Retail sales disappointing in July

A weak housing market and high gasoline prices caused disappointing sales for many retailers in July, the Associated Press reported. Among the hardest hit were mall-based apparel chains, including Pacific Sunwear of California Inc. and …

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Mortgage applications increase

U.S. mortgage applications rose for the first time in three weeks as interest rates fell sharply and demand surged for home purchase and refinance loans, Reuters reported.

The Mortgage Bankers Association announced this morning that …

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Study: More time spent with paid media

A study released yesterday found that U.S. consumers are increasingly shifting their attention away from traditional, advertising-supported media in favor of entertainment such as the Internet, video games and cable TV, the Associated Press reported.…

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City and county receive first draft of downtown vision plan

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Women of Influence Class of 2007

Women always have been influential, of course. But in 21st-century America, women are stepping into prominent corporate, political and public-service roles at an ever-faster pace.

Central Iowa continues to benefit from the trend, and since …

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State reaches settlement in TouchPlay case

The state of Iowa and the Iowa Lottery Authority have agreed to pay $1.67 million to Royal Financial LLC, a company that had operated one-fourth of the state’s TouchPlay machines before the Legislature banned the …

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