Founded in 2010
News & Entertainment for Mason City, Clear Lake & the Entire North Iowa Region
CEDAR RAPIDS – A marijuana user who unlawfully possessed a gun with an obliterated serial number pled guilty January 31, 2013, in federal court in Cedar Rapids. Geromey Gilliand, age 23, from
DAVENPORT, IA – On January 31, 2013, Robert Leslie Ranck, age 46, was sentenced to 130 months imprisonment, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. United States District Judge Stephanie M. Rose
CHARLES CITY – Pfizer Inc. announced last week that it has sold its former animal health business unit, a manufacturing operation in Charles City, and that it is now a standalone company named Zoetis. Zoetis began
DES MOINES – Republicans in the Iowa in the House of Representatives introduced a bill Wednesday outlawing abortions. Doctors who perform abortions could be prosecuted if the law is enacted. The bill defines
LOVELAND, Colo., Feb. 6 (UPI) — A Colorado mother said her 7-year-old son should not have been suspended from school for throwing an imaginary grenade into a box of pretend evil. Mandie
GREEN BAY, Wis., Feb. 6 (UPI) — Donald Driver, the Green Bay Packers’ all-time leader in receptions and yards, officially retired from the NFL Wednesday. The 48-year-old, four-time Pro Bowl player who
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 6 (UPI) — Police in Virginia said a 10-year-old boy was charged with brandishing a weapon for allegedly bringing a toy gun onto a school bus. Alexandria police said
PHOENIX, Feb. 6 (UPI) — A debate over “English only” documents is re-emerging in Arizona with a complaint from a legislator about the cost of printing in several languages. The House Government
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 6 (UPI) — Pop star Rihanna accompanied beau Chris Brown to a Los Angeles court Wednesday where prosecutors alleged he lied about completing his community service. TMZ said Rihanna
NEW YORK, Feb. 6 (UPI) — U.S. markets closed mixed Wednesday with investors seeking a comfort zone after a four-week winning streak. Stocks have moved up and down through the week and
NEW YORK, Feb. 6 (UPI) — The price of gold rose modestly in New York Wednesday, as equities finished the session mixed on Wall Street. On the Comex division of the New
NEW YORK, Feb. 6 (UPI) — Canadian pop star Justin Bieber made history Wednesday by racking up his fifth No. 1 album in the United States before his 19th birthday, which is
Special Briefing Anne C. Richard Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration USAID Assistant Administrator for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance Nancy Lindborg Via Teleconference Washington, DC February 6, 2013 MR.
Des Moines, Iowa – In the first vote of the 2013 legislative session, State Representative Sharon Steckman of Mason City supported a $60 million tax cut in the Iowa House today that
by Jody Spear and Kelly Meyer – MASON CITY – Tuesday at 6:40 pm, the Mason City Fire Department responded to a call for a fire at 229 10th St NW. It
CEDAR RAPIDS – A man who failed to appear for service of his federal sentence was sentenced this week to more than two additional years in federal prison. Roy Lee Turner, III,
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 5 (UPI) — Stand-alone films featuring iconic “Star Wars” characters are being developed in addition to three planned sequels, Hollywood’s Disney studio said Tuesday. Walt Disney Co. Chairman and
CEDAR RAPIDS – A man who sexually exploited and extorted minors pled guilty on Tuesday in federal court in Cedar Rapids. Lucas Robinson, age 23, from Cedar Rapids, was convicted of one
PYONGYANG, North Korea, Feb. 5 (UPI) — After a long-range rocket test and threats to detonate a nuclear weapon, North Korea posted an Internet video portraying an American city under attack. The
BERLIN, Feb. 5 (UPI) — A German company says it is developing a pen that vibrates to tell users if they’ve made a spelling mistake while writing. The device from Lernstift is
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 5 (UPI) — Prosecutors have asked a Los Angeles judge to decline singer Chris Brown’s documentation of the community service he was sentenced to perform. Brown was ordered to
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 5 (UPI) — Hidden “radio” buttons in Apple’s iOS 6.1 operating system suggest an Apple radio service intended to compete with Pandora and Spotify, Apple watchers say. The 9to5Mac
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Adults with some form of mental illness have a smoking rate 70 percent higher than adults with no mental illness, according to a Vital Signs report. Combined data from SAMHSA’s 2009–2011
LONDON, Feb. 5 (UPI) — U.S. Vice President Joe Biden met with British Prime Minister David Cameron at No. 10 Downing Street Tuesday to discuss a range of issues. Biden, who arrived
MIDDLETOWN, Conn., Feb. 5 (UPI) — Authorities in Connecticut said a woman is facing charges after having two boys, ages 10 and 11, walk home on their own at 4:30 a.m. Police
JERUSALEM, Feb. 5 (UPI) — U.S. President Barack Obama plans to visit Israel next month for the first time since taking up the presidency, the White House said. Israel’s Channel 10 reported
NEW YORK, Feb. 5 (UPI) — At least 54 foreign countries have aided the United States in its extraordinary rendition and secret detention programs, a report released Tuesday said. The Open Society
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 5 (UPI) — California has sued credit rating firm Standard & Poor’s, alleging it issued ratings that cost the state’s public pension funds about $1 billion. State Attorney General
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 (UPI) — The United States is concerned about a reported incident of a Chinese warship locking its weapon-targeting radar on a Japanese destroyer, a U.S. official said. U.S. State
WASHINGTON, D.C. – We are deeply concerned by a Mogadishu court’s decision to convict and sentence to one year in prison a 27-year-old alleged rape victim and the journalist who interviewed her.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 (UPI) — Same-sex spouses may soon get some of the U.S. military benefits now granted heterosexual wives and husbands, officials say. The Defense Department is expected to make an
BOSTON, Feb. 5 (UPI) — Emergency responders in Boston said a construction worker who fell 30 feet was spared serious injury when he landed on bubble wrap. A spokesman for the Boston
DES MOINES – Some Iowa legislators have introduced a bill to head off any involvement by Iowa government in a program known in the United Nations as “Agenda 21.” The bill would
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 (UPI) — The Congressional Budget Office says U.S. economic growth “will remain slow” in 2013 due in part to budgetary changes “scheduled to occur under current law.” In a
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 (UPI) — President Obama praised the Family Medical Leave Act on its 20th anniversary Tuesday, calling it a groundbreaking step for America’s workers and families. In a White House
Pacific Junction, IOWA — On Friday, February 1, 2013 at 10:54 AM, Mills County Communications Center received a 911 call reporting an unresponsive small child. As a result of this call, rescue
OXFORD, Tenn., Feb. 5 (UPI) — A Tennessee police chief said a circus has canceled a previously announced boxing match involving a clown and a kangaroo. Oxford Police Chief Joey East said
ROCHESTER, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Omer Fadhel Saleh Mohammed, 31, of Rochester, New York, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with making false bomb threats. The
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 (UPI) — A White House spokesman said Tuesday President Obama takes the war against al-Qaida seriously, and drone strikes against the terrorist organization are legal. White House press secretary
BRUSSELS, Feb. 5 (UPI) — Iran has formally agreed to meet with the so-called E3+3 group about its nuclear program, a European Union official confirmed Tuesday. “Helga Schmid, deputy secretary-general of the