

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