The Polk County Board of Supervisors rejected the recommendation of the Compensation Board for a 3 percent salary increase for elected officials. The board, by unanimous vote, opted for no salary increase. “Many local and state governments are struggling, now is not the time to provide additional salary compensation to our elected officials,” said Board of Supervisors Chair Tom Hockensmith. “The Board of Supervisors was able to balance the budget for FY 10/11 and Polk County continues to provide services to our citizens without a tax increase, layoffs or reduction in services.”

Principal Financial Group Inc. was named to the National Association of Female Executives’ (NAFE) list of Top 50 Companies and 10 Nonprofits for Executive Women. NAFE’s Top Companies list recognizes organizations whose policies and practices encourage women’s advancement and whose commitment is demonstrated by the number of women at the highest levels of leadership. Read more.

Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) is trying to gather Democratic support for a Republican proposal to house a new consumer-protection regulator inside the Federal Reserve, the Washington Post reported today. In an attempt to protect consumers, the proposal would allow a presidential appointee to mandate and write rules that would be enforced by existing banking regulators. It’s also a compromise that could clear the way for bipartisan legislation on financial reform. Read more.

Connie Wimer, chair of Business Publications Corp., has won the inaugural Spirit Award from the Central Iowa chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO-CI). Wimer, an early member of NAWBO-CI, is one of four women business owners who will be honored during Small Business Week at NAWBO-CI’s 2010 Women Mean Business Summit on May 26. “Since she first purchased Iowa Title Co. in 1976, Connie has been teaching, supporting and leading the way for women entrepreneurs in Central Iowa,” said Cherish Anderson, NAWBO-CI president and co-chair of the 2010 Women Mean Business Summit.

The 2010 National Pheasant Fest in Des Moines drew 20,230 attendees to the area and had an overall economic impact of $1.3 million, according to the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau. Plans are under way to secure the event for 2012, 2014 and 2015.

The Iowa House of Representatives gave final legislative approval with a 98-1 vote Monday night to a government reorganization bill that’s projected to save state and local governments an estimated $126 million, IowaPolitics.com reported. The bill now goes to Gov. Chet Culver, who is expected to sign it into law. Senate File 2088 consolidates agencies, eliminates 14 boards and commissions, reduces energy costs, combines state purchasing, requires a span of control of one manager per 15 employees by 2011 to cut down on middle management and consolidates information technology.



Des Moines Fire Department District Chief Dale Bunting received the Patriotic Employer Award from Iowa Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. Bunting was nominated by Justin Stover, a Fire Department employee and staff sergeant with the Air National Guard. The mission of the program is to gain and maintain employer support for National Guard and Reserve service by recognizing outstanding support, increasing awareness of the law, and resolving conflicts. The award is given to supportive managers, supervisors, or companies to show appreciation from a military-member employee.

The Mercy Medical Center Cancer Center received a three-year accreditation extension from the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons. The Commission on Cancer approval process entails a rigorous review of services and requires strict standards of care to be met. Accreditation has been in place at Mercy since 1965.

State Farm Insurance, which claims to be the largest U.S. home and auto insurer, made a $777 million profit in 2009 while handling nearly 13 million claims and paying out more than $32 billion. State Farm posted a $542 million loss the prior year. See the full release.