Economic Development

Technology and Rural America with Congressman Ro Khanna

Last year California Congressman Ro Khanna was in Jefferson Iowa to help launch the Pillar Technology Hub that will open for the public on September 7th. Congressman Khanna was instrumental in gathering some Silicon Valley giants together for this project and he'll be back for the open house event. I thought it might be valuable to look back at this conversation that happened when the project was announced to an overflow crowd.
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, 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. 
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The Business News Headlines 19 May 2019

The business news headlines on the Vacation Edition of the Business News Hour. Here's what we have in stock for you today:
Another retail chain says goodbye;
Over 120 companies send a letter to President Trump saying "Stop!";
A new study says Millennial's may never be economically secure;
Heard of "Dot Amazon"?
Google and China have 90 days in a reversal from Washington;
Local business, the environment and agriculture...again.
Those stories and in for The Interview is Emily Wyatt from the Des Moines Area Religious Council talking about food insecurity, their mission and an event happening this week.  To hear that, just click here. 
Thanks for coming by! 

People, Jobs, Housing and More with Mary Bontrager

A couple of weeks ago I heard Mary Bontrager the Executive Vice President of Talent Development for the Greater Des Moines Partnership give a stunning report on the number of jobs that are not being filled in Central Iowa due to the fact we simply don't have the people. And that's not just an Iowa issue but something that is being felt all across the Midwest. So, we know the issue...what steps might we take to fix what may take our economy backward? Click through to listen. 
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 starting at 5pm Central. You can subscribe on Google Play, PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, 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. 

The Business News Headlines 18 April 2019

Due to Good Friday today is the final trading day on Wall Street and we've got the numbers and why coming up on this Thursday edition of the Business News Hour:
Positive earnings push the markets;
Former Sears CEO is being sued;
A beer story;
A "smokes" story;
Trailer park owners in Iowa about to get sent a notice;
What happened on Wall Street & Why.
Those stories and a hyper-local piece about affordable housing. This is something we stumbled onto early this week and it has to do with the Merle Hale Mall and that re-imagine effort, Anawim Housing an affordable housing non-profit and the City of Urbandale. To hear that...just click here. 
Thanks for listening.

The Business News Headlines 12 March 2019

It's the 12th day of March and thank for clicking through for the top business news stories of the day. These stories are just a click away:
Wealthy folks bribe their kids into trendy colleges and universities;
Boeing continues to have troubles with their stock and worried passengers;
Dick's Sporting Goods to rid itself of rifles and some shoes;
You may have forgotten about Lumber Liquidators but the SEC didn't;
The UK votes against the Theresa May Brexit plan...now what;
Windsor Heights said "no" to Aldi but not Waukee;
Is it really a paid family leave proposal from Sen. Joni Ernst;
What happened today and why on Wall Street.
Those stories plus I'll have a conversation about the Latino Community not only in Iowa but in the United States with Joe Henry an official with LULAC the League of United Latin American Citizens. And yes, we'll touch on the impact Latinos have on business, education, voting and more here in Iowa with LULAC Council 307. To hear that conversation click here. 
Thanks for listening!

The Impact of Latinos on Business, the Economy and Politics

There are many changes happening in the United States and chief among them is the growing Latino population. With that change in demographics comes both opportunity and fear on the part of many who may not understand the culture. With me is Joe Henry an official with the League of United Latin American Citizens or LULAC. Formed in 1929 LULAC now has nearly 1,000 chapters across the U.S. and those groups are active in education, business, politics, immigration reform and more. Click through and learn more about LULAC and the Iowa Chapter LULAC 307 from our guest Joe Henry. 
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 starting at 5pm Central. You can subscribe on Google Play, PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, 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.

Congresswomen Cindy Axne on Key Legislative Goals

I sat down with freshman Congresswoman Cindy Axne (D-IA) who represents Iowa's Third Congressional district. We talked about her legislative priorities that she feels will impact not only her district but all of Iowa. She also offered a pledge to work with members of the GOP to get things done. Here is our conversation. 
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 starting at 5pm Central. You can subscribe on Google Play, PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, 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

Black Friday Comes Every Week!

When I saw a recent Facebook Post I had to reach out to its author and learn more. Meet Abena Imhotep who gets the idea of "buying local" but adds another twist...a Black Friday every week. This is all about how each of us can support economic prosperity in the African-American Community and watch as we engage in commerce that supports individuals and families. Not sure where to shop on your own Black Friday?  Abena gave me this list of Iowa black owned businesses and she is working on yet another.  Black Friday...every Friday.  
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 starting at 5pm Central. You can subscribe on Google Play, PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, 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.

The Business News Headlines 29 January 2019

Each weekday we gather some of the more interesting business news stories and offer them up to you on your time. Nope, you don't need to wait and listen at a specific time because this newscast goes with you in podcast form. Here is what we've got on tap today:
What did businesses do with the $1.5 trillion tax cut that is now a year old?
Apple reported trouble in China;
Speaking of China, investors there are off-loading lots and lots of U.S. property;
Gold is making a comeback - Can the "Gold Guys" be far behind?
The changing brick & mortar drugstore. We've got a couple of examples;
Wall Street struggled today and we'll have those numbers.
Also today a two part interview about economics. Our guest is Dr. Chris Draper who has recently released his book, Velocity Economics. What is it? How does it work? Who benefits? What will it mean to workers, families and business startups? And, how is it different than the current system that doesn't seem to work?  Asked and answered in Part One which is here. 
Then in Part Two of our conversation with Dr. Draper we talk about socialism isn't that what he is promoting? Also we speak to the headwinds that Dr. Draper says is killing productivity in the United States and he says it is all because we are stuck on a system that has not worked and will never work. Trickle Down Economics. Listen to Part Two here. 
Thanks for listening. 

We Talk Violicity Economics with Dr. Chris Draper - Part One

You've all heard of "supply side economics" where the top wage and income earners and corporations receive all sorts of financial perks that will, so the theory goes, then "trickle down" to workers and families. Except that hasn't worked out so well. In fact, says Dr. Chris Draper the author of Velocity Economics, "trickle down has never worked and will never work because it's upside down to what really should be happening. Take some time and learn more in the very interesting conversation. 
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 starting at 5pm Central. You can subscribe on Google Play, PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, 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.