Home » 2013 » February » 01
White House: New Iran nuke centrifuges 'provocative'
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 (UPI) — Iran's plan to add 3,000 faster centrifuges to its main uranium enrichment facility was a "further escalation" in a nuclear standoff, the White House said.…
February 1, 2013 / No Comment / Read More
School bus hostage standoff enters 4th day
MIDLAND CITY, Ala., Feb. 1 (UPI) — The school bus hostage standoff entered its fourth day Friday, with the suspect holed up in his underground bunker with a kindergartner, police…
Latinos soon to be biggest group in Calif.
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 1 (UPI) — Latinos will surpass whites by next year and become the largest ethnic group in California for the first time since 1850, data compiled by…
Bomb kills guard at U.S. Embassy in Turkey
ANKARA, Turkey, Feb. 1 (UPI) — A suicide bombing outside the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, killed a Turkish security guard and injured two other people, authorities said Friday. "We…
Afghan Taliban leader reported killed
KABUL, Afghanistan, Feb. 1 (UPI) — A Taliban district leader in Ghazni province in eastern Afghanistan was killed by national police, district officials say. Mullah Adam Khan, also known as…
Statement by President George W. Bush on the passing of Barney Bush
From former President George W. Bush: Laura and I are sad to announce that our Scottish Terrier, Barney, has passed away. The little fellow had been suffering from lymphoma and…
February 1, 2013 / 2 Comments / Read More
Clear Lake Fire Department busy Friday night at OP and Silver Boot (PHOTOS/VIDEO)
by Jody Spear and Kelly Meyer – CLEAR LAKE – Two fires broke out in Clear Lake Friday afternoon, and authorities were still on the scene at both locations as…
February 1, 2013 / 15 Comments / Read More
North Iowa Events Center announces art contest winner
From David Green, North Iowa Events Center Director- MASON CITY – The North Iowa Events Center wants to congratulate all of the kids that submitted entries for the art contest,…
U.N. wants Russia to stop legislation that would ban homosexual propaganda aimed at children
NEW YORK – A group of United Nations experts today called on the Russian parliament to discard a draft bill that would ban 'propaganda of homosexuality among minors,' stressing that…
United Way achieves record-breaking campaign
MASON CITY, IOWA – United Way of North Central Iowa has reached a record-breaking campaign by raising more than $1,400,000 for north central Iowa. The 2012 campaign, led by Campaign…
Iowa Liver Center Announced
IOWA CITY – Three Iowa health care organizations announced on February 1 the formation of a new organization to care for patients with liver disease. Called the Iowa Liver Center,…
King Holds Grand Opening for Fort Dodge Office
FORT DODGE – Steve King opened an office in Fort Dodge on Tuesday. "Opening the Fort Dodge office today fulfilled a vision that was many months in the making," said…
GOP pounces on shuttered WH jobs council
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 (UPI) — Republicans said President Barack Obama's disbanded jobs council of big-name U.S. business chiefs was a failure that offered a lot of show but few results.…
Burger King cuts ties with U.K. supplier
DUBLIN, Ireland, Feb. 1 (UPI) — Fast food restaurant Burger King said it has terminated its relationship with a European supplier after finding trace amounts of horse meat in beef…
King Op-ed in The Washington Times: The Constitution always trumps politics
From Congressman Steve King – Everyone who takes an oath of office, whether it be for Congress, the judicial branch or the presidency, vows to "preserve, protect and defend the …
Iowa beats Penn State, 76-67 (PHOTO GALLERY)
IOWA CITY – Sophomore Aaron White scored a career-high 27 points in leading Iowa past Penn State Thursday night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, 76-67. White dominated the game with his hustle…
Urgently-needed UN relief aid reaches northern Syria for first time
1 February 2013 – The United Nations refugee agency this week delivered emergency winter aid for the first time to the Azzas area of northern Syria, where thousands of internally…
Armed Kanawha drug dealer sentenced to 12 years
CEDAR RAPIDS – A Hancock County, Iowa man was sentenced January 30, 2013 to 144 months in federal prison. Jeffrey Dale Brown, age 22, from Kanawha, Iowa, received the prison…
Spencer man pleads guilty to meth conspiracy
CEDAR RAPIDS – A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty January 30, 2013, in federal court in Sioux City. Gabriel Ginger, 26, from Spencer, Iowa, was convicted of…
Civil rights display coming to Mason City library
MASON CITY – On Monday, February 11, 2013, Tenika Johnson, Historian at the African American Museum of Iowa located in Cedar Rapids, will present a free program for adults on…
Waldorf College Announces Scholarship Day Winners
Forest City, Iowa – Mikael Thatcher of Parowan, Utah, was awarded a four-year, full-tuition scholarship at Waldorf College's Scholarship Day on Saturday, January 19. Twenty-two high school seniors from seven…
'Past-prime' star may be creating planets
PARIS, Jan. 31 (UPI) — A star considered to have passed the age at which it can form planets may, in fact, be creating new worlds, European and U.S. astronomers…
911 pocket dial leads to drug arrest
ORANGE CITY, Fla., Jan. 31 (UPI) — Authorities in Florida said they arrested a man who accidentally called 911 while allegedly talking about selling drugs. The Volusia County Sheriff's Office…
Report: N. Korea prepares for nuclear test
SEOUL, Jan. 31 (UPI) — North Korea's preparations for an underground nuclear test appear complete, South Korea's Chosun Ilbo reported Friday quoting a Seoul government official. The preparations include the…
Ragan: Basic school funding needed now
From Sen. Amanda Ragan – The Iowa Senate has approved a four percent increase in state funding for local schools, along with additional state dollars to prevent any related property…
Ex-Hoosier charged with attempted murder
INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 31 (UPI) — Devan Dumes, a former Indiana University basketball player, has been charged with attempted murder after he allegedly shot a man in the neck, officials say.…
14 dead in Mexico City explosion
MEXICO CITY, Jan. 31 (UPI) — An explosion Thursday at the Mexico City offices of state oil company Pemex killed at least 14 people and injured scores more, the interior…
Randy Travis sentenced to 180 days in jail
AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 31 (UPI) — Country music star Randy Travis was sentenced Thursday to 180 days in jail after pleading guilty to drunk driving in Texas, officials said. Travis,…
Steckman Sponsors Legislation to Keep Local Taxpayer Money in Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa – State Representative Sharon Steckman of Mason City sponsored legislation this week to help Iowa manufacturers and small businesses hire new employees and grow their business by…
Ravens, 49ers practice on same field
NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 31 (UPI) — The Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers took the unusual step of working out on the same field Thursday in advance of their meeting…
Al-Qaida seeks to target Westerners
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 (UPI) — Al-Qaida's North African branch seeks to build on its assault on a gas complex in Algeria by attacking more Western targets in the area, U.S.…
February 1, 2013 / 1 Comment / Read More
Ban calls for preventing further tensions after reported Israeli air strikes on Syria
NEW YORK – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday noted with "grave concern" reports of Israeli air strikes in Syria and called on all concerned to prevent an escalation of tensions…
Mickelson just misses 59 at Phoenix Open
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Jan. 31 (UPI) — Phil Mickelson came agonizingly close to shooting a 59 Thursday and settled for a 60 that gave him a four-shot lead at the Phoenix…