Kyle Krause has been selected to serve as chairman of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines Board. Krause, the president and CEO of Kum & Go L.C., has served as vice chair of the Community Foundation’s board since 2006 and chairs its governance and nominating committees. He succeeds G. David Hurd in the position and will serve as chairman through December 2010.

Demand for U.S. home loans rose last week as a decline in 30-year fixed mortgage rates to a three-week low boosted applications for refinancing, the Mortgage Bankers Association said today. Average 30-year rates fell 0.19 percentage point to 5.17 percent in the week ended July 31, the lowest level since 5.05 percent in the week ended July 10.

Gov. Chet Culver announced yesterday that the Iowa Department of Public Health has been awarded $3.4 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support efforts to prepare for and respond to an expected resurgence of the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus this fall. The funds awarded to Iowa will help the state prepare for a second wave of illness in a variety of ways, including support for vaccination efforts in communities, education for the public and health-care providers and support for local public health agencies. All states are receiving funding based upon a formula approved by Congress.

The U.S. Cellular World Food Festival is taking online applications for those wishing to be involved in the fifth annual festival, to be held in the East Village on Oct. 9-11. Festival organizers are seeking food vendors, arts and crafts vendors, merchants, nonprofit organizations and local chefs for cooking demonstrations. To download applications and obtain further details about participation, visit the official Web site at www.worldfoodfestival.org .

The Greater Des Moines Partnership will take its regional networking efforts out to the ballgame with its annual “Chamber Night at Principal Park” event on Thursday. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. in the north parking lot of Principal Park, One Line Drive, in downtown Des Moines, with bratwurts, hot dogs, chips, Coca-Cola products and ice cream. Then at 7:05 p.m. the Iowa Cubs take on the Reno Aces. Visit www.desmoinesmetro.com to download ticket order forms.