Iowa

Corruption of America's Food Industry with Austin Frerick

It's been several years since Austin Frerick has been with us and  it has been well worth the wait. He recently released Barons - Money, Power and the Corruption of America's Food Industry and it is a blockbuster. In it Austin not only names the power brokers but also does extensive background pieces about each "Barron". The Hog Barons, the Grain Barons, the Coffee Barons, the Berry Barons, the Slaughter Barons and the Grocery Barons. This is a book for every book shelf. Here now is Austin Frerick:
Thanks for being here!
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 24 June 2024

Welcome to a new business week!  We had some technical difficulties at the end of last week but grateful to be back with you today. We'll kick things off with a focus on housing issues including rentals. Meanwhile, if you want to reach out to us on Social Media you can hook up with us all day on Twitter or "X" @IOB_NewsHour and on Instagram. Facebook? Sure were there too.  Here's what we've got for you today:
A new Biden proposal to boost housing affordability;
How much does a family need to make to afford...rent;
More AI trouble this time it's music;
What Canada is considering to protect workers;
The flooding in Iowa is...intense. An update;
The Farm Bill that needs to become law;
The Wall Street Report;
Target gets a new third-party partner.
Thanks for being here!
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 12 June 2024

Never mind that inflation is on the way down the Central Bank isn't moving forward with rate cuts and signaled that there may be only one cut...this year. That story kicks us off today and you don't want to miss the conversation I had with Dr. Rachelle Keck who, by chance, I met a few weeks ago by offering a complement. Turns out she is the president of Grand View University near the heart of Des Moines, Iowa.  Thanks for being with us and  if you want to reach out to us on Social Media you can hook up with us all day on Twitter or "X" @IOB_NewsHour and on Instagram. Facebook? Sure were there too.  Here's what we've got for you today:
The Fed said, "Hold!";
Another EV headache: Stealing EV charging cables;
Sony Pictures acquires Alamo Drafthouse Cinema;
Southwest Airlines CEO says he is not leaving;
Convenience store chain Casey's is on track to open 350 stores;
Changes coming in how Walmart displays prices;
The Wall Street Report;
Amazon to build 14,000 "affordable" homes and why.
For the interview you'll meet Dr. Rachelle Keck the president of Grand View University in a wide ranging conversation about the history of the university, its tie to Denmark, the importance of a high quality education and more. And it all started with a complement. To LISTEN CLICK THIS LINK.
Thanks for being here!
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.

Meet Dr. Rachelle Keck of Grand View University

Recently at our recording booth during the Central Iowa Business Conference hosted by the Urbandale, Iowa Chamber a woman was walking toward us and I commented, "Nice shoes!".  She stopped, came over to the microphones to say, thank you. Turns out she is the president of Grand View University. I asked her if we might record a conversation and, so, we did. What a delightful and talented individual leading a university with roughly 2,000 students near the heart of Des Moines.  You'll also learn about the school's close tie to...Denmark.  Meet Dr. Rachelle Keck.
Thanks for being here!
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 5 June 2024

Today is the day before the 80th Anniversary of D-Day. President Biden is in France to deliver remarks on this historic event. Not many members of the military are still with us however, you can do your part in simply remembering this massive effort that led to the salvation of Europe. Had this not been successful we may have been living in a very different world.  Thanks for being with us today and if you want to reach out to us on Social Media you can hook up with us all day on Twitter or "X" @IOB_NewsHour and on Instagram. Facebook? Sure were there too.  Here's what we've got for you today:
Worker pay is slowing;
Employers are now focusing on training to improve productivity;
If the economy is so awful why are restaurants having their best year...ever?
There may be a coming divorce in the world of dollar stores;
The Wall Street Report;
The YOLO trend is fading fast...and why.
For the conversation you'll meet Michael Berger and Ashley Ezzio from UpLift Iowa which is a guaranteed basic income program that gives participants $500 each month no strings attached.  It has been assailed as "socialism on steroids" but what are the early results from the multi-year study?  To learn more make sure to CLICK THIS LINK.
Thanks for being here!
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.
 

