Principal Financial Group Inc. announced yesterday that its board of directors has declared a cash dividend of $1.39075 per share on its 5.563 percent Series A non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock and a cash dividend 40.7375 cents per share on its 6.518 percent Series B non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock. The dividends are payable on June 30 to stockholders of record as of June 12.

Maximum weekly benefits paid to jobless Iowans and to workers injured on the job will increase on July 6, Iowa Workforce Development announced. An increase in wages covered by unemployment insurance triggered the rise in benefits. The average annual wage for insured Iowa workers increased to $35,513.19 in 2007 from the 2006 rate of $34,094.47. The new benefit payment schedules will apply to people who file new unemployment insurance claims after July 6 and to workers who are injured on or after July 1. Beginning July 1, the maximum weekly workers’ compensation benefit for temporary total disability, healing period, permanent total disability and death will rise to $1,366. For permanent partial disability, the weekly maximum will be $1,257.

According to media reports, Wells Fargo & Co. will no longer consolidate student loans, the Sacramento Business Journal reported. Wells Fargo suspended participation in the federal program involved with student loans. Those who submitted applications prior to May 15 aren’t affected by the decision. A report in the St. Paul (Minn.) Pioneer Press said that 83 lenders have exited one or more federal loans programs, including nine of the top 10 consolidators.

Lee Enterprises Inc. said yesterday in regulatory filings that it has replaced its accountant, the Associated Press reported. Documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission said the company board’s audit committee dismissed Deloitte & Touche as its independent public accounting firm. In a second filing on Tuesday, Lee said its audit committee appointed KPMG LLP to audit the company’s financial statements for the fiscal year ending Sept. 28 subject to KPMG’s client approval procedures.

Weyerhaeuser Recycling will conduct a free “shred-a-thon” to help protect Iowans from identity theft at 2800 Dixon St. on June 9 from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Representatives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Department and the Polk County attorney’s office will also be on site. Most ID theft does not start with computers or the Internet, but as a result of Dumpster-diving or telephone and mail fraud. Additional information is available at www.weyerhaeuser.com.

Principal Financial Group Inc. announced that Larry Zimpleman, president and CEO, will present at the Sanford C. Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference on May 28 at 7 a.m. Iowa time in New York. The presentation will provide an insight on the company’s strategy to drive growth and performance going forward. To access a webcast of the presentation, visit www.principal.com/investor.

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) weekly application survey, mortgage application volume fell 7.8 percent during the week ended May 16, the Associated Press reported. The MBA’s application index declined to 621.6 from 674.4 the previous week as both refinance and purchase volume declined. Refinance volume fell 8.7 percent during the week, and purchase application volume fell 6.9 percent.