FROM KCCI: West Des Moines police make arrest in 15-year-old cold case of murdered realtor Ashley Okland. West Des Moines police have made in arrest in the murder of realtor Ashley Okland nearly 15 years after her death. Kristin Elizabeth Ramsey, 53, of Woodward, is charged with first-degree murder. She has been booked into the Dallas County Jail and is being held on a $2 million cash-only bond. Investigators are remaining tight-lipped about any connection between the two women. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Legislation to require radon mitigation systems for new homes. A Senate subcommittee advanced a bill on Tuesday which would require passive radon mitigation systems in newly constructed homes. House File 2297 would make passive radon mitigation systems a requirement of Iowa building code for single-family or two-family residential construction. Active radon systems use an electric fan to pull radon from soil and vent it, but a passive system doesn’t require a fan or the use of electricity. Instead, it relies on natural air pressure differences. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: Ankeny ordinance would prohibit e-bike, e-scooter users from going over 20 mph. The Ankeny City Council is considering introducing new rules for e-scooters and e-bikes. Almost everyone who spoke at Monday’s council meeting talked about e-scooter and e-bike changes. They said they’ve been using the trails for years and have had close calls with people going too fast. Notably it would prohibit people from going over 20 miles an hour. Currently, riders can go up to 28 miles an hour on certain types of e-bikes. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: Israel claims another top Iranian official killed while Iran’s attacks kill 2 near Tel Aviv. Israel said Wednesday it killed another top Iranian official, the third in two days, while Iran lashed out with attacks on its Persian Gulf neighbors and Israel, using some of its latest missiles to evade air defenses and killing two people near Tel Aviv as the war in the Middle East showed no signs of slowing. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: Top US intelligence officials set to testify about Iran war and threats confronting the homeland. Top Trump administration national security officials facing back-to-back congressional hearings starting Wednesday are expected to be pressed on the war in Iran, including a deadly strike on a school, as well as the FBI’s capacity to prevent terror attacks inside the United States. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: New stadium for Waterloo? City weighs $40M investment. Waterloo city leaders are facing a significant decision regarding the future of the Riverfront Stadium. The 80-year-old home of the Waterloo Bucks requires over $5 million in repairs and is located in a floodplain, prompting discussions about its fate. ... READ MORE

Clear Mortgage meteorology

Warming starts today, taking us to near 80 degrees by Saturday. Cooling with breezy conditions on Sunday.

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

Deals today
• B&B Grocery, Meat and Deli (2001 S.E. Sixth St., Des Moines) is closed this week. Harbinger is closed this week and next.
 
• Waterfont's Wednesday special this week is fresh Canadian walleye. 
 
• Crouse Cafe (115 E. Salem, Indianola) offers ham and beans as today's special. 
 
• Today is fried chicken with potatoes salad day at Sale Barn Cafe (Lamoni).
 
• 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.
 
• Clyde's Fine Diner (111 E. Grand Ave., East Village) has a four-course tasting menu tonight for $125.
 
• 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. 
 
• Wednesday at Short E's BBQ (8805 Chambray Blvd., Johnston) the lunch special is tacos and taco salads and Wednesday evening is rib night.

• 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.
 
• 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 three cheese shells plus 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).
 
• Panka Peruvian (2708 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines) has live jazz Wednesday. They are open till April.
 
• 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.  
 
• The Station on Ingersoll (3124 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines) has a Wednesday day special of chopped cheeseburger with a side for $12.

Hump day music with dinner
NOLA Jazz plays Surety Hotel at 5 p.m... Carson Parker / Hannah Goodwin Duo plays Louie’s Wine Dive at 6 p.m... Dustin Baird is at Gilroy’s at 6 p.m.

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

1925: “Tri-State Tornado” hits, the deadliest in U.S. history. The worst tornado in U.S. history passes through eastern Missouri, southern Illinois, and southern Indiana, killing 695 people, injuring some 13,000 people, and causing $17 million in property damage.… READ MORE

1937: Natural gas explosion kills nearly 300 at Texas school. Nearly 300 students in Texas are killed by an explosion of natural gas at their school on March 18, 1937. The Consolidated School of New London, Texas, sat in the middle of a large oil and natural gas field. The area was dominated by 10,000 oil derricks, 11 of which stood right on school grounds. … READ MORE

1942: War Relocation Authority is established in United States. On March 18, the War Relocation Authority is created to “Take all people of Japanese descent into custody, surround them with troops, prevent them from buying land, and return them to their former homes at the close of the war.” … READ MORE

www.history.com