FROM KCCI: Gov. Reynolds signs 2% per-pupil funding increase for public schools. Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill on Thursday that would increase public school funding by 2% per pupil. That's equivalent to over $8,000 per student. She said in a statement that Senate File 2201 results in more than $4 billion for Iowa's public schools. It also allocates millions for paraeducator support and transportation equity. But the Iowa State Education Association said it won't give Iowa's public schools the support they need. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Semi hauling hogs goes up in flames along I-35 in Story County. A semi hauling hogs went up in flames on Interstate 35 in Story County on Thursday afternoon. At around 3:30 p.m., emergency crews responded to a report of a semi fire in the southbound lanes of I-35 near Huxley. Captain Nicholas Lennie with the Story County Sheriff’s Office said that the semi was hauling hogs and that some of the hogs had to be euthanized due to their injuries. It is unknown at this time if anyone else was injured. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: Waukee schools expand Ramadan services, accommodations amid growing population. This year, the Waukee Community School District is expanding its services for students fasting during Ramadan. It comes amid a growing population in Waukee and student enrollment that's climbing, despite a larger decline in Iowa public schools. Specifically, the district is offering grab-and-go meals, which packages foods normally served during school breakfast and lunch. Students can sign up for these meals and take them home to break their fast with their families, since they may not be eating with the other students at scheduled meal times. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: US advises embassy staff in Israel to leave now if they want, as risk of war hangs over Middle East. The U.S. Embassy in Israel on Friday told its staff that it could leave the country and urged anyone considering departure to do so immediately, as the threat of an American strike on Iran looms. U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee told embassy employees in an email that discussions with officials in Washington had led to a decision authorizing departures for those who wished to leave. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: Hillary Clinton testifies she has no information on Epstein’s crimes and doesn’t recall meeting him. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told members of Congress on Thursday that she had no knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein’s or Ghislaine Maxwell’s crimes, starting off two days of depositions that will also include former President Bill Clinton. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: Authorities identify man killed in Greenfield-area house explosion. An Adair County man died Thursday afternoon following an apparent house explosion in a rural area west of Greenfield, authorities said. Emergency crews were dispatched at approximately 1:15 p.m. Feb. 26 after the Adair County Communications Center received a report of an explosion at a home located at 2597 Marion Ave. in Adair County. ... READ MORE

Clear Mortgage meteorology

A warm and sunny day! Temperatures cool this weekend. Light snow will
cross northern Iowa Saturday afternoon. We could see light
accumulations in central Iowa Sunday. Beyond that, a rain chance
coming midweek next week.

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

Chocolate Walk does West Glen Town Center today, 5-9 p.m. Admission includes 10 drink tickets for sample cocktails at ten top restaurants and bars, plus chocolate dessert samples at participating retail stores. Most of the hosts are going all out on cocktails. For instance, Anna Dolce’s Anna’s Secret combines Stoli vanilla vodka with orange and dark chocolate liqueurs with cream; Tonic’s Chocolate Old Fashioned uses chocolate bitters and crème de cacao with bourbon and simple syrup; El Fogon’s Cacao Ancestral mixes mezcal with chocolate liqueur and cacao chilate, which includes cacao and horchata. Altogether there are 17 specialty cocktails available plus a shuttle bus. $25 in advance, $35 at the event. 

Cheese Shop hosts Illahe Winery of Oregon with a pinot noir-forward tasting Sunday.  $80 per person for seven wines, plus noshes, 515-528-8181. 

Weekend deals 
• Hessen Haus (101 Fourth St., Des Moines) offers all-you-can-eat fish and shrimp for $18 on Fridays through Lent.
 
• Friday lunch special is $12 Italian beef with fries and soda, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Striking Sparrow (1930 S.E. Sixth St., Des Moines).
 
• Friday is ramen day at Wilson Orchard & Farm (3201 15th Ave., Cumming). 
 
• Hy-Vees offer $5 fish and chips Fridays, $14 ribs Saturdays and eight-piece chicken buckets for $10 on Sundays.
 
• Sale Barn Cafe (Lamoni) is offering catfish basket specials today.
 
• Machine Shed (11151 Hickman, Urbandale) offers smoked prime rib on Saturday only. Whatcha Smokin? (Luther) offers smoked Dino beef ribs on Saturday only. 
 
• All you can eat spaghetti is today's special at Crouse Cafe (115 E. Salem, Indianola). Saturday's is chicken and noodles and Sunday's is pan fried chicken on super 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 salmon cakes on sweet potato puree for $28.50. Saturday's special is chicken enchiladas with green chilies 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.

• Fareways have specials through Saturday on navel, Cara Cara, blood and mandarin oranges at $3.99/bag, Brussels sprouts at $2.99/pound and St. Louis ribs for $2.99/pound.

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

• Aldi stores have sales through Tuesday on grapefruit at $3.89/5-pound bag, corned beef brisket point cuts at $3.49/pound, and strawberries $1.99/pound.

• Hy-Vee stores have a sale through Sunday on steelhead trout fillets at $8.99/pound, boneless chicken breasts at 2.98/pound, and asparagus at $2.48/pound. 

• Fresh Thyme (2800 University Ave., West Des Moines) is running a sale through Tuesday on baby back ribs at $2.99/pound, jumbo (16-20) shrimp at $6.99/pound and asparagus at $2.99/pound.

• Price Chopper stores have sales through Monday on mandarins at $3.99/3-pound bag, strawberries at $2.99/pint, and green or red peppers at 77 cents.

Music
Sierra Griggs is at Striking Sparrow 8 p.m. Friday... The Drama Kings play 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... Steve Berry: Yesterday’s Songs - Neil Diamond’s music plays Ingersoll Theater at 5:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday … Willie Shay plays Simon’s at 7 p.m. Friday... Andy Classen/Tanner Taylor Duo plays Louie’s Wine Dive Sunday at 5 p.m.... Mary Runyan Band plays Mickey's Irish Pub, Waukee, at 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

1922: Supreme Court defends women’s voting rights. In deciding the case Leser v. Garnett, the U.S. Supreme Court upholds the constitutionality of the 19th Amendment—which, when ratified two years earlier, provided American women with the right to vote. The justices were unanimous in their decision to dismiss the challenge.   … READ MORE

1973: AIM occupation of Wounded Knee begins. On the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, some 200 members of the Oglala Lakota tribe, led by members of the American Indian Movement (AIM), occupy Wounded Knee, the site of the infamous 1890 massacre of 300 Sioux by the U.S. Seventh Cavalry. The AIM members, some of them armed, took 11 residents of the historic Oglala Sioux settlement hostage as local authorities and federal agents descended on the reservation. … READ MORE

2006: Effa Manley becomes first woman elected to Baseball Hall of Fame. On Feb. 27, 2006, baseball pioneer Effa Manley becomes the first woman elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Manley, who died in 1981, was co-owner of the Newark (New Jersey) Eagles, a Negro League powerhouse, and a huge advocate for Black ballplayers and civil rights causes. … READ MORE

www.history.com