By Patrick May, San Jose Mercury News – SAN JOSE, Calif. — On the heels of a troubling double-digit slump in its share price, Apple Inc. on Tuesday seemed to suggest investors…
Day: April 24, 2012
In Cuba, young people long for Web access
By Franco Ordonez, McClatchy Newspapers – PINAR DEL RIO, Cuba — The 24-year-old volunteer shows off the seven computers sitting on wooden desks under a painting of Saint Juan Bosco in a…
Housing market may be on rise at last
By Alejandro Lazo, Los Angeles Times – LOS ANGELES — The housing market’s long, cold winter may finally be heading into a springtime thaw. New data show price declines easing in big…
With Big 3 out, Heat’s top-seed hopes die in loss to Celtics
By Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel – BOSTON — In the end, the No. 1 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference was not the priority. Getting to the playoffs further unscathed, against a…
Twins routed by Red Sox
By Joe Christensen, Star Tribune (Minneapolis) – MINNEAPOLIS — Twins hitters drew a few more groans from Target Field’s patrons Tuesday night, as their struggles with runners in scoring position continued during…
Vikings take a chance on wide receiver Simpson
By Dan Wiederer, Star Tribune (Minneapolis) – MINNEAPOLIS — If you’re familiar with the eye-opening athleticism of wide receiver Jerome Simpson, perhaps it’s because at a gathering last Christmas Eve, you were…
Timberwolves still missing a few pieces
By Jerry Zgoda, Star Tribune (Minneapolis) – MINNEAPOLIS — These final, failing weeks have brought more than echoes of Timberwolves seasons past, when they went more than three years without winning an…
Vikings should take Claiborne at No. 3 spot
By Mark Craig, Star Tribune (Minneapolis) – MINNEAPOLIS — We’ve all said it at some point during this mind-numbing and seemingly endless NFL draft buildup. “Matt Kalil,” we’ve said, “makes the most…
High speed motorcycle chase ends in arrest
MASON CITY – At approximately 4:10 pm on April 24, 2012 a Clear Lake police officer attempted to stop a motorcycle at 1st Ave N and N 8th Street in Clear Lake….
Watch out for scam that pays you to drive your own car
From the IC3: Although some businesses legitimately pay to advertise their companies’ logos on people’s personal vehicles, the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) has received several notifications regarding a similar—but completely bogus—offer….
Brothel Owner Pleads Guilty in Alien Harboring Conspiracy and Prostitution Ring
ATLANTA—Luiz M. Gutierrez, 56, of Marietta, pleaded guilty today in federal district court to conspiracy to entice individuals to cross state lines to engage in prostitution and to encourage and induce aliens…
Thirty Arrested in Connection with Narcotics Trafficking
OKLAHOMA CITY—James E. Finch, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Oklahoma City Division announces the arrest of 30 individuals for violation of federal narcotic laws. In addition to the 30 individuals…
Iowa football team announces 2012 leadership group
IOWA CITY, IOWA – – Fourteen University of Iowa football players have been named to the team’s 2012 Leadership Group. Head coach Kirk Ferentz announced the group Tuesday following the completion of…
Interview with Iowa Football Coach Kirk Ferentz
COACH FERENTZ: Welcome. Just a couple things. We’ll kind of wrap up the spring here a little bit and hit a few things. First of all, the guys voted on the leadership…
Lane restrictions on westbound U.S. 20 and southbound I-380 near Waterloo begin Wednesday
NEW HAMPTON, Iowa – April 24, 2012 – Construction of a median crossover will require lane closures for westbound U.S. 20 and southbound Interstate 380 from the Iowa 21/Hawkeye Road interchange to…
Car bomb explodes in Damascus as violence continues across Syria
Los Angeles Times BEIRUT — A car bomb exploded in a central Damascus neighborhood Tuesday, possibly killing the driver, while explosions were also reported elsewhere in Syria. State media said the driver…
Muscatine residents sue GPC over pollution’s impact
Dave DeWitte, CR Gazette – Eleven Muscatine area residents have sued Grain Processing Corp., alleging health effects and property damage from the company’s repeated violations of environmental protection laws. The lawsuit filed…
Drew Peterson ready to go to trial, attorney says
By Stacy St. Clair, Chicago Tribune – CHICAGO — Drew Peterson is ending the protracted battle over hearsay statements and is signaling he’s ready to go to trial in the slaying of…
“A+ location,” hard work pay off to help Jimmy John’s to record store opening week
by Matt Marquardt – MASON CITY – The new Mason City Jimmy John’s store already has a great reputation around town for an excellent sandwich. Now completing its first full week in…
Spending money downtown not enough to ward off parking tickets
MASON CITY – Simply coming to downtown Mason City and spending money is not enough to ward off a parking ticket. A young woman from Osage discovered that Tuesday afternoon. “My friend…
