Archive for March 2018
State, SAI launch effort to coach school principals
The state has joined School Administrators of Iowa to coach principals on how to best use the Teacher Leadership and Compensation system. In a statement, Gov. Kim Reynolds said the program provides a systematic approach …
Read MoreMidAmerican helps with winter storms in Northeast
MidAmerican Energy Co. on Friday sent 78 employees to Rye, N.Y., to help restore power for 200,000 people caught in a series of major winter storms. As of Friday afternoon, New York-based Con Edison reported …
Read MoreTwo companies bid to replace AmeriHealth Caritas in Iowa
Iowa officials announced the identity of two companies bidding to replace AmeriHealth Caritas in Iowa’s privatized Medicaid program, reports the Des Moines Register. Missouri-based Centene and Washington, D.C.-based Trusted Health Plan — whose board chair, Tom Scully, …
Read MoreAg Department kills animal welfare rule for organic meat
Des Moines Register: New rules, decades in the making, that would have required organic meat and egg producers to abide by stricter animal welfare standards were withdrawn by the federal government on Monday, frustrating organic farmers …
Read MoreOrdinance to ban drinking on High Trestle Trail gets unanimous approval
One of Iowa’s most popular tourist attractions has a new ban on alcohol consumption, KCCI-TV reported. The Boone County Conservation Commission voted unanimously Monday to approve an ordinance that would allow park rangers to fine …
Read MoreNOTEBOOK: The not-ready-for-prime-time AI insurance agent
What do you get when you cross a Star Wars storm trooper with a bespectacled, detached insurance agent? He may look and act a lot like the befuddled star of a new ad campaign by …
Read MoreNOTEBOOK: We’re wary of driverless cars
The Business Record’s auto writers have been closely following the testing, development and hand-wringing involved with the development of so-called autonomous vehicles, from cars to long-haul trucks. We see a lot of intrigue and potential, …
Read MoreNOTEBOOK: Burger-flipping robot gets much needed R&R — after one shift
Robots: just like us!
Just days after a co-worker emailed me the tale of Flippy the burger-flipping robot, employers at Caliburger are already giving the sleek robot arm four days off for retooling and upgrades …
NOTEBOOK: Facebook and furry friends
My Facebook news feed often fills up with dog photos or other cute animal photos or videos, thanks to some friends who are animal lovers.
So I had to check out the Facebook page for …
NOTEBOOK: ‘Speed dating’ for careers to precede JA Stock Market Challenge
Junior Achievement of Central Iowa is adding a new career awareness twist this year to its annual Stock Market Challenge for students on April 3. Before about 240 Central Iowa high school students begin a …
Read More