Public Policy

Non-Visible Disabilities and the Fear of Flying

It was another of those chance meetings. I was sitting in the lobby of the Hotel Fort Des Moines visiting with Jenny Schuetz about our scheduled interview when a man stepped up and said, "Excuse me, but I heard you talking about the interview maybe we could do a segment? I help people with non-visible disabilities better enjoy air travel by helping them experience what it's like in an aircraft."  And so I met Jonathan Sutter who founded TravelingWiki.com an organization that encourages airports to install rooms that can help folks with autism and other non-visible disabilities become less fearful of flying. I learned much from Johnathan and my guess is that you will too. 
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 Fixing a Broken Housing System

It's the final day of April and the worst month for Wall Street since last September. Welcome to the Tuesday Edition of the Business News Headlines for this the 30th of April.  We kick things off with that story and follow several others before we get to a conversation about housing with author Jenny Schuetz and her book, Fixer Upper: How to Repair America's Broken Housing Systems. We are grateful to the Polk County Housing Trust Fund for making Jenny, a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution available for this conversation.   Meanwhile, 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:
Wages climb and the Fed thinks that's bad;
U.S. Newspapers sue AI creators and why;
Amazon posts solid profits;
The (awful) Wall Street Report;
Walmart gets "glitzy" with groceries and why.
For the interview we're talking about housing and the many barriers there are to attain the "American Dream". Things like high interest rates, not enough new affordable housing being built, not enough housing stock on the market...it all makes it increasingly difficult to become a homeowner.  Enter Jenny Schuetz the author of "Fixer-Upper: How to Repair America's Broken Housing Systems". Here we talk about the barriers of homeownership and she offers solutions. Our thanks to the Polk County Housing Trust Fund for making Jenny available for this conversation. 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.

The Housing Crisis and Solutions with Jenny Schuetz

If you've been listening to our newscast for any time over the past year or so you know we report, regularly, on the housing crisis in the United States.  The issues are many: High interest rates, not enough new affordable housing being built, not enough housing stock on the market...it all makes it increasingly difficult to become a homeowner.  Or what was the "American Dream". Enter Jenny Schuetz the author of "Fixer-Upper: How to Repair America's Broken Housing Systems". Here we talk about the barriers of homeownership and she offers solutions. Our thanks to the Polk County Housing Trust Fund for making Jenny available for 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 and a Workers Memorial 29 April 2024

Welcome to the Monday Edition of the Business News Headlines.  Glad you are with us. Over the  past week labor unions across Iowa have been holding Worker Memorials to remember the men and women who were killed on or at the job site this past year. Today the South Central Iowa Federation of Labor AFL/CIO held such a memorial at the Iowa State Capital. I have been to many of these events over the years but never one where so many names were read. Today seventy-three individuals who are now gone but not forgotten were remembered. I was struck by that huge number and at the ages of some of the deceased. Following the event I sat down with Paula Martinez the President of the local union and asked..."Why?".  It was an emotional event for many of us...  Here are the other stories we have for you today:
Driverless Semi-Trucks?  Yep, coming soon;
Older affluent Americans are driving the economy...but;
Recent airline stories have prompted Congress to act;
Chipotle employees may again eat...chicken;
The Supreme Court will take up an unusual case;
The Wall Street Report;
Remembering the 73 Iowans with Paula Martinez.
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 26 April 2024

It's the "Late Edition" of the Business News Headlines. Why "late"? It was a zoo here at "Radio Ranch" as we were playing "catch-up" on a host of things that had to be done before we even started writing the news of the day. In addition I did an interview with our friend Jeff Stein from News Talk 1540 KXEL about the impact the war in Gaza is having on local Jewish Congregations in Iowa. If you want to listen to that piece you can hear it here. Also, 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:
Inflation is "stuck" and what that means;
The Feds are taking a second look at Tesla Auto-Pilot and why;
Ford has pumped the breaks on EV's and making good with hybrids;
Some SWEET Trader Joe's news for you;
The Wall Street Report;
And, women's sports is having a moment.
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 25 April 2024

