FROM KCCI: $15 million car condo development opens in Urbandale. A $15 million car condo development called Grand Lux Motor Condos has opened in Urbandale, featuring 41 units designed for car enthusiasts to store and showcase their vehicles in style. Car collector David Baum, one of the first condo owners, described the space as "the best of all worlds for anybody that collects vehicles and motorcycles, cars, trucks, whatever it might be," he said. Baum keeps five cars in his unit, which he calls his personal museum, free of lawnmowers and snow blowers. "Everybody kind of eats, breathes and sleeps vehicles here," Baum said. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Ames City Council considers proposal for new data center, concerns over high electricity use. The City of Ames is deciding whether to move forward with a proposed data center within city limits. Des Moines-based company, Lightedge, is looking to lease a nearly 11-acre plot near the James Herman Banning Ames Municipal Airport to build a data center. A city council meeting was held on June 23 for the council to ask questions to company representatives. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: Iowa family sues Ellipsis employees after worker died while chasing runaway teen. The family of a late Ellipsis staff member is suing multiple current and former employees for gross negligence. Two years ago, Kathleen Galloway-Menke died after chasing a teen who was running away from the home for troubled youth. Jovahn Mathis pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter last year. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: At least 164 dead and 971 injured after powerful quakes rock Venezuela, acting president says. At least 164 people have died and 971 were injured after a pair of powerful quakes rocked Venezuela, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said Thursday. The acting president had said earlier that at least 32 people have died after Wednesday evening’s 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes, and that the toll was expected to rise. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: Vermont is the first state to ban paraquat, a weed killer linked to Parkinson’s disease. Vermont has become the first U.S. state to ban paraquat, one of the most commonly used herbicides, with lawmakers citing a possible link between the weed killer and Parkinson’s disease. The ban has been widely celebrated by advocates who hope Vermont’s move will prompt similar action in other states to prevent the neurologic disease that robs people of control over their movements and affects about 1 million Americans. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: Small-town McGregor is making big moves to boost tourism. As personal budgets tighten for many, communities across Iowa are ramping up their efforts to attract visitors. Northeast Iowa has several small cities with historic downtown areas, and McGregor is hoping to stand out among them. The city is working on multiple development projects aimed at drawing more people to the area. ... READ MORE

Creedence Clearwater experience
The Ingersoll presents "Commotion: America’s No. 1 Tribute to Creedence Clearwater Revival" on June 27, 28. Commotion delivers an authentic Creedence Clearwater Revival experience, performing classics like "Bad Moon Rising," "Fortunate Son," "Proud Mary," and many more. They're regarded as America's top CCR tribute act.

PlayMakers Playwriting Contest
Deadline for submission: June 30 PlayMakers is celebrating 100 years as a community drama club in Ames by hosting a playwriting contest for 10-minute plays. Plays can be on any topic or theme but must be in English and conform to radio and TV broadcast rules for profanity and obscenity. Prizes of $150 each will be awarded to the winners. They are soliciting entries from writers who are located in Iowa or with ties to the community. Play manuscripts of no more than 1,600 words in standard format will be judged by a panel of PlayMakers members and community members interested in theater arts.

The Ingersoll. MJ The Illusion: A Tribute to Michael Jackson. June 25-26.

Runaway Twain at the Playhouse. Long form improv. June 28.

About Time Theatre Company, presented at the Des Moines Playhouse Blackbox Theatre. "Gutenberg! The Musical." Through June 28.

— John Busbee, The Culture Buzz

The passing of Alan Greenspan this week resurrected his iconic quote about the stock market’s “irrational exuberance” in 1996. What elements of today’s economy seem irrationally exuberant?

Is Proctor and Gamble crazy to be pushing a new version of Tide? Tide completely dominates the detergent market despite the fact that it costs considerably more than all serious competition. It’s irrational that no one else has broken through for decades. This is detergent, not the elusive formula for synthetic chocolate. And now P&G is trying to convince their devotees that there is something better? Not sure that’s something Tide wants to encourage.

Entertainment ticket pricing. Taylor Swift proved that people would spend the equivalence of a year of mortgage payments to take their daughters to an elite showgirl concert. Now people are paying triple digit dollars for nose bleed seats to average shows and to World Cup games between insignificant teams with no stars. And this is happening at the same time that politicians on both sides of the aisle are running against an affordability crisis? All of that is irrationally exuberant.

All the all-prime steakhouses in Des Moines. Fifteen years ago, Ruth’s Chris deemed West Des Moines to be outside the demographic parameters of a place that could support their high-end prices. More recently, they built their biggest store ever (at the time, Rogers, Arkansas’ Ruth Chris is now even bigger) in West Des Moines, without subsidies that Jordan Creek Town Center offered when it was new. And then Irina’s and Prime & Providence moved in close by. And all seem to be doing quite well. The $300+ steak dinner is not just for rare and special occasions in West Des Moines. Really, things are that good in West Des Moines? 

Deals today
• The Empire's (223 Fourth St., Des Moines) Thursday special is baked spaghetti for $10.
 
• Thursday is $10 kebabs and wings day at Desi Bites (3828 100th St., Urbandale). 
 
• Marianna's (1305 University Ave., Des Moines) offers tacos for $1.50 Thursdays during the World Cup.
 
• Talk Shop Lounge (3357 St. Charles Road, St. Charles) has two deals Thursday: jambalaya dinner for $15, lasagna for $10.
 
• 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 quesobirria tacos 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 pulled pork mac and cheesespecials today.
 
• Ham balls dinners are 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.
 
• Chelsie's Courtyard Diner (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.
 
• Buffalo Wild Wings offers two orders for the price of one Thursdays on orders of six, 10 and 15 boneless wings.

• Price Choppers have sales through Monday on red cherries at $2.99/pound, Kentucky Legend bacon at $2.99/pound and frozen swai fillets at $2.49/pound.

• Aldi stores have sales through Tuesday on 85/15 grass fed organic burger at $5.95/pound, peaches at $1.49/pound, and ground turkey at $4.95/3 pounds.

• Fresh Thyme (2800 University Ave., West Des Moines) is running a sale through Sunday on NY strips at $11.99/pound and through Tuesday on baby back ribs $1.99/pound and snow crab clusters at $9.99/pound.

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

1941: FDR signs order banning discrimination in the defense industry. On June 25, 1941, with World War II heating up in Europe, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs Executive Order 8802 prohibiting ethnic and racial discrimination in the country’s growing defense industry. The order, issued after adamant protest by African American leaders, marked the U.S. government’s first move to ban employment discrimination and promote equal opportunity—and its first presidential directive on race since the period of Reconstruction after the Civil War. … READ MORE

1950: Korean War begins. On June 25, 1950, armed forces from communist North Korea smash into South Korea, setting off the Korean War. The United States, acting under the auspices of the United Nations, quickly sprang to the defense of South Korea and fought a bloody and frustrating war for the next three years. … READ MORE

1978: First rainbow Pride flag premieres at San Francisco parade. On June 25, 1978, activists hoist a vibrant rainbow flag in the midst of the festivities for San Francisco’s Gay and Lesbian Freedom Day parade. According to its creator, Gilbert Baker, the crowd immediately recognized the flag’s significance: “It completely astounded me that people just got it, in an instant like a bolt of lightning—that this was their flag,” he later said. “It belonged to all of us.” This was the rainbow Pride flag, now an ubiquitous symbol of queer pride and liberation. … READ MORE

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