IOWA – Traffic fatalities remain above the five-year average heading into the busiest stretch on Iowa’s roadways of the year. The Iowa Department of Transportation reports 330 people have died on the state’s roadways in 2023 — which is 12.6% above the rate from 2018-2022. The Iowa State Patrol and other police agencies encourage extra caution ahead of the holiday travel season.

DES MOINES – A teen has been arrested in connection to a deadly crash that killed a married couple in Des Moines. KCCI-TV reports 18 year old Kameron Wright has been charged with vehicular homicide by OWI and reckless driving after crashing his Camaro into another car on November 22nd. Fred and Mary Lehman died as a result of injuries suffered in the collision. Police say Wright was traveling upwards of 100 MPH just before the crash.

IOWA – Spread of the avian flu has not yet had a negative impact on chicken and egg production in Iowa. A USDA check in showed that 1.18 billino eggs were reported in October, up 13 percent from 2022. The report showed 2023 remains well above last year’s average in several categories across the nation.

DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds pardoned two turkeys at Terrace Hill in Des Moines, continuing a longstanding Thanksgiving traditiony. Freedom and Flourish will now move from The Moline Farm in Manson to a non-commercial farm in southwest Iowa. The pair were raised by Iowa Turkey Federation President Brad Moline’s daughter Ava in Manson. Staff from the Iowa Turkey Federation attended the event, along with Secretary Mike Naig and Lt. Governor Adam Gregg.