July 23, 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 Thursday, July 23. We bring you a quick roundup of today's top headlines, local events, weather, and a little trivia to start your day. Let's get to it. …Shane Goodman opens today's newsletter with a reminder about something many of us take for granted: vacations. He shares a cartoon of a cow asking for two weeks off in August — a funny image, until you realize the truth behind it. Livestock don't take vacations, and neither do the farmers who care for them. It's a tribute to the Midwestern work ethic. Whether it's feeding cattle before sunrise or harvesting crops before a storm rolls in, farm life runs on responsibility, not a calendar. Shane reminds us that while many careers offer weekends, holidays and paid time off, someone is working every single day to make sure food reaches our tables. …One of Iowa's most influential athletic leaders is stepping away. KCCI takes a look at the legacy of Iowa State Athletic Director Jamie Pollard. Supporters say Pollard's impact stretches well beyond wins and losses. During his tenure, Iowa State transformed its athletic facilities, elevated the national profile of Cyclone sports, and helped fuel economic growth throughout Ames. Many believe his influence will be felt for decades. …In Calhoun County, authorities have filed murder and attempted murder charges against a man accused in a deadly April collision involving a pickup truck and a UTV. Nineteen-year-old Kyle Rath died in the crash, while another passenger suffered serious injuries. …Meanwhile, the City of Waukee has approved a new ordinance regulating e-bikes and e-scooters. The rules reduce allowable speeds on sidewalks and trails and establish additional safety standards aimed at balancing recreation with pedestrian safety. …Nationally, there's encouraging news on crime. A new report shows homicide rates continue to decline sharply across major U.S. cities. If the trend continues through the end of the year, 2026 could record the lowest homicide rate in more than a century. …Today's forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with a high near 78 degrees and just a slight chance of scattered showers. Friday stays comfortable with morning rain possible and a high of 76 before summer heat returns Saturday with sunshine and temperatures climbing back to around 90. …Looking for something to do? Jazz in July wraps up Tuesday evening at Hoyt Sherman Place with free outdoor performances followed by a Kenny Wheeler tribute inside the theater. Tea lovers may want to visit Mainframe Studios this Sunday for the Des Moines Tea Festival, featuring vendors, tastings and educational sessions. The Des Moines Playhouse closes out its run of “Legally Blonde: The Musical” this weekend, while Des Moines Young Artists' Theatre opens “Rent: School Edition” on Friday. …Here's today's fun fact. You've probably seen "57 Varieties" on Heinz ketchup bottles. The funny thing is... Heinz never actually made 57 products. Founder Henry Heinz simply liked the number. Five was his lucky number, seven was his wife's, and together they created one of the most recognizable marketing slogans in history. Sometimes branding really is that simple. …And before we go, today's morning riddle: What's a ballerina's favorite number? Think you know the answer? Send your guess to [email protected] before noon today for a chance to be featured. And be sure to subscribe to our full email version of The Daily Umbrella for free at www.TheDailyUmbrella.com.