Iowa Radio News

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.

IOWA – As Iowa’s democrats watched the number of elected seats they hold drop yet again, they selected new leadership in the Iowa Senate. The Des Moines Register reports Janice Weiner will spearhead efforts by the minority that holds just 15 seats in the upper chamber of the Iowa Statehouse. She was elected to her seat in 2022 following time on the Iowa City City Council and with the U.S. State Department. IOWA – Governor Kim Reynolds is proposing the Republican supermajority in the Iowa Statehouse to consider restricting cell phone use in Iowa’s public schools. KCRG-TV reports the governor is working with staff to draft potential legislation as many districts continue to see issues with distractions and bullying in classrooms. Several Iowa public and private school districts have already moved to restrict or outright ban devices in class. IOWA CITY – While he started the season as Iowa’s quarterback and lost that role in the last few weeks, he hasn’t ended his career in Iowa City despite several rumors claiming that was the case. Cade McNamara will not play for the Hawkeyes this Saturday, according to WHO-13, but intends to play before the season ends as he deals with post-concussion symptoms. Several reports indicated McNamara had left the team in frustration, but instead, he himself has contradicted those sources, saying he wants to be ready to compete against Nebraska next week.

IOWA – A report by the Des Moines Register indicates that abortions in Iowa have dropped by close to forty percent since the state’s new six week ban went into effect earlier this year. Estimates show Iowa averaged 400 clinician provided abortions through the first six months of 2024, and that has dropped to 250. Iowa’s fetal heartbeat law bans the procedure once cardiac activity is detected in a pregnancy, with few exceptions. A Des Moines Register poll in September showed 59% of Iowans disapproved of the new restrictions. JOHNSON COUNTY – A Nashville, Tennessee man died in a single vehicle crash on Interstate 80 in Johnson County early Wednesday morning. The Iowa State Patrol reports that 25-year-old Jeremy Rogers was driving a Volvo Truck near mile marker 245 and left the roadway before striking a bridge guardrail. Rogers was not wearing a seatbelt at the time. PELLA – The teenager accused of attacking multiple students at Pella Middle School with a knife before class Wednesday morning faces felony charges for the incident. The Pella Police Department charged a 14-year-old male with three counts of attempted murder and two counts of felony assault with intent for the alleged incident. The department says the student lunged a kitchen knife at three other students before school started in the cafeteria. A majority of students returned to class with mental health services provided on Thursday.