Iowa’s creditworthiness was affirmed by two national bond-rating agencies. Moody’s has upgraded Iowa’s bond rating to Aaa and Fitch Inc. has upgraded the state’s rating to AAA, both of which are the agencies’ highest ratings. Iowa has held the highest AAA rating with a third bond-rating agency, Standard & Poor’s, since 2008. The upgraded ratings mean the state is able to access more affordable funds for infrastructure projects, Gov. Chet Culver said in a press release. Iowa is among only eight states nationwide receiving such a rating from Moody’s.

Des Moines Area Community College President and CEO Rob Denson has received the A. Arthur Davis Community Leadership Award. The annual award sponsored by the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute recognizes leaders who have “adopted the heart of community trusteeship and have made notable contributions for the betterment of the Greater Des Moines community.” First presented in 1996, the award is named after former Des Moines Mayor Arthur Davis, who died in 1997.

The LIVESTRONG Army – Des Moines will present a check for $10,000 to Mercy Cancer Center in a short ceremony at 6:30 this evening at the YMCA Healthy Living Center in Clive. The donated funds will be used to help support the “LIVESTRONG at the YMCA” program for cancer patients and survivors offered at the center at the Mercy Wellness Campus. The volunteer group is dedicated to making cancer education and treatment a priority and host programs to support Iowans whose lives have been touched by cancer. To learn more about the Greater Des Moines LIVESTRONG Army, visit www.livestrongdesmoines.org.

Sauer-Danfoss Inc. will hold a first-quarter earnings conference call on May 6 at 9 a.m. Iowa time. The company will release first-quarter results the previous day after the close of U.S. markets. The call is open to all interested parties on listen-only mode via an audio webcast and can be accessed through the investor relations page of the company’s Web site at www.sauer-danfoss.com. A replay of the call will be available at that site through May 20.