Good morning, and welcome to The Daily Umbrella Podcast for Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026. Here are the top stories you need to know. …

We begin in southern Iowa, where a measles outbreak has grown to 17 confirmed cases, according to Iowa Health and Human Services. That is two more cases than the department’s previous update. Officials also identified a new potential exposure location. Anyone who visited Sunnyside Grocery in Bloomfield on Aug. 15 between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. may have been exposed to measles. If you were in that area during that time, health officials are urging you to be aware of possible symptoms and follow guidance from Iowa Health and Human Services. …

Here is some good news from the Iowa State Fair. Food vendors donated 11,000 pounds of food to the Food Bank of Iowa this year — nearly twice as much as last year. And one contribution really stands out: The Iowa Egg Council donated 6,912 pounds of hard-boiled eggs. …

If your calendar is not already full this week, there are several food events worth considering. On Thursday, Aug. 27, Wilson Ciderhouse is hosting a Sturgeon Moon dinner featuring seven seafood courses inspired by chef Jacob Demars’ roots in Cape Ann, Massachusetts. There is one seating at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, brings the Historic Corn Plot Dinner at Wallace Farm in Orient. The dinner celebrates Pioneer Hi-Bred’s centennial and will feature corn grown at the farm. Also beginning Friday and continuing through Sunday is the World Food & Music Festival at Western Gateway Park in downtown Des Moines. …

Now, let’s check the weather… and the air. Today will be partly cloudy, with a high around 86 degrees and a low tonight near 68. There is about a 20% chance of rain. Wednesday looks mostly sunny, with a high around 84 and a low near 64. Thursday should also be mostly sunny, with a high around 84 and a low near 62. And if your nose has been telling you something is going on outside, it is not imagining things. The allergy outlook is elevated today, with weeds among the primary concerns. The Daily Umbrella's allergy report specifically lists nettle, chenopods and ragweed as the top allergens. Ragweed is particularly worth watching this time of year, as weed pollen becomes a bigger problem heading into fall. …

Publisher Shane Goodman shares in his column how he spent part of his weekend driving Iowa’s county roads, which he says is one of the best ways to discover that you can go a long way in Iowa without actually getting anywhere in particular. And that got him thinking about those little roadside signs we tend to ignore: Iowa’s mile markers. They are not really there to tell us exactly how many miles we have traveled. Iowa DOT now more accurately calls them “reference posts.” The physical posts are placed at approximately one-mile intervals, but they can be as much as 1.04 miles apart. So do not get angry at your odometer when Mile 100 and Mile 101 do not turn out to be exactly one mile apart. …

And finally, today’s Morning Chuckle asks: What song is it when a guy throws his laptop into the ocean? Think you know the answer? Send your guess to [email protected] 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. …

Good morning, and welcome to The Daily Umbrella Podcast for Monday, Aug. 24, 2026. Here are the top stories you need to know. …

The search has resumed for a boater who went overboard Saturday evening in the Des Moines River. Around 6:45 p.m. Saturday, Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies and personnel from multiple fire departments responded to reports that a boater had gone overboard and had not resurfaced. The incident happened in an area of the river northwest of Highland Park. First responders suspended the search Saturday night, but crews returned Sunday as the effort continued. …

Meanwhile, Flock cameras are facing growing opposition in central Iowa. Protesters gathered Thursday evening outside the Kwik Star between Altoona and Bondurant to challenge the use of Flock cameras. The protesters cited privacy concerns and alleged violations of Fourth Amendment rights. Flock cameras are automatic license plate readers that capture photographs and video of vehicles. Supporters say the technology can help law enforcement identify vehicles connected to crimes, while opponents have raised concerns about surveillance and the collection of information on drivers who may not have done anything wrong. The central Iowa protest reflects a broader debate over how communities should balance public safety with privacy as law enforcement agencies adopt increasingly sophisticated technology. …

