FROM KCCI: Drake University law students face abrupt closure of wrongful convictions clinic after professor is fired. Drake University law students were left stunned when the Wrongful Convictions Clinic closed abruptly during their final semester, following the firing of its professor amid a dispute over estate funds. "It was very shocking," said Kaille Simmons, a third-year law student at Drake University. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: State Auditor releases findings of DMPS reaudit focusing on ex-Superintendent’s tenure. The Iowa State Auditor’s Office released its findings of a reaudit of Des Moines Public Schools focusing on former Superintendent Ian Roberts’ tenure. In September, Roberts was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Des Moines on accusations of being in the country illegally. He later pleaded guilty to federal charges of false statement for employment and being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm in January. Federal court records state Roberts is scheduled to be sentenced on May 29. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: Vice President JD Vance scheduled to appear with Nunn in Des Moines next week. Vice President JD Vance is officially scheduled to appear in Des Moines next week alongside Republican Rep. Zach Nunn. The vice president will deliver remarks at Ex-Guard Industries (1700 Dixon St.) on Tuesday, May 5 at 3 p.m.  Doors for the event open at 12 p.m. and the program begins at 2 p.m. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: Iran’s rial currency hits record low as shaky ceasefire with US and Israel still holds. Iran’s national rial currency hit a record low Wednesday of 1.8 million to $1 as a shaky ceasefire with the U.S. and Israel still holds. The rial had remained stable in the early weeks of the war, which began Feb. 28, in part because there was little trading or imports coming into the country. The rial began to slide two days ago, hitting the record low Wednesday. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: Do you prefer to pay income taxes or sales taxes? Missouri voters will get to choose. It’s not every day — or even every decade — that voters are presented a decision like this: Should the state’s individual income tax be eliminated? When that question appears on a Missouri ballot later this year, it will mark the first time since the modern income tax began over a century ago that a U.S. state legislature has asked voters whether to eliminate the tax. If they say “yes,” they will also be authorizing a sales tax expansion. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: 47-year-old NW Iowa woman killed in crash involving semi. An Emmetsburg, Iowa, woman was killed in a semi vs SUV crash on Monday, April 27. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 2014 Peterbilt semi was going southbound when it failed to stop at the intersection of 90th Ave and 210th St, located west of Algona. At about 10:30 a.m., the ISP says the southbound semi was crossing the intersection on 90th Ave when it struck a 2022 Chevy Equinox, which was going eastbound on 210th St. The SUV’s driver, 47-year-old Carolee Wise of Emmetsburg, died from the crash. A passenger in the SUV, 76-year-old Bernadette Wise of Emmetsburg, was injured and taken to a hospital. ... READ MORE

Woebegone Wednesday
Sixty-nine-year-old former landscaper Phillip Dressel is standing in the way of Bayer settling a class action lawsuit brought by 200,000 people who claim Roundup made them sick. A $7.5 billion settlement reached earlier this year is in jeopardy. Dressel’s other option is proceeding with his individual case against Bayer.

The settlement could bring Dressel at least $48,000. A jury verdict, his lawyers estimate, could bring a payout totaling millions of dollars. However, opting to go it alone is risky: Roughly two-thirds of the 28 Roundup trials so far have ended in a loss for plaintiffs. It might get harder going forward. The Supreme Court on April 27 heard a case brought by Bayer in the company’s bid to narrow the volume of Roundup claims it is facing. But Dressel wants Bayer to admit that it marketed a potentially dangerous product. The potential settlement is Bayer’s latest attempt to end the mass litigation it faces for the weedkiller and fend off future lawsuits.  (WSJ) Meanwhile, Bayer is testing a new glyphosate-free weed killer in Australia. 

Deals today
• Price Choppers have sales through Monday on mandarins at $3.99/3-pound bag, 80/20 burger at $4.99/pound and frozen swai fillets at $3.49/pound. 

• The False Nine Social Club (206 Fifth St., Valley Junction) has hamburgers for $7 on Wednesdays.
 
• B&B Grocery, Meat and Deli (2001 S.E. Sixth St., Des Moines) has Philly cheesesteak on special today.
 
• Waterfont's Wednesday special this week is Canadian walleye.  
 
• Crouse Cafe (115 E. Salem, Indianola) offers chicken fried steak as today's special. 
 
• Waveland Cafe (4708 University Ave., Des Moines) offers a wiener Wednesday special today. 
 
• Today is fried chicken day at Sale Barn Cafe (Lamoni).
 
• Wednesdays are Chicago Italian beef sandwich day at Graziano Brothers (1601 S. Union St., Des Moines).
 
•  AJ's (Prairie Meadows) has a new 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. 
 
• Hy-Vees offer chicken and noodles dinners for $5 on Wednesdays.
 
• Clyde's Fine Diner (111 E. Grand Ave., East Village) has a four-course tasting menu tonight for $125.
 
