Aug. 4, 2026, Des Moines Daily Umbrella Podcast

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.Welcome to the Daily Umbrella Podcast for Tuesday, Aug. 4. We bring you the stories you need to know to start your day across Iowa and beyond. Here is what is making news this morning. …A nationwide blood shortage is having a real impact close to home. According to KCCI, a critical blood transfusion for 4-year-old Liv Freund of Waukee nearly had to be delayed because of a lack of available blood. Liv has been battling B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and is about 10 months into a two-and-a-half-year treatment plan at Blank Children's Hospital. Health officials continue encouraging eligible donors to give blood, saying every donation can make a life-saving difference for patients like Liv. …An Urbandale man is facing charges after an assault that left another man in critical condition. Police responded late Sunday night to the 6500 block of Madison Avenue, where they found the victim suffering serious injuries. The investigation is ongoing. …And in western Iowa, a man has been charged with first-degree murder after a woman was found dead in a Lake View residence in Sac County. Authorities say deputies responded to a 911 call Sunday morning reporting a shooting. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is assisting with that case. …In Washington state, authorities have arrested a man suspected of intentionally setting one of the wildfires burning around Spokane. He is facing a first-degree arson charge, and investigators continue working to determine the full scope of the damage. …Internationally, officials report that an Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo has claimed more than 1,700 lives, making it one of the fastest-growing outbreaks of the disease. …If you appreciate truly local media, Shane Goodman highlights one organization worth celebrating today. Community radio station KFMG, 98.9 FM in Des Moines, continues expanding its lineup with familiar local voices, including veteran broadcaster Maxwell Schaeffer, longtime arts advocate Lee Ann Bakros, jazz musician Tommy Doggett and community leader Dr. Negus Rudison-Imhotep. Goodman points out that while corporate radio often sounds the same no matter where you travel, KFMG sounds like Des Moines — and that local ownership is becoming increasingly rare. …Expect scattered showers today with a high of 86 degrees and about a 60 percent chance of rain. Showers and thunderstorms become even more likely on Wednesday, with temperatures cooling into the upper 70s. Sunshine returns Thursday with a high near 83. Restaurant Week kicks off Aug. 7 and runs through Aug. 16, giving diners plenty of opportunities to explore local restaurants. And if your tomato plants are finally producing more tomatoes than you know what to do with, the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden is offering a hands-on salsa workshop tomorrow. See details at www.thedailyumbrella.com. …On this day in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson formally proclaimed the United States neutral as World War I began in Europe. In 1944, Anne Frank and her family were discovered by the Gestapo after more than two years in hiding in Amsterdam. And in 2012, Oscar Pistorius became the first amputee runner to compete in the Olympic Games. …We will leave you with today's Daily Umbrella riddle: Why did the man hold a shoe to his ear? 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. …