FROM KCCI: Iowa's first measles case of 2026 reflects a changing reality for doctors, health officials. When Iowa confirmed its first measles case of 2026 this week, public health officials saw more than an isolated case linked to international travel. They saw evidence of a trend that's forcing doctors and health departments to prepare for measles as a recurring threat. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Emergency personnel adapt to road construction on the metro’s west side. Road construction across the metro affects more than just the daily driver; it also affects emergency personnel. Iowans are used to taking a detour or getting stuck in congested traffic this time of year due to road construction projects. Right now, that includes a big project on the west side of the metro. Both on-ramps to I-80 westbound at 60th Street and Jordan Creek Parkway are closed. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: Two dead after being pulled from car submerged in Waukee pond. Two people have died after they were pulled from a car submerged in a Waukee pond, police said in a press release. Waukee police said a call came in around 4 p.m. Tuesday reporting a submerged vehicle on Manchester Boulevard between NW Charlestown Lane and NW Bennett Street. Witnesses told Waukee PD they saw the car go into a small pond, but did not see anyone come out. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: US and Iran exchange intensifying fire across the Gulf, threatening the interim deal to end war. The United States launched new airstrikes against Iran early Thursday, and Tehran responded by targeting Gulf countries in an exchange of fire that threatened an interim deal intended to help end the war in the Middle East. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: Former Wisconsin judge spared prison for obstructing ICE arrest of Mexican immigrant. Former Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan was spared from prison Wednesday for ushering a Mexican defendant through her jury room door as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents sought to arrest him in a courthouse hallway. U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman fined her $5,000, describing the case as a situation where an otherwise good person, upset by immigration policies in this country, made a bad decision in the moment. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: Black Hawk Park reopens for day use after Cedar River flooding. Black Hawk Park in Cedar Falls reopened for day use after flooding forced its closure. Conservation officials said water levels along the Cedar River have dropped enough to allow visitors back into the park. The park reopened this morning after being closed since Thursday night due to high water. Camping is still not allowed in the park. Officials said rivers and creeks continue to recede across eastern Iowa, bringing relief to areas impacted by recent flooding. ... READ MORE

Betcha didn't know
World Cup fans from abroad are amazed over free fast food soft drink refills. Most people think McDonald's initiated this but Taco Bell introduced it in 1988, and every other fast food giant was forced to copy. Of course, they also have contributed significantly to America's obesity and diabetes epidemics.  

Another American tourist attraction is the All You Can Eat buffet. They have been an American institution since 1946 when El Rancho Casino in Las Vegas instituted a $1 Buckaroo Buffet at midnight to keep gamblers on the floor. There are a dozen of them now in the Des Moines metro and more than double that many on weekends. 

Deals today
• The Empire's (223 Fourth St., Des Moines) Thursday special is baked spaghetti for $10.
 
• Thursday is $10 kebabs and wings day at Desi Bites (3828 100th St., Urbandale). 
 
• Marianna's (1305 University Ave., Des Moines) offers tacos for $1.50 Thursdays during the World Cup from 3-6 p.m.
 
• Talk Shop Lounge (3357 St. Charles Road, St. Charles) has two deals Thursday: jambalaya dinner for $15, lasagna for $10.
 
• Cowboy (1234 E. Euclid Ave., Des Moines) has ribs on special today, $2.99/per rib.
 
• The False Nine Social Club (206 Fifth St., Valley Junction) has jacket potatoes on sale Thursdays for $10.
 
• The Waveland (4708 University Ave., Des Moines) has pulled pork sandwiches on special today.
 
• B&B (S.E. Sixth and Hartford, Des Moines) has a Thursday special Killer's double hot Polish with fries and a soda for $12.95.
 
• Thursdays are triple decker Reuben day at Graziano Brothers (1601 S. Union St., Des Moines).
 
• Quarter pound cheeseburgers and chicken sandwiches are $3.39 each on Thursdays at Kwik Star.
 
• Striking Sparrow (1930 S.E. Sixth St., Des Moines) has a Thursday special breaded pork tenderloin with fries and soda for $12.
 
• Bennigan's (4800 Merle Hay Road, Urbandale) has a $10.99 burger, fries and a pint deal on Thursdays.
 
• Taco pizzas are the Thursday special at Walker's Place (475 N.E. Broadway Ave., Des Moines).
 
• Sale Barn Cafe (Lamoni) is offering beef kielbasa specials today.
 
• Meat loaf dinners at $10.99 are today's special at Crouse Cafe (115 E. Salem, Indianola).
 
•  AJ's (Prairie Meadows) has an 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.
 
• Guesthouse Tavern and Oyster (9500 University, West Des Moine) offers spaghetti dinners with 8-ounce meatballs and salad for $22 on Wednesdays.
 