Now, a little business news from around central Iowa. Casey’s has purchased the family-owned Pak-a-Sak chain in Texas.Here in central Iowa, several new restaurants are opening. Lux-Modern Asian Gastro has opened just off Interstate 80 on Grand Prairie Parkway in Waukee. The restaurant features higher-end Asian dining, including craft cocktails and wood-grilled steaks. Red Anchor Sushi & Seafood Buffet has opened on Adventureland Drive in Altoona. And Hoang Khao, featuring Lao and Thai cuisine, has opened on Oralabor Road in Ankeny. Yemnella, described as Iowa’s first Yemeni coffee shop, is also coming soon to Jordan Creek Parkway. And after 14 years, Papa Kerns Cafe has permanently closed and will not reopen following the fair. …

Here’s a bit of history for Aug. 24. On this date in 79 A.D., Mount Vesuvius erupted in southern Italy, devastating Pompeii and Herculaneum. In 1814, British troops entered Washington, D.C., and burned the White House during the War of 1812. And 20 years ago today, in 2006, Pluto was officially demoted from planet status when the International Astronomical Union classified it as a dwarf planet. That decision still generates more emotional debate than you might expect from an object nearly 3 billion miles away. …

And finally, today’s riddle. Yesterday’s question was: “H20 is water, but what is H204?” The answer? SWIMMING. Or DRINKING. Or. WASHING. Irving Stone, Anne Lentz, Gail Tomlinson, Donna Willems all had good answers. Here’s today’s riddle: Who carries out operations in water? Think you know the answer? Send your guess to [email protected] 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. …

Good morning, central Iowa. It’s Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, and this is your Daily Umbrella Podcast. Here are some of the stories, oddities and weekend happenings making news today. …

Let’s start with politics. The Cook Political Report has shifted Iowa’s U.S. Senate race from leaning Republican to a toss-up. The change reflects a tightening contest between Republican Ashley Hinson and Democrat Josh Turek. According to the report, some private polling now shows Turek ahead, although the results are within the margin of error. The Cook Political Report also says Iowa’s governor’s race is leaning Democratic. Democrat Rob Sand, Iowa’s state auditor and the only Democrat currently holding statewide office, is running against Republican Zach Lane, a Belle Plaine farmer and entrepreneur. …

A Friday hearing in the Kristin Ramsey case — involving the killing of Ashley Oakland — is expected to focus on claims of grand jury misconduct. The judge recently narrowed the hearing to legal arguments rather than the previously scheduled discussion about possibly dismissing Ramsey’s first-degree murder charge. …

Meanwhile, some Iowa police departments are suspending the use of Flock Safety automated license plate reader cameras. The cameras record information about passing vehicles and retain that data for possible use in future investigations. Critics, including Altoona resident Heather Ryan, say the technology represents government overreach. …

And in Dallas Center, a woman has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after admitting to a fraud scheme involving more than $572,000 from a cattle feedlot where she worked as an office manager. …

Omaha police have agreed to stop carrying electric-shock gloves in Nebraska’s largest public school district. The decision follows an Associated Press report about plans to provide the devices to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. …

And now, the story you probably didn’t know you needed. Oscar Mayer is celebrating its 90th birthday, and apparently a regular birthday cake just wasn’t enough. The company has created what it calls a Weiner Cake — spelled W-E-I-N-E-R — consisting of 90 hot dogs stacked in two tiers. That’s right: 90 hot dogs. Somewhere, a child is looking at a birthday cake and thinking, “Finally, somebody got it right.” …

Here is your weekend forecast, and it looks like a pretty good one. Today will be mostly sunny with a high around 85 and a low of 65, with just a 10% chance of rain. Saturday should be sunny, with a high of 82 and a low of 61. The rain chance is essentially zero. Sunday will be mostly sunny, with a high near 79 and a 20% chance of rain. …

The current issue of CITYVIEW magazine features a story about Iowa artist Ana Mendieta, who reached a career zenith this summer, 41 years after her murder. A retrospective of Mendieta’s work opened at London’s Tate Modern in July. It includes more than 120 works tracing her breakout years in Iowa City through 1984 and is the largest-ever U.K. exhibition of her work. …

And finally, today’s riddle. Yesterday’s question was: Why are some fish at the bottom of the ocean? The answer? They dropped out of school! Of course, readers came up with alternatives. One suggested they’ve been “schooled” not to get caught. Another answer: Because they’re bottom feeders. And today’s question is even more suspicious: H2O is water. But what is H2O4? Think you know the answer? Send your guess to [email protected] 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.

