The Business News 10 January 2020

Welcome to the Friday Edition of the business news headlines. Today we've got these stories ready for you:

• Anemic job numbers and wage growth put a damper on the week;
• More retail sales troubles;
• Why are brands leaving Amazon.com and what comes next;
• The Wall Street numbers for the day;
• Starter homes seem to be making a comeback.

Those stories plus a rare two-part conversation. This time it's about poverty in Iowa and the United States. That uncomfortable reality nobody seems to want to discuss. Today you'll hear from four activists who are bringing the Poor People's Campaign - A National Call for a Moral Revival to Des Moines, Iowa next week. Some stunning numbers and you may be surprised at just who the poor folks...are.

Part One of that interview with Rev. Jessica Petersen, labor leader John Campbell, activist Ayisha Al-Hassan and national organizer Clinton Wright can be heard here.

Part Two of the event scheduled for the 14th and 15th of January at the First Christian Church in the Drake Neighborhood can be heard here.

Thanks for listening! 

Poor People’s Campaign a National Call for a Moral Revival - Iowa Part One

In this, the first of two parts of a conversation with several Iowan's involved in the upcoming Iowa Event for the Poor People's Campaign, I sit down with Rev. Jessica Petersen, labor leader John Campbell, activist Ayisha Al-Hassan and national coordinator Clinton Wright. What is this national campaign about, how did they get involved, what are the political, social and business demands, who are the poor people that are impacted and much more. Iowa is one of 20 states to be visited by the national leadership of Rev.Dr. William J. Barber II and Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis on Wednesday the 15th of January. Details about the Iowa "We Must Do More" event are right here.

The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long business podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on Google Play, PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday at 2pm on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour. 

Our Sponsors

AARP-Iowa

National Tractor Parts Dealer Association

Oasis - A Paychex Company

Tero International

Poor People’s Campaign a National Call for a Moral Revival - Iowa Pt. Two

In this Insight Extra we continue our conversation with the Iowa leadership for the "We Must Do More" Event coming to Des Moines on January 15th and a planned march to the Democratic Debate at Drake University the afternoon of January 14th. Here again our guests, labor leader John Campbell, Rev. Jessica Petersen, activist Ayisha Al-Hassan, and national coordinator Clinton Wright. Here too is the link to the event. 

The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long business podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on Google Play, PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday at 2pm on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour. 

Our Sponsors

AARP-Iowa

National Tractor Parts Dealer Association

Oasis - A Paychex Company

Tero International

The Business News Headlines 9 January 2020

It was a record setting day on Wall Street and we'll get to those numbers in just a bit but first here are the top business news stories from today:

• 10,000 people applied for a job that pays...zero;
• But, if you wanna get paid Taco Bell has a sweet deal;
• Trucking Industry = Trouble;
• Department Store Industry = Trouble;
• The Dairy Industry = Trouble (sort of a downer huh?);
• The Wall Street Report and troubling news from Iran;
• Environmental impacts studies?  Maybe.

Those stories plus we'll offer up one of the most listened to interviews from all of 2019. You seemed to really enjoy this short piece featuring Peter Stockdale from The Audible Farm Podcast. Peter and I sat down and talked podcasting and how much fun he's having entertaining thousands through his show.  Here is that conversation.

Thanks for listening! 

The Business News Headlines 8 January 2020

The day after the ICBM attack on U.S. bases in Iraq gave some pause. But then...well, not so much. It's the business news headlines for Wednesday the 8th of January:

• How much money you make impacts the likelihood of an IRS audit;
• The employee idea that doubled business for Amazon;
• General Motors starting to make good on its contract with the UAW;
• Robots on the loose;
• We've got a couple of reports on jobs;
• And, the Wall Street Report.

Those stories plus for the interview it's Ruth Hardin from Crossroads of Iowa. Think women, jail and treatment. It's not only a calling but also a way to save taxpayer dollars.  To hear that conversation, click here.

Thanks for listening! 

The Business News 31 December 2019

Nope, we didn't take the day off nor did we go home early.  Crazy...right?  Here are the business news headlines for the final day of 2019 plus the top interviews of each month this past year. Enjoy!  

