IOWA – The latest Iowa DOT traffic fatality report shows the state recently topped the 300 death mark for the fourth consecutive year. A total of 309 people have died on Iowa’s roadways as of Tuesday, which is behind the 2023 pace but in line with the five-year average. A total of 43% of those who died were not wearing a seat belt, according to the Iowa State Patrol. Thanksgiving travel will remain busy throughout the weekend, and local and state police will have extra patrols on the state’s highways looking for speed and seat belt violations. AMES – The Iowa State Cyclones will be playing on Saturday for the chance to play for the Big 12 Championship, and thus, a spot in the College Football Playoffs. Kansas State is coming to Jack Trice Stadium for the annual Farmageddon football game on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. The 9-2 and 18th ranked Cyclones are among nearly half of the conference that has a chance to finish in the top two spots. The Wildcats are ranked 24th in the nation. IOWA – Wind chills near and even below zero are possible starting today and continuing periodically, according to the National Weather Service. The burst of unseasonably cool air may cause potential frostbite conditions in the overnight and early morning hours in those conditions. The federal agency reminds those traveling to prepare by making sure tires remain properly inflated, especially with the recent temperature change, and to ensure car batteries are in working order.

DES MOINES – The Des Moines Police Department has released details about an officer-involved shooting that resulted in the death on an alleged suspect. WHO-13 reports the department responded to a call of a 70-year-old man threatening another person with a pistol early Tuesday morning. Police claim the main pointed the weapon at officers, who then promptly responded by opening fire and fatally wounding the individual. Two officers ages 25 and 24 have been put on administrative assignment as part of a routine post-shooting investigation, which is being conducted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. IOWA CITY – A district wide recount has concluded, and Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks has won a third team in Iowa’s southeast district. Democratic Challenger Christina Bohannan conceded the race that shows the Republican incumbent won by 798 votes, among the most narrow margins of victory in the entire country among U.S. House races. The margin is much smaller for Miller-Meeks than her 2022 win over Bohannan, but still much larger than a six-vote victory in 2020 over challenger Rita Hart. AMES – An Ames man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to fifteen counts of sex trafficking by fraud and coercion. Former licensed nurse practitioner Carl Dale Markley admitted to using fraud and coercion to lead fourteen victims to engage in commercial sex acts. From 2004 to 2023, Markley lied to dozens of young men to convince them to allow Markley to perform sex acts on them and observe them doing so, lying about their nature and claiming they were in order to obtain certifications, complete classwork, conduct third-party research, and product development. Markley paid the young men for the sex acts, falsely claiming he had received grants or funding from a third party. He deceived the victims by fabricating consent forms and contracts and used hidden cameras to capture videos and images of them while naked. Sentencing is scheduled for March 24th. For each of the 15 sex trafficking counts, Markley faces a fifteen-year mandatory minimum term of imprisonment and a maximum life sentence.

DES MOINES— Governor Kim Reynolds pardoned two turkeys on Tuesday at Terrace Hill in Des Moines, continuing a longstanding Thanksgiving tradition celebrating Iowa’s turkey industry. Caitlin and Clark will now move from The Moline Farm in Manson, Iowa to a noncommercial farm in Monticello. Iowa ranks seventh in U.S. turkey production, producing about 12 million turkeys annually. The state has two turkey processing plants: Tyson Foods in Storm Lake and West Liberty Foods in West Liberty, which combined produce more than 15.5 million turkeys annually. IOWA – The main weather theme for Thanksgiving holiday is colder temperatures, the coldest for fall thus far, according to the National Weather Service. Highs on Thanksgiving will be near freezing, then falling into the teens and 20s over the weekend. Wind chill values closer to zero — and in some cases, below that mark, are expected to settle in by Friday morning and continue periodically into early next week. IOWA – The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau is teaming up with law enforcement agencies across Iowa to promote road safety during the Thanksgiving holiday season. Drivers can expect to see increased police presence on Iowa roads through December 1st.. Last year, during Thanksgiving week, 34 people died or suffered severe injuries on Iowa roads—40% were not properly restrained. The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau collaborates with city, county, state, and local organizations to create and implement strategies aimed at reducing fatalities and injuries on Iowa roads through federally funded grants.

CEDAR RAPIDS – Two Linn County residents found dead on Sunday afternoon have been identified. KCRG-TV reports the Linn County Sheriff’s Office that 69-year-old Robert Richmond and 67-year old Janice Richmond died from apparent gunshot wounds. An investigation into the nature of the incident continues as both were transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office. DALLAS COUNTY – One of the closest elections in the state of Iowa has been officially certified. WHO-13 reports that Democrat incumbent Sarah Trone Garriott won by 29 votes in Iowa Senate District 14 over Republican Challenger Mark Hanson. The results will be re-canvassed at the next Dallas County Board of Supervisors Meeting. IOWA – Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Grant Menke and a 16-member delegation have just returned from a trade mission to Taiwan and Japan. The mission, coordinated by the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), included representation from Iowa’s meat production, grain, and meat processing industries. The purpose of the mission was to encourage trade development, bolster partnerships and identify opportunities to expand export markets. Taiwan and Japan were both ranked in the top 10 U.S. agricultural export markets in 2023

DES MOINES – Police identified the victim in a Des Moines homicide investigation that started this past Thursday. WHO-13 reports that 65-year-old Bruce Murray was found dead at an apartment by Des Moines Police. The incident is being investigated as the 15th homicide of 2024 in the city. IOWA – A bitter burst of winter air is expected by Thanksgiving. Temperatures statewide are expected to drop below freezing by the holiday during the day and into the teens overnight. Wind chill values in the single digits and approaching zero are possible some mornings in the upcoming weekend. Spotty rain and snow showers are possible, according to the National Weather Service, especially late Wednesday for those commuting for the holiday. IOWA – Several Iowa school districts are struggling to implement new absenteeism rules passed by the Iowa Legislature aimed to cut down on truancy. KCCI-TV spoke with several leaders who are “frustrated” by an unfunded mandate. The Iowa Department of Education implemented rules based on the legislation that passed, which considered a student who missed 10% of class during a grade period as chronically absent, the 15% requires a family meeting, and 20% or more could result in criminal charges. Some large districts in Iowa have seen improvement, according to the report.