Founded in 2010
News & Entertainment for Mason City, Clear Lake & the Entire North Iowa Region
By Rene Stutzman, The Orlando Sentinel – SANFORD, Fla. — A judge in the George Zimmerman case said Friday that he wants more information about the $200,000 donors sent to the defendant’s
By Chris Dufresne, Los Angeles Times – LOS ANGELES — I already miss the Bowl Championship Series like an old pair of shoes that might have stepped in something. Is it really
By Dan Wiederer, Star Tribune (Minneapolis) – MINNEAPOLIS — Perhaps one day, way up the road, Rick Spielman will reveal the true secrets of his first draft as Vikings general manager. Maybe
By K.C. Johnson, Chicago Tribune – CHICAGO — The journey began with an improbable comeback victory — and one goal in mind — against the Lakers on Christmas Day in Los Angeles.
By Jerry Zgoda, Star Tribune (Minneapolis) – MINNEAPOLIS — On a night when too many of his teammates proved they didn’t give a whit, Minnesota Timberwolves center Brad Miller said farewell to
By Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press – NEW YORK — The Lions’ aging, underappreciated offensive line got a face-lift in the first round of the NFL draft Thursday when Iowa’s Riley Reiff,
By Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times – NEW YORK — The NFL, a league that has long embraced its tradition, tried something new Thursday night. A no-huddle draft. The picks were coming
By Daniel Brown, San Jose Mercury News – NEW YORK — Backstage at the Radio City Music Hall, in a hallway just outside the players’ green room, Andrew Luck squeezed past his
By Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press – NEW YORK — Riley Reiff didn’t pay much attention to his draft-day fall. He spent a good portion of Thursday night in the barn behind
By Tyler Dunne, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – GREEN BAY, Wis. — Rick Spielman appeared to be having a lot of fun this week. The Indianapolis Colts and Washington Redskins already had their
By Dan Wiederer, Star Tribune (Minneapolis) – MINNEAPOLIS — Perhaps one day, way up the road, Rick Spielman will reveal the secrets of his first draft as Vikings general manager. Maybe one
By Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel – WASHINGTON — As they looked ahead to the start of the NBA playoffs, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade noted Thursday how they’ve come together in their
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a McLaughlin man convicted of two counts of sexual abuse of a minor and two counts of abusive sexual contact was sentenced on April
FRESNO, Calif. — Two Mexican nationals made their initial appearance in federal court Wednesday on charges of trafficking in counterfeit goods after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
From Rep. Linda Upmeyer: April 17 was a significant day. It was the final day to file your taxes since April 15 fell on Sunday. It was designated Tax Freedom Day since
Gov. Branstad today signed the following legislation into law: House File 675: An Act concerning mechanics’ liens including the establishment of a state construction registry for residential construction property, and including effect
by Matt Marquardt – MASON CITY – Take caution on Mason City streets over the next 7-10 days. A Des Moines line painting company is in town painting the pavement and streets
Diane Heldt, CR Gazette – Protesters opposed to budget cuts at the University of Northern Iowa challenged state regents and UNI President Ben Allen today to meet with them to discuss why
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa softball team erupted for seven runs in the sixth inning to propel the Hawkeyes to a 7-0 victory and to salvage a split in
McClatchy-Tribune News Service – The following editorial appeared in the Chicago Tribune – ——— Never one to eat his words, Newt Gingrich is nonetheless being fed replay after replay of the famous
By Claudia Sandoval – Young Latino voters may hold the key to the White House door. They increased their support for Democrats at a larger rate than any other youth group in
by Jody Spear and Kelly Meyer – MASON CITY – Joey VanZomeren, Executive Director of the Northern Lights Homeless Shelters would like to invite all of you to a huge warehouse sale
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – Tanesha Edmond (So., St. Elizabeth, Jamaica) and Emily Burchett (Fr., Mayview, MO) both set region records, and the Trojan men swept the throwing titles at the NJCAA Region
By Gracie Bonds Staples, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution – ATLANTA — He has a website, a blog, a YouTube channel and he’s on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. If you want to know University
The Philadelphia Inquirer – ACT OF VALOR 1 1/2 stars. This action film’s claim to fame is that it stars active-duty Navy SEALs. The problem is that these stoic warriors infect Act
By Amy Kaufman, Los Angeles Times – LOS ANGELES — It may take half a decade for the couple in “The Five-Year Engagement” to make it to the altar, but the romantic
By Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times – LOS ANGELES — “Bernie,” a quirky tragi-comedy starring Jack Black as a meticulous mortician, a faithful Methodist, a good neighbor and an improbable murderer, is
By Anne Blythe, McClatchy Newspapers – GREENSBORO, N.C. — After four days of testimony, it has been difficult at times to tell who is on trial — John Edwards, the former presidential
By Rosanna Xia, Los Angeles Times – LOS ANGELES — The University of Southern California and the Los Angeles Police Department announced sweeping new security measures Thursday, including the addition of 30
By Kim Christensen, Los Angeles Times – LOS ANGELES — The Boy Scouts of America is seeking to reverse a Santa Barbara, Calif., judge’s order to release 20 years’ worth of confidential
By Mitch Mitchell, McClatchy Newspapers – FORT WORTH, Texas — The prescription drug abuse problem starts in our medicine cabinets, and the best way to attack it is to dispose of the
By Tracey Kaplan, San Jose Mercury News – SAN JOSE, Calif. — An initiative written by Stanford University professors to scale back California’s tough Three Strikes Law has garnered more than 830,000
By Jessica Guynn, Los Angeles Times – SAN FRANCISCO — Google Inc. fired back Thursday at the Federal Communications Commission, saying it did not obstruct an investigation into its Street View service
By Maura Dolan, Los Angeles Times – LOS ANGELES — California Gov. Jerry Brown has ordered prison officials to consider a single-drug method of executing condemned inmates as the state appeals a
By Laura King and Aimal Yaqubi, Los Angeles Times – KABUL, Afghanistan — In back-to-back blows to Western efforts to forge a crucial partnership with the Afghan police and army, a new
by Jody Spear and Kelly Meyer – MASON CITY – Habitat for Humanity of North Central Iowa and the sponsorship of Principal Financial Group dedicated a new home to Carrie Smith and
John Keilman, Chicago Tribune – CHICAGO — Mason Hawks came to Naval Station Great Lakes in January for eight weeks of basic training. Thirteen weeks later, long after the rest of his
By Jerry Hirsch, Los Angeles Times – LOS ANGELES — Although the technology is just in its infancy, one in five drivers expresses interest in cars that drive themselves, according to a
By Jim Puzzanghera, Los Angeles Times – WASHINGTON — Men continue to take a bigger hit in their paychecks than women because of lingering effects of the Great Recession, according to a
By David Pierson, Los Angeles Times – BEIJING — Fuel-efficient vehicles are the rage in the United States, but in China gas-guzzling SUVs are looming large. Automakers including Ford Motor Co., Chrysler