FROM KCCI: One dead, dozens injured in crash involving Iowa Lakes Community College baseball bus. Iowa authorities are calling Wednesday's deadly rollover crash involving a bus carrying the Iowa Lakes Community College baseball team a "mass casualty incident." The crash happened around 11 a.m. on Iowa Highway 4 near 220th Street, just west of Twin Lakes in Calhoun County. Officials with Estherville-based Iowa Lakes released a statement around 1:35 p.m. confirming that the school's bus was the long vehicle involved and, about an hour later, Iowa State Patrol officials confirmed to KCCI that one person died in the crash. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Iowa’s cancer rates soar, environmental factors blamed. Iowa has the fastest-rising cancer rates in America and the second-highest overall cancer rate for the third consecutive year. Environmental researchers and health experts are now evaluating how soil and water contamination may be contributing to the state’s public health crisis. While 40% of cancers are linked to modifiable risk factors like diet, tobacco and alcohol, scientists are pointing to unique environmental toxins in Iowa. Agricultural runoff, specifically nitrates from manure and fertilizer, along with radioactive radon gas, have been identified as primary concerns impacting the state’s rising rates. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: Plane goes off the runway at Des Moines International Airport. No one was injured after a plane left the runway at Des Moines International Airport Wednesday afternoon, an airport spokesperson told Local 5.  The plane left the runway just before 1 p.m. Only one person was on board. The airport closed the runway, while the other runway remained operational. No other flights were impacted by the incident. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: Spy agency says Kim Jong Un’s daughter is close to being designated North Korea’s future leader. South Korea’s spy agency told lawmakers on Thursday that it believes the teenage daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is close to being designated as the country’s future leader as he moves to extend the family dynasty to a fourth generation. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: Pentagon let CBP use anti-drone laser before FAA closed El Paso airspace, AP sources say. The Pentagon allowed U.S. Customs and Border Protection to use an anti-drone laser earlier this week, leading the Federal Aviation Administration to suddenly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday, according to two people familiar with the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive details. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: Shelby County repeals ordinance regulating carbon pipelines. After a years-long battle, a western Iowa county is pulling back its effort to prevent carbon pipelines. Shelby County adopted a zoning ordinance in 2022 that limits where Summit Carbon Solutions could build its proposed pipeline. Summit has argued in previous litigation that it violates federal law. ... READ MORE

Clear Mortgage meteorology

A light mix of rain and snow is possible at times today. Otherwise mild weather with a warming trend ahead into next week.

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

Anheuser Busch won the Super Bowl commercial war this year with a story of a Clydesdale growing up with a bald eagle to Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird." Car ads, which accounted for 40% of Super Bowl ads as recently as 2019, were down to three - GM, Toyota and Volkswagen. EVs were not represented this year. A 30-second black and white ad with Mike Tyson supporting a "real foods" diet won praise as ads for snacks and candy were almost non-existent.
 
Bet you didn't know 
Next year's Super Bowl will be played on Valentine's Day. This is a first and makes us wonder how two of the most overpromoted events in American culture can co-exist.

Deals today
• Today is triple decker Reuben day at Graziano Brothers (1601 S. Union St., Des Moines).
 
• Krispy Kreme is running a limited time winter collection and a Valentine's Day collection. A dozen doughnuts run $19.99.
 
• 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 brisket sandwich specials today.

• Salisbury steak 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 pizza for $20 on Thursday’s 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 have sales through Tuesday on navel oranges at $2.49/4-pound bag, red grapes at $1.49/pound, and short ribs at $7.29/ pound.

• Fresh Thyme (2800 University Ave., West Des Moines) is running a sale through Tuesday on grass fed ground beef at $3.99/pound, mandarins at $2.50/2-pound bag and King crab legs at $29.99/pound. 

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

2002: Former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic goes on trial for war crimes. On Feb. 12, 2002, former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic goes on trial at The Hague, Netherlands, on charges of genocide and war crimes in Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo. Milosevic served as his own attorney for much of the prolonged trial, which ended without a verdict when the so-called “Butcher of the Balkans” was found dead at age 64 from an apparent heart attack in his prison cell on March 11, 2006. … READ MORE

1912: Last emperor of China abdicates. On Feb. 12, 1912, Hsian-T’ung, the last emperor of China, is forced to abdicate following Sun Yat-sen’s republican revolution. A provisional government was established in his place, ending 267 years of Manchu rule in China and 2,000 years of imperial rule. The former emperor, only six years old, was allowed to keep up his residence in Beijing’s Forbidden City, and he took the name of Henry Pu Yi. … READ MORE

1973: Release of U.S. POWs begins. The release of U.S. POWs begins in Hanoi as part of the Paris peace settlement. The return of U.S. POWs began when North Vietnam released 142 of 591 U.S. prisoners at Hanoi’s Gia Lam Airport. Part of what was called Operation Homecoming, the first 20 POWs arrived to a hero’s welcome at Travis Air Force Base in California on February 14. Operation Homecoming was completed on March 29, 1973, when the last of 591 U.S. prisoners were released and returned to the United States.  … READ MORE

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