FROM KCCI: Reptile sanctuary begins cleanup after fire kills 22 animals, displaces more than 140 in Des Moines. For the first time since a fire tore through Spock’s Sanctuary earlier this month, volunteers were allowed back inside part of the building Monday to begin cleaning soot-covered enclosures and salvaging equipment. The Des Moines reptile rescue lost 22 animals in the fire. Another 144 survived but had to be relocated to temporary foster homes, the Animal Rescue League and veterinary care facilities while the sanctuary searches for a new location. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Arrests made in separate Des Moines bank robberies. Arrests have been made in two separate Des Moines bank robberies. On Tuesday morning, the Des Moines Police Department responded to a report of a robbery at Affinity Credit Union in the 1700 block of E. Army Post Road. According to the DMPD, the suspect in the robbery, later identified as 62-year-old Vincent Charles Chia, demanded cash and threatened to harm an employee. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: Mitchellville fire chief reinstated 2 months after dismissal. Mitchellville's city council voted to reinstate the city's fire chief Monday night, two months after he was dismissed. Mayor Tony Jensen told Local 5 that Fire Chief Mike Twohey was dismissed March 5 due to "serious concerns regarding leadership within the department." Twohey had been appointed to the position in 2011. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: Residents of Lithuania’s capital told to shelter as drone alarm underlines NATO’s eastern jitters. Residents of Vilnius were told to take shelter and Lithuania’s president and prime minister were taken to safe locations Wednesday because of an alarm over drone activity near the border with Belarus, underlining jitters on NATO’s eastern flank over incursions related to Russia’s war with Ukraine. An emergency announcement from the military told people in the Vilnius region to “immediately head to a shelter or a safe place.” ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: US Rep. Thomas Massie loses Kentucky GOP primary to Ed Gallrein in another victory for Trump. Kentucky U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie lost his Republican House primary Tuesday, becoming the latest Republican lawmaker to anger President Donald Trump and then fall to a primary challenger backed by the president. Trump handpicked and endorsed Ed Gallrein, whose victory demonstrated the president’s influence over GOP voters and growing frustration with Massie’s opposition to Trump. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: Dubuque County begins talks on data center ordinances. The Dubuque County Zoning Commission is discussing data center zoning regulations. The commission is reviewing ordinances from other Iowa counties to explore potential zoning rules for data centers. The Dubuque County Planning and Development Director said there is no dedicated ordinance currently in place for data centers in Dubuque County. ... READ MORE

Woebegone Wednesday
When Delmonico’s of New York City first opened around the corner from Wall Street in 1837, it coincided with a financial panic, bank failures and the popping of a real-estate bubble. But the steakhouse survived to serve Abe Lincoln, Mark Twain, Charles Dickens, Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley. The restaurant has cycled through several locations and ownership changes, but it has been located for most of its history in the heart of New York City’s financial district. Now, nearly two centuries later, the restaurant that calls itself the first fine-dining spot in the U.S. is poised to open its second outpost in Midtown Manhattan next year.  (Wall Street Journal)

Twelve-year-aged Wild Turkey fifths that sold for $20 in the 1990s are fetching $2,000 now at Unicorn Auctions. (Fox Business)  

Deals today
• Marianna's (1305 University Ave., Des Moines) offers steak asada tacos for $2 Wednesdays.
 
• Talk Shop Lounge (3357 St. Charles Road, St. Charles) has a rib dinner deal Mondays, half slabs for $12, full racks $16. 
 
• The False Nine Social Club (206 Fifth St., Valley Junction) has hamburgers for $7 on Wednesdays.
 
• B&B Grocery, Meat and Deli (2001 S.E. Sixth St., Des Moines) has Philly cheesesteak on special today.
 
• Waterfont's Wednesday special this week is grilled seafood risotto.
 
• Crouse Cafe (115 E. Salem, Indianola) offers smoked pork chops as today's special. 
 
• Waveland Cafe (4708 University Ave., Des Moines) offers a wiener Wednesday special today. 
 
• Today is chicken Alfredo 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 second sushi rolls for half price 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.
 
• Wednesday at Short E's BBQ (8805 Chambray Blvd., Johnston) the special is ribs - $15 full racks, $10 half racks and $5 off rib dinners.
 
• 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. 
 
• 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 Tuscan beef tips, 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.
 
•  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.  
 
• The Station on Ingersoll (3124 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines) has a Wednesday special of chopped cheeseburger with a side for $12.

• Price Choppers have sales through Monday on frozen swai fillets at $3.49/pound, blueberries at $2.99/pint and whole watermelons at $3.99.
 
— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

1873: Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis receive patent for blue jeans. On May 20, 1873, San Francisco businessman Levi Strauss and Reno, Nevada, tailor Jacob Davis are given a patent to create work pants reinforced with metal rivets, marking the birth of one of the world’s most famous garments: blue jeans. … READ MORE

1969: Battle for “Hamburger Hill” ends after 10 grueling days. After 10 days and 10 bloody assaults, Hill 937 in South Vietnam is finally captured by U.S. and South Vietnamese troops. The Americans who fought there cynically dubbed Hill 937 “Hamburger Hill” because the battle and its high casualty rate reminded them of a meat grinder. … READ MORE

1996: Supreme Court defends rights of gays and lesbians in Romer V. Evans. In a victory for the gay and lesbian civil rights movement, the U.S. Supreme Court votes six to three to strike down an amendment to Colorado’s state constitution that would have prevented any city, town, or county in the state from taking any legislative, executive, or judicial action to protect the rights of gays and lesbians. … READ MORE

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