Governor Branstad, much like many state Republican leaders, said he is disappointed the Iowa Straw Poll was canceled last week, but is now determined to turn the party’s focus on the February Caucus. Branstad talked about maintaining Iowa’s first-in-the-nation spot for the presidential election in his weekly press conference earlier Monday. “We’ve had for the…… MORE
A huge turnout for the first Des Moines Wizard World Comic Con is prompting promoters to bring the event back next May. Thousands of fans lined up to see their favorite comic book and sci-fi stars, including William Shatner, Dean Cain, Alex Kingston, Brandon Routh and Lou Ferrigno. Corn growers in Iowa are being urged…… MORE
Des Moines is pretty competitive when it comes to the information technology job market. A Robert Half IT Hiring Forecast shows 20 percent of area tech execs plan to expand their IT teams in the second half of this year.… MORE
Protesters lined up outside the Des Moines police station over the weekend to demand more police accountability. The protests were in the wake of a police chase last week that ended with an officer shooting and killing the suspect. The demonstration was organized by an out-of-state online group that shares negative encounters with law enforcement…… MORE
After an hour-long board meeting Friday morning, Republican Party of Iowa leaders unanimously voted to kill the Iowa Straw Poll. Chairman Jeff Kaufmann cited three reasons the straw poll won’t take place in August this year. “The vast majority of candidates this year decided they didn’t want to come and compete in the straw poll,”…… MORE
More than 100 people came out to hear New Jersey Governor and potential Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie speak last night in West Des Moines. Christie said he isn’t impressed by President Obama’s work with the American economy. Christie also discussed the importance of reforming America’s education system. He’s in Cedar Rapids today for a…… MORE
Interest in the Iowa Straw Poll is waning, and Iowa Republican Party officials will be discussing the fate of the event in a conference call tomorrow. A few presidential contenders such as Mike Huckabee and Jeb Bush have come out and said they’re not attending the August political event, but state GOP officials have fought…… MORE
Two months after jumping into the presidential race, Democrat Hillary Clinton is “officially launching” her campaign this weekend…she’ll be in Sioux City on Saturday night and at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines on Sunday morning. Home rent rates in Greater Des Moines continue to rise…Real Property Management in the Greater Des Moines area…… MORE
The employment picture is bright in Iowa’s construction industry. The Associated Builders and Contractors say the state was tied with Maryland in April for the 7th-lowest construction jobless rate in the nation, at 3-point-6 percent. And as the weather’s improved, construction hiring has increased. The redevelopment of the former Register and Tribune building in downtown…… MORE
The employment picture is bright in Iowa’s construction industry. The Associated Builders and Contractors say the state was tied with Maryland in April for the 7th-lowest construction jobless rate in the nation, at 3-point-6 percent. And as the weather’s improved, construction hiring has increased. The redevelopment of the former Register and Tribune building in downtown…… MORE