Good morning, and welcome to The Daily Umbrella podcast for Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026. Here are some of the stories and information making news around Iowa and beyond. …

We’ll start with a troubling trend in Iowa high school athletics. Eight Iowa high schools have canceled their varsity football seasons this fall because of safety concerns and low participation numbers. According to the Iowa High School Athletic Association, the schools include Davis County in Class 2A; Central Decatur and New London in Class A; and Exira-EHK, Lone Tree, Mormon Trail, Rockford and Siouxland Christian in the eight-player division. For many Iowa communities, high school football is about more than Friday night games. It’s a tradition, a gathering place and a source of community pride. But schools are increasingly having to balance that tradition with concerns about having enough players to safely field a team. …

In Des Moines, a car crashed into a senior living complex Wednesday afternoon. According to WHO-TV, a Chevrolet Impala drove into a community room at Southridge Senior Residences along the 1200 block of Cummins Road at about 4:30 p.m. Des Moines Fire Chief Jonathan Lund said the vehicle struck a load-bearing column, causing part of the complex to become unsafe. The incident remains under investigation. …

In Stuart, a woman killed in a shooting is being remembered for her kindness. According to WOI, Austin Reed is facing first-degree murder charges in the death of Toni Elena-Ann Salazar. Reed also faces an attempted murder charge in connection with the shooting of Iowa State Patrol Trooper Chase Carruthers, who was injured. For people in Stuart, the shooting has had a very personal impact. …

If you’re filling up your vehicle this morning, you’ve probably noticed that gas prices are moving in the wrong direction. According to AAA, the average price for regular unleaded gasoline in Iowa is now $4.13 a gallon. That’s a 34-cent increase from last week and $1.24 higher than a year ago. The national average Wednesday was $4.09 a gallon, up 5 cents from the previous week. Diesel prices also increased in Iowa, rising 20 cents this week to an average of $5.25 a gallon. For comparison, Iowa diesel averaged $3.52 a gallon one year ago. If you’re looking for the cheapest gas in the Des Moines metro, the Daily Umbrella reports that Mega Saver in Johnston, at 6130 N.W. 86th Street, was listed at $3.78 a gallon. Mega Saver in Ankeny was at $3.85, while the Mega Saver in Urbandale was at $3.86. So, yes, that $3.78 price is looking pretty good right now. …

It should be a fairly pleasant Thursday across central Iowa. Today’s forecast calls for partly cloudy skies, with a high around 83 degrees and a low tonight near 67. There’s a 20% chance of rain. Friday looks similar, with a high of 85 and a 20% chance of rain. And Saturday should be mostly sunny, with a high around 83 and no rain in the forecast. …

Yesterday’s riddle asked: Where can you find an ocean with no water? The answer: On a map! Congratulations to Gail Tomlinson and Judy Anderson, who submitted that answer. And now for today’s question: Why are some fish at the bottom of the ocean? Think you know the answer? Send your guess to [email protected] 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. …

And that’s your Daily Umbrella for Thursday, Aug. 20. Thanks for listening, and have a great Thursday.

Good morning, and welcome to The Daily Umbrella Podcast for Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. Here’s what’s happening across Iowa and beyond. …

We begin in Stuart, where a shooting Tuesday afternoon left a woman dead and an Iowa State Patrol trooper injured. According to Iowa Division of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Adam DeCamp, Adair County dispatch received a call around 3:35 p.m. reporting shots fired in the 200 block of Southwest Sixth Street. The investigation remains ongoing, and the suspect is in custody. …

The Iowa State Fair is proving once again that Iowans really like their corn dogs, livestock, butter sculptures and deep-fried everything. For the second consecutive day, the fair broke an attendance record. The fair reported 111,159 visitors Monday. That surpassed the previous Monday attendance record of 105,522, set in 2017. And Sunday was a record-breaker, too, with 123,140 people attending — surpassing the previous record for the first Sunday of the fair, set in 2024. …

