FROM KCCI: Iowa burn bans expand as fire risk rises during unusually dry February. The number of Iowa counties under a burn ban continues to grow due to an ongoing fire risk. On Tuesday afternoon, the National Weather Service issued a fire weather watch alert for Iowa. Fire chiefs from across Warren County came together and issued a burn ban on Saturday afternoon. According to Indianola Fire Chief Aaron Hurt, there were 17 grass fires from Saturday to Monday in the county. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: 74-year-old dies after being trapped in Mahaska County grain bin. A 74-year-old man died after becoming trapped in a Mahaska County grain bin on Tuesday. The Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office said emergency crews responded to a residence near the intersection of 175th Street and Jersey Avenue, northwest of Oskaloosa, at around 10:13 a.m. for a report of a farming accident. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: Mitchellville City Council vacancies filled after special election. Of nine candidates, Mitchellville voters chose three to fill the council member at-large vacancies on the community's city council, ending a period where it did not meet quorum and could not hold its regular meetings. One of the seats carries a four-year term and the other two hold two-year terms. According to unofficial results from the Polk County Auditor, Morgan Lunn won the four-year seat while Steve Zook and Dean Brand won the other two. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: Tremors from the Epstein files rattle the age-old foundations of Britain’s House of Lords. Fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein files has landed on the gilded wood and plush red benches of Britain’s House of Lords. Parliament’s upper chamber is in the spotlight after former U.K. ambassador to Washington Peter Mandelson was forced to resign as a member of the Lords because of his friendship with the late sex offender. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: Rescuers push through winter storm to 6 survivors of a California avalanche. Nine others are missing. Crews pushed through mountainous wilderness near Lake Tahoe during a snowstorm to rescue six backcountry skiers who survived an avalanche but were trapped by its snow and ice. Nine others from their tour group remained missing. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: Eastern Iowa aquifer running dry as demand outpaces supply. Growth in North Liberty, Solon, and Tiffin is draining an aquifer faster than it’s being replenished, according to U.S. Geological Survey data presented to concerned residents. About 30 people gathered at the Solon Library to hear researchers break down water level data for the area that relies on the Silurian Aquifer for drinking water. ... READ MORE

Clear Mortgage meteorology

Sunny and breezy today, with gusts to around 30 mph. Cooler air moves in Thursday, with afternoon rain changing to snow in the evening and lingering into Friday. Accumulations will be heavier in northern Iowa.

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

Woebegone Wednesday
Kaga cuisine is the traditional, seasonal food of Japan's Ishikawa Prefecture, particularly the Kanazawa area. It is considered the highest form of Japanese cuisine, known for using fresh mountain and sea ingredients, beautiful presentations on gold-leaf lacquerware and Kutani porcelain. Aspiring chefs from all over the world have gone there for 100 years to study dishes like rich duck stew (Jibu-ni), yellowtail with radish (Buri Daikon), and turnip sushi (Kabura-zushi). It emphasizes local, nutritious Kaga vegetables and offers a luxurious dining experience. It is now an endangered species. In 2025, it was reported that fewer apprentices than ever before are training in Kaga. That is considered an emergency in Japan.

Meanwhile in America, sales of sushi at retail locations like grocery stores, gas stations and convenience stores hit $2.9 billion for the 12 months through November 2025, according to consumer analytics firm Circana. That is up 7% from the same period a year earlier and has been rising annually since COVID. Sushi corruption is a thing.

Deals today
• Waterfont's Wednesday special this week, and all week because it's Ash Wednesday Week, is Icelandic Cod, Haddock and Arctic Char. 

• Crouse Cafe (115 E. Salem, Indianola) offers stuffed pork chops as today's special. 

• Today is fried chicken with sweet potatoes day at Sale Barn Cafe (Lamoni).

• Clyde's Fine Diner (111 E. Grand Ave., East Village) has a four-course tasting menu tonight for $125.

• Chicago Speakeasy's (1320 E. Euclid Ave., Des Moines) Wednesday lunch special is hot beef sandwich. Those are made with pan drippings gravy and include their ice chilled salad bar.
 
• Wednesdays are Chicago Italian beef sandwich day at Graziano Brothers (1601 S. Union St., Des Moines).
 
•  AJ's (Prairie Meadows) has a new 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. 
 
• Hy-Vees offer chicken and noodles dinners for $5 on Wednesdays.
 
• Guesthouse Tavern and Oyster (9500 University, West Des Moine) offers Walleye Wednesday with dinners $21.
 
• Jack’s Place (6112 S.W. Ninth, Des Moines) has 10 wings for $10 Wednesdays.
 
• Mitzi's (125 Fifth, Valley Junction) offers $7 cheeseburger and fries deals on Wednesday. 
 
