Founded in 2010
News & Entertainment for Mason City, Clear Lake & the Entire North Iowa Region
By Shashank Bengali, McClatchy Newspapers – LONDON — Mitt Romney asked and thousands of Londoners answered Friday night: This famously stolid city seems, dare anyone say it, genuinely excited to host the
By Kevin G. Hall, McClatchy Newspapers – WASHINGTON — The second-quarter economic slowdown reported by the government Friday points to an economy stuck in low gear as a new look at the
By Alexandra Sandels and Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times – BEIRUT — As Syrian troops and rebel reinforcements converged on the northern city of Aleppo, a pro-government newspaper warned that the
By John M. Glionna, Los Angeles Times – LAS VEGAS — This tourist city has for years prided itself as a destination for the entire family — from Daddy and Mommy on
By Marisa Taylor, McClatchy Newspapers – WASHINGTON — Pentagon officials are scrambling to look into allegations of abusive polygraph techniques by a spy agency but so far they aren’t heeding calls for
Rod Boshart, CR Gazette – DES MOINES — The leader of a state employees’ union has accused Gov. Terry Branstad and his administration of “playing Russian roulette” with the lives of correctional
By Jon Bardin, Los Angeles Times – LOS ANGELES — For the first time, scientists have changed a monkey’s behavior with a simple flash of blue light. Well, that and a fancy
By Lisa Mascaro, Tribune Washington Bureau – WASHINGTON — Congressional Republicans are taking their campaign of tax cuts for all income levels on the road, an orchestrated push to bolster the positions
By David Hiltbrand, The Philadelphia Inquirer – ABC has announced the chorus line for its 15th season of “Dancing with the Stars,” which will begin in September. It’s a field made up
By Michael Muskal, Los Angeles Times – Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife, MacKenzie, have given $2.5 million to fund efforts in the state of Washington to legalize same-sex marriage, effectively
By Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Los Angeles Times – AURORA, Colo. — Before the July 20 massacre in an Aurora movie theater, suspect James Holmes mailed a package containing a notebook to Dr. Lynne
By Rene Stutzman and Jeff Weiner, The Orlando Sentinel – ORLANDO, Fla.—Shellie Zimmerman says she’s not guilty of perjury. Her new attorney, Kelly B. Sims, filed paperwork Friday, entering that plea on
by Paul Richter, Tribune Washington Bureau – WASHINGTON — Negotiators at the United Nations worked to complete a treaty to regulate the global arms trade by a Friday night deadline but faced
By Don Lee, Tribune Washington Bureau – WASHINGTON — A weak second-quarter economic report made it clear that the United States remains stuck in a painfully slow recovery for the foreseeable future.
Audio WASHINGTON, July 23, 2012 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced new flexibility and assistance in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s major conservation programs to get much-needed help to livestock producers
By Steve Miletich, The Seattle Times – SEATTLE — A special commission appointed by Mayor McGinn to evaluate the Seattle Police Department, including its use-of-force policies and internal investigation procedures, will be
By Mike Carter and Steve Miletich, The Seattle Times – SEATTLE — Days before it faced a federal civil-rights lawsuit, the city of Seattle has reached a tentative agreement with the Department
CLEAR LAKE – The Iowa Trolley Park in Clear Lake now welcomes visitors with a new sign made possible with a grant from the Cerro Gordo County Community Foundation. The sign features
By Scott Collins, Los Angeles Times – LOS ANGELES — AMC has killed “The Killing.” The cable network has axed the crime drama after two seasons. The series started to great acclaim
By Girlie Linao – MANILA, Philippines — Daylong clashes between troops and suspected Muslim fighters in the southern Philippines killed 10 soldiers and nine rebels and injured 23, a military spokesman said
Tina Marie Scharlau, 51, of 317 3rd St. N.W., Mason City, died Friday, July 27, 2012 at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa. A visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. on Tuesday July
By David Goldstein, McClatchy Newspapers – WASHINGTON — Imagine the Department of Education pushing an idea called “Teacherless Tuesday,” or the Department of Homeland Security suggesting “Fenceless Friday.” The Department of Agriculture,
By Ken Dilanian, Tribune Washington Bureau – ASPEN, Colo. — The Obama administration is considering U.S. intervention to pressure al-Qaida-inspired militants who have seized territory in the African nation of Mali. Michael