September 2026 Was Third-Wettest Month On Record For Des Moines
(Des Moines, IA) — September 2026 was the third-wettest month in 145 years in Des Moines. The National Weather Service says just under 14 inches of rain fell in the metro last month. There is still a chance this year could be one of the top five wettest years on record. 2026 is currently the seventh-wettest year, about 10 inches under the all-time record of 56-point-eight inches of precipitation that fell in 1881.
Special Session Today, Iowa Lawmakers To Consider Tax Incentives For Proposed $15B Steel Plant
(Des Moines, IA) — Iowa lawmakers will gather for a special session today to consider tax incentives for a proposed steel plant in Southeast Iowa. The 15-billion-dollar Mesabi [[ meh-SAW-bee ]] Metallics plant was announced by President Trump on Monday. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds says since Mesabi is making the largest private investment in Iowa history, adjustments are needed to the state’s Major Economic Growth Attraction program. The MEGA program provides tax incentives to companies that invest more than a billion dollars in Iowa commercial developments. The special session is set to begin at 8:30 a.m.
Report: Damage to Underground Utility Lines Costs Iowans Roughly $169.2 Million Every Year
(Des Moines, IA) — A new report finds that damage to underground utility lines costs Iowans over 169-million-dollars on average every year. The report from the Common Ground Alliance finds there are more than 16-hundred damages to underground utility lines in Iowa every year, which can cause service outages from emergency responders and businesses and lead to property damage and personal injury. The study finds Iowans lose 13-dollars to those costs for every one dollar spent on repairs to underground utility lines.
Regional Business Survey Shows Growth in September
(Omaha, NE) — A survey of Midwest business leaders shows September was another positive month for hiring in the manufacturing sector. Creighton University Economics Professor Ernie Goss [[ gahss ]] says September is the fourth time in the past 12 months above growth neutral. He says the September Mid-America Business Conditions Index also shows the overall manufacturing sector is moving forward with another month of growth. He says some of the job growth in manufacturing is due to investment in data centers, but that is expected to stall due to data center resistance.
Survey: Iowa Employers Remain Optimistic For Q4
(Des Moines, IA) — Iowa employers remain optimistic for the fourth quarter of the year, despite rising costs and inflation. Employers continue to invest in their businesses despite ongoing challenges. President of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry Nicole Crain says 47-percent of employers expect their sales to expand next quarter and 63-percent plan to make capital expenditures. She says finding skilled workers and rising health care costs remain the biggest challenges for Iowa businesses.
