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! 

Rural Realities & Opportunities with Deb Brown

We've all heard the stories about how Rural America is imploding. How difficult it is to establish a business there, people moving away and the economies that were so vital just 25 years ago are now in ruin. Hold on, there is a side to rural revitalization that you may not know. Meet Deb Brown who, along with Becky McCray, are from SaveYour.Town who offers real solutions to rural communities not by telling them what to do but listening to what they want. We talk about that and a recent survey that may also open your eyes to the opportunities in rural places. 

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 2 December 2019

It's a brand new month and welcome! The first trading day of December was rough on Wall Street and we'll share what happened and why.  In other business news:

• Black Friday was big and Cyber Monday could be to;
• Amazon and Auschwitz it's a story;
• Is America's Shale Oil Boom...over;
• How many hours a week do you need to work to live...comfortably;
• Markets headed down today and we'll share why;
• There is a new report out about jobs and...pay. Stunning.

Those stories plus Laura Kinnard is with us chatting it up about business events happening in the Greater Des Moines Metro this weekend into next week. To hear us talk about that, just click here. 

Thanks for listening. 

The Business News Headlines 27 November 2019

The day before Thanksgiving and a program note: Insight on Business the News Hour will, just like Wall Street, have the day off tomorrow. We wish for you a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.  In the news today:

• Once the "Office Darling" Google is getting pushback by employees;
• John Deere is worried about sinking sales;
• Malls, The Cheesecake Factory and Promotions;
• The U.S. economy grew more than expected;
• What happened and why on Wall Street;
• How to retain employees: Be flexible during the holidays.

Those stories plus a look at a piece we did last year on early onset dementia with Yogi Shah, M.D. Why? He is a memory expert and because many of you will be traveling to see family and friends the issue of dementia or memory loss may be something those close to you are worried about. Being armed with the information here may help you. 

Thanks for listening! 

The Business News Headlines 19 November 2019

Just as we started the news President Trump says that if there is no deal between the U.S. and China that he will increase tariffs well above the current rate. That should have business worried.  In other news today:

• Older workers are hiding but their productivity is huge;
• International Students and the Economy;
• The cheapest car in America is...;
• A lawsuit over "meatless meat";
• Wages and Small Towns;
• Wall Street struggled today and why;
• DoorDash in legal trouble.

Also today we're chatting about the thousands of jobs that are unfilled and the thousands of workers who are looking. Kyle Horn from America's Job Honor Awards says there is a "win-win" for workers and employers if businesses will look at, often, sidelined people. It's a great story and idea. Here's Kyle: 

Employers - Employees and Jobs with Kyle Horn

The numbers are staggering both from so many unfilled jobs in America to the number of people seeking employment but have been, for one reason or another, cast aside. Kyle Horn, a returning guest to the Business News Hour is from America's Job Honor Awards and what he has to say about business and those searching for work should resonate across the entire country. Now, this isn't a "feel good" story but a positive message of how employers can find high quality employees in the most unlikely places...and how they might support this program. Here is Kyle... 

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 & More 15 November 2019

It was a record setting day on Wall Street as the Dow climbed over 28,000 for the first time..ever. Why? That's part of what we've got for you tonight.

• Workplace violence is increasing against...nurses;
• The FDA is worried about "unsafe" over the counter drugs;
• Starbucks just got...huge in Chicago;
• The most profitable company in the world set for an IPO;
• More job skill worries;
• Could restaurants go the way of taxi cabs.

Those stories and more along with Jeff Pitts from Cityview Magazine who lists out Stuff to DO in the Des Moines Metro this weekend into next week. To hear that "Friday Fun" just click here.