FROM KCCI: 8-year-old airlifted after falling through ice on Appanoose County pond. An 8-year-old boy was airlifted to a Des Moines-area hospital Monday evening after falling through the ice on a farm pond near his home in rural Appanoose County. According to the Appanoose County Sheriff’s Office, deputies received a report of a possible drowning shortly after 3 p.m. in the 27000 block of Highway J3T. The boy had been fishing at a pond near the family residence when he fell through the ice. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Bondurant woman charged in death of 3-year-old child. A Bondurant woman has been charged in the death of a child over the summer. The investigation began back in June when medics were called to a home in the 3400 block of Hawthorn Dr. Southwest in Bondurant for a 3-year-old who was unresponsive, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said. Life-saving measures were performed but were unsuccessful. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: West Des Moines police arrest 3 people after Sunday night disturbance at Airbnb. Three people were arrested Sunday following a disturbance on Vine Street, West Des Moines police told Local 5. Police responded to reports of a potential shooting at an Airbnb in the 2800 block of Vine Street around 8:30 p.m. Sunday, court documents show. Officers searched the area and did not find anyone injured. Police later shared they found no evidence of gunfire. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: The killing of a general in Moscow follows a series of assassinations Russia blames on Ukraine. Russia has accused Ukraine of carrying out a number of high-profile attacks against prominent Russians since Moscow invaded its neighbor nearly four years ago. While Kyiv has hinted at its involvement in some cases, Ukrainian officials have often stopped short of publicly claiming responsibility. In other cases, they have denied all involvement. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: What happens to a small Nebraska town when 3,200 workers lose their jobs. On a frigid day after Mass at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in rural Nebraska, worshippers shuffled into the basement and sat on folding chairs, their faces barely masking the fear gripping their town. A pall hung over the room just as it hung over the holiday season in Lexington, Nebraska. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: Pedestrian dies after being struck by mail truck in Cedar Falls. A woman from Cedar Falls is dead after officials say she was hit by a mail delivery truck, KCRG reports. First responders responded to the crash around 11:25 a.m. Saturday on the 500 block of Main Street. A United States Postal Service delivery vehicle and the woman were located at the scene. ... READ MORE

Clear Mortgage meteorology

A mild Christmas week. Near-record highs with a few sprinkles Christmas day. Turning cooler next weekend.

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

Tuesday touts
 Catering by Cyd owner Cyd Koehn says that salt planks are a great way to express your steaks and fish. Wall Street Journal named the Himalayan salt plank a top Christmas gift. "Once your giftee heats the block slowly in the oven or on the stove, they can use it to sear fish or meat to add salty flavor and 'lock in the smoky tenderness you’re looking for when grilling.’ ” $55 at Amazon.

It took me 70-plus years to notice that the juicing oranges available November through April are not worth juicing. They lose sweetness, flavor and even their orange color when it gets cold. Fresh Thyme and Sam’s Club have virtually shut down their fresh squeezing operations of orange juice in the cold months. But here's the good news, courtesy of Charlie's Filling Station — grapefruit actually make tastier juice in the cold months when oranges are pathetic for juicing. Filling Station clients switch their citrus preferences in the cold half of the year. Their fresh squeezed orange and grapefruit cocktails go for $7. And that is our wonder bargain of the week.

Deals today
• Salisbury steak is today's special at Crouse Cafe (115 E. Salem, Indianola).
 
• Curbin' Cuisine (1325 S.W. Oralabor Road, Suite 200, Ankeny) offers a cheeseburger and fries for $7.99 today.

• Mullet’s Norwalk offers a free kids meal per adult meal on Tuesdays 4 p.m. to close.

• Mickey's Irish Pub (50 S.E. Laurel St., Waukee) has a special $7 half-pound burger with a side all day Tuesday. 

• Kelly's Little Nipper (1701 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines) offers a "Tendy's Tuesday" pork tenderloin basket with a drink for $11.50.

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

• Beaver Tap (4050 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines) offers $7 breakfasts and $8 burgers Tuesdays.

• Pelican Post (265 50th St., West Des Moines) offers a special smashburger with cheese, fries and a draft beer for $10 on Tuesdays.

• Johnny's Italian Steakhouses have a beef stroganoff special on Tuesdays, $14 including beverage.

• Smoking Goat Pub (3015 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines) hosts 222 BBQ today from 5-9 p.m.

• Baklava is half priced Tuesdays at Istanbul Cafe and Bakery (3281 100th, Urbandale). 

 • Red Robin stores are featuring a $10 cheeseburger with an "endless side" on Tuesdays.

• Jethro's Tuesday special is 2 pounds of bone-in smoked wings for the price of one. 

• Paula's (524 Elm St., Valley Junction) runs a Tuesday special hot beef sandwich for $13.50. 

• Kids meals are half price till 2 p.m. today at Machine Shed (11151 Hickman Road, Urbandale). 

• Today is beef and noodles day at Maxie's Supper Club (1311 Grand Avenue, West Des Moines).

• Django (1420 Locust St., Des Moines) has happy hour all night Tuesdays. That means super deals on oysters, shrimp, duck frites, poutine, charcuterie, cheese boards, beers, wine and classic martinis.

• Sully's (806 First St., West Des Moines) has a burger basket special for $12 today.

• Destination Grille  (2491 E. First St., Grimes) hosts a Tuesday Burger and Beer special - half- pound burger, chips and dip, with a tap beer of choice $15. 

• The Station on Ingersoll (3124 Ingersoll Ave.) has a tenderloin Tuesday special with BPT and fries for $10.

• Curbin Cuisine (1325 SW Oralabor Dr., Ankeny) offers cheeseburgers and fries for $7.99 on Tuesdays.

• G Mig's (128 5th St., Valley Junction) offers a Tuesday special ribs or brisket dinners for 19.95.

• Angry Goldfish (2301 S.W. Ninth, Des Moines) has $10 burger and a side plus a pint on Tuesdays. This was an Umbrella wonder bargain.

• Ruby Tuesdays offers $5.95 burgers with fries on Tuesdays.

1783: George Washington resigns as commander in chief. On Dec. 23, 1783, following the signing of the Treaty of Paris, General George Washington resigns as commander in chief of the Continental Army and retires to his home at Mount Vernon, Virginia. ... READ MORE

1888: Vincent van Gogh chops off his ear. On Dec. 23, 1888, Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh, suffering from severe depression, cuts off the lower part of his left ear with a razor while staying in Arles, France. He later documented the event in a painting titled Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear. Today, Van Gogh is regarded as an artistic genius and his masterpieces sell for record-breaking prices; however, during his lifetime, he was a poster boy for tortured starving artists and sold only one painting. ... READ MORE

1986: Voyager completes global flight. After nine days and four minutes in the sky, the experimental aircraft Voyager lands at Edwards Air Force Base in California, completing the first nonstop flight around the globe on one load of fuel. Piloted by Americans Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, Voyager was made mostly of plastic and stiffened paper and carried more than three times its weight in fuel when it took off from Edwards Air Force Base on Dec. 14. By the time it returned, after flying 25,012 miles around the planet, it had just five gallons of fuel left in its remaining operational fuel tank. ... READ MORE

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