Gov. Kim Reynolds and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have announced two new peer-support drug prevention programs coming to Iowa. The programs are part of the Trump administration’s “Great American Recovery Plan.” According to Kennedy, Iowa is the first state in the nation to participate in the program. …

Around Iowa, Johnson County taxpayers are also taking a closer look at a proposed $94 million jail. A bond referendum for the new Johnson County jail will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot. Land has already been purchased for the project, although voters have not yet approved the proposal. New renderings show the jail would be located off Melrose Avenue near the historic “poor farm.” An informational meeting Tuesday gave taxpayers an opportunity to ask questions about the project. …

And now, the weather. For the Des Moines area today, expect partly cloudy skies with a high around 80 and a low of 63. There’s a 20% chance of rain. Thursday looks similar, with a high of 81 and a low of 66 and another 20% chance of rain. Friday brings isolated storms, with a high near 83 and a low of 63. The chance of rain increases to 30%. …

Here’s a number that might hurt almost as much as stepping on a Lego. The average price of a Big Mac has jumped from $1.99 in 1995 to $6.72 today — a 337% increase. And large fries have gone from $1.29 to $5.39, a 417% increase. In other words, the days of grabbing a cheap burger and fries may officially belong in the history books. …

On this date in 1791, Benjamin Banneker wrote to Thomas Jefferson, urging justice for African Americans and challenging Jefferson’s position on slavery. In 1909, the first race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. And on Aug. 19, 1964, The Beatles began their first U.S. tour at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. …

And finally, today’s Daily Umbrella morning chuckle. Yesterday’s riddle asked what happened when a musical act left an outdoor stage because of a thunderstorm. The answer? The audience left with “reckless a-band-done!” Today’s question: Where can you find an ocean with no water? Think you know the answer? Send your guess to [email protected] 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 for Wednesday, Aug. 19. Thanks for listening, have a great day, and remember: If you’re headed to the State Fair, leave early, bring comfortable shoes and prepare yourself emotionally for the price of a corn dog.

Good morning, and welcome to The Daily Umbrella Podcast for Tuesday, Aug. 18. Here are the stories making news around Des Moines and beyond. …

Indianola is the latest Iowa community to suspend its use of Flock Safety automated license plate reader cameras. According to WHO-TV, the Indianola Police Department has eight Flock Safety cameras. The department says the city is joining several Iowa communities — as well as police departments around the country — that have suspended their automated license plate reader programs. Flock cameras are designed to capture license plate information and other vehicle details that can be used by law enforcement. The decision in Indianola comes as communities continue to debate how these systems should be used and what safeguards should be in place. …

Iowa health officials are reporting a dozen confirmed cases of measles in southern Iowa. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services announced the cases Monday as part of an outbreak in the region. Iowa HHS says state and local public health agencies are working with affected families and community leaders to identify illnesses, share information and make sure people have access to vaccinations. Measles is highly contagious, so health officials are urging people to pay attention to information from public health agencies as the investigation continues. …

A Des Moines man accused of shooting a Muscatine police officer during a traffic stop has been arrested. According to KCCI, Mark Lee Jackson was arrested Monday in Muscatine after three days on the run. Police say Jackson allegedly shot the officer during a traffic stop Friday. The Muscatine police chief says the officer has been released from the hospital and is recovering at home. …

Immigration enforcement is also making headlines. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is proposing to subsidize liability insurance for state and local police officers who are trained and deputized to enforce federal immigration laws. The proposal is intended to help protect officers from potential financial consequences if they are accused of misconduct while making immigration arrests. The plan was outlined in a document published Friday. …

A ship was struck by a projectile early Tuesday while sailing out of the Strait of Hormuz, according to the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center. An Iranian official also said the strategic shipping route would not reopen until the United States meets Iran's conditions. The Strait of Hormuz is a major route for global energy shipments, making developments there important far beyond the Middle East. …

