FROM KCCI: Early voting numbers break records in Polk and Dallas counties. Early voting turnout in Polk and Dallas counties is breaking records, with thousands of voters lining up to cast their ballots ahead of Election Day. In Polk County, voting enthusiasm is on full display at the election office, where voters have lined up daily since early voting began two weeks ago, sometimes waiting for an hour to cast their ballots. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: One last walk through Valley West Mall. More than 50 years after opening as a bustling shopping destination, Valley West Mall’s once-crowded corridors have grown quiet, leaving behind empty storefronts and decades of memories for generations of central Iowans. Since opening in 1975, the mall has been a gathering place for shoppers, families and friends. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: Wells Fargo announces largest round of layoffs in at least 5 years. Wells Fargo is laying off 86 employees at its Jordan Creek campus at the end of this year, marking the company's largest layoff since at least October 2021.
The financial services company notified affected workers on Tuesday, according to Iowa's Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, or WARN. This latest round of layoffs — the 22nd this year — is effective Dec. 26. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: Former Hawkeye George Kittle to serve as honorary captain at Saturday’s game. Former University of Iowa tight end George Kittle will serve as honorary captain Saturday when the Hawkeyes take on No. 25 Wisconsin at Kinnick Stadium. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m on FOX. During his time at Iowa, Kittle contributed to 35 combined wins and advanced to four January bowl games. Most notably, he was a key member of the historic 2015 Iowa squad that completed an undefeated Big Ten regular season, earning a trip to the 2016 Rose Bowl. ... READ MORE

Cool candy and kids meals
According to Wall Street Journal, these Halloween treats will make your house popular with beggars: Amos Peelerz, Sockerbit Marshmallows, Jujube Nougat Candie, Béquet Caramels, Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, Albanese Gummi Bears and Greyston Blondies.
 
According to Door Dash, Laffy Taffy is Iowa’s favorite Halloween treat.

Wingstop, hoping to reverse a 25% stock price dip this year, introduced Sour Patch Kids flavor wings. Then they announced expansion to India. 

All November, Bianchi’s Hilltop (2820 Hubble Ave., Des Moines) offers a free kid’s meal with an adult dinner or large pizza purchase.

Weekend deals
• Irina's Steak & Seafood (650 S. Prairie View Drive, Unit 100, West Des Moines) has a Sunday special beef stroganoff with potatoes, salad and two glasses of wine for $33.
 
• Hy-Vees offer fish and chips for $5.99 Fridays, whole smoked chickens for $8.99 Saturdays and eight legs buckets of fried chicken Sundays. 
 
• AJ's at Prairie Meadows has a new all-you-can-eat prime rib and crab legs buffet from 4 p.m. Fridays. 
 
• Guesthouse Tavern and Oyster (9500 University Ave., West Des Moines) offers fish fry lunch specials $16.49-$21 including a pint or two shrimp Fridays. Saturdays feature $33 12-ounce prime rib dinners. 
 
• High Life Lounge (200 Second St., Des Moines) has a Friday special fish fry for $11.99.
 
• Amruth Indian Grill (9974 Swanson Blvd., Clive) offers mandi rice on Fridays, with chicken, paneer and vegan choices. 
 
• Exile offers half-priced kids meals on Fridays. 
 
• Fresh Thyme (2800 University Ave., West Des Moines) has $6 buckets of eight pieces of baked chicken on Fridays. 
 
• Desi Bites (1475 S.E. Bishop Drive, Waukee) has weekend specials on nine biryanis and five pulavs. 
 
• Tacos Mariana's (1305 University Ave., Des Moines) offers green enchiladas combos for $10 Fridays and Saturdays and four shrimp tacos for $12 Sundays.
 
• Talk Shop Lounge (3357 St. Charles Road, St. Charles) has a steak dinner deal Friday $16. 
 
• The False Nine Social Club (206 Fifth St., Valley Junction) has wings on sale Fridays for $8.
 
• Waveland Cafe (4708 University Ave., Des Moines) offers Italian subs specials today.  
 
• Friday lunch special is $12 Italian beef with fries and soda, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Striking Sparrow (1930 S.E. Sixth St., Des Moines).
 
• Machine Shed (11151 Hickman, Urbandale) offers smoked prime rib on Saturday only. Whatcha Smokin? (Luther) offers smoked Dino beef ribs on Saturday only. 
 
