Des Moines Register

desmoinesregister.com — Hope is fading that a missing Iowa girl will be found alive after investigators revealed today that the 15-year-old's blood was found at the place where she was taken as well as on the truck of the registered sex offender suspected of kidnapping her, investigators said.

desmoinesregister.com — A moment of silence, please, for a voice that was rarely still: Jim Zabel, the broadcasting legend whose hyperbolic descriptions of University of Iowa sports teams entertained radio listeners for more than half a century, died Thursday afternoon, WHO-TV reported on its website. He was 91.

desmoinesregister.com — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who is battling that state's public labor union over collective bargaining rights, spent much of his childhood in Plainfield, Iowa. Register columnist Kyle Munson says it all started in Plainfield with Walker's 'U.S. Jesus Club.'In Iowa: Lawmakers spar all night long over union bill.In Wisconsin: State assembly passes bill limiting union rights.

desmoinesregister.com — A federal prison inmate and failed Democratic presidential candidate has sued the Iowa Secretary of State and President Barack Obama in the hopes of getting a legal declaration that Obama is not a U.S. citizen and therefore was not a proper candidate to become commander-in-chief.

desmoinesregister.com — Scott Walker, the controversial governor of neighboring Wisconsin, comes to Iowa tonight amid speculation that he'd be a smash with Republicans here if he were to run for president, as some top Iowa politics watchers predict. "He's the guy to watch in Iowa," said David Kochel, a longtime political strategist from Des Moines.

desmoinesregister.com — The man suspected of abducting two Dayton girls Monday was accused of attempted rape at the age of 15, court records show. Michael James Klunder, 42, was found dead of an apparent suicide at a property northeast of Dayton several hours after the abductions.

desmoinesregister.com — Republican former U.S. Attorney Matt Whitaker says he's just trying to be himself. That's not an easy task for someone running for the nomination of a party that doesn't always know what it wants to be. Whitaker discussed his intentions to run for U.S. Senate on a conservative radio talk show earlier this week.

desmoinesregister.com — The spring flesh-pounding is almost done for another year, Iowa State's Cyclone Tailgate Tour and Iowa's I-Club banquets. Adoring fans flocked to both, these preludes that just happen to coincide with football ticket selling campaigns. Coaches and athletic directors mingled with fans, posed for pictures, signed autographs, answered questions, and then moved on to the next city.

desmoinesregister.com — With each outing, Iowa Cubs left-handed starter Chris Rusin continues to tally innings faster than just about anyone in the Pacific Coast League. But for Rusin, less often leads to more. Rusin (3-4) tossed six shutout innings as the Iowa Cubs earned a 4-0 win against the Las Vegas 51s before 7,431 fans at Principal Park on Thursday.