Now, let's check the forecast for central Iowa. Today will bring scattered thunderstorms, with a high around 81 degrees and a 70% chance of rain. Tonight's low will be around 66. Wednesday looks considerably quieter, with partly cloudy skies, a high of 81 and a 20% chance of rain. Thursday will be partly cloudy with some clouds, a high near 80 and another 20% chance of rain. …

We will leave you with today's groaner from the Daily Umbrella. The question was: What is it called when big, hairy spiders rain down out of the sky? The answer? A tarantula downpour! And today's riddle: What happened when the musical act left the outdoor stage because of a thunderstorm? Think you know the answer? Send your guess to [email protected] 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 The Des Moines Daily Umbrella for Tuesday, Aug. 18. Thanks for listening, and have a great day.

Good morning. Here are the top stories and headlines from the Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, edition of the Daily Umbrella. …

Des Moines police are investigating a shots-fired incident in downtown Des Moines, and three handguns have been recovered. Police say officers were patrolling the Court Avenue entertainment district around 2 a.m. Sunday when they heard gunfire near Fourth Street and Court Avenue. The investigation remains ongoing. …

More than 120 people were safely evacuated after a hotel partially collapsed in Burlington on Saturday. The incident occurred at the Comfort Suites after the fire department was dispatched following an early morning fire alarm. No additional details were provided in the report. …

At the Iowa State Fair, organizers have announced a replacement act for Colt Ford. Emerging country-rock artist Sterling Elza will fill in for Ford, who canceled his performance after suffering a broken shoulder in a bus crash last week. …

The Iowa State Fair is also providing plenty of opportunities for political candidates to connect with voters. U.S. Reps. Zach Nunn and Ashley Hinson joined Sen. Chuck Grassley to discuss Iowa businesses, manufacturing and trade. Gubernatorial candidates Rob Sand and Zach Lahn also met fairgoers, served food and outlined their priorities at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox. …

Around the world, President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to scale back annual joint military exercises with South Korea. Trump cited South Korea's decision not to help with the war against Iran and pointed to his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. …

In Hawaii, Tropical Storm Lala weakened Sunday after bringing heavy rain and strong winds to the islands without making landfall. Officials said the storm's winds and rain were strong enough to sweep around 100 homes off their foundations on the Big Island. …

Today's weather calls for abundant sunshine, with a high of 82 and a low of 67. The rain chance is zero percent. Tuesday brings a 40% chance of scattered thunderstorms, with a high of 85. Wednesday also has a chance of scattered thunderstorms, with a high of 80. …

In sports, the Minnesota Vikings will be without veteran defender Jamal Adams for the 2026 season because of a right knee injury suffered Saturday in a preseason victory over the New York Giants. Former major league pitcher Tommy John has died at age 83. John was a four-time All-Star who won 288 games during a 26-year career. He became best known for the elbow surgery that bears his name after undergoing the procedure in 1974. And Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever defeated the Atlanta Dream 95-91 in overtime Sunday. The teams entered the game separated by just a half-game in the playoff standings, with 10 games remaining in the regular season. …

Finally, today's morning chuckle is a riddle. What is it called when big, hairy spiders rain down out of the sky? Think you know the answer? Send your guess to [email protected] 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.

Good morning, and welcome to the Daily Umbrella Podcast for Friday, Aug. 14, 2026. Here are the stories you need to know to start your day. …

The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa has filed a federal lawsuit against the state on behalf of The Satanic Temple after the group was denied permission to hold an event in the Iowa Capitol rotunda. According to the ACLU of Iowa, The Satanic Temple applied in 2024 to hold a holiday display in the rotunda but was denied. Previous displays had been allowed but were vandalized. The lawsuit raises questions about free speech, religious expression and how public spaces are made available to different groups. …

Story County officials are considering whether to renew a contract for Flock Safety cameras in Ames. The cameras have generated controversy over who has access to the information they collect. Last October, police departments that were not authorized to access the data were able to do so. The supervisors have expressed concerns about access to the information. And Flock Safety is responding to growing criticism across the country. The surveillance technology company announced changes to its license plate reader platform Thursday in an effort to address privacy concerns and documented abuses of its system by some members of law enforcement. …

