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2 days ago | 
desmoinesregister.com | Kevin Baskins
Iowa's economy, heavily reliant on manufacturing and agriculture, is significantly impacted by tariff policy uncertainty. Slow population growth in Iowa poses challenges for job creation and business recruitment. Robust job market and solid wage growth are positive economic indicators, but concerns remain about potential trade wars and their impact on supply chains and agricultural incomes.
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4 days ago | 
desmoinesregister.com | Kevin Baskins
WalletHub ranked Iowa's economy last among U.S. states, citing weak economic activity and innovation potential. Sluggish farm economy and workforce shortages contribute to Iowa's economic challenges. But Iowa economists criticize the WalletHub ranking's methodology, citing subjective weighting of metrics and a short comparison period. A new ranking of state economies by WalletHub.com says Iowa's financial performance is about as bad as it gets.
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1 week ago | 
desmoinesregister.com | Kevin Baskins
Deanna Strable, the new president and CEO of Principal Financial Group, discusses the Principal Charity Classic and the company's future. Strable highlights the tournament's charitable impact, including the Legacy Project aimed at preparing Iowa youth for the workforce. She addresses the changing landscape of financial and insurance jobs in Des Moines and the potential of AI.
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1 week ago | 
desmoinesregister.com | Kevin Baskins
The 2025 Principal Charity Classic (PCC) is expected to be more challenging than last year, with tournament chairman Ken McCullum predicting Ernie Els's record-setting 21-under-par score won't be repeated. McCullum aims to surpass last year's $8.6 million raised for charity and attract over 50,000 spectators to the event. The potential participation of Tiger Woods and Zach Johnson in the 2026 PCC is generating excitement.
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1 week ago | 
desmoinesregister.com | Kevin Baskins |Tyler Jett
F&G Annuities and Life, based in Des Moines, will lay off 192 employees effective June 2. The company cited the layoffs as a move to "efficiently scale the business and ensure long-term success."The Des Moines metro area has seen a decline in finance and insurance jobs since 2017. Des Moines-based F&G Annuities and Life has confirmed that it will be laying off 192 workers effective June 2.
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1 week ago | 
finance.einnews.com | Kevin Baskins |Tyler Jett
F&G Annuities and Life, based in Des Moines, will lay off 192 employees effective June 2. The company cited the layoffs as a move to "efficiently scale the business and ensure long-term success."The Des Moines metro area has seen a decline in finance and insurance jobs since 2017. Des Moines-based F&G Annuities and Life will lay off employees by next week, a blow to a rare recent bright spot in the metro's sluggish financial services sector.
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1 week ago | 
desmoinesregister.com | Kevin Baskins
Iowa Workforce Development will launch a new unemployment claims system on June 3, replacing a 50-year-old system. The new system will streamline the process for filing claims, participating in reemployment activities, and finding new employment, all on iowaworks.gov. A six-day outage from May 28 to June 2 will allow for data transfer and system transition.
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2 weeks ago | 
desmoinesregister.com | Kevin Baskins
Four finalists remain in the Coolest Thing Made in Iowa contest: Butter Braid Pastry, CHC Chocolate Pump, CP770 Cotton Picker and Moose Fireplace Grill. Voting for the final four products will run from May 23 to June 3. The winner will be announced at the Iowa Association of Business and Industry's annual conference on June 11. And then there were four — a pastry, a pump, a picker and a grill — from an initial field of 68 products vying for the title of Coolest Thing Made in Iowa.
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2 weeks ago | 
desmoinesregister.com | Kevin Baskins
The Des Moines International Airport (DSM) revealed a new logo as part of a rebranding effort. A new parking garage is set to open in June, and a new terminal is expected to be completed in early 2027. Des Moines International Airport has opted to go for a new look as its expansive new terminal takes shape. The airport unveiled a new logo and revised brand identity on Monday, May 20, ahead of the opening of an 1,100-vehicle garage scheduled for the end of June.
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2 weeks ago | 
desmoinesregister.com | Kevin Baskins
Chevron U.S.A. Inc. will lay off 70 employees in Ames, Iowa on June 18. The company aims to simplify its operating model and enhance long-term competitiveness. Chevron USA Inc. of Ames has announced it will be laying off 70 employees on June 18, according to Iowa’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, or WARN, website.
