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Good morning, Des Moines! It is Monday, Oct. 19, and this is The Daily Umbrella Podcast, your five-minute weekday morning briefing from Big Green Umbrella Media. Here is what is happening around central Iowa and beyond, along with your weather, sports and a little Monday morning humor. Let's get started. …

Polk County voters have opportunities to cast their ballots early ahead of Election Day. Satellite voting locations are available throughout the county, with schedules varying by site. Check the Polk County election information or local news coverage for locations and hours before heading out. …

A community-led effort to help Carlisle businesses recover from the city's recent water emergency has raised $30,000 in just one week. The emergency began after two water mains broke, leaving the city without water for days. Some businesses had to close temporarily or reduce operations, resulting in lost revenue, spoiled inventory and continuing expenses. The fundraising effort is providing a helping hand as local businesses work to recover. …

Des Moines police are investigating reported vandalism involving Metronet fiber-optic lines that affected thousands of customers and delayed the start of classes at 16 Des Moines Public Schools on Friday. The district said transportation was delayed two hours, although breakfast and lunch were still served. Metronet reported that restoration efforts had been completed Saturday morning, but some customers could still experience problems. …

A Sac County deputy's patrol car was struck Saturday while parked behind a vehicle-deer accident on Highway 20. Authorities are reminding motorists to slow down and move over when approaching emergency vehicles. …

And in international news, four Canadian service members were killed and 39 people were injured, including 19 critically, when a fast-moving grass fire overtook soldiers conducting live-fire training at a military base in Alberta. Officials said shifting winds sent flames racing toward the soldiers. …

Here is your central Iowa forecast. Expect mostly sunny skies today, with a high of 66 degrees and an overnight low of 44. The chance of rain is zero percent. Tuesday looks mostly sunny, with a high of 69 and a low of 50. Wednesday will be sunny, with a high of 71 and a low of 53. The rain chance remains at zero percent each day. …

In sports, the Pittsburgh Steelers rallied from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit Sunday to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 26-19, in overtime. Aaron Rodgers threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns, tying Peyton Manning for third on the NFL's all-time career passing touchdown list with 539. Only Drew Brees and Tom Brady have thrown more. In baseball, the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians, 3-1, on Sunday to take a three-games-to-two lead in the American League Championship Series. Game 6 is scheduled for tonight. Meanwhile, Sacramento Kings guard Ben Simmons suffered a torn right Achilles tendon during practice Sunday and will undergo surgery. …

On Oct. 19, 1985, the first Blockbuster video-rental store opened in Dallas, Texas. It featured about 8,000 videotapes and a computerized checkout system. For those of us who remember browsing the shelves on a Friday night, that was a pretty big deal. Blockbuster eventually became a video-rental giant before filing for bankruptcy in 2010. Also on this date in 1987, the stock market suffered what became known as Black Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 22.6% in a single day. …

Today's morning chuckle: What musical instrument is found in the bathroom? Think you know the answer? Email your guess to tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com before noon today for a chance to be featured in the next edition.

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Good morning, Central Iowa! Today is Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, and this is your Daily Umbrella Podcast — your five-minute briefing on the news, weather and a few things you probably did not know you needed to know. …

Let's start with the news. A data center company that faced pushback in Ames is now looking at Boone. Lightedge is considering a 10-acre site in Boone Business Park. Residents had an opportunity Thursday to ask questions about the proposal. Company officials have not announced a final decision. …

President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Iowa twice before Election Day. Iowa Republican Party Chairman Jeff Kaufmann says Trump plans to visit Oct. 22 and Nov. 1. Details about the events have not yet been released. …

And a University of Iowa conversation is underway about whether fraternities and sororities should be abolished. The university has more than 40 Greek organizations. Concerns about consent, sexual assault and campus culture have gained attention following a high-profile investigation at Cornell University. …

Around the nation and the world, Russia has attacked nine Ukrainian regions, causing power outages for hundreds of thousands of households and injuring at least 15 people, according to officials. …

A tragic shooting in Bend, Oregon, left three children and a teacher dead at an elementary school Thursday. The 16-year-old suspect was later found dead after being shot by a witness at the scene. …

Now, let's talk sports. The Milwaukee Brewers are heading to the World Series for the first time since 1982. Milwaukee completed a National League Championship Series sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers with a 6-4 victory Thursday. Garrett Mitchell's sixth-inning home run helped cap the comeback. In football, the Denver Broncos edged the Seattle Seahawks 17-14 in overtime Thursday night after nearly giving away a double-digit halftime lead. …