Good to be back with you after having the past two days off in observance of Passover. We spent the time with family and friends along with conducting two Seder Meals one at home and the other with the congregation I've served for the past thirty-six years. Today, we're back with the business news headlines and thank you for being with us. Also, 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:
Our Gross Domestic Product shrank in the first quarter;
But, there is a but about that from Janet Yellen;
President Biden was in Upstate New York...think chips;
Net Neutrality is back and that's a good thing;
Whoa, $15 bucks a pack for cigarettes!
The Wall Street Report;
We're not making babies and...why.
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 16 April 2024

We're going nowhere fast. We kick things off today with the speculation the U.S. Central Bank will delay cuts to it's preferred lending rate until late this year...if at all. The issue is that inflation continues to be well above the Fed's target of 2%.  One has to wonder if that target is realistic. Meanwhile, later in the newscast, we have a story about how job seekers are demanding even more money that usual to switch jobs and that does not help the situation. And, a reminder, 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 grim prospect of a lack of rate cuts;
Southern Governors warn about joining a union;
More consumer protection regarding air travel;
Truth Social continues to bleed even with new features;
The Wall Street Report;
Job seekers seek much higher pay levels and why;
The pay-gap between men and women continues to widen.
And if you missed our segment on firearms and firearm safety, which was a big download yesterday here is that 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.
 
 

The Business News Headlines and More 15 April 2024

Happy Federal Income Tax Day and welcome to the Business News Headlines for Monday the 15th of April.  We kick things off with that story and a reminder to click through to listen to a conversation about what a "Straw Purchase" of a firearm is and how it can lead to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.  My guest is Aaron McKinney, a strong advocate of the Second Amendment, but concerned about the lack of training so many people have when it comes to owning a firearm. And, a reminder, 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:
Tax Day and some thoughts;
Consumers are still consuming...big time;
New Federal Rules and some folks are not happy;
Tesla to cut staff according to multiple outlets;
Trump social media stock falls yet again;
The Wall Street Report;
Netflix is betting on small screens.
Make sure you click ahead for this conversation with Aaron McKinney from The Iowa Outdoors Store. We're talking about what happens when folks like on the Federal Firearms Report, the lack of education many buyers have when it comes to handling a firearm and the "Gun Show Loophole"...explained.  To listen to that segment 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.

Firearm Straw Purchases and The Gun Show Loophole with Aaron McKinney

Join us as we talk about firearms and the very strange laws that deal with purchasing a firearm, what happens when you lie on form 4473 and the gun-show issue. My guest is Aaron McKinney, a strong supporter of the second amendment from The Iowa Outdoors Store based in Fort Dodge who recently was interviewed by a CBS affiliate regarding the issue of Straw Purchases. They gave him only 30 seconds...we'll spend more time on the issue.
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 12 April 2024

Before we dive into the Business News Headlines from today the 12th day of April a quick comment about a three hour meeting we had over lunch. It's the re-launch of "Out to Lunch" which is an idea I stole from CBS News Chief Washington Correspondent Major Garrett and his podcast "Take Out". (That's us in D.C. last may when I fessed up.) My two lunch guests were Ken Chester the creator and host of the nationally syndicated show "Tech Mobility" as well as Jeff Stein the News and Program Director for News/Talk 1540 KXEL a 50,000 watt station based in Waterloo, Iowa. We spent plenty of time talking about what we do, how we do it and who in the world is listening.  We'll air that segment soon.  Meanwhile here is what we have for you today:
An awful day and week on Wall Street
Immigrants, jobs and the U.S. Economy;
Consumers and the economy? A quick report;
The future of U.S. Steel is...sealed;
The Wall Street Report;
Even mediocre CEO's do pretty well when they...leave. 
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.