FROM KCCI: US Marshals arrest 61 fugitives, clear 97 felony warrants during central Iowa operation. A four-day operation led by the U.S. Marshals Service resulted in the arrests of 61 wanted fugitives and the clearance of 97 felony arrest warrants across central Iowa, according to federal officials. The U.S. Marshals Service's Southern Iowa Fugitive Task Force coordinated the multi-agency operation called "Operation Heatwave" with state, local and federal law enforcement agencies aimed at locating and arresting dangerous fugitives throughout the region. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Proposed Des Moines Fire Department cuts could lead to longer waits. The president of the Des Moines Firefighters Union is warning of potential service cuts amid the city’s budget crisis. Des Moines leaders are navigating a $12 million deficit for fiscal year 2028, and an additional $5 million deficit the following fiscal year. This came as a result of property tax reform passed this legislative session that capped local revenue growth at 2%. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden announces construction, renovation plans. Construction of a temporary public entrance is underway at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden as the facility looks to begin renovating the lobby and constructing a new permanent front entrance. The temporary entrance is expected to be completed in spring 2027 and allow for lobby renovations and construction of the permanent entrance to begin. The stopgap entrance is being constructed adjacent to the Garden Gateway, according to a spokesperson. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: Jordan intercepts Iranian missiles as US and Saudi Arabia launch strikes against militias in Iraq. Jordan intercepted missiles launched from Iran early Wednesday, hours after the U.S. military said it knocked down another Iranian barrage launched against American forces in the Middle East, ending a brief pause in fighting between Tehran and Washington. The U.S. also said it worked with Saudi Arabia to fire on Iran-backed militias in Iraq that have targeted the kingdom in recent days. The militias said at least 20 of their fighters had been killed. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: Powerful tornado leaves widespread damage in Wisconsin but time of day may have saved lives. First responders searched homes and buildings on Tuesday for possible victims, a day after a powerful tornado touched down in northeastern Wisconsin, hollowing out homes and toppling power lines as it remained on the ground for more than 20 minutes. The Fox Cities region, which is home to more than 100,000 people in the cities of Appleton, Menasha and Neenah, was left in shambles by Monday’s twister, with homes leveled, cars flipped, and power lines and trees toppled. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: Firefighters battle blaze at NE Iowa meat processing plant. Multiple fire departments spent hours on Tuesday battling a fire at a meat processing plant in northeast Iowa. The Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office said that at around 3:56 a.m., it received a report of smoke coming from a building at the Agri Star meat plant, located in the 200 block of West Street in Postville. ... READ MORE

Woebegone Wednesday
Today is the final day for Table 128. The restaurant was brilliant but hurt by operation interruptions including divorce, COVID and a move from Clive to MLK downtown that didn't draw enough support to justify the overhead. Super chef/owner Lynn Pritchard will focus on his wood-oven centric Hugo's.
 
Beans & Beignets in Earlham will close permanently Aug. 2. They made baked goods as marvelous as any anywhere, and Iowa will lose a true conjurer of magic. They will continue their mobile operation.
 
Deals today
• Fresh Thyme (2800 University Ave., West Des Moines) has $6 half slabs of ribs on Wednesdays. 
 
• Sale Barn's (Lamoni) special today is fried chicken. 
 
• The Empire's (223 Fourth St., Des Moines) Wednesday special is meatball sandwiches for $9.
 
• Wednesday is biryani day with two for $20 at Desi Bites (3828 100th St.,, Urbandale.
 
• Mariana's (1305 University Ave., Des Moines) offers asada tacos for $2 Wednesdays.
 
• Talk Shop Lounge (3357 St. Charles Road, St. Charles) has a rib dinner deal Mondays, half slabs for $12, full racks $16. 
 
• The False Nine Social Club (206 Fifth St., Valley Junction) has hamburgers for $7 on Wednesdays.
 
• Crouse Cafe (115 E. Salem, Indianola) offers smoked pork chops as today's special.
 
• 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 Alaskan King salmon.
 
• Waveland Cafe (4708 University Ave., Des Moines) offers a wiener Wednesday special today. 
 
• 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 second sushi rolls for half price on Wednesdays.
 
• Paula's (Elm Street at Sixth, Valley Junction) has a Wednesday Cuban sandwich special.
 
• 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.
 
• 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. 
 
• Toad's (302 State Ave., Des Moines) special today is wings with two sides for $12.
 
• 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. 
 
• Gilroy's (1238 Eighth St., West Des Moines) has all you can eat fried chicken dinners on Wednesdays, $23.99 after 5 p.m. 
 
• 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) and The Continental (407 E. Fifth St., Des Moines). 
 
• G Mig's (128 Fifth St., Valley Junction) offers a Wednesday special lasagna 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.
 
• 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.

• Price Choppers have sales through Monday on watermelons at $3.99, Kandy melons at $2.99/pound and frozen tilapia fillets at $4.99/pound.

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

1909: General Motors buys Cadillac. On July 29, 1909, the newly formed General Motors Corporation (GM) acquires the country’s leading luxury automaker, the Cadillac Automobile Company, for $4.5 million.   … READ MORE

1921: Adolf Hitler becomes the leader of the Nazi Party. On July 29, 1921, Adolf Hitler becomes the leader of the National Socialist German Workers’ (Nazi) Party. Under Hitler, the Nazi Party grew into a mass movement and ruled Germany as a totalitarian state from 1933 to 1945.. … READ MORE

1958: NASA created. The U.S. Congress passes legislation establishing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), a civilian agency responsible for coordinating America’s activities in space, on July 29, 1958. NASA has since sponsored space expeditions, both human and mechanical, that have yielded vital information about the solar system and universe. It has also launched numerous earth-orbiting satellites that have been instrumental in everything from weather forecasting to navigation to global communications. … READ MORE

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