Here's your Iowa fuel report. AAA says regular unleaded gasoline is averaging $4.20 per gallon in Iowa, down 10 cents from last week but up $1.44 from a year ago. The national average is $4.33. Iowa diesel averages $6.07 per gallon, up 3 cents from last week. …

Let's check the weather report. Today, Friday, expect clouds and wind, with a high of 51 and a low of 34. There's a 20% chance of rain. Saturday brings sunshine and a high of 58, with a low of 42. Sunday looks sunny and breezy, with a high of 65 and a low of 45. No rain is expected either day. …

Betcha didn't know this. Cow brains have largely disappeared from American menus since concerns about mad cow disease emerged in the 1990s. But one longtime German restaurant in Evansville, Indiana, is still famous for its brain sandwiches. And here in Des Moines, some Mexican taquerias once served sesos tacos — tacos made with brains. …

On this day in history, Oct. 16, 1923, Walt Disney and his brother Roy founded the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, the company that would become the Walt Disney Co. …

And now, our morning chuckle. Today's riddle: What did the hairdresser say when I asked if she ever gave a henna rinse? Think you know the answer? Email your guess to tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com before noon today for a chance to be featured in the next edition. And be sure to subscribe to our full email version of The Daily Umbrella for free at www.TheDailyUmbrella.com.

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

Good morning, Central Iowa! It is Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, and this is your Daily Umbrella Podcast — your quick look at the news, weather and happenings to start your day. …

Early voting for Iowa’s November midterm elections is underway. Voters lined up at election offices across the state Wednesday, including the Polk County Election Office on Euclid Avenue in Des Moines. Some voters said they wanted to cast their ballots early because they would be out of town on Election Day, while others said they were looking for change. …

In Earlham, city leaders are preparing to take out a $500,000 loan because the city has yet to receive property tax revenue from Madison County more than a quarter of the way into its fiscal year. The town of about 1,200 people says it needs the money to cover basic operating expenses. The loan could add interest costs for taxpayers. …

A former West Des Moines youth gymnastics coach has been sentenced to 90 years in federal prison for secretly recording young female students undressing and using the bathroom at a Mississippi gym. Sean Gardner, 39, pleaded guilty to three federal charges involving the production of child pornography. A judge handed down the maximum possible sentence. …

Around the state, Winnebago Industries plans to lay off 51 workers at its Forest City facility on Nov. 9, according to a notice filed with Iowa Workforce Development. …

And there is some news for Social Security recipients. The Social Security Administration projects a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment for 2027. That would mean an average increase of about $75 per month for recipients. …

Now, let’s check the weather. Rain and clouds are in the forecast for Central Iowa today, with a 90% chance of rain and a high of 60 degrees. Tonight’s low will be around 44. Friday brings clearing skies and a high of 54, with a low of 37. Saturday looks mostly sunny, with a high of 59 and a low of 45. The allergy report is in the low range today, with ragweed, sagebrush and chenopods listed as the top allergens. …

At the gas pump, the lowest price listed in the metro is $3.96 per gallon at Murphy USA in Altoona. Mega Saver in Ankeny lists gas at $3.98, while QuikTrip on East Euclid Avenue and Kwik Star on Hubbell Avenue in Des Moines are both listed at $3.99. …

In sports, the Milwaukee Brewers have taken a commanding 3-0 lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. Jake Bauers delivered a major home run in Game 3, putting the defending champions on the brink of elimination. In the NFL, Tom Brady’s latest power rankings put the San Francisco 49ers at No. 1 after their Week 5 victory over Seattle. …

On this day in history, Oct. 15, 1973, Dolly Parton released her hit single “Jolene.” In 1991, the U.S. Senate confirmed Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court by a vote of 52-48. And in 1965, antiwar demonstrations took place in about 40 U.S. cities. …

And now, today’s morning chuckle. Yesterday’s bathtub riddle asked what steals from you when you’re in the tub. Answers included a robber ducky, a grime ring and soap making a clean getaway. … Today’s question: What did Alfred reply when Batman asked him to fill the bathtub? Think you know the answer? Email your guess to tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com before noon today for a chance to be featured in the next edition. And be sure to subscribe to our full email version of The Daily Umbrella for free at www.TheDailyUmbrella.com. …

That’s your Daily Umbrella Podcast for Thursday, Oct. 15. Thanks for starting your day with us.