History

Meet Rick Tollakson the CEO of Hubbell Realty and the New Book

Back in May I had the opportunity to sit down with the CEO of Hubbell Realty, Rick Tollakson and we visited about a host of issues.  I made a note to invite him for an interview and he graciously accepted.  Here you'll learn more about the work Hubbell Realty does for the communities they serve, a conversation about his new book, "Think Bigger Lead Better" and some history of the company that spans generations. Here is my friend Rick:
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central 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...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

The Business News Headlines and Bridges of Iowa 20 October 2025

We start things off today with a quick story about why Wall Street had such a tremendous day. It's all about earnings and a huge dash of hope.  This is the Business News Headlines for Monday the 20th day of October, thanks for listening. In other news, Amazon cloud services experienced a major hiccup and we’ll share what we know.  Consumers are paying plenty for beef…and now the president thinks he has a solution.  Smoke pot and own a firearm?  The Supreme Court is about to weigh in on that topic.  China says the U.S. employed a cyber attack back in 2022. It’s becoming a major problem. Americans can no longer afford their vehicles. We’ll check the numbers in The Wall Street Report and Americans remain sour about job prospects. For the conversation you’ll meet Jeff Lamberti the Chairman of the non-profit long term substance abuse program, Bridges of Iowa.  But, first the news.
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central 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...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

Brad Cavanagh the Mayor of Dubuque, Iowa

While attending the Iowa League of Cities Annual Meeting I sat down with the very energetic Mayor of Dubuque, Iowa.  Brad Cavanagh talks about the transformation of his city, the amazing riverfront, the colleges that dot the area and more.  Plus Brad is also an entrepreneur.  Get to know the mayor of the oldest city in Iowa, Brad Cavanagh.  We really enjoyed this conversation!
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central 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...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

The Business News Headlines 18 September 2025

There is a very ominous reality going on as President Trump seeks to reshape the U.S. media more to his liking and it all sounds familiar. This is the Business News Headlines for Thursday the 18th day of September, thanks for listening. In other news the Trump Administration turns to the Supreme Court to outs Fed Governor Lisa Cook. All must be forgiven? Hyundai Motor Group on Thursday confirmed it is going forward with previously announced plans to expand its Georgia plant after that ICE raid. The number of businesses filing for bankruptcy protection has grown and they all share some common reasons why. The closing of Wahlburger’s, the popular burger chain is real and we'll share why. In other retail news Petco is closing more than 2 dozen stores. We'll have the numbers from the Wall Street Report and tough finding a job in this environment? The experts say it's not your fault and give some advice.  Let's go! 
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central 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...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

The Trouble with Medicaid with Catherine Grey

Not long ago I was doing some research on Medicaid Reimbursement for an upcoming story. My search led me to Catherine Grey who has been working with Medicaid in Iowa for 34 years due to the condition of her son, John.  Here she talks about the challenges of applying, over and over and over again. The amount of money the private Managed Care Organization are receiving from Iowa. The sheer number of people on Medicaid and more.  You've no doubt heard lots of misinformation but here we'll put a face the the issue.  Meet Catherine. 
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central 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...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.
 

The Business News Headlines 11 September 2025

It is September 11th and the odd thing about this is the lack of mention of 9/11 by the media. For us, let us never forget.  This is the Business News Headlines for Thursday and thanks for listening.  In the news, the Fed is in a tight spot and we'll share what's going on. In other news, the Trump administration has asked for an emergency ruling to oust Fed Governor Lisa Cook. The Federal Trade Commission is looking into AI chatbots and why.  Candy is a big business…and now a candy exec pleads guilty about stealing 28 million dollars from Mars.  We’ll take a look at the market results from today in The Wall Street Report and mortgage rates continue to fall and we’ll share the latest number…let’s go!
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central 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...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

The Business News Headlines and More 27 August 2025

It was one of the worst efforts at rebranding in memory and today we'll take a deep dive into what happened at this storied restaurant chain.  This is the Business News Headlines for Wednesday the 27th of August, thanks for listening.    In other news, Target protesters are angry over a lack of action when it comes to DEI efforts. Nvidia reported quarterly sales and we’ll share those results. Rural hospitals and cuts to Medicare came into focus today and it’s not a pretty picture. We’ll share the numbers from today in the Wall Street Report and what’s going on over at Meta as several high profile AI specialists have left the company.  We’ll share what we know.  For the conversation we’ll tackle the issue of entitlement with Ro Crosbie from Tero International…  let’s go!
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central 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...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

Old Threshers Reunion with Terry McWilliams

The event is 75 years old and today you'll meet Terry McWilliams who chairs the event known as the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion…happening in Mount Pleasant, Iowa starting on August 28th. Here we talk about the history of the Reunion, the many volunteers that are needed and who show up.  We'll also talk a bit about the City of Mount Pleasant because Terry also sits on the City Council.  Let's get started and meet Terry McWilliams. 
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central 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...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

The Business News Headlines 31 July 2025

We get to say "goodbye" to July and welcome to the Business News Headlines for this Thursday, glad you are with us again. More tough tariff talk kicks us off today meanwhile a group of appellate judges question if Trump has the authority to impose tariffs without Congress. And, as we reported yesterday when the Fed did not cut interest rates we predicted that President Trump would lash out against Fed Chair Jerome Powell...and we didn't even have to wait 24 hours. What a new inflation number tells us about the tariffs. American Eagle Outfitters is causing a ruckus and we’ll tell you about it. We’ll check the markets in the Wall Street Report and Best Buy has a new partner and you’ll be surprised at who it is.  Let’s go!
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central 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...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

The Business News Headlines 1 July 2025

Yes, the tax and spending bill did pass the U.S. Senate, by a whisker.  But now it faces a steep climb in the House.  Stay tuned and welcome to the Business News Headlines for Tuesday the 1st day of July.  In other news the Musk Trump feud just got hotter. Some financial centers in Mexico are in trouble with the Trump administration. As long as we’re talking about other nations…today is Canada Day…and what that means. We’ve got the Wall Street Report and remember that line about trade deals when the president said he would get 90 deals done in 90 days.  Guess that didn’t happen so the White House is switching the story.  Ready?  Let’s go!
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central 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...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.