• Pork ribs are today's special at Crouse Cafe (115 E. Salem, Indianola). Saturday's will be chipped beef and Sunday's is fried chicken.
 
• Saturday is wine sampling day at Graziano Brothers.
 
• ShortE's BBQ (8805 Chambery Blvd., Johnston) offers  "kids eat free" deals on Friday and Saturday.
 
• Amruth (9974 Swanson Blvd., Clive) has 20 dishes on their Saturday and Sunday buffet, noon to 4 p.m. Of course, there will be dosas.
 
• Waterfront stores' Saturday special includes cocktail shrimp or raw oysters on the half shell for half price until 4 p.m.
 
• Guesthouse Tavern and Oyster (9500 University, West Des Moines) offers Surf and Turf specials Fridays and $33 prime rib dinners Saturdays.
 
• Gilroy's (1238 Eighth St., West Des Moines) does Saturday and Sunday brunch buffets for $24.99 for adults. Kids 6 and younger eat free.
 
• Rube's steakhouses offer a prime sirloin special on Sundays only, $29.
 
• Beaver Tap (4050 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines) offers $9 Philly cheesesteaks or hot honey chicken plus $8 biscuit and gravy breakfasts on Fridays.
 
• Smoking Goat Pub (3015 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines) offers walleye or steak dinner specials tonight and karaoke after 9 p.m. They have a 10 for $10 wings deal on Sundays. 
 
•  Jethro's Sunday special is burger baskets with fries for $9.95. Fridays they have Texas Dip - chopped Texas brisket with sauteed onions, Swiss cheese on a hoagie with fries and BBQJus. $13.95. 
 
• Paula's (Elm at 6th, Valley Junction) has a Friday special Rachel (turkey Reuben) with fries for $14.
 
• Heavenly Asian (225 Fifth St., Valley Junction) has an all-day Friday sale on orange chicken served with soup, crab Rangoon, egg roll and rice, $14, available for dine-in and phone carry-out.
 
• Destination Grille (2491 E. First St., Grimes) has a $40 prime rib dinner special Friday and Saturday. 
 
• Court Avenue Brewing Company (309 Court Ave., Des Moines) hosts Saturday and Sunday breakfast buffets for $23.99.
 
• It's French dip Friday at Club 2000 (420 Indianola Road, Des Moines).

• Fresh Thyme (2800 University Ave., West Des Moines) is running sales through Tuesday on lobster tails at $6.99/pound, salmon fillets at $7.99/pound and 41-50 shrimp at $3.99/pound.

• Aldi stores have sales through Tuesday on chicken breasts at $1.99/pound, avocados at $.49 and frozen bay scallops at $5.99/pound.

• Fareways have specials through Saturday on boneless chicken breasts at $1.99/pound, avocados at $.77 and cream cheese for $1.44/half-pound brick.

• Hy-Vee’s have sales through Sunday on 80/20 ground beef at $4.88/pound, ground turkey at $4.88/pound and avocados for 68 cents.

• Price Choppers have sales through Tuesday on mandarins at $3.99/3-pound bag, swai filets at $3.99/pound and chicken thighs at $1.69/pound.

Dinner with a show
Kevin Best plays Kelly's Little Nipper at 7 p.m. Friday... El Toreado Mexican Bar & Grill on EP True has live music from The Juan and Only on Friday from 6 p.m... Fred Gazzo Quintet plays at Anna Dolce at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

1864: The city of Helena, Montana, is founded after miners discover gold. On Oct. 30, 1864, the town of Helena, Montana, is founded by four gold miners who struck it rich at the appropriately named “Last Chance Gulch.”  … READ MORE

1938: Orson Welles’ “War of the Worlds” radio play is broadcast. “The War of the Worlds” — Orson Welles's realistic radio dramatization of a Martian invasion of Earth — is broadcast on the radio on Oct. 30, 1938. … READ MORE

1991: “Perfect storm” intensifies in the North Atlantic. On Oct. 30, 1991, the so-called “perfect storm” intensifies in the North Atlantic, producing remarkably large waves along the New England and Canadian coasts. Over the next several days, the storm spread its fury over the ocean off the coast of Canada. The fishing boat Andrea Gail and its six-member crew were lost in the storm. The disaster spawned the bestselling book The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger and a blockbuster Hollywood movie of the same name. … READ MORE

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