FROM KCCI: Iowa City shooting: Authorities identify suspected shooter as Cedar Rapids teen. The Iowa City police chief said a 17-year-old from Cedar Rapids fired six shots into a crowd early Sunday morning, injuring five people. In a news conference Wednesday, ICPD chief Dustin Liston identified Damarian M. Jones, 17, of Cedar Rapids, as the suspected shooter. Jones was allegedly involved in a large fight involving up to 40 people at the Ped Mall, a popular nightlife district near the University of Iowa campus, around 1:45 a.m. Sunday. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Man 'alert' after falling from broken window-washing platform, another man rescued. People lined Walnut Street during the lunch hour in downtown Des Moines on Wednesday as emergency crews carried out a dramatic rescue after a window-washing platform broke outside of the Capital Square building. One window washer fell from the damaged scaffolding, while a second worker was rescued after holding onto the platform for nearly an hour. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: Drake University safety officials share plans to control big crowds, keep people out of danger during Relays events. Drake Relays draws thousands to Des Moines, leading crowds to swell fast. That can rise safety concerns as people navigate areas that are very concentrated. Local 5 spoke with university officials to get advice on how to enjoy Relays safely. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: Iran fires on 3 ships in the Strait of Hormuz as U.S. maintains blockade and diplomacy stalls.  Iran fired on three ships in the Strait of Hormuz and seized two of them on Wednesday, intensifying its assault on shipping in the key waterway. The attacks came a day after U.S. President Donald Trump extended a ceasefire while maintaining an American blockade of Iranian ports. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: Wildfires across Georgia and Florida have destroyed nearly 50 homes and are forcing evacuations. Wildfires burning across the southeastern U.S. forced more people to flee Wednesday after destroying nearly 50 homes in Georgia and causing some schools closings as drought and winds fueled flames. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: Fire spreads to three homes in N.W. Iowa community. Investigators are working to determine what started a fire on Tuesday, April 21, that destroyed two homes and heavily damaged a third in the Iowa Great Lakes region. According to KUOO Radio, the fire started on Allen Street in downtown Arnolds Park at about 4:30 p.m. By the time crews got to the location, the flames had spread to two neighboring homes. ... READ MORE

Bet you didn't know
Prairie Meadows is one of only two casinos in the U.S. that the IRS recognizes as nonprofit. It has raised more than $2.3 billion since 1989 for support of numerous Polk County entities. However, it was pitched to voters as a means to ending property tax increases. That ain't working.

Green tea is the fastest growing ice cream flavor, up 23% in sales nationally in the last year. (Fox Business)

Deals today
• 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 chipped beef on biscuit 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.

• Bennigan's (4800 Merle Hay Road, Urbandale) has a $10.99 burger, fries and a pint deal on Thursdays.

• Taco pizzas are the Thursday special at Walker's Place (475 N.E. Broadway Ave., Des Moines).

• Sale Barn Cafe (Lamoni) is offering Philly cheese steak specials today.

• Ham balls is today's special at Crouse Cafe (115 E. Salem, Indianola).

• 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.

• Guesthouse Tavern and Oyster (9500 University, West Des Moine) offers spaghetti dinners with 8-ounce meatballs and salad for $22 on Wednesdays.

• Chelsea's Courtyard (100 MLK, Des Moines) has buck burgers Thursdays. $1!

• 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.

• Hot beef sandwiches 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 two-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.

• G Mig 's (128 Fifth St., Valley Junction) hosts taco night tonight.

• Aldi stores have sales through Tuesday on cantaloupes at $1.99, strawberries at $1.79/pound, mandarins $2.89/3-pound bag and wagyu burger at $4.99/pound.

• Fresh Thyme (2800 University Ave., West Des Moines) is running a sale through Sunday on baby back ribs at $2.99/pound and through Tuesday on Atlantic salmon fillets at $6.99/pound and King salmon at $21.99/pound.

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

1954: Hank Aaron hits first home run of his MLB career. On April 23, 1954, Hank Aaron knocks out the first home run of his Major League Baseball career. Twenty years later, Aaron becomes baseball’s new home run king when he broke Babe Ruth’s long-standing record of 714 career homers. … READ MORE

1961: Judy Garland plays Carnegie Hall. On April 23, 1961, Judy Garland performs a gig at Carnegie Hall, often referred to as “the greatest night in showbiz history.” … READ MORE

1985: New Coke debuts, one of the biggest product flops in history. On April 23, 1985, The Coca-Cola Company announces that it is changing the formula of its signature soft drink for the first time in 99 years. The short-lived, sweeter New Coke, as it is called, debuts to a consumer backlash that pundits call the marketing blunder of the century. … READ MORE

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