FROM KCCI: Two people rescued from house on fire by Des Moines firefighters. An early Sunday morning fire severely damaged a home in Des Moines, destroying at least the top half of the structure. The fire broke out at a residence on Dean Avenue across the street from the State Fairgrounds, with firefighters responding to the scene shortly after 8 a.m. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Sen. Ernst holds final Roast & Ride, comments on shutdown, Ian Roberts, Iowa soldiers. Sen. Joni Ernst’s 10th annual Roast and Ride took place on Saturday featuring prominent Republican figures such as Secretary Kristi Noem, Gov. Kim Reynolds and Rep. Ashley Hinson. The event, which included a motorcycle ride and a barbecue, was held at the Iowa State Fairgrounds and supported the Blue Star Mothers of Iowa. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: Norwalk man killed after UTV crash, investigation underway. The Madison County Sheriff's Office is investigating a UTV crash that killed a Norwalk man early Saturday morning. Shortly after midnight on Oct. 11, the sheriff's office received a 911 call reporting a UTV crash with injuries. The crash occurred at the intersection of Quarry Trail and Qual Ridge Avenue, six miles northeast of Winterset. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: Living hostages and Palestinian prisoners are released as part of ceasefire in Gaza. Hamas released all 20 remaining living hostages held in Gaza on Monday, while Israel began releasing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners as part of a ceasefire pausing two years of war that pummeled the territory, killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, and had left scores of captives in militant hands. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: Vance warns ‘deeper’ cuts ahead for federal workers as shutdown enters 12th day. Vice President JD Vance on Sunday said there will be deeper cuts to the federal workforce the longer the government shutdown goes on, adding to the uncertainty facing hundreds of thousands who are already furloughed without pay amid the stubborn stalemate in Congress. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: Parents sue Humboldt Community School District over alleged cover-up of teacher's sexual abuse.Parents are suing the Humboldt Community School District, alleging the district tried to cover up that their child was sexually abused by their middle school teacher. Samantha Meyer-Davis pleaded guilty to sexually exploiting a student between May 2022 and November 2023. ... READ MORE

Clear Mortgage meteorology

It'll be a bit cooler, but less breezy than Sunday today. Rain chances return intermittently tonight through Wednesday as cooler air continues to move in.

For help with pre-approvals or refinancing, get in touch with Originating Branch Manager Carrie Hansen at carrie.mortgage.

Back to the Biz
More bad news for the junk food empire
Novo Nordisk trials showed a 16.6% average weight loss in 64 weeks for their soon-to-launch Wegovy GLP-1 pill. This could be a huge thing for 110 million obese Americans, compared to injection-only drugs like Ozempic. The new pill will be 100% made in America, avoiding tariffs and keeping cost down... Hy-Vee announced last Friday that it will begin selling such obesity/diabetes drugs at a discount... Lay's, Doritos and Cheetos all posted sharp declines in sales volume in the latest quarter. 

Good news for milk drinkers
Kalona Super Natural head Phil Forbes wrote in the company’s October newsletter that “conditions are optimal” now for happy cows to produce more milk. There were shortages during the long hot summer as Kalona does not pressure cows to produce more milk than they want to.

Local alerts
Masao (512 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines) has put lunch service on hold temporarily. Owner Nick Hanke says he opened for lunch too soon and needs time to organize things... Cheese Bar on Ingersoll will host a Napa wine dinner Wednesday, Oct. 22. $100 per person for five-course meal and wine pairings. 515-277-7828 for reservations... George Formaro announced a Nov. 7 dinner at Rinehart Room that reinterprets classic steak house menus: lobster sundaes, cauliflower cheese soup, skirt steak Caesar salad, teres major steak with Robuchon potatoes, oysters and Hollandaise, plus dessert. $98, reservations 515-288-0268. 

Deals today
• Chuck's (3610 Sixth Ave., Des Moines) Monday special is three for $25 on all appetizers.
 
• Hy-Vee Market Grilles offer a Monday special smoked chicken hindquarter with corn bread and corn on the cob for $8.

•  Bubba (200 10th St., Des Moines) has a Monday night sirloin dinner special for $20. 

• Kelly's Little Nipper (1701 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines) offers a "Monday grind" special grinder and fries basket for $9.50.