Alleged drunken drivers cause problems in recent days
MASON CITY – Since last Wednesday at least eight individuals have been charged with OWI in Cerro Gordo County. In one instance a Mason City man hit a parked car and was…
In North Carolina, Obama seeks to reassure college students
By John Frank, McClatchy Newspapers – CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — In his first stop on a two-day college tour, President Barack Obama tried to reassure the seniors venturing into a fragile job…
What a Night for Larry Portis at the I-35 Speedway
by Jody Spear and Kelly Meyer – MASON CITY – There was a great turnout for the I-35 Speedway Sunday night; many cars from all over Iowa and Minnesota. Because of rain…
MCPD locates small child wandering alone in parking lot
MASON CITY – Mason City police responded to a missing child reported by phone at 8:49 p.m. Monday evening at Bonanza Restaurant, 2700 4th Street SW. It was reported that a very…
Report of vehicle driving on wrong side of the road ends in arrest of drunk driver
According to an incident report Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Department assisted the Mason City Police department following a report of a vehicle traveling the wrong way on The Avenue of Saints shortly…
Iowa bracing for drop in federal assistance, Branstad says
Rod Boshart, CR Gazette – Gov. Terry Branstad said Monday he already is warning state agencies and departments to brace for an expected reduction in federal money flowing to states as Congress…
Senator Hogg Calls for “Branstad Rule” for Tax Fairness after Governor Branstad Pays $52 in State Taxes
DES MOINES – State Senator Rob Hogg today urged the Iowa Legislature to consider a “Branstad Rule” to make Iowa’s state income tax system more fair. Over the weekend, Governor Branstad reported…
Chicago man pleads guilty in plot to set off bomb near Wrigley Field
By Annie Sweeney, Chicago Tribune – CHICAGO — A Chicago man of Lebanese descent pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to placing a backpack he thought contained a powerful explosive device in…
Chinese nationals charged with software piracy and exporting technology to China; former NASA employee also charged
WILMINGTON, Del. — Two Chinese nationals have been charged in a 46-count superseding indictment for a variety of charges including software piracy and illegally exporting technology to China. Additionally, a Maryland man,…
MC Schools construction update
From the Mason City School District: John Adams Middle School renovation: Phase 3A – Larson Contacting o Interior work is complete. o Exterior sheet metal and landscaping should be complete by the…
Big goals this week before session can end
Rod Boshart, CR Gazette – Gov. Terry Branstad and legislative leaders believe they are on the verge of historic change this week. Here’s some of what lawmakers hope to accomplish in the…
Wet, cool week puts corn planting slightly behind
Dave DeWitte, CR Gazette – Cool wet weather allowed Iowa farmers little time to work in their fields last week and put planting a little behind schedule. Rainfall averaged about 1 inch…
Supreme Court disappoints landlords, rejects rent-control challenge
By David G. Savage, Tribune Washington Bureau – WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a constitutional challenge to New York City’s famed rent-control ordinance, a post-World War II housing measure…
Nebraska DT is commit No. 5
Marc Morehouse, CR Gazette – Nathan Bazata doesn’t come with a mile-high stack of offers. In fact, it was Iowa and South Dakota State. Bazata is the exact player Iowa coach Kirk…
Iowa City armed robbery suspect in custody
Gregg Hennigan, The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa – IOWA CITY — A suspect in the armed robbery of an Iowa City bank Monday led officers on an hour-long chase by motorcycle and foot…
Nestle to buy Pfizer nutrition unit for $11.9 billion
By Tiffany Hsu, Los Angeles Times – LOS ANGELES — Swiss food and nutrition giant Nestle SA will shell out $11.9 billion to buy Pfizer Inc.’s nutrition unit, which owns baby food brands…
US sees first passenger flight by Boeing 787 Dreamliner
By Dominic Gates, The Seattle Times – SEATTLE — Japan Airlines on Sunday flew the first scheduled Boeing 787 Dreamliner passenger service into the U.S. as it inaugurated service between Tokyo and Boston….
Facebook says it now has 900 million monthly users
By Mike Swift, San Jose Mercury News – SAN JOSE, Calif. — Facebook’s monthly user population has passed 900 million people, increasing the size of its regular user base by one-third in the…
Tablets expected to oust PCs, report says
By Michelle Maltais, Los Angeles Times – LOS ANGELES — Personal computers at home and in the office will soon be displaced by the tablet as the primary computing device, according to a…
New rules aim to speed up short sales
By Jim Buchta, Star Tribune (Minneapolis) – MINNEAPOLIS — The short sale process could get a lot quicker starting this summer under new rules that will require lenders to respond to offers within…