• Kids eat free on Wednesday at Short E's BBQ (8805 Chambray Blvd., Johnston).
 
• Fareway is offering $5 rotisserie chicken on Wednesdays. Other days they cost about $9.
 
• Whatcha Smokin? (Highway 17, Luther) has a brisket burnt ends special on Wednesdays.
 
• Kelly's Little Nipper (1701 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines) offers any burger with a side for $10 on Wednesdays. 
 
• Exile (1514 Walnut St., Des Moines) offers a $12 burger basket with fries and a beer on Wednesdays. 
 
• Beaver Tap (4050 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines) offers $8 French toast or pancake breakfasts and $2 tacos, $9 wraps and $10 half pounds of wings on Wednesdays. 
 
• Johnny's Italian Steakhouses have a chicken Madeira special on Wednesdays before 4 p.m., $15 including beverage.
 
• Club 2000 (422 Indianola Road, Des Moines) offers 10 wings for $10 on Wednesdays and steak night, too.
 
• Smoking Goat Pub (3015 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines) has a $10 classic burger and beer all day. 
 
• Paula's (524 Elm, Valley Junction) has a Wednesday special beef stew with biscuit, $13.50.
 
• Gilroy's (1238 Eighth St., West Des Moines) has all you can eat fried chicken dinners on Wednesdays, $23.99 after 5 p.m. 
 
• Wednesdays bring steak night to Club 2000 (422 Indianola Road, Des Moines). Steaks are cooked to order with salad, potato and bread, $14.99.
 
• Angry Goldfish (2301 S.W. Ninth St., Des Moines) offers hot beef sandwiches with mashed potatoes and gravy for $11.50 on Wednesday. It's also hot beef sandwich day at Chicago Speakeasy (1520 Euclid Ave.) where the gravy is made with pan drippings.
 
• Curbin' Cuisine (1325 S.W. Oralabor Road, Ankeny) offers traditional gyros for $7 Wednesdays. 
 
• Wine bottles are half price on Wednesdays at Trostel's Greenbriar (5910 Merle Hay Road, Johnston), Table 128 (220 S.W. Ninth, Des Moines) and The Continental (407 E. Fifth St., Des Moines). 
 
• G Mig's (128 Fifth St., Valley Junction) offers a Wednesday special spaghetti and meatballs dinner with salad and garlic bread for $19.25.
 
• Barntown's (9500 S.E. University Ave., West Des Moines) Wednesday specials are a  pound of chicken tenders with fries and two sauces for $11.99, plus $13 core pitchers of beer.
 
• Wednesday is Biryani Festival at Chowrastha (5910 Ashworth Road, West Des Moines). Buy two and a third is free.
 
• Tacos Mariana's (1305 University Ave., Des Moines) and The Station (3124 Ingersoll, Des Moines) have specials on tacos today. 
 
• Village Inns offer free pie with entrees on Wednesdays. 
 
• It's lasagna day at Maxie's Supper Club (1311 Grand Ave., West Des Moines) and breaded pork tenderloin day at Eastside Eddie's (3517 E. 26th St., Des Moines).
 
• Chuck's (3610 Sixth Ave., Des Moines) offers $5 off pizza on Wednesdays.
 
• Kwik Stars' Wednesday special is eight pieces of fried chicken for $10. Their fried chicken is ridiculously good for a convenience store.  
 
• On Wednesdays, flatbreads are $10 at Tito's Lounge (3916 N.W. Urbandale Drive, Urbandale). 
 
• Jethro's have $9.95 breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches, including a side of choice, on Wednesdays.  

• Fresh Thyme (2800 University Ave., West Des Moines) is running a sale through Tuesday on top sirloin at $8.99/pound, snow crab clusters at $11.99/pound, Atlantic salmon fillets at $6.99/pound and King salmon fillets at $21.99/pound.

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

1929: First Academy Awards announced. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announces the winners of the first Academy Awards on Feb. 18, 1929. It was a far cry from the suspense, glamour and endless press coverage surrounding the Oscars today: The first award recipients’ names were printed on the back page of the academy’s newsletter. A few days later, Variety published the information—on page seven. The ceremony was then held in May. … READ MORE

1930: Pluto discovered. Pluto, once believed to be the ninth planet, is discovered at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, by astronomer Clyde W. Tombaugh. … READ MORE

2006: Shani Davis becomes first Black athlete to win individual gold medal at Winter Games. On Feb. 18, 2006, Shani Davis becomes the first Black athlete to win an individual gold medal in Winter Olympics history, capturing the men's 1,000-meter speedskating race. American Joey Cheek wins the silver medal at the event at the Games in Turin, Italy. … READ MORE

www.history.com