In a new survey from the Iowa Food Bank Association, 71% of respondents said food insecurity is a problem in Iowa, and half said the state is not doing enough to support people facing hunger. Most respondents also said they support public-sector efforts to make healthy food more accessible. Highlights include: In addition, 77% said…

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa (BBBSIA) has launched “The Big Draft,” a 60-day volunteer recruitment campaign in partnership with the NFL’s Inspire Change initiative, aimed at enlisting 60 new mentors, or “Bigs,” by May 9. Modeled after the NFL Draft, the campaign seeks to address a growing mentorship gap, as one in three…

Kading Properties, an Urbandale-based developer specializing in workforce housing, announced the opening of applications for its 2026 Hometown Tours program. Launched in 2024, the initiative has visited 10 Iowa communities to evaluate housing needs and economic potential tied to workforce housing development. Through the tours, Kading’s leadership team meets with local officials, business leaders, and…

Diesel fuel consumption, the agricultural futures profits index, the national yield spread, the Iowa Stock Market Index, the new orders index and initial unemployment insurance claims all contributed positively to the Iowa Leading Indicators Index in January, helping push the index up 0.3%. The index increased to 108.0 in January from 107.7 in December. The…

Bankers Trust Co. CEO Don Coffin will retire on June 30, following nearly two decades of leadership at the bank. As part of a planned succession, Samantha Mosser, who was named president last year, will succeed Coffin as CEO, effective July 1. Coffin joined Bankers Trust in 2008 as its chief lending officer before being…

Demolition on the former Younkers store at Merle Hay Mall could begin late this summer as work begins to transform the area into a multiuse arena for hockey, indoor soccer and concerts. It’s part of a broader redevelopment of the mall that also includes a volleyball facility, construction of more than 140,000-square-feet of space for…