Episode notes
Good morning, Des Moines! It is Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, and this is your Daily Umbrella Podcast. Let’s get right to the news. …
First, if you live in Carlisle, pay attention to this one. The city remains under a do-not-use water order this morning following a water main break. Residents should not use tap water until at least 8 a.m. today while crews work to refill the system. Mayor Dan Carver says the order could be lifted this morning, but that is not guaranteed. City crews and Des Moines Water Works employees worked overnight to locate and repair the break. …
Meanwhile, over in Norwalk, there is a smell in the air — and it is not exactly the smell of fall. Residents have been dealing with an unpleasant sewer odor following the recent heavy rainfall. The Des Moines Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation Authority says the rain caused wastewater to build up in the system. That increased flow moves through the sanitary sewer system and is stored in a large equalization basin on the south side of Norwalk. …
All right. Let’s talk weather. And after all that rain, I think we have earned this forecast. Today will be sunny, with a high of 62 and a low of 48. There is a zero percent chance of rain. Saturday will be mostly sunny, with a high of 68 and a low of 53. And Sunday looks pretty much the same — mostly sunny, a high of 68 and a low of 47. The allergy alert is in the low-medium range today, with ragweed leading the list of allergens. …
The price of regular unleaded gas in Iowa fell 11 cents this week and is now averaging $4.23 a gallon, according to AAA. That sounds like good news until you hear the next number. Prices are still $1.40 higher than they were a year ago. The cheapest prices listed in the metro today are $3.94 a gallon at Murphy USA in Altoona and Hy-Vee Fast and Fresh in Ankeny. …
Looking for something to do this weekend? Iowa Latino Restaurant Week begins today and runs through next weekend with special lunches and dinners at restaurants around the metro. First Friday at Mainframe Studios is tonight from 5 to 8. The Science Center of Iowa is celebrating Latino Heritage Month Saturday with “¡Ciencia para todos!,” a free event from 5 to 8 p.m. And the West Des Moines Historical Society’s Jordan House Heritage Jubilee is Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. …
Here are some interesting statistics. Traditional grocery stores accounted for 72.2% of Americans’ food spending in 1999. By 2025, that number had dropped to 56.2%. Meanwhile, warehouse clubs and supercenters grew their share from 9.4% to 26.4%. And one more number: Americans are spending 34% more time preparing meals than they did 20 years ago. The average dinner now takes 43 minutes to prepare. …
Let’s finish with a little history. On this date in 1965, Gatorade was first tested during a college football game between Florida and LSU. The drink was developed to help players replace fluids and electrolytes lost through sweating. And on Oct. 2, 1967, Thurgood Marshall was sworn in as the first Black justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. …
And now, the part of the show where we test your sense of humor. Yesterday’s morning chuckle was: What do you call a knitting snake? We had some great answers, including “a nana-conda,” “a tatler,” “a knitting cobra” and “a needling reptile.” Today’s riddle is this: What do you call a snake that builds things? Think you know the answer? Email your guess to tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com 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.