Insight on Business

DART, Transportation, Road Diets & The Western Suburbs

This week there was a celebration in Windsor Heights to mark what could be a model for other communities around Des Moines. The Des Moines Area Rapid Transit (DART) partnered with the Windsor Heights Chamber to say thank you to the players in the new Transit Hub which is under construction between the Apple Valley Shopping Center and Sam's Club. I spoke with Amanda Wanke, External Affairs Officer for DART, Zac Bales-Henry, City Council of Windsor Heights and Josh Mandelbaum from the Des Moines City Council. (Photo: Bales-Henry)

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 starting at 5pm Central. 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

Local Option Sales & Service Tax - Polk County, Iowa

Several communities in Polk County, Iowa are set to vote in March on what is being called the Local Option Sales and Service Tax which would add a penny to the sales tax there. We sat down with Brad Anderson the State Director for AARP-Iowa to talk about the impact of the tax on people living there. Some of the things he says may surprise you. While the issue doesn't come up for a vote until March of 2019. AARP-Iowa said they want to get way out in front of the process.

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 starting at 5pm Central. 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.

A Walk Through a Medical Cannabis Dispensary

The idea of using cannabis as a treatment for all sorts of chronic illnesses is new to most Iowans. We know you're wondering what it's about and what it all looks like. We made contact with MedPharm Iowa who operates two brand new dispensaries; one in Windsor Heights (Des Moines Metro) and the other in Sioux City and got the tour. And, you get to come along. Our thanks to Stephen Wilson for the time. Click on the photos to enlarge and you can also find them on our Facebook Page or Twitter @IOB_NewsHour.

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 starting at 5pm Central. 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.

DaVita Is...

Recently DaVita Kidney Care opened yet another Des Moines, Iowa Metro location this time in Windsor Heights. We wanted to learn more about this fast growing, publicly traded company and sat down with Jennifer Morris, Kate Preston and Glen Griesheim. Here you will learn what they do to assist individuals with kidney disease, how they deliver services and much more including...why the name....DaVita?

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 starting at 5pm Central. 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.

Business News Headlines 13 November 2018

Another volatile day on Wall Street as the Blue Chips rose by 100 points only to fall 200 points from their session highs...here's what we have on tap for you today:

• Amazon made it official NYC and Arlington, VA - Not everybody is happy;
• Americans are finding it harder and harder to get ahead...we'll tell that tale;
• Six weeks ago oil prices were climbing today oil lost yet again we'll share why;
• What happens when you don't embrace technology? Ask Burger King;
• Nationwide Insurance to lay off 1,100 employees;
• What happened today on Wall Street and why? We've got the numbers.

Those stories and a conversation about Davita Kidney Care which just opened another facility this time in Windsor Heights, Iowa. We'll talk about what the firm does, why it's expanding at a rapid rate and more about your...kidneys.  

Thanks for listening! 

The Business News Headlines 31 October 2018

Busy day on the Business News Hour. It's not only Halloween but it's also the end of what we predicted was going to be a tough month for Wall Street and...yep, we were right.  Today the headlines look like this:

• The S&P 500 had the worst month since 2011;
• Denny's stock surged today...so, what's going on?  We'll share;
• L.L. Bean sees greater sales growth coming from...Canada;
• General Motors announced they will be cutting jobs...ouch;
• America, you've got a problem and it's getting bigger each month;
• Could tiny Windsor Heights, Iowa be the home of something dramatic?
• And, of course we've got the numbers from Wall Street.

Those stories and a conversation about trash with Tony Colosimo (click to listen or hit the player) of Sparta Waste. What he has to share about our current recycling will surprise you. Like...did you know that most of the items you carefully put in your current recycle bin ends up in the landfill anyway?  Yeah...that and more. You've got to listen to this short piece.

Also today we'll chat with former Maryland governor Martin O'Malley (Click to listen or hit the player) as he was in Iowa stumping for a whole bunch of fresh face candidates for the Iowa Statehouse to Congress. Why do it and what have Democrats done for decades to their own demise?  We'll talk about it. 

