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.

WEBSTER CITY – A Webster City man was killed in a single vehicle crash early Sunday morning after a chase by police. The Iowa State Patrol reports Jose Casiano drove away from an attempted stop by a Webster County deputy, with speeds at one point topping 130 miles per hour. Casiano apparently lost control and was ejected from the vehicle in a subsequent crash. RED OAK – The Iowa Department of Public Safety is investigating an officer involved shooting. On Sunday, a Red Oak police officer made contact with a male subject outside a residence, investigating the driver for operating a vehicle without a valid driver’s license. After a physical struggle with the officer, the subject was able to get away and made entry to his vehicle. He then drove towards the officer, who fired his weapon and caused a serious, but non-life-threatening injury. CLINTON COUNTY – A Delmar woman died as a result of injuries after she was hit while standing near a disabled vehicle Friday night. The Iowa State Patrol reports Lucas Albertson was traveling on Highway 61 and allegedly struck Cheryl Neilson outside of a parked SUV in Clinton County. The incident remains under investigation. IOWA – Drought is once again spreading across Iowa after a prolonged dry spell this fall season. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 58% of Iowans are experiencing severe drought or worse, with 27% in extreme–or the third worst, category. Many in that extreme drought have precipitation deficits of over a foot below normal and extremely dry soil moisture levels.

CRESTON – A Creston man is accused of attempted murder for threatening another man he claims was sexually abusing children. KCCI-TV reports David Hanson was arrested on Wednesday after the Adair County Sheriff’s Office says he was upset that a homeowner had not been charged with any crimes, eventually shooting at the house. The unnamed neighbor has not been charged with a crime related to Hanson’s allegations of sexual abuse. DES MOINES – A Des Moines man has been found guilty of murder in connection to a 2022 homicide. WHO-13 reports 44 year old Andrew Jerome Harris shot and killed 39 year old Tyrell Lavell Grimes last summer near the Drake University campus. Harris argued he was defending himself, but a jury found him guilty of first degree murder, which carries a mandatory life sentence. CEDAR FALLS – All state football champions have been crowned following the high school finals this week. Southeast Polk, Lewis Central, Williamsburg, Van Meter, Grundy Center, West Hancock, and Bishop Garrigan all were victorious at the UNI Dome this week in Cedar Falls.

AMES – A federal grand jury in Des Moines returned an indictment charging an Ames man several crimes against children. According to the indictment, Carl Dale Markley faces fifteen counts of sex trafficking by fraud and coercion, one count of sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of a child, and one count of possession of child pornography. He’s accused of attempting to use fraud and coercion to cause fourteen victims to engage in commercial sex acts between 2004 to April 2023. Each of the sex trafficking charges carries a 15-year mandatory minimum prison term, and a maximum term of imprisonment of life. AMES – The Iowa Board of Regents have approved a request for additional funds related to the CyTown project next to Jack Trice Stadium. WHO-13 reports they approved Iowa State University’s request for $9.2 million to finish the first phase. The project’s budget is now $37.7 million and the additional funding would come from a variety of sources at ISU, including donors and the athletic department. IOWA – Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 3.2 percent in October, up from 3.1 percent a year ago. The state’s labor force participation rate decreased from 68.6 percent to 68.4 percent, but remains 0.3 percent higher than one year ago. Meanwhile, the U.S. unemployment rate rose to 3.9 percent in October, and the national labor force participation rate fell to 62.7 percent. The number of unemployed Iowans increased to 56,000 in October from 52,800 in September.

ELDORA – A former therapist at the Iowa State Training School for Boys has been charged with sexual exploitation. WHO-13 reports Sarah Perry is accused of engaging in sexual acts with several minor residents at the facility in Eldora. Perry faces three different charges following an investigation by Eldora Police. FAIRFIELD – A teenager convicted in the killing of his Spanish teacher received his sentence this week. KCRG-TV reports Jeremy Goodale received a life sentence with the possibility of parole in 25 years. Both Goodale and Willard Miller admitted to the murder of Nohema Graber in November of 2021 in retaliation for a bad grade. DES MOINES – The Iowa Board of Education has passed the first set of proposed rules related to removal of materials in school libraries. KCCI-TV reports the guidance to schools has been long awaited by many school districts after Senate File 496 was signed by Governor Kim Reynolds in May. The document further details what types of books and other works are considered age appropriate and what types of sex acts should be excluded. Public hearings will be held on January 3rd and 4th to allow for comment and response. IOWA CITY – An Iowa Hawkeyes standout will miss the remainder of the 2023 season. The Athletic reports Cooper DeJean is out with a lower leg injury, which was confirmed by Head Coach Kirk Ferentz on Wednesday. DeJean was in the running for several national awards for his work on defense and special teams for the 16th ranked Hawkeyes.