• Chelsie's Courtyard Diner (100 MLK, Des Moines) has buck burgers Thursdays. $1!
 
• Istanbul Grill Cafe & Bakery (3281 100th St., Urbandale) has a Thursday special of $11.99 for a döner wrap with fries as well as $5 off döner plate which comes with Turkish salad and your choice of rice or bulgur. 
 
•  Hot beef sandwiches are a Thursday special at Club 2000. 
 
• Maxie's (1311 Grand Ave., West Des Moines) Thursday special for $20.95 is half a fried chicken with potato, side of spaghetti, and a salad. Lunch and dinner.
 
• Mullets Norwalk offers two, two-topping pizzas for $20 on Thursdays, 4 p.m. to close.
 
• Buzzard Billy's (615 Third St., Des Moines) has $2 off appetizers on Thursdays.
 
• Whatcha Smokin? (Highway 17, Luther) has a pork belly burnt ends special on Thursdays.
 
• Beaver Tap (4050 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines) offers $10 country fried breakfasts and $9 tenderloins or shrimp/fish tacos on Thursdays.
 
• Ruth's Chris (Ashworth Road at Jordan Creek Parkway) has a Thursday special with their decadent RBAR burgers and fries going for $16.
 
• Steak Nights: Sirloin steak dinners are featured specials today at Johnny's Italian Steakhouses (before 4 p.m.), Sully's Irish Pub (860 First St., West Des Moines); Front Row (9956 Swanson Blvd., Clive); Winn’s Pizza and Steakhouse (122 W. Ashland Ave., Indianola); and Hy-Vee Market Grilles. The Station on Ingersoll (3120 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines) has a $12 ribeye sandwich special on Thursdays. Gilroy's (1238 Eighth St., West Des Moines) offers ribeyes and sirloins only on Thursdays after 5 p.m.
 
• Mullets has a Thursday pizza special — buy one large specialty pizza and get a free 14-inch two-topping pizza.
 
• ShortE's BBQ (8505 Chambery Blvd., Johnston) has $1 smoked wings Thursdays.
 
• Jethro's Thursday special is a pound of boneless "wings" for $8.
 
• Bevy’s Tavern (1300 50th St., West Des Moines) has a special of beef stew and cornbread Thursdays for $13.
 
• Destination Grille (2491 E. First St., Grimes) has a "Comfort Thursday" special chicken fried De Burgo, a gluten free spin on DSM's classic. $16
 
• The Dam Pub (2710 Beaver Ave., Des Moines) has a throwback Thursday special goulash with garlic toast.
 
• The Continental (407 E. Fifth St., Des Moines) has $7 loaded fries on Thursdays.
 
• Buffalo Wild Wings offers two orders for the price of one Thursdays on orders of six, 10 and 15 boneless wings.

• Price Choppers have sales through Monday on red cherries at $3.99/pound, strawberries at $1.99/pound and Colorado peaches at $1.99/pound.

•  Aldi stores have sales through Tuesday on avocados at $.59, nectarines and plums at $1.49/pound, chicken wings at $2.99/pound and lamb shanks at $5.99.

• Fresh Thyme (2800 University Ave., West Des Moines) is running a sale through Tuesday on chicken wings at $2.99/pound, large snow crab clusters at $11.99/pound and salmon, tuna or swordfish fillets at $10.99/pound.

 — Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

1993: Romanov remains identified using DNA. British forensic scientists announce that they have positively identified the remains of Russia’s last czar, Nicholas II; his wife, Czarina Alexandra; and three of their daughters. The scientists used mitochondria DNA fingerprinting to identify the bones, which had been excavated from a mass grave near Yekaterinburg in 1991. … READ MORE

1850: President Zachary Taylor dies unexpectedly. On July 9, 1850, after only 16 months in office, President Zachary Taylor dies after a brief illness. The exact cause of his death is still disputed by some historians. On a scorching Fourth of July in Washington, D.C., Taylor attended festivities at the newly dedicated grounds upon which the Washington Monument would be erected. … READ MORE

1996: A family is brutally attacked on a walk in England. Dr. Lin Russell, her two daughters, Josie and Megan, and their dog, Lucy, are all brutally attacked by a man wielding a hammer on their way home to Nonington Village, Kent, England, after a swimming gala. Forcing them to sit down in the woods, the attacker blindfolded and tied up his victims with their torn towels, and then bludgeoned them one by one. Nine-year-old Josie, the sole survivor of the vicious assault, had to relearn to speak after surgeons inserted a metal plate into her head to cover the area where her skull had been smashed. Some of her brain tissue was so damaged that it had to be removed. … READ MORE

www.history.com