Thanks for listening!

Peterson Painting - Small Business Spotlight

For years we've done what we call the Small Business Spotlight giving voice to small businesses all across the Midwest. Today we spend some time with Cary Peterson of Peterson Painting a commercial and residential, family owned painting company that has experienced steady growth. How? The message seems to be clear and that message is "living our values". It's a story that resonates with any consumer. Listen in!

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 starting at 5pm Central. 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.

Medical Treatment Choices with Cannabis with Lucas Nelson

Soon there will be five dispensaries for Iowans who choose to use cannabis for the treatment of their ills. Here we visit with Lucas Nelson who is opening two MedPharm locations in Iowa. One in Sioux City and the other in Windsor Heights serving all of Central Iowa. Learn more about what MedPharm is what it is not as well as why they picked their locations, the culture of the business and answers to questions so many people have. 

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 starting at 5pm Central. 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.

The Business News Headlines 19 October 2018

The end of the business week and we've got the Friday Edition of the Business News Hour. On tap today it's sort of an Amazon day with three stories that touch on the company:

• Amazon seems to be closing in on the location of its second headquarters;
• The pay increase for Amazon workers is not working out so well;
• Has Walmart found a way to battle back Amazon?
• Ford Motor Company is in trouble so the CEO had to calm dealers down;
• The Savery Hotel in downtown Des Moines is open, $20 million later;
• What happened on Wall Street and...why.

Those stories plus a conversation with Lucas Nelson from MedPharm. The company are opening up two dispensaries next month...one in Sioux City and the other in Windsor Heights. We talk about the business, the Iowa legislature and more.

Also we'll have some fun with Cityview Magazine as we check out Stuff to DO in the Metro with Jeff Pitts and Parker Reed...

Thanks for listening!

Business New & Interviews 25 July 2018

The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie, now in our sixth year, is a production of our advertising agency, Insight Advertising, Marketing &  Communications and is the only  daily, hour-long business news broadcast in the Midwest. You can hear the  broadcast Monday -  Friday at 4:30pm on our Radio Blog, and each Sunday on News/Talk 1540 KXEL starting at 2pm. The Business News Hour is made possible through the sponsorship of: Iowa Workforce Development,  Aureon of West Des Moines, The Strudl Haus of Des Moines, Tero International, The Iowa Business Journals, Country Vet Naturals and AARP-Iowa with state headquarters in Des Moines.

Today, It's the Business News Hour on YOUR time. Today in our news section we're talking who pays for what when it comes to tariffs, GM is raising prices, U.S. pot growers and producers may be moving to Canada...for financing. Pizza delivery drivers are suing and we'll tell you why. The "four fingered" shape of the Kit Kat bar can not be trademarked...see what you learn here?  Those stories the markets and our conversation with Elizabeth Presutti the CEO of the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority or DART. As big day ahead! Click on what you want to hear. 

Our Out to Lunch series is where we enjoy lunch and a business conversation with a thought leader and you are invited to drop in to listen. Today we were Out to Lunch at Jessie's Embers with the Chief Executive Officer of the Des Moines Regional Transit Authority, Elizabeth Presutti. In this first part we talk a bit about who she is and why she is so pumped about the Greater Des Moines Metro. We'll also cover trends in transportation, the many changes going on in the Metro and where, perhaps we are headed. Self driving vehicles also make an appearance. Join us as we go Out to Lunch with Elizabeth Presutti: 

In Part Two of our Out to Lunch segment with Elizabeth Presutti, CEO of DART we put on our "future glasses" and look toward what might be coming in the years ahead. From tranportation changes in personal vehicles to public transportation to meeting the needs of various communities and areas of the Metro. What vision goes into creating a public transit system for tomorrow. Listen in to Part Two of our time with Elizabeth as we go Out to Lunch at Jesse's Embers. 

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 starting at 4:30pm here on 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.