If you are headed to the Iowa State Fair tonight, there is a change to the Grandstand lineup. John Waite will perform at 8 p.m., replacing Rod Stewart, who canceled his Friday night performance. Waite is the singer-songwriter behind hits including “Missing You” and “When I See You Smile.” The concert is free, and no Grandstand ticket is required. …

A man is facing an animal abuse charge after Iowa City police say he dragged a dog from an electric scooter. The incident happened Aug. 5 near Broadway Street and Sandusky Drive. According to a criminal complaint, an officer saw a man riding an electric scooter with something dragging behind him. The officer realized it was a small dog and stopped the man. The complaint says the dog’s body was “flopping around like a ragdoll.” …

Food Dude Jim Duncan takes a look at an Iowa icon in his latest CITYVIEW feature: the Big Steer restaurant in Altoona. Duncan writes about Des Moines’ history of being hard on its icons, from public art to old buildings to giant cows. The Big Steer’s roadside cow has been standing along Adventureland Drive since 1984. Unlike Anderson Erickson’s giant cows, Annie and Eric, the Altoona cow has never been given a name. But the Big Steer has earned plenty of recognition as the home of “Iowa’s finest prime rib” and as one of the few surviving veterans of Iowa’s wind-grieved supper club era. …

In sports, Kyle Schwarber had quite a night in Iowa. The Philadelphia Phillies slugger hit two home runs into an Iowa cornfield Thursday night as Philadelphia defeated the Minnesota Twins. Schwarber, who grew up in Middletown, Ohio, played college baseball at Indiana and spent his first six major league seasons with the Chicago Cubs. …

On this date in history, Aug. 14, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law. In 1985, Michael Jackson purchased the publishing rights to the vast majority of the Beatles’ catalog for $47 million. And in 2003, one of the largest blackouts in North American history hit the northeastern United States and parts of Canada. Fifty million people were affected. …

And finally, today’s morning chuckle. Yesterday’s riddle asked: What is a frog’s favorite type of music? The answer? Hip hop! Today’s question is: Why did the meteorologists name their bowling team Lightning? Think you know the answer? Send your guess to [email protected] before noon today for a chance to be featured in the next edition.

Good morning, and welcome to the Daily Umbrella Podcast for Thursday, Aug. 13. Here are the stories and things you need to know to get your day started. …

First, we have some weather to talk about. The Local 5 Weather Team has issued a Weather Impact Alert for today because of the potential for strong to severe thunderstorms this morning. Those storms are expected to move through central Iowa during the morning hours, creating a potentially disruptive start to the Iowa State Fair. Today’s forecast calls for morning thunderstorms, a high near 85 degrees, a low of 70 and an 80% chance of rain. Friday also brings a chance of morning thunderstorms, with a high of 86 and a 40% chance of rain. The good news? Saturday is looking mostly sunny, with a high near 89 and only a 20% chance of rain. So, if you are heading to the State Fair today, keep an eye on the weather, be prepared for storms and remember that fried food tastes just as good after the rain stops. …

Speaking of the Iowa State Fair, Des Moines police are putting extra emphasis on safety as more than a million people are expected to visit the fairgrounds over the next 10 days. Police say they are addressing potential risks and raising awareness about everything from large crowds to illegal drug activity. As Sgt. Paul Parizek of the Des Moines Police Department put it, you would be naive to think drug dealers are not looking at the fair as a place where they could sell a lot of drugs. So, enjoy the food, the rides, the animals, the concerts and everything else the fair has to offer — but keep your eyes open and your belongings close. …

Now, let’s talk about something that affects nearly all of us: gasoline prices. According to AAA, the average price for regular unleaded gasoline in Iowa is $3.79 per gallon. That is unchanged from last week, but it is up 91 cents from a year ago. The national average Wednesday was $4.04 per gallon, down 4 cents from the previous week. For those looking for a bargain around the metro, GasBuddy lists regular gasoline at $3.38 per gallon at Mega Saver in Urbandale. Mega Saver in Ankeny was at $3.41, while Murphy USA in Altoona was at $3.46. …

