DU Aug. 12: Surveillance cameras being vandalized across the country; Rod Stewart concert change; why are frogs so happy?

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Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026

Good morning to you!

The chirping of cicadas was a common sound of my childhood. With only a few years of experience on Earth, I assumed these bugs and their ridiculously loud noises were simply part of every Iowa summer. Of course, I was wrong.

As a kid, I did not know there were different types of cicadas, that some emerge annually and others spend years underground, or that certain years bring enormous “broods” of them. I just knew they were loud. Really loud.

I eventually learned that the males are responsible for most of the noise. They make their distinctive calls to attract females, which is an impressive biological strategy. I have to admit, though, if humans used the same approach of standing in a backyard and screaming at maximum volume in the hopes of attracting a mate, we would not have made it very far as a species.

In Iowa, the cicadas we hear most summers are annual cicadas. They generally become active from July into early fall, particularly around trees. They spend much of their lives underground, feeding on fluids from plant roots before eventually emerging, shedding their old skins and beginning the noisy portion of their lives.
And then there are the periodical cicadas. Those are the ones that can turn a normal summer into something resembling a biblical bug convention.

Fortunately, 2026 has not brought a major periodical cicada emergence in Iowa. We got a much bigger show in 2024, when Broods XIII and XIX emerged in different parts of the country. When periodical cicadas arrive in large numbers, you don’t have to wonder whether they are around. You know. You can hear them. You can see them. You can step on them. And if you park your vehicle beneath the wrong tree, you may discover that cicadas have decided your windshield is the perfect place to hold their annual family reunion.

The good news is that cicadas are harmless to people. They do not bite or sting. They are simply loud, awkward-looking insects with one job to accomplish before their brief above-ground lives come to an end.

So, enjoy the cicadas while they are here. Listen to their songs. Watch them crawl out of the ground. Marvel at their complete disregard for personal space. And remember: They are not trying to annoy you. They are simply looking for love.

Which means, for a few weeks each summer, Iowa is filled with thousands of single males yelling at the top of their lungs, hoping somebody finds them attractive. Come to think of it, maybe cicadas aren’t so different from humans after all.

Have a watchful Wednesday, and thank you for reading.

Shane Goodman

President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com

Read more of Shane Goodman's columns here.

FROM KCCI: What are Flock cameras? What to know about surveillance cameras being vandalized across the country. Surveillance cameras owned by the company Flock Safety are being vandalized across the country, and it may lead you to ask, What are Flock cameras and what are they used for? Here's what to know. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: State Fair announces Rod Stewart concert change. Rod Stewart will not perform at the Iowa State Fair this week because of medical issues, fair officials announced Tuesday. The 81-year-old music legend was scheduled to perform at the Iowa State Fair Grandstand on Friday, Aug. 14. Fair officials said they are now working to find a replacement act. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: Emaciated puppy found in Polk County ditch receiving care at ARL. A severely emaciated puppy found in an overgrown Polk County ditch is receiving care at the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, the organization said on Tuesday.
Blossom arrived at the ARL on Saturday weighing just 9.7 pounds. She was also severely dehydrated, soaked in urine and couldn't lift her head without assistance, the organization said. An ARL veterinarian said it was one of the worst cases of emaciation she had ever seen. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: Former Syrian President Assad sentenced to death in absentia for war crimes. A Syrian court on Tuesday sentenced ousted President Bashar Assad and his brother in absentia for murder, torture and crimes against humanity committed before and during the country’s 14-year civil war that left about half a million people dead. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: Severe weather knocks out power in Illinois, Indiana and Ohio as ‘ring of fire’ strikes Midwest. Severe weather cut power to more than half a million people in the Chicago area and northwestern Indiana as perilous thunderstorms and tornadoes pummeled the region Tuesday, causing widespread damage and bringing lightning that injured people at an Ohio prison. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: APolice say all suspects in Oskaloosa Kwik Star armed robbery are now in custody. All suspects believed to be connected to an armed robbery at an Oskaloosa Kwik Star are now in custody following a search involving multiple law enforcement agencies Tuesday. The Oskaloosa Police Department said officers responded shortly before 11 a.m. to a reported armed robbery at the Kwik Star at 1510 A Avenue West. ... READ MORE

Wednesday, Aug. 12

Chance of AM storms
High: 89
Low: 72
Rain chance: 30%

Thursday, Aug. 13

AM rain
High: 81
Low: 69
Rain chance: 700%

Friday, Aug. 14

Scattered thunderstorms
High: 81
Low: 74
Rain chance: 40%

Allergy alert

Today: 9.6, medium-high range

Top allergens:

Nettle

Sagebrush

Grasses

See more: https://www.pollen.com/forecast/current/pollen/50301

The 2026 results: CITYVIEW's Best of Des Moines®

Best Whiskey Menu
1. Winchester Public House
2. Gastro Grub & Pub
3. Fresko

See all of the results

Woebegone Wednesday
Sue Zelickson died last week at 91. She was a long time food reporter, radio host and community chauvinist of the Twin Cities culinary scene. Along with Minneapolis Star food editor Rick Nelson, they relentlessly promoted the Twin Cities restaurant scene into dominance among Midwest metros, particularly with the James Beard Awards. We believe Des Moines Register entertainment editor Susan Stapleton is our local equivalence, promoting our local scene nationally. Hopefully she will have similar influence by the time she is 97.

