FROM KCCI: Former Gov. Terry Branstad takes a ride on Iowa highway dedicated in his honor. The longest-serving governor in American history took a trip home Thursday — a road trip with his buddies to see, for the first time, the Iowa highway dedicated in his honor. Last December, former Gov. Terry Branstad was honored with the Iowa Award, the state's highest citizen honor. At that time, the state also dedicated a 36-mile section of Highway 9 through his hometown of Leland in his name. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Judge allows search of Kristin Ramsey’s cellphone in Ashley Okland murder case. An official ruling has been made in the Kristin Ramsey murder trial regarding an issue that attorneys on both sides have debated over for weeks. Ramsey’s legal team had filed a motion to quash a search warrant for her recent cell phone data, arguing there was privileged information on the device, such as sensitive communications with her attorney, medical records and private conversations with her husband. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: CEO of Iowa's largest public retirement system resigns amid misconduct investigation. Greg Samorajski, the CEO of Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System (IPERS), has resigned amid a misconduct investigation, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Thursday. In a statement, IPERS said that Chief Benefit Officer Steven Herbert was also terminated from his position, effective Thursday. Samorajski and Herbert were placed on administrative leave March 31 and April 1, respectively. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: UAE reports drone and missile attack as Iran war ceasefire is challenged. The Iran war’s shaky ceasefire was further strained on Friday as the United Arab Emirates said it intercepted a missile and drone strikes, hours after the U.S. said it thwarted attacks on three Navy ships in the Strait of Hormuz and retaliated against Iranian military facilities. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: Cyberattack hits Canvas system used by thousands of schools as finals loom. A system that thousands of schools and universities use was offline Thursday during a cyberattack, creating chaos as students tried to study for finals and underscoring education’s dependence on technology. The hacking group named ShinyHunters claimed responsibility for the breach at Canvas, said Luke Connolly, a threat analyst at the cybersecurity firm Emisoft. Instructure, the company behind Canvas, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment or questions about whether the system was taken down as a precaution or because the hackers knocked it offline. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: Northern Iowa nonprofit animal sanctuary loses supplies and building materials in fire. Crews at Lazy J Rescue Ranch in Wright County are working to pick up the pieces after a weekend fire broke out and caused damage. Fortunately, no animals were hurt. The property, located about an hour and a half north of Des Moines, houses around 60 animals, many of which have special medical or mobility needs. ... READ MORE

Food stamp Ferraris
The Foundation for Government Accountability found that 14,000 luxury vehicles were linked to food stamp enrollees. The analysis provided a handful of specific examples. A 2020 Rolls-Royce valued at $346,000 was owned by a university professor collecting food stamps. Another recipient, identified as a “celebrity barber,” drove a 2018 Lamborghini Huracán LP580-2 Spyder valued at $220,000. A professional football player collecting benefits owned a 2022 BMW M760i valued at $158,000, the analysis found. The inventory of luxe cars tied to food stamp recipients includes: three Bentleys; 3,636 Lexuses, 1,914 BMWs; 1,131 Cadillacs; 3 Ferraris; and 11 Lamborghinis.

A preliminary review of that data by the USDA found more than 300,000 instances of potentially deceased individuals enrolled in SNAP. So far, 29 states, most of them Republican-led, have complied and turned over data. The rest, all Democratic-led states, have blocked the USDA from accessing the data.

What loophole allows this? “States use Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) dollars to print a pamphlet or set up a hotline with information about welfare benefits. They then deem these offerings a "TANF benefit," which makes anyone receiving the welfare brochure or hotline number ’categorically eligible’ for food stamps,” (Foundation for Government Accountability).

Weekend deals 
• Talk Shop Lounge (3357 St. Charles Road, St. Charles) has a steak dinner deal Friday $16. 
 
• The False Nine Social Club (206 Fifth St., Valley Junction) has wings on sale Fridays for $8.
 
• Waveland Cafe (4708 University Ave., Des Moines) offers a Buffalo chicken wrap special today.  
 
• Paula's (524 Elm, Valley Junction) has a Friday special meat loaf dinner, $14.
 
• 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). 
 
• Most 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 reuben 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. 
 
• Spaghetti is today's special at Crouse Cafe (115 E. Salem, Indianola). Fried chicken is Sunday's.
 
• Saturday is wine sampling day at Graziano Brothers.
 
• ShortE's BBQ (8805 Chambery Blvd., Johnston) offers  "kids eat free" deals on Friday and Saturday.
 
• 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 Buffalo turkey sandwiches with a side for $9.95. 
 
• G Mig 's (128 Fifth St., Valley Junction) has Friday prime rib dinners with au gratin potatoes and asparagus for $32 or shrimp primavera with cheese tortellini for $28.50. Saturday's special is chicken a la king dinners 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 red or gold baby potatoes at $1.99/3-pound bag, large eggs at $1.44/dozen and lemons at 50 cents.

• 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 mandarins at $2.99/3-pound bag, boneless chicken thighs at $2.49/pound, and raspberries at $1.99/box.

• Fresh Thyme (2800 University Ave., West Des Moines) is running a sale through Sunday on huge 8/12 shrimp at $21.99/2- pound bag and boneless ribeye tenderloins at $10.99/pound and through Tuesday on heirloom tomatoes at $2.99/pound.

• Price Choppers have sales through Monday on strawberries at $1.99/pound and Nathan's hot dogs at $4.39/pack.

Dinner with a show 
Neva Alden plays Kelly's Little Nipper at 7 Friday... El Toreado Mexican Bar & Grill on EP True has live music from The Juan and Only on Friday from 6 p.m... Patricia Holly plays The Ingersoll at 11 a.m. Sunday… Willie Shay plays Simon’s at 7 p.m. Friday... Corbett Reeves plays Exile Brewing Sunday at 5 p.m.... Blacktop plays Mickey's Irish Pub Waukee, at 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
 
— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

1864: General Lee’s army beats Grant’s Union troops to Spotsylvania, On May 8, 1864, Yankee troops arrive at Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia, to find the Rebels already there. After the Battle of the Wilderness (May 5-6), Ulysses S. Grant’s Army of the Potomac marched south in the drive to take Richmond. Grant hoped to control the strategic crossroads at Spotsylvania Court House, so he could draw Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia into open ground. … READ MORE

1945: Allied nations worldwide celebrate V-E Day, On May 8, 1945, Great Britain, the United States and other Allied countries celebrate Victory in Europe Day. Cities in the U.S., U.K., and Western Europe, along with in the Soviet Union, Canada and Australia put out flags and banners, rejoicing in the defeat of the Nazi war machine during World War II. … READ MORE

1970: Nixon defends invasion of Cambodia, President Nixon, at a news conference, defends the U.S. troop movement into Cambodia, saying the operation would provide six to eight months of time for training South Vietnamese forces and thus would shorten the war for Americans. Nixon reaffirmed his promise to withdraw 150,000 American soldiers by the following spring. … READ MORE

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