Founded in 2010
News & Entertainment for Mason City, Clear Lake & the Entire North Iowa Region
MIAMI, May 16 (UPI) — A former Miami elementary school teacher has been found guilty of possessing child pornography. He now faces up to 40 years in prison. A Miami-Dade jury on
WASHINGTON, May 16 (UPI) — Mentally ill prison and jail inmates reported higher rates of inmate-on-inmate sexual victimization, a U.S. Justice Department study released Thursday said. Gays and lesbian inmates also reported
IOWA CITY, Iowa – The NCAA announced today that 23 student-athletes from the University of Iowa have qualified for the 2013 NCAA Track and Field Outdoor Championships. The NCAA first round will
WASHINGTON, May 17 (UPI) — The Powerball jackpot climbed to $550 million — the third largest jackpot in U.S. history — after no one won the most recent drawing, officials said. There
ROCKVILLE, Md., May 16 (UPI) — Former members of the Evangelical group Sovereign Grace Ministries have sued the church in Maryland, charging leaders covered up sexual abuse. Two of the plaintiffs say
DUNCANSVILLE, Pa., May 16 (UPI) — A Pennsylvania woman was sentenced to at least 60 days in prison for using scarves to hogtie her 5-year-old grandson, officials said. Evelyn Cecelia Himes, 49,
by Jody Spear – MASON CITY – Around 11:00 am Thursday morning, the Mason City Fire Department and Mason City Police responded to a two vehicle accident with injuries at 19th Street
RICHMOND, Texas, May 16 (UPI) — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said a man set a state record by killing an 800-pound alligator measuring 14 feet and 3 inches long. The
JUPITER, Fla., May 16 (UPI) — A Florida man carrying a revolver in the pocket of his shorts accidentally shot himself while bowling, witnesses said. Police said the man, whose name was
PHOENIX, May 16 (UPI) — Former baseball player and broadcaster Mark Grace said his stay at the Tent City jail complex in Phoenix has been a life-changing experience. Speaking Wednesday at a
MASON CITY – A Mason City man arrested arrested earlier this month after two violent incidents has had a new charge brought against him. Brian Lloyd Burkett, 33, was charged with class
Des Moines, IOWA — The Department of Public Safety (DPS) has added eight Humvees to its fleet through the military’s 1033 Program. The 1033 program allows a transfer of military equipment to
WASHINGTON, May 16 (UPI) — U.S. President Obama Thursday again said more investigation is needed to determine whether the Assad regime in Syria has used poison gas on rebels. Obama appeared at
MASON CITY – Jack McCourt wants one more victory. After spearheading a petition drive last month that garnered about 1,100 signatures that forced the Mason City School Board to hold a vote
WASHINGTON, May 16 (UPI) — Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook says he will call for corporate tax reform to make it less costly for U.S. corporations to repatriate cash from overseas.
DALLAS, May 16 (UPI) — Investigators said Thursday no cause has been determined for the April 17 explosions that killed 15 people at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas. Robert Champion, special
OKLAHOMA CITY, May 16 (UPI) — An Oklahoma Chili’s said a waitress was fired for a Facebook photo of police dining at the eatery with a caption saying they “better hope I’m
LOS ANGELES, May 16 (UPI) — When the brain’s primary “learning center” is damaged it can rewire itself, creating new neural circuits to compensate for lost functions, U.S. researchers say. Scientists at
ATLANTA, May 16 (UPI) — Testing of pools last summer found feces is frequently introduced into U.S. public pool water by swimmers, federal health officials say. Researchers at the Centers for Disease
ATLANTA, May 16 (UPI) — Four-of-5 U.S. adults say they don’t allow smoking in their homes, while 75 percent say they don’t allow smoking in their vehicles, health officials say. Dr. Tim
PRINCETON, N.J., May 16 (UPI) — Nearly half of U.S. residents believe gays and lesbians are born with their sexual orientation, while a third say it’s a matter of conditioning, a poll
WASHINGTON, May 16 (UPI) — Average U.S. mortgage rates for long-term loans rose for the second consecutive week in the week ended Thursday, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. said. Prior to
WASHINGTON, May 16 (UPI) — U.S. President Obama said Thursday he first learned about problems in the Internal Revenue Service when an inspector general’s report was leaked to the media. The president
WASHINGTON, May 16 (UPI) — U.S. President Barack Obama said Thursday he’s asked the Defense Department to be better prepared to respond to attacks on U.S. embassies. The administration has been under
BEIJING, May 16 (UPI) — China warned that the European Union’s proposed levying of punitive duties on Chinese solar panels would “severely impair” bilateral trade ties. The comments Thursday by Ministry of
WASHINGTON, May 16 (UPI) — U.S. President Obama took a tough line Thursday on media leaks in national security matters but said there needs to be balance. Obama refused to comment directly
OAKLAND, Calif., May 16 (UPI) — The Oakland Raiders, a team with a history of colorful players, signed punter Chris Kluwe, noted for his outspokenness in favoring same-sex marriage. Kluwe, 31, was
LONDON, May 16 (UPI) — Oil giant BP has turned to the government for help with the compensation deal for victims of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, the BBC reported.
WASHINGTON, May 16 (UPI) — A House Democrat has proposed gun control legislation he says was inspired by the latest James Bond movie, “Skyfall.” Rep. John Tierney, D-Mass., says his bill would
WASHINGTON, May 16 (UPI) — The Internal Revenue Service has canceled a Friday softball game with a team from the office of a Republican senator critical of the federal tax agency. “We
From the Waterloo Police Department – On Wednesday, May 15, 2013, at approximately 1:06 AM, Waterloo Police were dispatched to E.4th Street and Sycamore Street on report of a man with a
From Waterloo police – On Thursday, May 16, 2013 at approximately 8:11 AM, Waterloo Police received a report of a suspicious man in an SUV near a school bus stop talking with
(DES MOINES) – Gov. Terry E. Branstad on Thursday signed the following bills into law: Senate File 432 – An Act relating to the administration of the tax and related laws of the
BOISE, Idaho, May 16 (UPI) — Federal agents in Boise, Idaho, Thursday arrested Uzbekistan national Fazliddin Kurbanov as part of a federal terrorism investigation, authorities said. Kurbanov, 30, who was in the
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Sophomore Anthony Torres hit a go-ahead RBI single through the left side of the infield in the top of the 11th inning, sending the University of Iowa baseball
FORT WORTH, Texas, May 16 (UPI) — American Airlines said Thursday it has initiated a new, system-wide process for boarding passengers that is quicker and smoother. The new process, which was tested
CUPERTINO, Calif., May 16 (UPI) — Apple says an Ohio man has downloaded the 50 billionth app from the Apple Store and will receive a $10,000 App Store gift card. The milestone
CLARK, N.J., May 16 (UPI) — Internet sensation “Kai the Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker” was arrested in Philadelphia Thursday and charged with killing a Clark, N.J., man, police said. Kai, whose real name
by Peter Children – A proposed new drinking law would drop the legal threshold for drinking while driving from .08% blood alcohol content to .05. Will this law have an effect on
WASHINGTON, May 16 (UPI) — The Justice Department’s inspector general said the U.S. Marshals Service lost two known or suspected terrorists who participated in a federal witness program. A summary of an