For the sixth straight year, Chicago led the nation in the national rankings of cities with the worst bed bug problems, edging out Los Angeles despite the latter’s huge leg-up with 50,000 homeless. Both Davenport and Cedar Rapids were in the top 50.

Deals today

• Fareway has whole seedless watermelons Wednesday only at $2.99.

• Fresh Thyme (2800 University Ave., West Des Moines) has $6 half slabs of ribs on Wednesdays.

• Crouse Cafe's (111 E. Salem, Indianola) special today is Salisbury steak.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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) and The Continental (407 E. Fifth St., Des Moines).

• 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 boneless chicken thighs at $2.99/pound, Colorado peaches at $1.99/pound and frozen baby backs at $2.99/pound.

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

Featured in the current issue of CITYVIEW magazine.

POLITICAL MERCURY
Book uncovers Des Moines’ darkest secrets

By Douglas Burns

In an inviting and richly reported new book populated with larger-than-life figures cut from the fabric of everyday life in early 1900s central Iowa, the city of Des Moines emerges as the most riveting character.

David and Rose Donovan’s “The Nastiest Saloon in Iowa: Murder, Prostitution, and Corruption in the Heartland” reveals an early Des Moines that is shocking and scandalous, hilarious and haunting — and, at times, all of those things on a single page. The nonfiction book is now available in bookstores and online, and the couple, both accomplished journalists with deep Iowa roots, are making media appearances to promote it. ...

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FROM ESPN: White rips critics, backed by Clark, Cunningham after fans boo. Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White gave an impassioned statement to reporters before Tuesday night's 106-92 win over the New York Liberty in which she proclaimed, "The hate, the fearmongering, the divisiveness, the stuff that's trying to hijack our league will not win." ... READ MORE

FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: Albert Breer empties his Vikings notebook from training camp. My timing was good, with this being the day that the Vikings named Kyler Murray the team’s quarterback. So what pushed it over the top? Murray, through camp, showed accuracy and an improved ability to play with rhythm and timing. His athleticism was also a factor in how he’ll impact coverage, changing the math by forcing teams to either spy him or play a lot of zone coverage against a dangerous group of Minnesota receivers. ... READ MORE

FROM YAHOO SPORTS: Blake Snell makes victorious return to Dodgers with 10 Ks in 6 innings after 3 months on IL. Blake Snell did not look like a pitcher making his first start since early May, or his second start all year, on Tuesday. After three months on the injured list with loose bodies in his pitching elbow, Snell returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers rotation with six strong innings against the Kansas City Royals. His final line: 10 strikeouts, 3 hits, 1 run and 1 walk on 84 pitches in a 5-4 Dodgers win. ... READ MORE

1676: King Philip’s War ends. In colonial New England, King Philip’s War effectively comes to an end when Philip, chief of the Wampanoag tribe, is assassinated by a Native American in the service of the English. … READ MORE

1941: FDR and Churchill meet on ship, map out Atlantic Charter. On August 12, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill meet on board a ship at Placentia Bay, Newfoundland, to confer on issues ranging from support for Russia to threatening Japan to postwar peace. … READ MORE

1990: Skeleton of Tyrannosaurus rex discovered. On August 12, 1990, fossil hunter Susan Hendrickson discovers three huge bones jutting out of a cliff near Faith, South Dakota. They turn out to be part of the largest-ever Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton ever discovered, a 65-million-year-old specimen dubbed Sue, after its discoverer. … READ MORE

www.history.com

Birthdays and notables

Happy birthday, Michael Wunn!

These celebrities were born on this date: Bruce Greenwood, Cara Delevingne, Casey Affleck, George Hamilton, Imani Hakim, Khris Middleton, LaKeith Stanfield, Leah Pipes, Maggie Lawson, Mark Knopfler, Michael Ian Black, Pat Metheny, Pete Sampras, Peter Krause, Rebecca Gayheart, Roy Hay, Sir Mix-a-Lot, Yvette Nicole Brown

Historical birthdays

1856: Diamond Jim Brady – Wealthy American Gilded Age businessman and philanthropist

1881: Cecil B. DeMille – Influential American movie director and producer

1889: Zerna Sharp – American educator and author known for creating the Dick and Jane reading series.

The answer to the last riddle: Why did the frog read Sherlock Holmes? He liked a good croak and dagger story! - Gail Tomlinson

Today's riddle: Why are frogs so happy?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com BY NOON to be sure your answer gets included!

To advertise in the Daily Umbrella or CITYVIEW magazine, contact:

Aaron Burns
Advertising Sales Manager
Office: 515-953-4822 ext. 330
Mobile: 712-310-3860
aaron@dmcityview.com

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