Good morning, and welcome to The Daily Umbrella, your daily five-minute briefing on what's happening in central Iowa and beyond. Today is Wednesday, July 22. We've got news about flooded roads, smoky skies, concerns about drinking water, and, of course, today's morning chuckle. Let's get started. …

If you drove around the Des Moines metro Monday night, you probably discovered that some streets looked more like boat ramps. Des Moines police say nearly one-quarter of all 911 calls during the evening storm were weather-related. Officers responded to almost two dozen stranded vehicles after drivers tried to make it through flooded streets — and didn't make it. The reminder today is a simple one: Turn around, don't drown. Even a few inches of moving water can disable a vehicle or sweep it off the road. …

Speaking of the environment, today  ...