FROM KCCI: Des Moines sets another temperature record Monday. Iowa's stretch of 60s continues, and Monday's warmth set a new record. Des Moines' temperature reached 68 degrees during the afternoon, breaking the previous record of 66 degrees from 1981. Highs in the upper 60s are more typical at the end of April. This is Des Moines' third record high so far in 2026. The metro reached 60 degrees back on Jan. 7, and hit 67 degrees just a week ago. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Burn bans in effect for 10 Iowa counties amid snow drought. On Monday, three new burn bans went into effect, bringing the total number of affected counties in Iowa to ten. The three new bans include Clinton, Scott, and Muscatine counties. The majority of the burn bans went into effect in early February and include: Clarke, Crawford, Decatur, Shelby, Union, Warren, and Wayne counties. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: West Des Moines proposes adding walkable district near Valley West Mall. The City of West Des Moines is looking at repurposing an area that includes the Old Valley West Inn. The University Avenue Corridor Planned Unit Development (PUD) would bring a mix of residential, commercial and office structures. The goal of the PUD is to make the area more walkable. The West Des Moines City Council approved its first reading on Monday. If it’s adopted, it would govern the development and redevelopment of the district. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: Russian and Ukrainian officials are in Geneva for US-brokered talks after almost 4 years of war. Delegations from Moscow and Kyiv were in Geneva on Tuesday for another round of U.S.-brokered peace talks, a week before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of its neighbor. However, expectations for any breakthroughs in Geneva were low, with neither side apparently ready to budge from its positions on key territorial issues and future security guarantees, despite the United States setting a June deadline for a settlement. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: The Rev. Jesse Jackson, who led the Civil Rights Movement for decades after King, has died at 84. The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, a protege of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and two-time presidential candidate who led the Civil Rights Movement for decades after the revered leader’s assassination, died Tuesday. He was 84. As a young organizer in Chicago, Jackson was called to meet with King at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis shortly before King was killed and he publicly positioned himself thereafter as King’s successor. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: California detectives believe victim found burned alive in 1972 is a Des Moines man. Investigators in California say a John Doe in a nearly 55-year-old cold homicide case is believed to be a Des Moines man. In October 1972, law enforcement in Placer County, California, discovered a man along Interstate 80 at the Drum Forebay Overcrossing near Baxter, California. According to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, the man appeared to have been burned alive. ... READ MORE

Clear Mortgage meteorology

A few showers later today into early Wednesday. Expect breezy conditions today and tomorrow as warmth continues into Wednesday. Cooler air on Thursday, then rain Thursday afternoon changing to Friday snow.

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

"Gung hei fat choy" and "laissez les bons temps rouler"
The first days of the Lunar New Year fortnight and Mardi Gras are both today. Both are all-in, blow out celebrations in which food plays the leading role. Both are serious about good luck, sharing and celebrating like this could be the last day of your life.
 
The LNY fortnight is the busiest period of the year for worldwide travel, by far. It is a time to visit family or just to take off. This year is a horse year, signaling wild abandon following an introspective year of the snake. It's also a fire year meaning it will be more intense than usual.

Whole foods are important, to consume and as gifts. C Fresh Market has stocked up on tangerines with stems and leaves intact, whole fish and sticky rice with bean paste wrapped in banana leaves.

Mardi Gras is the last day before Ash Wednesday and Lent. For Ash Wednesday Week, Waterfront is running specials on Icelandic cod, haddock and Arctic char.

Wonder Bargain of the week  
District 36 (1375 S.W. Vintage Parkway, Ankeny) has a Monday special $60 dinner for two. This includes two entrees, starring sea bass and NY strip de Burgo; soup and/or salad; a bottle of wine; and a dessert to share.

Deals today
 Beef and noodles is today's special at Crouse Cafe (115 E. Salem, Indianola).
 
• Sale Barn Cafe (Lamoni) has a Mardi Gras special on shrimp po boys today.
 
• It's steak night at Grand Junction (1970 Grand Ave., West Des Moines). Steak, salad and potato $13.99. 
 
• Guesthouse Tavern and Oyster (9500 University, West Des Moines) offers fried chicken dinner special on Tuesdays, $17-23, plus half-priced whiskey pours.
 
• Curbin' Cuisine (1325 S.W. Oralabor Road, Suite 200, Ankeny) offers a cheeseburger and fries for $7.99 today.
 
• Mullet’s Norwalk offers a free kids meal per adult meal on Tuesdays 4 p.m. to close.
 
• Mickey's Irish Pub (50 S.E. Laurel St., Waukee) has a special $7 half-pound burger with a side all day Tuesday. 
 
• Kelly's Little Nipper (1701 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines) offers a "Tendy's Tuesday" pork tenderloin basket with a drink for $11.50.
 
• Eastside Eddie's (3517 E. 26th St., Des Moines) has a Tuesday special cheeseburger with fries, tots or salad and a drink for $10.
 
• Beaver Tap (4050 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines) offers $7 breakfasts and $8 burgers Tuesdays.
 
• Pelican Post (265 50th St., West Des Moines) offers a special smashburger with cheese, fries and a draft beer for $10 on Tuesdays.
 
• Johnny's Italian Steakhouses have a beef stroganoff special on Tuesdays, $14 including beverage.
 
• Smoking Goat Pub (3015 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines) hosts 222 BBQ today from 5-9 p.m.
 
• Baklava is half priced Tuesdays at Istanbul Cafe and Bakery (3281 100th, Urbandale). 
 
• Red Robin stores are featuring a $10 cheeseburger with an "endless side" on Tuesdays.
 
• Jethro's Tuesday special is 2 pounds of bone-in smoked wings for the price of one. 
 
• Paula's (524 Elm St., Valley Junction) runs a Tuesday special hot beef sandwich for $13.50. 

• Kids meals are half price till 2 p.m. today at Machine Shed (11151 Hickman Road, Urbandale).  

• Taco Tuesday brings serious discounts to La Familia (1610 Sixth Ave., Des Moines), all Taco John's, all Abelardo's, all Fernando’s, Malo (900 Mulberry St., Des Moines), Beaver Tap (4050 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines), Club 2000 (422 Indianola Road, Des Moines), The Continental (407 E. Fifth St., Des Moines), Gilroy's (1238 Eighth St., West Des Moines), Jack's Place Grill & Bar, (6112 S.W. Ninth St., Des Moines) and both Faustino's. 

• Hy-Vees offer $5 tenderloins on Tuesdays. 

• Today is beef and noodles day at Maxie's Supper Club (1311 Grand Ave., West Des Moines).

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

1979: China invades Vietnam. In response to the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia, China launches an invasion of Vietnam. … READ MORE

1996: Chess champion Garry Kasparov defeats IBM’s Deep Blue. In the final game of a six-game match, world chess champion Garry Kasparov triumphs over Deep Blue, IBM’s chess-playing computer, and wins the match, 4-2. However, Deep Blue goes on to defeat Kasparov in a heavily publicized rematch the following year. … READ MORE

1998: U.S. women win the first Winter Olympics hockey gold medal. On Feb. 17, 1998, in Nagano, Japan, the United States defeats Canada, 3-1, to win the gold medal in the first women's hockey tournament held at the Winter Olympics. "After these Olympics, I hope the sport grows times a million," American forward Katie King says. "Anyone who watched the (gold medal) game, they're going to want to watch more women's hockey.” … READ MORE

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