Founded in 2010
News & Entertainment for Mason City, Clear Lake & the Entire North Iowa Region
By Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel – Looking as the key elements of Celtics-Heat: Center Centers? What centers? Both teams essentially enter playing power forwards masquerading as starting centers, the Celtics with Kevin
By Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press – DETROIT — Nick Fairley is in trouble again. This time, for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol and attempting to elude police. Fairley, the
By Joe Christensen, Star Tribune (Minneapolis) – MINNEAPOLIS — After drawing near-capacity crowds at Target Field for the first two games against Detroit this weekend, the Twins had their third sellout of
By Jim Utter, McClatchy Newspapers – CONCORD, N.C. — This must be Kasey Kahne, Version 2.0. Kahne, who at one point early in the season was in danger of falling out of
By Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times – SAN ANTONIO — The late-night wake-up call consisted of a singular phrase, four words that shook up a team while keeping it on its postseason
By Bettina Boxall, Los Angeles Times – LOS ANGELES — The Golden Gate Bridge is getting a little sparkle for its 75th birthday. On Sunday, remotely operated mirrors on top of the
By Jason Meisner and Annie Sweeney, Chicago Tribune – CHICAGO — It was shortly before 2 a.m. on the eve of the NATO summit when the criminal-defense lawyer emerged from a West
By Frances Robles, McClatchy Newspapers – MIAMI — The fight between George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin began with two people huffing and puffing in the dark, and then a brief exchange of
By Kim Geiger, Tribune Washington Bureau – WASHINGTON—Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned Sunday that it would be “disastrous” for Congress to allow cuts in defense spending as scheduled in January. In an
By Alex Rodriguez and Aimal Yaqubi, Los Angeles Times – KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghan authorities on Sunday said a NATO airstrike killed a family of eight at their house in eastern Afghanistan.
This reader submitted photo (courtesy of a Nora Springs woman) is said to be of a bear spotted in that area.
By Lisa Mascaro, Tribune Washington Bureau – WASHINGTON — If it sounds like the debates in Congress have devolved into those of teenagers, it’s because they have. Discourse in the House and
CLEAR LAKE, IA: Clear Lake is home to two top beaches according to USA Today. Clear Lake’s City Beach and Clear Lake State Park Beach were both mentioned in the publication’s Memorial
By Julia Prodis Sulek, San Jose Mercury News – SAN JOSE, Calif. — Sometimes even big shots rely on the kindness of strangers. In the case of media mogul and philanthropist Ted
By Dave Kallmann, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – INDIANAPOLIS — Dan Wheldon would have been back in victory lane. You can bet on that. He’d have laughed, maybe wept, and patted his buddy
From U.S. Rep. Tom Latham – Perhaps the most fitting way to observe Memorial Day is to call to mind the collective memories we share of those Americans who sacrificed everything for
By Lisa Demer, McClatchy Newspapers – ANCHORAGE, Alaska — An appeals court has sided with the federal government in giving the go-ahead to Shell Oil Co. to move forward with drilling in
AMES, Iowa – It’s been 32 years since an Iowa State golfer made an appearance at the NCAA finals and that will all change this week. Senior Nate McCoy, who hails from
by Jody Spear and Kelly Meyer – MASON CITY – Saturday was a wonderful day for the 2012 Band Festival Parade in Mason City. Crowds of people everywhere. The full stretch of
By Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune – PITTSBURGH — The Chicago Cubs keep finding new and inventive ways to prolong their prolific losing streak, as the ending of Saturday night’s 3-2 loss to
By Joseph Goodman, McClatchy Newspapers – Bring on Boston. The Heat will rekindle its long-running rivalry with the Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals on Monday night at AmericanAirlines Arena. Boston defeated
By Joe Strauss, St. Louis Post-Dispatch – ST. LOUIS — The legend of Kyle Kendrick grew Saturday night at the Cardinals’ expense. A pledge to the Bud Norris Cardinals Killer club, the
By Bob Cooney, Philadelphia Daily News – BOSTON — Oh, what could have been. Throughout the seven-game series between the 76ers and Boston Celtics, offensive efficiency was scarce and scoring was almost
By Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times – Junior Dos Santos defended his Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight belt for the first time Saturday, overwhelming older former champion Frank Mir with punching power and
By Kim Geiger, Tribune Washington Bureau – Vice President Joe Biden praised the 972 Army cadets who graduated from West Point on Saturday for their decision to join the military, “knowing full
By Jenny Deam and Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times – AURORA, Colo. — On May 2, D’Avonte Meadows, a 6-year-old with an infectious grin and rambunctious streak, was suspended for three days
by Jody Spear and Kelly Meyer – If you were planning on going to the Harley Davidson Hog Roast in Mason City after the Band Festival Parade and took your time getting
WASHINGTON – An Atwater, Calif., woman was charged today in a one-count indictment filed in the Eastern District of California for impersonation of an officer or an employee of the United States,
By La Velle E. Neal III, Star Tribune (Minneapolis) – MINNEAPOLIS — Josh Willingham has struck out in 10 of his past 18 plate appearances. Ron Gardenhire isn’t worried. Twins hitters struck
By Brian Bennett, Tribune Washington Bureau – WASHINGTON — In an aggressive effort to boost deportations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has begun to increase by nearly 25 percent the number of
by Jody Spear and Kelly Meyer – Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery asked for volunteers to help set up a flag display for the Memorial Day program to be held Monday at 9:15 AM.
There are two things to discuss today; (1) The possible destruction of eleven families to appease Mr. Budweiser and his baby sitter Brent. (2) We can all take a large collective sigh
AUSTIN, Texas – Iowa State high jumper Cameron Ostrowski became the Cyclones’ eighth qualifier for the final rounds of the NCAA Championships Saturday night at Mike A. Myers Track. Iowa State finished
AMES, Iowa – May 25, 2012 – The Iowa Department of Transportation will hold a public information meeting Thursday, June 7, to discuss the proposed interchange alternatives at Floyd and improvements for
WASHINGTON – A federal judge in Washington has ruled that automobile dealers who engage in certain three-party financing transactions must disclose certain information to consumers who take out car loans if they
By Michael Muskal, Los Angeles Times – LOS ANGELES — The New Orleans Times-Picayune will move to a three-day-a-week print schedule in the fall, becoming the largest metropolitan newspaper to cut back paper
By Yasuaki Kobayashi and Yasushi Kouchi, The Yomiuri Shimbun – TOKYO — Sales of luxury vehicles to the affluent buyers have been booming in China, the biggest automobile market in the world, while
By Jim Puzzanghera, Los Angeles Times – WASHINGTON—Despite Europe’s economic troubles, American consumers are feeling better about the economy than at any time since the start of the Great Recession. Consumer confidence surged
MASON CITY – The Charles H. MacNider Museum is pleased to announce the date and theme for its annual MacNider Arts Festival. This year festival goers will have an eco-friendly experience with
By Gail MarksJarvis, Chicago Tribune – Americans have been successful at getting some of their debts off their backs, but many still have a long way to go. Low- and middle-income people are