Aug. 11, 2026, Des Moines Daily Umbrella Podcast

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.Good morning, and welcome to The Daily Umbrella Podcast for Tuesday, Aug. 11. Here’s what’s happening around the metro, across Iowa and beyond — plus a little history, some sports and, of course, a frog who apparently has developed an interest in detective fiction. Let’s get started. …If you have ever driven through Texas, you probably know Buc-ee’s. It’s the enormous convenience store and gas station chain known for its giant stores, massive selection of snacks, clean restrooms and, perhaps most importantly, beaver-themed merchandise. Now, Buc-ee’s is proposing its first Iowa location — and it wants to put it in Urbandale. According to KCCI, the proposed location would be near the I-80/I-35 interchange at 100th Street and Northpark Drive. And this would not be some little roadside gas station. The proposed store would be a whopping 74,000 square feet on a 20-acre site that is currently a bean field. The property is owned by former Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie, who is selling the land to Buc-ee’s. Before the project can move forward, Urbandale would need to change its comprehensive plan. So, Iowa, get ready. If everything falls into place, you may soon be able to buy a brisket sandwich, fill up your tank and purchase a six-foot beaver statue without leaving the metro. …A much more somber story comes from BCLUW High School. Josh Tack, the school’s principal, died in a UTV crash over the weekend in Dubuque County. The BCLUW school district shared news of Tack’s death Monday. BCLUW serves the communities of Beaman, Conrad, Liscomb, Union, Whitten and Marshalltown. A school principal is often one of those people who becomes a familiar face far beyond the school building — to students, parents, teachers and the broader community. The loss of a school leader can be felt throughout an entire district. Our thoughts are with Tack’s family, friends, colleagues and the students and communities he served. …Nearly 200 supportive housing units are coming to the Des Moines metro. Greater Des Moines Supportive Housing announced that West Des Moines and Urbandale have approved renovations to two extended-stay hotels. The properties will be converted into fully furnished studio apartments. The project represents the completion of a five-year effort to bring new permanent supportive housing units to the metro. Nearly 200 people will eventually have access to housing designed to provide not only a place to live but additional support. …Internationally, search-and-rescue crews are working in western Colombia following a powerful earthquake. At least 111 people were reported killed, with many others trapped beneath damaged or destroyed buildings. …On Aug. 11, 1934, the first federal prisoners arrived at Alcatraz Island. The high-security prison would go on to become one of the most famous — and infamous — prisons in American history. And in 1984, President Ronald Reagan made his infamous microphone joke about bombing Russia while testing a microphone before a radio address. The joke was never broadcast as part of the address, but it certainly became part of presidential history. …We’ll close with today’s morning chuckle. Yesterday’s question was: Why are frogs good at baseball? One answer: Because they are good at catching or hitting fly balls! Another answer: Because their games are always ribbiting! And today’s question is: Why did the frog read Sherlock Holmes?Think you know the answer? 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.