FROM KCCI: Microsoft issues disrupt Polk County measles investigation. The Polk County Health Department is working to contact nearly 200 Iowans who may have been exposed to measles at five locations in Ankeny and Des Moines between Nov. 5 and Nov. 8, but technical issues with Microsoft systems are complicating the process. The investigation follows confirmation of a measles case involving a child who traveled internationally. Health officials are tracing individuals who may have been impacted and confirming their vaccination status, but accessing immunization records has been challenging. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Warren County gun club fires back over millions invested, pending lawsuit. The legal battle over New Pioneer Gun Club in Warren County is intensifying, with the club now asking a judge to reconsider a ruling that overturned the property’s rezoning, while neighboring residents continue pushing for enforcement. The latest developments played out on Thursday during the Warren County Board of Adjustment meeting, where board members agreed to postpone a hearing on the gun club’s appeal of a county-issued "Notice of Violation" until the next meeting on Jan. 14, 2027. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: JC Penney fights to stay at Valley West as new owner sues to redevelop. The new owner of Valley West Mall wants to knock it down and start over. JC Penney, the last anchor store still open there, says it isn’t going anywhere.
In court filings, the retailer says it has “a legal right to remain at the Mall” under a lease that runs through 2032. The mall's entrances are now fenced off, and multiple windows are boarded up — with the exception of the JC Penney store. The company says it is operating profitably in the space. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: Hunt for clues in deadly Brooklyn building collapse will take time. Investigators began what could be a long search for the cause of a Brooklyn apartment building collapse that killed eight people as the fire department ended rescue operations Thursday after the last victim was freed from the wreckage. The three-story building gave way while construction workers were digging Wednesday afternoon at an adjacent lot, causing New York City’s mayor to order inspections at about 100 building sites involving companies related to the project. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: Police investigate two threats to Le Mars Community Schools. For the second time in two weeks, a student has reportedly made comments threatening the safety of the Le Mars Community Schools. In separate letters to parents, Superintendent Dr. Steve Webner said the first threatening comments came last week. Those comments were overheard by other students and reported to school officials. Dr. Webner said, in that first incident, the district contacted law enforcement. Le Mars Police investigated and determined the threat wasn’t credible. ... READ MORE

CALL FOR ENTRIES – Polk County Heritage Gallery. Greater Des Moines Exhibited 2027. Through Friday, Nov. 20. Application  here.
 
Terrace Hill Holiday Teas
At Terrace Hill, the Iowa Governor's Residence and National Historic Landmark. Monday, Dec. 7, with two times available: a morning tea from 10:30 a.m. to noon and an afternoon tea from 2-3:30 pm. Advance registration is required, and registrations will close once capacity is reached. Reservations are $50 per guest plus processing fee charges. Proceeds from this event benefit the Terrace Hill Partnership, the sole non-profit organization that supports necessary conservation and restoration projects at Terrace Hill. Contact: Alex Lindsley, Terrace Hill Communications and Event Coordinator at Alex.lindsley@governor.iowa.gov or 515-281-7205.

— John Busbee, The Culture Buzz

Restaurants get the last laugh
Cheesecake Factory laughed off President Obama insulting their garish decor by waltzing to the bank. They posted an unprecedented second consecutive $1 billion plus earnings report.

That wasn't the only restaurant chain being dragged into politics ahead of the midterm elections. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) released a video "Why Food Chains Taste Worse and Cost More," blaming "private equity" for rising prices and declining quality at U.S. restaurant chains, specifically calling out Jersey Mike's.  J-Mike laughed that off, too, as his company passed Chick-fil-A as the most trusted restaurant chain in America for the first time.  

Chipotle offers a BOGO burrito on Friday the 13th, which is today, for customers who show their permanent body ink. (Check stores for limited hours.) They were laughed at the last time they did this, and it became their biggest sales day ever. 

Tune in or stream Saturday at 10 a.m. when Kitchen Insider talks to Kyle Casey of Paws and Pints. Does your dog have a great place to spend Thanksgiving without you? https://kfmg.org/
 
Weekend deals
• Roots 95 (8705 Chambery Blvd., Johnston) offers New York or sirloin dinners on Sunday nights for $18. 

• Beaver Tap (4050 Urbandale, Beaverdale) offers $10 hot honey chicken or Philly sandwiches Fridays.
 
• 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.
 
• Hy-Vees offer fish and chips for $5.99 Fridays, whole smoked chickens for $8.99 Saturdays and eight legs buckets of fried chicken Sundays. 
 
• 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. 
 
• Waveland Cafe (4708 University Ave., Des Moines) offers sweet and spicey pork loin specials today.  
 
• Sale Barn Cafe (Lamoni) is offering catfish specials today.
 
• Smothered chicken is today's special at Crouse Cafe (115 E. Salem, Indianola). Saturday's will be salmon patties and Sunday's is fried chicken.

• 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. 
 
• Paula's (Elm at 6th, Valley Junction) has a Friday special chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes for $15.
 
• 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).
 
• Fresh Thyme (2800 University Ave., West Des Moines) is running sales through Sunday on lobster tails at $5.99/12 ounces, russets at $.99/5-pound bag, and through Tuesday on Granny Smith or Fuji apples at $.99/pound.

• Aldi stores have sales through Tuesday on USDA Choice rib roasts at $8.99/pound, avocados at 49 cents, and butter at $1.99/pound.

• Fareways have specials through Saturday on chicken hindquarters at $.99/pound, St. Louis ribs at $2.99/pound and sourdough baguettes for $2.49.

• Hy-Vees have sales through Sunday on cream of chicken or mushroom soups at $.69, free turkeys with purchase of Hormel 81 ham at $5.99/pound and fresh shucked oysters for $19.99/pound.

• Price Choppers have sales through Tuesday on Sugardale half hams at $1.99/pound, three kinds of squash at $.88/pound and russet potatoes at $3.99/10-pound bag.
 
Dinner with a show
The Drama Kings 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... The Remedy plays Captain Roy's Friday at 7 p.m. and Silversonic plays there Saturday at 7 p.m.... Queen of the Night: Remembering Whitney plays at The Ingersoll at 5:30 p.m. Friday and Weary Ramblers are there 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

1974: The Amityville murders. On the tragic evening of Nov. 13, 1974, a young man shoots and kills his entire family with a 35-caliber Marlin rifle as his parents, two brothers and two sisters apparently sleep. The gruesome murder of the DeFeo family shakes up the sleepy Long Island town of Amityville — and leads to decades of horror storytelling. … READ MORE

1982: Vietnam Veterans Memorial dedicated. Near the end of a weeklong national salute to Americans who served in the Vietnam War, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is dedicated in Washington, D.C. after a march to its site by thousands of veterans of the conflict. The long-awaited memorial was a simple V-shaped black-granite wall inscribed with the names of the 57,939 Americans who died in the conflict, arranged in order of death, not rank, as was common in other memorials. … READ MORE

2020: Kim Ng named first female MLB general manager. On Nov. 13, 2020, veteran front-office official Kim Ng breaks several glass ceilings simultaneously when she is named General Manager of the Miami Marlins. Ng is the first woman and first person of East Asian descent to lead a Major League Baseball front office, as well as the first female GM in the history of North American professional men’s sports. … READ MORE

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