Yesterday’s Morning Chuckle had two possible answers. Why are frogs so happy? Because they eat whatever bugs them! Or, as another answer suggested: Because they live in swamp heaven! Today’s Morning Chuckle asks: What is a frog’s favorite type of music? Think you know the answer? Send your guess to [email protected] 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. …

Looking for events happening around central Iowa? “Finding Nemo Jr.” is being presented by the Penguin Project at the Des Moines Playhouse today through Sunday. Ankeny Community Theatre is presenting “August: Osage County” through Sunday. The Community Jazz Center Big Band will present “Goodstock 2” on Sunday at 2 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Dallas Center. Admission is free, and groovy attire is encouraged. And artists have until Aug. 17 to submit work for “By the Blade: Defining Collage” at the Polk County Heritage Gallery. …

Here is a quick look back at this date in history. On Aug. 13, 1952, Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton recorded “Hound Dog” for the first time. Elvis Presley would record his version four years later, and that version would become a No. 1 hit. And on Aug. 13, 1961, East German soldiers began constructing barriers that divided East Berlin from the democratic western section of the city.

Good morning, Iowa, and welcome to the Daily Umbrella podcast for Wednesday, Aug. 12. Today, we’re talking about surveillance cameras that are becoming targets, a big change to this week’s Iowa State Fair lineup, a heartbreaking puppy rescue, some wild weather across the Midwest, and the question that has been keeping frog lovers awake at night. But first, let’s start with something you probably heard before you saw it. …

If you grew up in Iowa, you probably remember the sound of cicadas. That loud, relentless buzzing was simply part of summer. Publisher Shane Goodman shares in his column how he used to assume every Iowa summer came with cicadas. He said it turns out there is more to the story, noting how when cicadas emerge, they begin what might be described as the cicada version of speed dating. The males make the noise — a loud noise — to attract females. Shane says if humans used the same strategy, dating apps would be much simpler. We would just stand in our backyards and scream at maximum volumes until somebody found us attractive. …

Surveillance cameras owned by Flock Safety are being vandalized across the country. The cameras are designed to capture information from vehicles, and their increasing presence has generated both support and controversy. Supporters say these systems can help law enforcement investigate crimes and identify vehicles connected to criminal activity. Critics have raised concerns about privacy and the amount of information that can be collected and retained. And now, in communities across the country, some of the cameras themselves have become targets. …

If you were planning to see Rod Stewart at the Iowa State Fair this Friday, you’ll need to make other plans. Fair officials announced Tuesday that Stewart will not perform Friday night because of medical issues. The 81-year-old music legend had been scheduled to perform Aug. 14 at the Iowa State Fair Grandstand. Officials say they are now working to find a replacement act. …

A severely emaciated puppy found in an overgrown Polk County ditch is now receiving care at the Animal Rescue League of Iowa. The puppy, named Blossom, arrived at the shelter Saturday weighing just 9.7 pounds. She was severely dehydrated, soaked in urine and unable to lift her head without assistance. An ARL veterinarian described it as one of the worst cases of emaciation she had ever seen. Blossom is now getting medical attention and care. …

Elsewhere this morning, all suspects believed to be connected to an armed robbery at a Kwik Star in Oskaloosa are now in custody following a search involving multiple law enforcement agencies. …

And on this date in history, Aug. 12, 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill met aboard a ship in Newfoundland and worked on what became the Atlantic Charter. And in 1990, fossil hunter Susan Hendrickson discovered three enormous bones sticking out of a cliff in South Dakota. They belonged to what became the largest Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton ever discovered. …

Yesterday’s riddle was: Why did the frog read Sherlock Holmes? The answer? Because he liked a good croak and dagger story! And today’s question: Why are frogs so happy? Think you know the answer? Think you know the answer? Send your guess to [email protected] before noon today. And be sure to subscribe to our email version of The Daily Umbrella for free at www.TheDailyUmbrella.com.