FROM KCCI: Iowa man charged with aggravated murder in the deaths of 3 women found in Utah. An Iowa man faces three counts of aggravated murder in southern Utah where authorities said Thursday that he killed a woman, stole her vehicle and drove it to a nearby trailhead where he killed two more women before fleeing in one of their vehicles. The series of events happened late Wednesday afternoon in small ranching and farming communities that bustle with tourists in the summer because of the proximity to national parks. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Iowa man arrested for allegedly striking geese with truck on purpose. A Huxley man was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly intentionally hitting Canada geese with his truck in Ankeny. Wyatt Greenfield, 19, is charged with two counts of Restrictions on Taking Game – Protected Nongame Attempt in connection with the incident that happened around 12:13 p.m. Tuesday in the 1400 block of N.E. 70th Avenue in Ankeny. The area is near the Carney Marsh Nature Reserve. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: Dignified transfer of 6 US soldiers killed in Kuwait set for Saturday. The dignified transfer of six U.S. service members killed during an Iranian drone strike in Kuwait will be held on Saturday. Rep. Zach Nunn announced the ceremony, which honors soldiers killed in action, will take place at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. President Donald Trump will attend, the White House said on Wednesday. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: Intense Israeli strikes hit Iran and Lebanon as US warns the bombardment will ‘surge dramatically’. Intense Israeli airstrikes pounded the capitals of Iran and Lebanon on Friday as the United States said it had struck an Iranian drone carrier at sea in its unrelenting campaign against the Islamic Republic’s fleet of warships. Iran launched new retaliatory attacks in the Middle East at the end of a full week of bombardment, which U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned was “about to surge dramatically.” ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: People love to hate changing clocks twice a year, but can’t agree how to fix it. Clocks will skip ahead an hour at 2 a.m. Sunday for daylight saving time in most of the U.S., creating a 23-hour day that throws off sleep schedules, plunges early-morning dog walks into darkness and inspires millions of complaints. Even though polls show most people dislike the system that has most Americans changing clocks twice a year, the political moves necessary to change the system haven’t succeeded because opinions on the issue and its potential impacts are sharply divided. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: Google bypassing Linn County to try to build data center. The Linn County Board of Supervisors said Google has pulled out of its plan to build a data center in unincorporated Linn County. Instead, its planning on trying to build one within the city of Palo’s jurisdiction, through annexation of the property. This comes after the board approved an ordinance to regulate any future data centers back in February. ... READ MORE

Clear Mortgage meteorology

A possible round of storms this evening, with some severe... wind and hail. Nice weather Sunday through at least part of Tuesday, when severe weather could be possible again. Then some cold returns. And maybe light snow chances.

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

WSJ recently published a story about Red Lobster's recovery from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Thirty-six-year-old superstar CEO Damola Adamolekun overhauled Red Lobster’s menu, introduced a happy hour and freshened up the marketing. The nearly 60-year-old chain instituted a “red carpet hospitality” program. Hostesses are directed to acknowledge guests when they are 10 feet away and speak to them when they are within 4 feet. It's working for Adamolekun, who also turned around PF Chang's. Sales are up 14% in the last year. 

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 fish and chips 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. 
 
• Catfish is today's special at Crouse Cafe (115 E. Salem, Indianola). Saturday's is beefburgers 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 walleye on cous cous for $28.50. Saturday's special is stuffed pepper 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 AE yogurt at 58 cents, 5-ounce pork ribeyes at $1.25 and beef rump roasts for $7.99/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 navel oranges at $2.49/4-pound bag, cantaloupes at $1.99, and lamb shanks $4.99/pound.

• Hy Vee stores have a sale through March 15 on PEI mussels at $3.99/pound, wild sockeye salmon at at 6.99/pound, and Peruvian scallops at $19.98/pound. 


• Fresh Thyme (2800 University Ave., West Des Moines) is running a sale through Sunday on NY strips at $9.99/pound, and through Tuesday on T-bones at $11.99/pound and colossal (12-15) shrimp at $7.99/pound.

• Price Chopper stores have sales through Monday on swai fillets at $2.99/pound, strawberries and blackberries at $1.99/basket, and corned beef briskets at $4.99/pound (points) and $5.99/pound (flats).

Music
Sierra Griggs is at Striking Sparrow 8 p.m. Friday... Dirk Von Stein  plays 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... Altan plays The Ingersoll at 6:30 p.m. Sunday … Willie Shay plays Simon’s at 7 p.m. Friday... Steve Grismore / Rod Leaverton Duo plays Louie’s Wine Dive Sunday at 5 p.m.... Cardinal Sound plays Mickey's Irish Pub, Waukee, at 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

1836: The Battle of the Alamo comes to an end. On March 6, 1836, after 13 days of intermittent fighting, the Battle of the Alamo comes to a gruesome end, capping off a pivotal moment in the Texas Revolution. Mexican forces were victorious in recapturing the fort, and nearly all of the roughly 200 Texan defenders — including frontiersman Davy Crockett — died. … READ MORE

1857: Supreme Court rules in Dred Scott case. The U.S. Supreme Court hands down its decision on Sanford v. Dred Scott, a case that intensified national divisions over the issue of slavery. … READ MORE

1974: Helen Thomas named UPI’s White House bureau chief, the first woman to hold that title for a wire agency. Journalist Helen Thomas is named United Press International's White House Bureau Chief on March 6, 1974. At a press conference that day, President Nixon personally congratulates her on becoming the first woman to serve in the distinguished role. The moment marks the beginning of a boundary-breaking career, in which Thomas becomes a fixture in the White House briefing room. … READ MORE

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