Category: Watercooler

By Senator Tom Harkin – A growing number of governors, including many Republicans, are choosing to expand Medicaid in their states, taking advantage of the extremely generous terms in the Affordable Care

SPENCER – A woman was killed Tuesday morning in an auto crash near Spencer, Iowa. A vehicle driven by 40 year-old Mindee Wilcox of Rossie, Iowa lost control on ice covered roads

MASON CITY – Alan Cannon of Clear Lake was sentenced to 5 years in prison on Monday for soliciting the murder of a young girl. Cannon, 31, entered one voluntary negotiated guilty plea

MASON CITY – A local bar owner has been cited for operating while intoxicated. On March 10th at about 7:08 PM, David Alan Despenas, 46, of Mason City was arrested by Mason

(DES MOINES) – Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today commended Congressman Paul Ryan for offering a budget that will balance and is sustainable. “I applaud Paul Ryan for

WASHINGTON, March 12 (UPI) — Latinos of all political persuasions support stricter gun control laws, creating another headache for Republicans trying to win them over, a new polls finds. The survey, conducted

(Mason City) – The Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health is recognizing National Groundwater Awareness Week, March 10- 16, 2013. “Although most people know very little about it, groundwater is worthy

ORLANDO, Fla., March 11 (UPI) — Pilot and maintenance training systems for F-15SA aircraft are to be provided to the Saudi air force by Lockheed Martin, the U.S. firm announced. The contract

CEDAR RAPIDS – A professional rodeo clown who grew marijuana for over six years was convicted by a jury on March 8, 2013, after a three-day trial in federal court in Cedar

PRINCETON, N.J., March 11 (UPI) — A majority of Americans, 56 percent to 38 percent, said they support reductions in U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals, a Gallup poll released Monday indicates. Results

MASON CITY – The award program for the eighth annual North Iowa Diversity Appreciation Team (NIDAT) art/writing contest was held at the Music Man Square on Thursday, March 7, 2013. Mayor Eric

MASON CITY – A Mason City mother is seeking help in locating her missing daughter. Sara Jane Eden says her daughter, Arianna Marie Kennedy has been missing since 6 PM Sunday. Sara

(DES MOINES) – Local elected officials joined Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds at their weekly news conference this morning to express their support for the administration’s property tax reform

SIOUX CITY – A woman who conspired to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine was sentenced March 6, 2013, to fourteen years in federal prison. Alicia Mofle, 25, from Webster City, Iowa, received the

SIOUX CITY – A man who distributed and received child pornography was sentenced March 7, 2013, to five years in federal prison. Adam Stephenson, age 20, of Otho, Iowa, received the sentence

MASON CITY – Two men caught breaking into a car in Clear Lake in the early morning hours of December 2nd have both received probation for the incident, along with a 2nd

MASON CITY – For a second time in four months a Mason City man has received a plea bargain in felony charges. Drake Andrew Shimon, age 21, received a plea bargain on

MCLEAN, Va., March 11 (UPI) — The average federal tax refund this year will be $2,803 and 35 percent of U.S. adults say they plan to spend all or part of theirs,

WAVERLY – Art Walk, Waverly’s annual juried fine arts and crafts show, is seeking interested artists to participate in the 2013 show. The deadline to apply is March 22, 2013. Late applications

From Sen. Amanda Ragan – I was pleased to manage SF 302, which promotes hiring armed forces employees, through the Veterans Affairs Committee. The bill creates a Hire a Hero state tax credit.

DETROIT, March 11 (UPI) — Alan Mulally has acquired holdings worth $317 million in six years as Ford Motor Co. chief executive officer, U.S. analysts said. Mulally — who is credited with

AMES, Iowa – March 10, 2013; 8:30 p.m. update – Iowa Department of Transportation’s maintenance garages based in Correctionville, Denison and Ida Grove are suspending snowplow operations for the evening and will

WASHINGTON, March 10 (UPI) — An Idaho federal district court ruled unconstitutional the state’s “fetal pain” law — a law banning most abortions after 20 weeks. The fetal pain laws, which allege

DES MOINES – A bill approved by the Senate Agriculture Committee would make fuel pumps more accessible to Iowans with disabilities, according to Iowa Senate Democrats. If SF 235 is passed, gas stations in Iowa will

From Sen. Amanda Ragan – If a student cannot read, they will not do their best in school. We should do all we can to help kids learn to read by third

MASON CITY – If you are struggling with your life and want to find a reason for living, then perhaps the Blue Zone’s “Purpose Workshop” is just what you need. “If you

WASHINGTON, March 10 (UPI) — Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said she would like to know why more money-laundering bankers do not spend time in jail. “If you’re caught with an ounce of

Pyongyang, March 8 (KCNA) — The Secretariat of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea (CPRK) released the information bulletin No. 1021 on Friday: The army and people of the DPRK

MASON CITY – A Mason City man is now accused of violating his probation for a third time on a charge of carrying a weapon as a felon. Aaron Michael Hermen, 25,

WASHINGTON – In his weekly address, President Obama says that businesses have created jobs every month for three years straight – nearly 6.4 million altogether, and have added 246,000 new jobs in

MASON CITY – Police have issued a citation to a Mason City man whose dog attacked 4 people at a North End home. Valentine Louie Flores, 37, of 17 9th Street NW

Dateline: Hong Kong – Mason City City Council; classic case for collusion. Not only are we saddled with an incompetent mayor, but to throw salt in the wound…take a good long look