• Monday brings prime rib specials to both Chicago Speakeasy (1520 Euclid Ave., Des Moines) and Christopher's (2816 Beaver Ave., Des Moines).

• Eastside Eddie's (3517 E. 26th St., Des Moines) has a Monday special cheeseburger with fries, tots or salad and a drink for $10.

• Trostel's Greeenbriar (Merle Hay Road, Johnston) has a Monday burger with a side and beer deal for $14. Their chef's special through Wednesday is a 20-ounce ribeye with pepper sauce and asparagus $50. 

• Beaver Tap (4050 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines) has $8 omelets and $10 hot beef sandwiches or Mexican bowls on Mondays.

• Johnny's Italian Steakhouses have a chicken de Burgo special on Mondays before 4 p.m., $14 including beverage.
 
• Smoking Goat Pub (3015 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines) hosts Shelby Smokehouse Soul Food on Mondays, 5-9 p.m.

• Haiku (1350 31st St., Des Moines) offers free egg drop soup and crab Rangoon with lunch entrees today.
 
• G Mig's (126 Fifth St., Valley Junction) has $11 smashburgers today with a side.
 
• The Station on Ingersoll (3124 Ingersoll) has a Monday special Graziano grinder with a side for $12.
 
• The Continental (407 E. Fifth St., Des Moines) offers a Monday special double smash burger and shoestring fries, $12.
 
• Bad Dog Burgers include three 1/3-pound patties, six pieces of bacon, choice of cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle and onion, for $10.95 on Mondays at Kathy’s East 14th Street Tavern (3418 East 14th St., Des Moines).

• Jethro's have a Monday chicken tenders and fries special $9.95.

• Angry Goldfish (2301 S.W. Ninth St., Des Moines) has specials on chicken Parmesan and lasagna today, $11.50 with garlic bread and salad.

• Centro (1003 Locust St., Des Moines) offers half-price pizza and Peronis on Monday.

• Who's on First (810 E. First St., Ankeny) has steak night on Monday, and it's an 8-ounce filet with salad, mashed potatoes and beans for $22.95 

• Pelican Post (265 50th St., West Des Moines) has a special today on hot beef sandwiches, $10.95 until 4 p.m. 

• Tito’s Lounge (3916 Urbandale Drive, Urbandale) offers all-you-can-eat wings Mondays. 

• Johnny's Hall of Fame (302 Court Ave., Des Moines) has $12 burger baskets on Mondays and Fridays.

• Urban Cellars (640 S. 50th St., West Des Moines) offers $60 wine dinners for two on Mondays including two entrees with soup or salad, a dessert and a bottle on wine. 

• Club 2000 (422 Indianola Road) has a burger basket with fries deal Mondays for $9. 

• Red Lobster's Monday special is lobster and shrimp scampi with a side for $20. 

• Paula's (524 Elm St., Valley Junction) has a Monday special homemade tuna, chicken or egg salad sandwiches on croissants for $12.50. 

• Destination Grille (2491 E. First St., Grimes) has a Monday steak night special, sirloins and truffle fries for $18.

• Chuck's (3610 Sixth Ave., Des Moines) offers $14 calzone specials with up to three ingredients on Mondays. 

• Price Chopper delis offer two-piece, bone-in fried chicken dinners, with two sides and a roll, for $6 on Mondays. 

• Fareways have specials through Saturday on 8-ounce USDA Choice T-bones at $12.99 each, cucumbers and green peppers at 77 cents, and Fareway Italian sausage at $3.99/pound. 

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

1792: White House cornerstone laid. The cornerstone is laid for a presidential residence in the newly designated capital city of Washington, D.C. In 1800, President John Adams became the first president to reside in the executive mansion, which soon became known as the “White House” because its white-gray Virginia freestone contrasted strikingly with the red brick of nearby buildings. ... READ MORE

1972: Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 crashes in the Andes. On the afternoon of Oct. 13, 1972, Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 begins its descent toward Santiago, Chile, too early and crashes high in the Andes Mountains. After more than two unthinkably harrowing months, 16 of the 45 who boarded the plane will be rescued—and sometimes referred to as the Miracle in the Andes. ... READ MORE

1975: Singer Charlie Rich protests John Denver’s big win at the CMA Awards. ... Rich reached into his pocket for a cigarette lighter and set the envelope on fire, right there onstage. ... READ MORE

 www.history.com