Polk County

Voting? Vote By Mail with Jamie Fitzgerald

There is a primary election happening on the second of June. But...and this is a BIG BUT...out of an abundance of caution County Auditors are busy combining polling places and, more importantly, encouraging Iowans to vote by mail.  The Iowa Secretary of State is mailing out Absentee Ballot Requests to every Iowa voter including "no party" voters who can declare themselves as a Democrat or a Republican to vote by mail.  Here I visit with Jamie Fitzgerald who is the County Auditor for Polk County. Listen as we talk about what is happening across the state and the critical importance of voting by mail. And, if you follow the link above you can go directly to his office to request a mail in ballot.  Go! 
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday 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 Noon 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 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 Headlines & More 24 October 2019

The markets struggled all day and in the end the Dow missed making it back to the flat-line. It's the business news headlines for Thursday the 24th day of October. And, we've got a shorter segment today because we've got a rare two-part interview with the current Mayor of the City of Des Moines, Iowa, Frank Cownie.  In the news:
What happened today on Wall Street;
Tesla is now the most valuable U.S. automaker;
Flight Shaming...it's a thing;
Twitter stock drops and we'll share why;
Pot profits...going up in smoke.
Those stories plus a two-part long form interview with Mayor Frank Cownie.  Mayor Cownie has served the city of Des Moines, Iowa for 16 years and he wants another four. I'll ask him why voters should reward him for that. Plus we'll talk about promises made and he says...kept. Here is Part One. 
Then in Part Two we'll talk about the water issue that impacts not only Des Moines but also the surrounding communities that buy water from the Des Moines Water Works. We'll also get into flooding, climate change and more.  Here is Part Two.
Thanks for listening! 

Meet Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie - Part One

A conversation with Mayor Frank Cownie, the longest serving mayor for the City of Des Moines, Iowa is running for re-election. Here in a two-part conversation we talk about what he has promised to do, what he has done, the issues that so many people care about. We also talk about hyper-local issues like potholes and the technology that he has implemented to connect citizens with their local government. So much to unpack here...click 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. 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
 

Mayor Frank Cownie - The Interview Part Two

Here I continue my conversation with Mayor Frank Cownie and first ask him about the issues regarding water, water safety and the impact it has on not only the residents of Des Moines but the communities that are the customers of the Des Moines Water Works. So much inside to unpack on that issue and others. Click in 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. 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

Politics in Polk County, Iowa with Sean Bagniewski

While we're totally into business the business of politics is always interesting. Here I sit down with the Chair of the Polk County Democrats, Sean Bagniewski and talk about volunteers, community groups, organizing, presidential candidates, the Steak Fry that fed over 12,000 people and the upcoming visit by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). And, if you are interested you can grab your ticket to that event...here.  Meet Sean... 
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 & More 17 October 2019

There was some good news on the business front today and you would have thought that might supercharge the markets but...it was not to be. The Dow posted a modest gain of 23 points to 27,025 the S&P 500 was up by 8 points and the Nasdaq out performed up by 32 points to end the day at 8,156.
The Markets and what happened;
Is the White House manipulating the markets;
China and Ag will they or won't they;
Taco Bell and advertising;
Space Suits are ready for you.
Those stories and a conversation with Jamie Fitzgerald who is the Polk County, Iowa Auditor. Jamie is in to talk about the many changes voters will face this November and how to go about the voting process. There are some differences to past years and a recent court case to talk about. Here too is the Iowa Secretary of State website. You can hear that episode here. 
Thanks for listening! 

Iowa Election Changes with Jamie Fitzgerald

We aired this piece earlier on News/Talk 1540 KXEL and now here. Jamie Fitzgerald is the Polk County, Iowa Auditor which means he oversees elections in the most populated county in the state. Here we go over several changes enacted by the Iowa Legislature that will impact your ability to cast a vote in the upcoming November elections. For full transparency we believe voting should be easier rather than harder. But, that's us. Click through to hear our conversation.  Here too is the Polk County Auditor website and the website for the Iowa Secretary of State.
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 & More 11 September 2019

This is a bit late in getting out. We were, often, distracted by the images of eighteen years ago and 9/11 and our own memories of where we were at the time...never forget. In the business news headlines today:
The Dow breaks above 27,000 thank you Apple;
President Trump lobbies hard for a rate cut to zero;
Purdue Pharma is said to be close to a settlement;
UAW leaders to huddle in Detroit...will they strike GM?
Victoria's Secret rethinking the the "super model";
How about a Progressive Pizza Pie?
Those stories and we've got a rare extended interview. Today sitting down with Elizabeth Buck the President of The United Way of Central Iowa and Seth Johnson the program director for OpportUNITY and talking about poverty in Des Moines, Iowa. In a city that boasts a fantastic quality of life there are still large pockets of poverty and families dealing with housing, transportation, child care and wages. Here is Part One.
In Part Two of our conversation we start to look at ways to reduce the stress on working families and how the United Way of Central Iowa is working to that end. We also cover several bright spots including the high school graduation rate. Here is 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, 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 April 2019

It's been a busy business day as the Dow took a pause and we talk video in our interview. Here's what's ahead:
After a rousing day yesterday the markets stumbled;
What happened to the nation's largest drugstore chain;
Sexual misconduct and trying to hide it;
The Opioid case that just gets bigger;
Hey, PewDePie is back on top...what? You didn't know;
Tanger Outlets in Williamsburg, Iowa sold;
Home values climb in Polk County, Iowa by 10%;
What happened on Wall Street and why.
Plus today we're talking VIDEO with Kyle Plummer the marketing director for Tero International. They have doubled down on their video production work and we'll even show you some video. We'll talk about the value of video, how they started and why they have created an amazing studio. Click here to hear that story.
Thanks for coming by!