FROM KCCI: Beaver Creek kayaker pulled to safety as Johnston-Grimes fire crews face swift-water unknowns. A kayaker stranded in fast-moving Beaver Creek in Johnston was pulled to safety on July 4 after rescuers overcame difficult access to reach her. When Johnston-Grimes Metropolitan Fire District crews launched their boat, they faced several unknowns: how long the woman had been in the water, how much longer she could hold on, and whether the branch supporting her would give way. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Public voices concerns, offers ideas as Des Moines faces millions in budget cuts. Des Moines residents shared a range of opinions during a public meeting Thursday night as city leaders continue working to close a multi-million-dollar budget shortfall. The city says it will likely need to cut about $12 million before the next fiscal year (FY28) and another $5 million the following year (FY29), a challenge the city manager described as a “compounded” financial issue. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: West Des Moines woman charged after leaving her kids in a hot car. A West Des Moines woman is charged with child endangerment after leaving her three children in a hot car on Tuesday, court documents show.  Criminal complaints state that Rachel Reed, 38, parked a vehicle on the lowest level of a parking garage at Mary Greeley Medical Center.  Reed proceeded to leave the three children, ages 12, 6 and 1.5 months, in the car, court records state. The car was running, but no air conditioning was turned on. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: One of Spain’s deadliest wildfires has killed at least 11 people, with 19 others missing. A wildfire in southern Spain has killed at least 11 people, making it one of the country’s deadliest on record, as soaring temperatures grip much of the country, authorities said Friday. Several victims of the fire in Almeria, a popular holiday destination, were found inside burnt-out vehicles. Eight others have been injured in the blaze, which 150 firefighters and 220 soldiers from Spain’s military emergency unit were battling. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: Many US Jewish adults have experienced assault or harassment over the past year, AP-NORC poll finds. Many Jewish adults feel unsafe in the United States, a new AP-NORC poll finds, with a majority saying they feel less safe than they did before Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel. The survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research points to how Jewish adults’ attitudes toward their own personal safety have changed over a relatively short period as more Americans became critical of the United States’ close alliance with Israel. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: Report says distracted driving is down due to Iowa’s hands-free law. This month marks one year since Iowa’s hands-free driving law took effect. And now, a new report says that law is working, with fewer people in Iowa using their phones while driving. Cambridge Mobile Telematics creates safe driving programs for car insurance companies. It tracked data from over 30 different safe driving programs from July 2025 to May 2026. ... READ MORE

Plastic news
Plastic packaging is threatening another fresh food in Des Moines supermarkets. My local Fareway has not stocked a head of romaine lettuce for weeks. Not even a package of romaine hearts. They have expanded their large plastic salad selection to carry some romaine in many combos, none of which retain crispness or color as long as simple heads of the lettuce. Last month at my local Price Chopper, a package of three hearts of romaine cost $12, up from $3 the last time I bought such there. There is a new plastic-packed product called Hydroponic Romaine, but it does not resemble establishment Romaine at all — no crispness, none. It was more like butter leaf but more expensive. 

Whatever movement there ever was to reduce the bulk of plastic packaging in America has stalled. All berries sold in DSM supermarkets are packed in bulky, hard to break down plastic containers with plastic lids that are bulky — to what purpose? To paraphrase a popular meme, first they come for the berries, then the leafy greens.

This goes on at the same time that food processing is discouraged. Without MAHA moms, I suspect they would be adding preservatives and processed sugar substitutes to the packaged salads. 

Weekend deals 
• Fresh Thyme (2800 University Ave., West Des Moines) has $6 buckets of eight pieces of baked chicken on Fridays. 
 
• Desi Bites (1475 S.E. Bishop Drive, Waukee) has weekend specials on nine biryanis and five pulavs. 
 
• Marianna's (1305 University Ave., Des Moines) offers green enchiladas combos for $10 Fridays and Saturdays and four shrimp tacos for $12 Sundays.
 
• 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 penne Alfredo specials today.  
 
• 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 smothered chicken 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). Saturday's will be shrimp baskets and Sunday's is fried chicken.
 
• 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. 
 
• Paula's (Elm at Sixth, Valley Junction) has a Friday special Rachel (turkey Reuben) with fries for $14.
 
• 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.
 
• It's French dip Friday at Club 2000 (420 Indianola Road, Des Moines).

• Fareways have specials through Saturday on boneless chicken hindquarters at $.99/pound, 5-ounce pork ribeyes at $1.25 and AE yogurts for $.68.

• 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.
 
Dinner with a show
Kevin Best play 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... Willie Shay plays Simon’s at 7 p.m. Friday... David Watson play Exile Brewing Sunday at 5 p.m.... Sister Sara will play at the Bacoon After Party at Mickey's Irish Pub Waukee at 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

 — Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

1850: Millard Fillmore sworn in as 13th U.S. President. On July 10, 1850, Vice President Millard Fillmore is sworn in as the 13th president of the United States. President Zachary Taylor had died the day before, five days after falling ill with a severe intestinal ailment on the Fourth of July. … READ MORE

1893: Pioneering Black doctor performs successful open-heart surgery. On July 10, 1893, trailblazing physician Daniel Hale Williams successfully performs one of the world’s first open-heart surgeries at Provident Hospital in Chicago. Not only is he a pioneer of the procedure; he is one of just three African American physicians practicing in Chicago at a time when many white-run hospitals refused to treat Black patients—much less hire Black doctors. … READ MORE

1804: Aaron Burr slays Alexander Hamilton in duel. On July 11, 1804, in one of the most famous duels in American history, Vice President Aaron Burr fatally shoots his long-time political antagonist Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton, a leading Federalist and the chief architect of America’s political economy, died the following day. … READ MORE

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