Des Moines is one of two cities that will host a new Gannett Co. Inc. advertising production center when the publishing company consolidates all advertising production for its 83 newspapers to those cities, the company announced Thursday. The move is expected to create 91 jobs in Des Moines. Indianapolis is the other city.

A Texas branch of Holmes Murphy & Associates will create a joint venture with McQueary Henry Bowles Troy LLP (MHBT), one of the largest privately owned insurance and risk management firms in the United States, the companies announced Wednesday. The partnership is expected to take effect Jan. 1, with the only the Texas branch of Holmes Murphy & Associates being known as MHBT Holmes Murphy. “By combining our capabilities, MHBT Holmes Murphy can better serve clients by providing a wider range of services and a deeper bench,” said Bill Henry, chairman and CEO of MHBT in a press release. “Holmes Murphy’s Texas division brings a significant expertise in employee benefits issues and experience with the creation of captive insurance entities, which in combination with MHBT’s strong focus on risk management, property and casualty insurance and our own employee benefits expertise, will position the merged entity as one of the strongest players in the industry.”

Southwest Airlines will begin offering its EarlyBird service for $10, which will automatically check passengers in and reserve a boarding spot for them within 36 hours of a flight’s departure, CNNMoney.com reported. The service gives those people who take advantage of the service the ability to board flights early and search for the perfect seat. Customers have never previously been able to reserve a seat on Southwest flights.

Ninety percent of Iowans believe the government should be given additional authority to ensure food safety and prevent the estimated 76 million food-related illnesses that occur annually, a new poll conducted by Hart Research and Public Opinion Strategies shows. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 325,000 people are hospitalized and 5,000 die each year as a result of food-related illnesses. See the full report.

Announced layoffs and actual job losses declined in August, according to two companies with insights into the U.S. labor force, the Washington Business Journal reported. Automatic Data Processing Inc. said the U.S. private sector lost 298,000 jobs in August, the lowest number in 11 months, and Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. reported companies announced 76,456 planned layoffs. That’s 21 percent fewer than in July and 14 percent fewer than in August 2008.

EMC Insurance Group Inc. President and CEO Bruce Kelley, and Mark E. Reese, senior vice president and chief financial officer, will present at the Keefe, Bruyette & Woods 2009 Insurance Conference in New York City at 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 10. Investors may access a webcast of the presentation at www.emcins.com/ir/presentations.htm