• Guesthouse Tavern and Oyster (9500 University, West Des Moine) offers Walleye Wednesday with dinners $21.
 
• Jack’s Place (6112 S.W. Ninth, Des Moines) has 10 wings for $10 Wednesdays.
 
• Wednesday at Short E's BBQ (8805 Chambray Blvd., Johnston) the special is ribs - $15 full racks, $10 half racks and $5 off rib dinners.
 
• Fareway is offering $5 rotisserie chicken on Wednesdays. Other days they cost about $9.
 
• Whatcha Smokin? (Highway 17, Luther) has a brisket burnt ends special on Wednesdays.
 
• Kelly's Little Nipper (1701 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines) offers any burger with a side for $10 on Wednesdays. 
 
• Exile (1514 Walnut St., Des Moines) offers a $12 burger basket with fries and a beer on Wednesdays. 
 
• Beaver Tap (4050 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines) offers $8 French toast or pancake breakfasts and $2 tacos, $9 wraps and $10 half pounds of wings on Wednesdays. 
 
• Johnny's Italian Steakhouses have a chicken Madeira special on Wednesdays before 4 p.m., $15 including beverage.
 
• Club 2000 (422 Indianola Road, Des Moines) offers 10 wings for $10 on Wednesdays and steak night, too.
 
• Smoking Goat Pub (3015 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines) has a $10 classic burger and beer all day. 
 
• Paula's (524 Elm, Valley Junction) has a Wednesday special beef stew with biscuit, $13.50.
 
• Gilroy's (1238 Eighth St., West Des Moines) has all you can eat fried chicken dinners on Wednesdays, $23.99 after 5 p.m. 
 
• Wednesdays bring steak night to Club 2000 (422 Indianola Road, Des Moines). Steaks are cooked to order with salad, potato and bread, $14.99.
 
• Angry Goldfish (2301 S.W. Ninth St., Des Moines) offers hot beef sandwiches with mashed potatoes and gravy for $11.50 on Wednesday. It's also hot beef sandwich day at Chicago Speakeasy (1520 Euclid Ave.) where the gravy is made with pan drippings.
 
• Wine bottles are half price on Wednesdays at Trostel's Greenbriar (5910 Merle Hay Road, Johnston), Table 128 (220 S.W. Ninth, Des Moines) and The Continental (407 E. Fifth St., Des Moines). 
 
• G Mig's (128 Fifth St., Valley Junction) offers a Wednesday special Daddy's mac & cheese with five cheeses and three meats, plus salad and garlic bread for $19.25.
 
• Barntown's (9500 S.E. University Ave., West Des Moines) Wednesday specials are a pound of chicken tenders with fries and two sauces for $11.99, plus $13 core pitchers of beer.
 
• Wednesday is Biryani Festival at Chowrastha (5910 Ashworth Road, West Des Moines). Buy two and a third is free.
 
• Tacos Mariana's (1305 University Ave., Des Moines) and The Station (3124 Ingersoll, Des Moines) have specials on tacos today. 
 
• Village Inns offer free pie with entrees on Wednesdays. 
 
• It's lasagna day at Maxie's Supper Club (1311 Grand Ave., West Des Moines) and breaded pork tenderloin day at Eastside Eddie's (3517 E. 26th St., Des Moines).
 
• Chuck's (3610 Sixth Ave., Des Moines) offers $5 off pizza on Wednesdays.
 
• Kwik Stars' Wednesday special is eight pieces of fried chicken for $10. Their fried chicken is ridiculously good for a convenience store.  
 
• On Wednesdays, flatbreads are $10 at Tito's Lounge (3916 N.W. Urbandale Drive, Urbandale). 
 
• Jethro's have $9.95 breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches, including a side of choice, on Wednesdays.  
 
• The Station on Ingersoll (3124 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines) has a Wednesday special of chopped cheeseburger with a side for $12.
 

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

1429: Joan of Arc relieves Orleans. During the Hundred Years’ War, the 17-year-old French peasant Joan of Arc leads a French force in relieving the city of Orleans, besieged by the English since October. … READ MORE

1974: President Nixon announces release of Watergate tapes. On April 29, 1974, President Richard Nixon announces to the public that he will release transcripts of 46 taped White House conversations in response to a Watergate trial subpoena issued in July 1973. The House Judiciary committee accepted 1,200 pages of transcripts the next day, but insisted that the tapes themselves be turned over as well. … READ MORE

2004: World War II monument opens in Washington, D.C. On April 29, 2004, the World War II Memorial opens in Washington, D.C. to thousands of visitors, providing overdue recognition for the 16 million U.S. men and women who served in the war. The memorial is located on 7.4 acres on the former site of the Rainbow Pool at the National Mall between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. The Capitol dome is seen to the east, and Arlington Cemetery is just across the Potomac River to the west. … READ MORE

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