UpLift Iowa a Report on this Guaranteed Income Program

A year ago I sat down with Ashley Ezzio and Michael Burger the staffers who work for UpLift Iowa which is a guaranteed income program offering $500 a month, no strings attached, to program participants. At that time we simply wanted to know what the program was all about.  Now, a year later, we learn what impact that $500 each month has meant for program participants. And, from the political arena Iowa GOP legislators passed a bill that will tank any future programs like this calling it a "slippery slope to Communism".  So what is the story?  Have a listen. 
Thanks for being here!
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 4 June 2024

It's Election Day here in Iowa and, yes, I did vote. We kick things off today with a report about open jobs in the U.S. The headline most outlets had was that "Job Openings Drop to the Lowest Level Since 2021". Sounds bad...right? But, when you look inside the numbers it's pretty good news but, as you know, good news doesn't sell or get clicks. Finally, if you want to reach out to us on Social Media you can hook up with us all day on Twitter or "X" @IOB_NewsHour and on Instagram. Facebook? Sure were there too.  Here's what we've got for you today:
Inside the job openings data from today;
Gas prices drop and why that's going on;
High end watches are selling to young people;
Yesterday Meme Stocks had a day...today, not so much;
New Orleans is about to experience a "makeover";
Big news from the world of funerals;
The Wall Street Report;
Shutterstock goes all in on AI.
For the interview you'll meet Jeff Bucklin who with his 79 year old father own and operate Colfax Tractor and Combine Parts in the tiny town of Colfax, Iowa. What is surprising about this story is that, without an inventory system, they have to know, by memory, where in their 100 acres of used tractors, combines, planters and construction equipment those parts...are. Oh, and they ship all over the globe. It's a neat family story...with some history. To LISTEN, CLICK THIS LINK.
Thanks for being here!
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.

Small Business Spotlight - Colfax Tractor Parts

Recently I took a trip down a gravel road in tiny Colfax, Iowa to visit with Jeff Bucklin of Colfax Tractor Parts. They own 100 acres full of nearly every type of used agriculture equipment out there. The founder of the business, Bennie Bucklin (79) still puts in a full week of work helping identify where various tractors, combines, planters, skid loaders are located. Now, get this: They ship these tractor and construction parts all over the globe. It's a big deal. In addition they also buy "gently used" vehicles, detail 'em and sell those as well. Come along for a great family story we think you'll enjoy. 
Thanks for being here!
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 30 May 2024

We're a bit late in getting this out "on the bird" because we spent the greater part of the day in Humeston, Iowa a community of roughly 460 people.  We took the show on the road for another "Out to Lunch" segment and had a great time listening to stories from our guests Jill, Don and Dan (photo). We learned much about the history of the community as well as their business climate and a community owned grocery store The Front Street Market, the Grassroots Cafe and Snyder's a store like no other I've ever been in and today was their 75th Anniversary!  We can't wait to share that segment with you later next week. We'll get to the news in a moment but if you want to reach out to us on Social Media you can hook up with us all day on Twitter or "X" @IOB_NewsHour and on Instagram. Facebook? Sure were there too.  Here's what we've got for you today:
The GDP numbers explained;
The Dow has lost about 1,000 points in 3 days...why?
Some positive FAA and Boeing news today;
Fast food pricing and wow...has it gone up;
The Wall Street Report;
Retail news from Best Buy and Kohl's.
Thanks for being here!
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 DMDC Reactions 13 May 2024

It's been a "recovery weekend" after getting back to the Greater Des Moines Metro following 55 hours on the ground in Washington, D.C. with over 200 leaders from Central Iowa. It was another remarkable trip and if you click ahead you'll be able to hear the reactions of a handful of people who took the time to offer their thoughts about DMDC-2024.  Meanwhile if you want to reach out to us on Social Media you can hook up with us all day on Twitter or "X" @IOB_NewsHour and on Instagram. Facebook? Sure were there too.  Here's what we've got for you today:
Look out the Seagull is on the way;
Great Britain turns the corner on its recession;
Airlines say new transparency rules will be too confusing;
The high cost of chocolate may be on the way down and why;
More confusing Tesla labor news;
The Wall Street Report;
Credit card companies, "junk fees" and a court decision.
For the interview you'll hear from four people about their reaction to DMDC-2024. We'll have Tiffany Tauscheck, President/CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, Mark Snell, Chair of the Warren County Board of Supervisors, Joseph Jones, Chief of Staff for Des Moines University and Ro Crosbie, President/CEO of Tero International. So many good things happening and we thought you should know about them.  To listen CLICK THIS LINK.
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.