Rural Stories

The Business News Headlines and an Ag Day Special with Jeff Stein

When the weather gets rough the airlines can't fly and that has, once again, backed up travel during a very busy time.  That story kicks us off today on this the 17th of March.  In other news, President Trump is not happy with the way the media is reporting on the war in Iran.  And, there are threats. Bank of America enters into a settlement with victims of Jeffery Epstein. In more legal news today closing arguments began in the Twitter case against Elon Musk. The war in Iran has made some Central Bank decisions more difficult. We’ll check the numbers in The Wall Street Report and Kraft Heinz is betting on more health food options.  For the conversation we’ll visit with Jeff Stein from News/Talk 1540 KXEL based in Waterloo, Iowa about an Ag Day event that celebrates farming…and yes, there is a free lunch involved. Let’s go!
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 February 2026

During the State of the Union address President Trump said the U.S. is experiencing "the golden age". Trouble is not many Americans believe it and that's where we start this evening. This is the Business News Headlines for Wednesday the 25th day of February and thanks for listening. In other news, The Warner Brothers/Paramount battle just got hotter. We’ve got pipeline news for you out of Wisconsin. A final World Trade Center tower in New York City is in the news and it is a celebration of sorts. Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Smithfield and a new facility is big news for the state and area farmers. We will check the numbers in The Wall Street Report and the latest report from Nvidia.  Meanwhile everybody is talking about economic development and data centers there is some sobering news out today.  Let’s go!
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 February 2026

Folks filing for unemployment benefits fell last week as we continue to watch the very strange labor market and we'll start with that story first this evening. This is the Business News Headlines for Thursday the 12th day of February, thanks for being with us. In other news, home sales fell in January even as mortgage rates ease.  Well now, AI looks to Montana and residents worry about water and electricity. Will major league baseball stars play in the 2028 Olympics headed to Los Angeles? In yet another story about home sales we’ve got the latest on mortgage rates. We’ll check the numbers from The Wall Street Report and it is good to be the CEO of Morgan Stanley not to mention the other big banks.  Let’s talk millions in raises.  Let’s go.
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 2 January 2026

Health care insurance rates just went up for millions of Americans and you might be surprised at who benefited from the subsidies. This is the Business News Headlines for Friday the 2nd day of January, thanks for listening. In other news, Tesla sales falter for the second year in a row and that pushed the manufacturer out of first place in the EV market. California has a new way to keep batteries out of the landfill. The top executive at Saks is out and why. Another tariff delay and we’ll share what happened. Speaking of tariffs a senior Trump Administration just confessed they are a bad idea. We’ll check the numbers in The Wall Street Report and the story of a “class divide” when it comes to the airlines.  Let’s go.
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 22 December 2025

Fewer and fewer Americans are making charitable donations and the reason seems to be easy to understand.  We'll start there first. This is the Business News Headlines for Monday the 22nd day of December, thanks for being with us. . In other news, there is a battle going on over at CBS and it has to do with a pulled 60 Minutes segment. Tyson Foods is closing a plant in Nebraska and it will have a devastating impact on the town and its citizens. A storied Kentucky bourbon distillery is closing down and why. We’ll check the numbers in The Wall Street Report and a deceptive practice over at InstaCart is going away…and you have to ask how they got by with it in the first  place.   Let’s go.
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 8 December 2025

Paramount has gone...hostile and we'll share that story first today. This is the Business News Headlines for Monday the 8th day of December, thanks for listening.  In other news, China has boosted exports while ignoring the U.S. Did you know there was an app called ICEBlock?  Now the maker is suing the Trump Administration and we’ll share why. Jimmy Kimmel and ABC will not grant the Trump….wish. Hawaii may…just may back out of the large income tax cuts enacted last year… Will the Fed deliver a rate cut this week…odds seem to point in that direction. We will check the numbers in The Wall Street Report and farmers to receive billions and we’ll share why. Let’s go!
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 10 November 2025

It's not bad enough that air traffic controllers are not getting paid...now the President has threatened them.  This is the Business News Headlines for Monday the 10th day of November, thanks for listening. . In other news, even if the shutdown ends right away, travelers will still face delays.  A baby formula has been linked to some serious illnesses. Yes it’s trough out there but even more so in Washington D.C.  We’ll explain… Michigan voters vote out Pot…shops.  Wendy’s to close hundreds of locations and we’ll share why. We’ll check the numbers in The Wall Street Report and news from Apple is a halt on the release of the iPhone Air.  Ready? Let’s go.
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 30 October 2025

The big meeting between President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping is over.  What comes next?  We'll share what we know. This is the Business News Headlines for Thursday the 30th day of October and we're glad you're with us again. . In other news, President Trump has skipped the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit that kicks off on Friday. Medical bills and credit reports made the news today. Amazon posted their 3rd quarter results and we’ll share them with you. American Farmers, Soybeans and China made the news. Can we have a discussion about…the penny?  We’ll share the numbers in The Wall Street Report and a shake up over at YouTube.  Let’s go…
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 27 October 2025

What do Ford F-150's, President Trump and Japan have in common?  We'll cover that first today. Welcome to the Business News Headlines for Monday the 27th day of October we're grateful you're with us again. In other news, private donors raise funds for foreign aid programs. Soybeans and China made the news. Boeing workers reject a contract offer and the strike continues. Hormel recalls millions of pounds of frozen chicken and we’ll share why. It’s being said that Amazon will cut some 30,000 jobs.  We’ll check on the record setting day in The Wall Street Report and how to use AI to submit fake business expenses…  Let’s go.
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 21 October 2025

Faster, shorter answers for your Internet search is on the way...you can thank ChatGPT and Atlas.  This is the Business News Headlines for Tuesday the 21st day of October, thanks for being with us.  In other news, a former Amazon driver is suing the federal government and we’ll share why. Warner Brothers – Discovery making sounds that it is willing to part with some of the company. Third quarter sales over at Coca Cola rose and we’ll share why. Texas ranchers are not pleased with President Trump…so they say.  Good news coming from GM today. We’ll check the numbers in The Wall Street Report and Walmart suspends hiring of individuals who require an H-1B Visa…further constricting the job market.
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.