Rural Iowa

On Farm Injuries - A Workplace Issue

Agriculture is such an important part of the Midwest and, unlike manufacturing, much of the work is done by humans. Here we visit with Dr. Corinne Peak-Asa from the University of Iowa who has recently concluded a study about on-farm accidents/injuries as a workforce issue. She finds that they are not only under reported but there are questions about who is paying for treatment, rural health care and public policy. It's worth listening to...even if you're a city-dweller. 
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 12 November 2019

America was waiting today for President Trump to talk about the U.S. China trade war during his economic speech in New York. That...didn't much happen. In the business news today:
Trump talk about everything but...China;
A photo with Santa for $2,500;
Sandy Hook parents may sue Remington;
Seems nobody's "Got Milk" these days;
Chrysler accused of "dumping" cars;
Disney + rolled out today...there were issues;
Bias in the workplace against....
Those stories plus a Small Business Spotlight that shines on Nancy and Dean Vetter who have a company (Iowa Custom Murphy Beds) that makes and installs Amish made Murphy Beds all across the county. It's a story I stumbled on and think you'll enjoy. You can hear that conversation here.
Thanks for listening.

Iowa Custom Murphy Beds - A Small Business Spotlight

Sometimes you find stories where you least expect them. This story comes about because of a sign on the side of a trailer that said, "Iowa Custom Murphy Beds". Now, the Murphy Bed is named after William Lawrence Murphy, who applied for his patent around 1900. These space saving beds fold into a wall or a cabinet and according to legend, Murphy was wooing an opera singer, but living in a one-room apartment in San Francisco, meant that the young lady would have to enter his bedroom. But, once folded into a cabinet the room was, well, no longer a...bedroom.  Here is Nancy Vetter with the story about their six year old company that produces Amish made...Murphy Beds.
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 15 October 2019

Yesterday investors weren't so sure about the future of trade talks with China. Today they threw all of that out the window... Welcome to the business news headlines for Tuesday the 15th of October. Just a click away:
What drove Wall Street today;
The Turkish economic sanctions? Yawn;
Could the GM strike be nearing an end;
Two words for used car buyers: Buyer Beware;
Companies that are cool but not making a dime;
The AMC cinema chain to stream...no, really;
In case you've run out of stuff to worry about....
Those stories plus a conversation with Brent Roske the Iowa State Director for 2020 Democratic hopeful John Delaney. A press release from that campaign caught our eye so we sit down with Brent to chat about the Heartland Startup Tour. Mixing politics with...business. Click here to listen. 
Thanks for coming by! 
 

The Business News Headlines & More 8 October 2019

Wall Street opened down and stayed that way as more and more investors see any deal with China slipping away. It's the business news headlines for Tuesday the 8th of October...here we go:
Dick's Sporting Goods turns $5 million worth of inventory to...scrap;
Stocks took a hit today lots of China news;
The NBA and China;
The UAW strike against GM - Day 22 and an update;
Taxed too much? Fix that by becoming wealthy;
The major skills gap in the U.S. is....
Those stories and a Two-Part conversation with California Congressman Ro Khanna. This is Part One of my conversation with Congressman Ro Khanna who has been to Iowa nearly as often as some presidential candidates. His efforts have largely been in support of new technologies that will re-imagine Rural America. We talk about that, Silicon Valley, unions and more before we get into Medicare for All in the next segment. To listen click here. 
Here, in Part Two of my conversation with California Congressman Ro Khanna, we talk about Medicare for All something that Congressman Khanna has supported and says there is so much dis-information out there he wants to set the record straight. So, we talk about taxes, rural hospitals, health care today and much more. Then, we visit a bit about Sen. Bernie Sanders and how his recent hospital trip may make his call for a universal health care system more...personal. Listen here! 
 

Congressman Ro Khanna on Rural Technology and More

This is Part One of my conversation with Congressman Ro Khanna who has been to Iowa nearly as often as some presidential candidates. His efforts have largely been in support of new technologies that will re-imagine Rural America. We talk about that, Silicon Valley, unions and more before we get into Medicare for All in the next segment. 
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 3 October 2019

Even with continuing headwinds Wall Street was able to pull off a win today. Welcome to the Business News Headlines for Thursday the 3rd of October. On tap today:
The Jobs Report is due tomorrow morning and it's important;
President Trump signs an executive order about Medicare;
The housing sector seems to be booming;
Young people are leaving glitzy cities for lower cost communities;
Unions, Nurses and Wages it seems to be a trend;
Tesla disappoints and its stock suffers.
Those stories and for the interview I'll visit with Natalie Veldhouse a research associate from the Iowa Policy Project about the little known reality that Iowa is such a low wage state, why it matters and what forces are at work to keep it that way. That stunning conversation is right here.
Thanks for listening! 

Meet 1,000 Friends of Iowa

You are forgiven if you're not familiar with 1,000 Friends of Iowa...after all they have only been around for a couple of decades.  I know...right? Originally formed as the Rural-Urban Stewardship Project the group changed their name and became a non-profit, tax-exempt organization in 1998. Here Kari Carney the groups Executive Director and Julia McGuire share with you...and me...the reason 1,000 Friends of Iowa is more important today than ever. We'll also talk about the 18th Annual Best Development Awards and how YOU can get involved and nominate a deserving project. Here is that conversation. 
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 23 September 2019

The markets struggled all day over concern about recent financial issues in Europe and in the end the major markets were up only slightly. In other business news on this Monday:
A travel agency goes under and strands thousands of people;
Where are American's on a national health care program;
Apple to return to Austin for manufacturing at least one computer;
More layoffs for General Motors workers;
Music, the law and "Stairway to Heaven".
Also today Laura Kinnard joins us to talk it up about business events in the Greater Des Moines Metro this week. You can hear all of that right here.
And we're talking mental health with Peggy Huppert from NAMI-Iowa. If everything is being blamed on mental health issues why aren't we paying more attention to funding  program that will...work?  And, that's just the first question. Click here to listen. 
Thanks for listening! 

The Business News Headlines 18 September 2019

They said it was going to be a good day on Wall Street. Heck, record low unemployment, housing starts are up and the Fed was set to cut interest rates...what could go wrong?  It's the business news headlines for Wednesday the 18th of September...thanks for being here.  Today:
A bunch of news about housing and mortgage rates;
The Fed Rate Cut - What does it mean to you?
President Trump is not happy;
Pay your utility bills on time..think Equifax & credit;
GM to cut workers...in Canada;
Young workers demand new office rules.
Those stories  plus a story about pets in Iowa. What is is about the Hawkeye State that tells us you don't care about dogs and cats...you know those pets?  With me is Haley Anderson from the Iowa Pet Alliance and we'll talk about the sad reality of pets in Iowa.  It's pretty shocking. Here is that report. 
Thanks for listening!