FROM KCCI: Carlisle water main break leaves residents under do-not-use order, schools closed Friday. Carlisle residents should not use tap water until at least 8 a.m. Friday, as the city works to refill its water system following a water main break, Mayor Dan Carver said Thursday afternoon. Carver cautioned that lifting the order Friday morning is not guaranteed. City crews and Des Moines Water Works employees worked overnight to locate and repair the break. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Rainfall triggers unpleasant sewer odors in Norwalk. Residents in Norwalk dealing with an unpleasant sewer smell can blame recent heavy rainfall, according to local water officials. The Des Moines Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation Authority said recent rains caused wastewater to build up in the system. The increased flow moves through the sanitary sewer system and is stored in a large equalization basin on the south side of Norwalk. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: Train derails in Marion County, no injuries or hazardous materials reported. Crews are working to assess a train derailment north of Pleasantville Thursday night that officials said has no reported injuries or hazardous material. Jordan Van Ness, fire chief for Pleasantville Emergency Services, told Local 5 that around 20 cars derailed in between Erbe Street and Geneva Drive, toward the northwesternmost point of Marion County. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: What to know about Christa Pike and her failed lethal injection execution attempt in Tennessee. Tennessee’s failed attempt at executing Christa Pike despite administering two doses of a lethal drug in the state’s death chamber has left her in critical condition, according to her attorneys. Pike, 50, was still in the hospital Thursday and her lawyers said they did not know her long-term chance for recovery. Tennessee went forward with the lethal injection Wednesday eight hours after it was originally scheduled to have taken place, a delay caused by a court ruling that temporarily paused the execution. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: Another explosion reported at feed mill in Sheldon. Another overnight explosion at Sheldon’s Kent Feed Mill was reported in the early hours of Thursday, Oct. 1. The news comes a week and a half after an explosion on Monday, Sept. 21.Sheldon Fire Company Chief Brad Hindt reports that fire crews were paged to the facility on Sheldon’s west side at about 12:30 a.m. for the report of an explosion with no visible fire. ... READ MORE

Iowa Stage Theatre Company. "Reefer Madness." Oct. 2-11. 

CAP Theatre. "CAP Radio Hour: Live! Poe’s Dark Tales." Oct. 2-4. 
 
About Time Theatre. "Building the Wall." Oct. 2-11. 
 
First Friday at Mainframe Studios. One of the Heartland’s most enticing and stimulating open house cultural events returns this month on Friday, Oct. 3, 5-8 p.m. Free. 

Des Moines Performing Arts, Temple Theatre. "Bluebird Improv." Oct. 3. 
 
The Science Center of Iowa
SCI will celebrate Latino Heritage Month with "¡Ciencia para todos!," a free community event bringing science, culture and families together on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 5-8 p.m.

Cemetery Tours
Glendale Cemetery Historical Tour by Ganesh Ganpat
Glendale Cemetery, 4909 University Ave., Saturday, Oct. 3, 10 a.m. to noon.
 
2026 Jordan House Heritage Jubilee
The Jordan House is the destination for the West Des Moines Historical Society’s 2026 Jordan House Heritage Jubilee, Saturday, Oct. 3, from 1-4 p.m. 
 
Des Moines Performing Arts – Temple Comedy Series. "Hold on to Your Butts." Oct. 6-11. 
 
Beaverdale Books. Deborah Svec-Carstens. "Toward the Light: A Year in Paris." Monday, Oct. 5, 6:30 p.m.
 
Des Moines Playhouse. "Come from Away." Through Oct. 4.

— John Busbee, The Culture Buzz

How the times are changing...
• In 1999, traditional grocers made up 72.2% of Americans' food spending. By 2025, that fell to 56.2%. Warehouse clubs and supercenters grew their share from 9.4% to 26.4% during that period. Convenience stores captured the rest of market. (USDA)

• U.S. Department of Labor stats say Americans are spending 34% more time preparing meals than they spent 20 years ago. The average dinner now takes 43 minutes of prep time.

