Taxes and Investment

The Business News & More 30 October 2019

The Fed cut interest rates by a quarter of a percent and at first the markets went..."Meh..." That story and more today:
What caused the "Meh" early today;
What's in a name? Ask Molson Coors;
What health care has to do with lagging wages;
Some new GDP concerns;
So those rising steel prices?  Not so fast;
Beggars Night explained;
Twitter says "NO!" to political advertising.
Those stories and a conversation with Dr. Tom Ahart the Superintendent of the Des Moines Public Schools about a vote coming up on Tuesday of next week that will have a major impact on students and facilities. We'll explain how an increase in the tax levy for physical plant won't increase property taxes. THe vote is on the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy or PPEL. Take a few minutes to learn more. You can hear that conversation here. 
Thanks for listening! 

Des Moines Public Schools Need Your Vote

When it a tax...not really a tax? We'll answer that question today with our guest Dr. Tom Ahart the Superintendent of Schools for the Des Moines Public Schools. Here is the quick story. On Tuesday 5 November voters in Des Moines will be asked to approve the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) which will allow the school district to have the necessary dollars for critical maintenance to the 71 buildings in the district plus be able to support new technology for students. All without raising property taxes. Listen in as Dr. Ahart and I discuss and then, I'd urge you to vote YES for PPEL on Tuesday. To learn more here is a link to the website about PPEL. 
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. 
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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

The Business News and More 16 October 2019

Yesterday everybody was excited about earnings reports...today...not so much. We've got a full boat for you let's get started:
Yesterday was a memory as retail sales numbers sank Wall Street;
The United Auto Workers and General Motors...a settlement?
Need new tires before winter? We've got a tip;
Airlines are fretting over the return of the Boeing Max 737;
The ghost of 2016 comes back to haunt Wells Fargo;
Big meat is falling in love with...no meat.
Those stories plus my two-part interview with Des Moines mayoral candidate former Sen. Jack Hatch. In Part One we'll review who Jack is and why he is running. He'll talk about water, Des Moines, education and "forgotten neighborhoods". Here is Part One. 
Then in Part Two we'll talk about something nobody seems to want to discuss and that is the crushing poverty just outside of downtown. He's got some ideas and we were eager to listen. Plus, and yes, we'll talk about potholes.  Here is Part Two with Jack Hatch.
Thanks for listening! 

Jack Hatch and Des Moines Part One

Former State Senator Jack Hatch has, once again, dusted off his campaign talents to take on incumbent Mayor Frank Cownie. Many have questioned why Senator Hatch who served in the Iowa Legislature and was the Democratic candidate for Governor would want to run for this office. That's where we start and he's got lots of reasons. Here then is Part One: 
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 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! 
 

Medicare for All with Congressman Ro Khanna

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. 
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 1 October 2019

Wall Street closed yesterday up on the hope of renewed talks between the U.S. and China and then...today...out came a report on U.S. manufacturing. That story and what happened on Wall Street opens up our first newscast of a new month:
Manufacturing data weak...very;
President Trump calls the Fed "pathetic";
Facebook to sue the United States if Warren is elected;
The "Wealth Tax" is back in the news;
GM lays off thousands more;
Amazon and NEW grocery stores;
Amazon 3rd party sellers pay thousands to talk to a person.
Those stories and a look at what the top 23 employers in Iowa have to say about the economy moving forward. You might say it's a "mixed bag" in this interview with Georgia Van Gundy the Executive Director of the Iowa Business Council done for us by Jeff Stein the News & Program Director of News/Talk 1540 KXEL. Here is that story. 
Thanks for listening!