diff --git a/apiserver/server.py b/apiserver/server.py
index be7022e..713a0a8 100644
--- a/apiserver/server.py
+++ b/apiserver/server.py
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ database.init()
 search.init()
 
 news_index = 0
+ref_list = []
+current_item = {}
 
 def new_id():
     nid = gen_rand_id()
@@ -51,6 +53,18 @@ def api():
     res.headers['content-type'] = 'application/json'
     return res
 
+@flask_app.route('/api/stats', strict_slashes=False)
+def apistats():
+    stats = {
+        'news_index': news_index,
+        'ref_list': ref_list,
+        'len_ref_list': len(ref_list),
+        'current_item': current_item,
+    }
+
+    return stats
+
+
 @flask_app.route('/api/search', strict_slashes=False)
 def apisearch():
     q = request.args.get('q', '')
@@ -173,7 +187,7 @@ def static_story(sid):
 http_server = WSGIServer(('', 33842), flask_app)
 
 def feed_thread():
-    global news_index
+    global news_index, ref_list, current_item
 
     try:
         while True:
@@ -194,13 +208,13 @@ def feed_thread():
 
             # update current stories
             if news_index < len(ref_list):
-                item = ref_list[news_index]
+                current_item = ref_list[news_index]
 
                 try:
-                    story_json = database.get_story(item['sid']).full_json
+                    story_json = database.get_story(current_item['sid']).full_json
                     story = json.loads(story_json)
                 except AttributeError:
-                    story = dict(id=item['sid'], ref=item['ref'], source=item['source'])
+                    story = dict(id=current_item['sid'], ref=current_item['ref'], source=current_item['source'])
 
                 logging.info('Updating {} story: {}, index: {}'.format(story['source'], story['ref'], news_index))
 
@@ -209,8 +223,8 @@ def feed_thread():
                     database.put_story(story)
                     search.put_story(story)
                 else:
-                    database.del_ref(item['ref'])
-                    logging.info('Removed ref {}'.format(item['ref']))
+                    database.del_ref(current_item['ref'])
+                    logging.info('Removed ref {}'.format(current_item['ref']))
             else:
                 logging.info('Skipping index: ' + str(news_index))