• Vaping is losing customers to old fashioned smoking. (Fox Business)

• For the first time this century, malls are coming back. Young people are reviving interest in them after decades of forsaking them for online shopping. Their real estate value rose for the first time, too. (WSJ)

• Candy sales were down at convenience stores 7.4% the first half of 2026 compared to a year ago. (CSNews)

Weekend deals
Iowa Latino Restaurant Week begins today and runs through next weekend. Special $20 lunches and $25-50 dinners will be served at: Cancún Grill and Cantina, Urbandale; El Fogón del Chivo; El Fogón West Glen; El Guacamole Patio & Cantina; El Paisano Mexican Food & Bakery; El Pollo Ranchero; Elena’s Desserts; Estilo Boricua; Fiesta Mexican Restaurant, Adel; Fiesta Mexican Restaurant, Pleasant Hill; Fiesta Mexican Restaurant, WDM; La Fe Salvadorian Restaurant; La Tropicana Mexican Market; México de mis Sabores; Old West Mexican Restaurant; Pastelería Raquel; Roots 95.
 
• Irina's Steak & Seafood (650 S. Prairie View Drive, Unit 100, West Des Moines) has a Sunday special beef stroganoff with potatoes, salad and two glasses of wine for $33.
 
• AJ's at Prairie Meadows has a new all-you-can-eat prime rib and crab legs buffet from 4 p.m. Fridays. 
 
• Guesthouse Tavern and Oyster (9500 University Ave., West Des Moines) offers fish fry lunch specials $16.49-$21 including a pint or two shrimp Fridays. Saturdays feature $33 12-ounce prime rib dinners. 
 
• High Life Lounge (200 Second St., Des Moines) has a Friday special fish fry for $11.99.
 
• Amruth Indian Grill (9974 Swanson Blvd., Clive) offers mandi rice on Fridays, with chicken, paneer and vegan choices. 
 
• Exile offers half-priced kids meals on Fridays. 
 
• 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 sloppy Joe 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).
 
• 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 Mongolian beef stir fry 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. 
 
• Pulled pork is today's special at Crouse Cafe (115 E. Salem, Indianola). Saturday's will be catfish 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 and 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 Texas Dip - chopped Texas brisket with sauteed onions, Swiss cheese on a hoagie with fries and BBQJus. $13.95. 
 
• 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).

• 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.
 
• Hy-Vee has specials through Monday on Smart chicken thighs or legs at $1.99/pound, Hy-Vee broth at $1.48/32 ounces, and Hy-Vee yogurt at $.39.

Dinner with a show
Kenni Falls play Kelly's Little Nipper at 7 p.m. 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... Fred Gazzo Quintet  plays at Anna Dolce at 6:30 p.m. Saturday...Randy Burk plays Wilson’s Ciderhouse & Farm, Cumming at 3 p.m... The Selena Experience plays at The Ingersoll at 5:30 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m. Sunday.

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

1944: General Eisenhower warns of the risk of “shell shock.” On Oct. 2, 1944, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower distributes to his combat units a report by the U.S. Surgeon General that reveals the hazards of prolonged exposure to combat. “[T]he danger of being killed or maimed imposes a strain so great that it causes men to break down. One look at the shrunken, apathetic faces of psychiatric patients…sobbing, trembling, referring shudderingly to ‘them shells’ and to buddies mutilated or dead, is enough to convince most observers of this fact.” … READ MORE

1965: Gatorade first tested in a college football game. On Oct. 2, 1965, during a football game between the University of Florida Gators and the Louisiana State University Tigers, UF players test a newly concocted sports drink to help them regain the essential chemicals their bodies lose from profuse sweating. Developed in their own school's science labs, the drink is designed to fight dehydration, rebalance their bodies' electrolytes and restore blood sugar, potassium and body salts so they can continue to perform at a high level through their games. The Gators go on to win the match, after the heavily favored Tigers wilt in Florida's muggy, 102-degree heat. … READ MORE

1967: Thurgood Marshall sworn in as first Black Supreme Court justice. Chief Justice Earl Warren swears in Thurgood Marshall, the first Black justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. As chief counsel for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in the 1940s and ’50s, Marshall was the architect and executor of the legal strategy that ended the era of official racial segregation. … READ MORE

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