• You won't believe how many job openings there are;
• More Silicon Valley workers unionize;
• Tax cuts and the Middle-Class...it's a joke;
• Cable companies raising prices;
• Robo-Calls and you;
• The Wall Street Report;
• Self control people...self control.

Those stories plus...come back and we'll share our top business interviews of 2019.  Feel free to click on whatever you wish to hear that conversation:

Our top conversation from December is this with U.S. Senate Candidate for Iowa Mike Franken

In November folks really connected with Improving Presentation Skills with Maureen Berger of Tero International.

Our big interview from October featured Stephanie Preusch about affordable housing in Des Moines;

September this piece about Iowa a Low Wage State took top honors;

In August our Small Business Spotlight on A New Look Windows & Exteriors took top honors;

July saw Four Questions for Andrew Yang as the big draw;

Our friend Carlos Alvarez shined in June with his Twelve Tips - Speak Your Way to Success;

The number one interview for May was Tom Hudson and Guns, Laws & Responsibility;

Brad Anderson and Iowa AARP - Flexing their Muscle took top honors for April;

In March we introduced you to Peter Stockdale from The Audible Farm Podcast a big winner;

This February interview about Black Businesses and Black Friday was a monster hit with Abena Imhotep;

We started 2019 off with this January conversation about Velocity Economics with Dr. Chris Draper.

Of course this is just a tiny fraction of the many, many interviews we conducted in 2019. What we found interesting is that not only are the topics wide and varied we also know that huge numbers were reached because our subjects employed successful social media techniques to drive traffic to their story. It's a lesson for everyone.

Thanks for being with us this past year. We look forward to another record 2020.

Michael, Chap, Aaron, Hunter & James - The Crew of Insight on Business the News Hour

The Business News 27 December 2019

Could you tell it was a Friday just before another holiday?  We could. Sorta quiet but lots and lots of people working social media.  Hey, it's...Friday.  Here's what we've got for you today:

• Awash in profits big banks cutting employees;
• Do you really want that Amazon fulfillment center in your town;
• UPS says watch out for January 2nd;
• Wages are up but...there is a but;
• This fast food company beats everybody else and there is a reason.
• Wall Street notched a mixed day but records we established.

Those stories plus Jeff Pitts from Cityview Magazine is with us chatting it up about Stuff to DO in the Greater Des Moines Metro. Listen to that...here!

Thanks for coming by! 

Meet Admiral Mike Franken - Part One - Running for the U.S. Senate in Iowa

While the Business News Hour focuses on economics and business we often have the opportunity to sit down with people seeking office to get their take on those two items. Here we'll introduce you to Admiral Mike Franken of Iowa who is running to become the Democratic Nominee for the United States Senate. Here we do the introduction and start into some policy issues. And, yes, there is a part two. 

The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long business podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on Google Play, PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday at 2pm on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour. 

Our Sponsors

AARP-Iowa

National Tractor Parts Dealer Association

Oasis - A Paychex Company

Tero International

The Business News 18 December 2019

It's the Mid-Week Edition of the Business News Headlines, thanks for coming by. You want to reach us on Twitter you can do that @IOB_NewsHour. In the news today:

• Retailers are getting ready for Super Saturday;
• Amazon is updating their return policy;
• Oh, the pain of the "sloping toilet";
• Lots of job creation but...no people and why;
• Chances of being audited next year...are up;
• The Wall Street Report in a word: "Sluggish";
• Fast Food Workers get a gut punch.

Those stories plus a conversation with Brian Waller of the Technology Association of Iowa as we talk about that groups legislative priorities going into the 2020 legislative session. Technology is a big, very big, deal in Iowa and we'll talk about that here.

Thanks for listening! 

Legislative Priorities from the Technology Association of Iowa

Knowing that every business is, at it's core, about technology the Technology Association of Iowa has a list of legislative priorities they will be taking to legislators as the 2020 session begins in January. Here Brian Waller the TAI President talks about the four main issues and offers some background on:

• The Iowan Project;
• IDEA Funding;
• Empower Rural Iowa and Future Ready Iowa;
• Innovation Tax Credits & Angel Investor Tax Credits.

Click through to learn more from Brian...

The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long business podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on Google Play, PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday at 2pm on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour. 

Our Sponsors

AARP-Iowa

National Tractor Parts Dealer Association

Oasis - A Paychex Company

Tero International