“Shane, I feel your pain (Shorts or pants, Sept. 23,2026)! And even when you make the right choice for the outside weather, you have to be prepared for the wide range of indoor weather in stores and restaurants. I never leave the house in the spring/summer without a hoodie or sweater, or in the fall/winter without removable layers. It's either arctic and over-air-conditioned or heated like the tropics. How about these businesses cut back a bit on energy consumption, save money (and the environment) and lower their prices!” - Debbie

Well, I guess we wouldn’t have many conversation-starters if we all enjoyed the same temperatures. - Shane

Have a thoughtful Thursday, and thanks for reading.

FROM KCCI: Boil order issued in Woodward, Carlisle without water after main break. Two central Iowa cities are without water on Wednesday evening as work is done locating and repairing a pair of water main breaks. Around 5 p.m., the city of Carlisle asked residents and businesses to stop using water immediately because a large water main break is draining the city’s water system. The break has not surfaced, and crews are still trying to locate it, the city said. Once the break is found and repaired, Carlisle will be under a boil advisory until further notice. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: One dead after multi-vehicle crash in Polk County. Authorities say one person has died and three others were injured during a crash in Polk County. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office provided an update at 8 p.m. Wednesday, saying that a three-vehicle crash at N.E. 56th Street and N.E. 94th Avenue had resulted in one fatality. Authorities say the identity of the deceased individual will be released pending notification of the family. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: Central Iowa rivers expected to flood Thursday, potentially affecting roads. Rising rivers could affect roads in Dallas, Polk and Warren counties beginning Thursday. Another round of rain Wednesday night adds to waterways already responding sharply to recent rainfall. Light to moderate rain Tuesday night produced substantial river rises. Additional rainfall could increase flooding concerns — the Raccoon, Middle and North rivers are among the waterways most susceptible to impacts. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: California couple accused of killing son-in-law in public park have been charged with murder. A California couple has been charged with murder after authorities say they shot their son-in-law to death Saturday in a public park, days before he and the couple’s daughter were set for a hearing in a bitter divorce case. Shili Chen and Shouyong Zhang, both 77, were due in court Wednesday for an arraignment on the charges. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: Cedar Rapids schools cleared by DOJ over disability restraint rules.  The U.S. Department of Justice has determined the Cedar Rapids Community School District is in compliance with its 2022 settlement agreement concerning seclusion and restraint practices affecting students with disabilities. In a Sept. 2 letter, the DOJ said it is concluding its monitoring of the district and the agreement will terminate. The agreement followed a DOJ investigation that began in 2020. ... READ MORE

Iowa Nice report
The World Food Prize Foundation is attempting to break the Guinness World Record for most hunger relief meals packaged in one hour during the Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue on Oct. 20 at the EMC Expo Center. Working with Meals from the Heartland, organizers hope to rally more than 1,000 volunteers to package 600,000 meals in one hour, surpassing the current record of 530,064. Half the meals will stay in Iowa and half will go to eight countries around the world.

Prairie Meadows awarded $275,000 to the WesleyLife Foundation across three initiatives serving older adults in central Iowa. The largest share, $200,000, supports the $49.5 million redevelopment of The Village in Indianola, while $65,000 goes to WesleyLife Meals on Wheels and $10,000 to WesleyLife Hospice. Meals on Wheels delivered more than 416,000 meals in 2025, and the hospice program served nearly 650 people across the region.

Wallace Farm harvested 667 pounds of peaches, 473 pounds of apples, and 93 pounds of pears this summer. Much of the harvest is making its way into Iowa communities. The farm sent peaches to food pantries in Greenfield, Orient and Earlham, while the Food Bank of Iowa distributed the apples through its network of pantries. Volunteers from Corteva and MidAmerican Energy picked hundreds of pounds of apples. 

Deals today
• Crouse Cafe (115 East Salem, Indianola) has ham balls on special today.
 
• Guesthouse Tavern and Oyster (9500 University Ave., West Des Moines) offers pasta and meatball dinner specials for $22 Thursdays.
 
• High Life Lounge (200 Second St., Des Moines) has a Thursday special spaghetti and meat balls for $10.99.
 
• 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). 
 
• Mariana's (1305 University Ave., Des Moines) offers pastor tacos for $2 Thursdays.
 
• 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 chicken and noodles on mashed potatoes 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.
 
• Taco pizzas are the Thursday special at Walker's Place (475 N.E. Broadway Ave., Des Moines).
 
• Sale Barn Cafe (Lamoni) is offering hot beef sandwich specials today.
 
•  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.
 
• 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. 
 
•  Turkey club melt on garlic focaccia with fries for $12.99 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 2 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 Tuesday on chicken hindquarters at $.69/pound, tilapia filets at $4.49/pound and Green Giant frozen vegetables at $1.

• Aldi stores have sales through Tuesday on green grapes at $1.29/pound, pumpkins at $3.95 and beef short ribs at $7.49 pound.

• Fresh Thyme (2800 University Ave., West Des Moines) is running sales through Tuesday on snow crab clusters at $10.99/pound, 80/20 hamburger at $3.99/pound and NY strips at $9.99/pound.
 

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

1890: Yosemite National Park established. On Oct. 1, 1890, an act of Congress creates Yosemite National Park, home of such natural wonders as Half Dome and the giant sequoia trees. Environmental trailblazer John Muir (1838-1914) and his colleagues campaigned for the congressional action, which was signed into law by President Benjamin Harrison and paved the way for generations of hikers, campers and nature lovers, along with countless “Don’t Feed the Bears” signs. … READ MORE

1920: Scientific American reports that radio will soon be used to transmit music to the home. On Oct. 1, 1920, Scientific American magazine reports that the rapidly developing medium of radio would soon be used to broadcast music. A revolution in the role of music in everyday life was about to be born. … READ MORE

1958: American Express launches its first credit card. On Oct. 1, 1958, the American Express Company issues its first charge card in the U.S. and Canada to give traveling customers more flexibility. The purple paperboard card—which later becomes the iconic green or gold plastic card—pre-dates a new era of paying for purchases with revolving credit cards, with MasterCard and Visa following years later. … READ MORE

www.history.com