Topic: Des Moines

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National Spelling Bee: 10 winning business words

In the National Spelling Bee’s 85-year existence, a wide range of words have crowned the winners – from science words like ‘crustaceology,’ to musical terms such as ‘soubrette,’ and ‘appoggiatura.’ The list of winning words also includes several that could slide right into the pages of this newspaper’s business section. In honor of the 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee, here are 10 business words from past years that have determined the champion. Will this year’s winning word make the list?
Thirty ideas from people under 30: The Environmentalists

They are explorers and activists, artists and educators, farmers and faith leaders – even mayors. And they have trenchant suggestions on how to improve the world.
New Year’s Eve: five ways to ring in 2012
Mitt Romney gaffes: 11 times the button-down candidate should have buttoned up
In Pictures: Joe the Plumber

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Is Michele Bachmann the new Sarah Palin?

Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann sounds just like Sarah Palin did months ago, issuing non-denials to queries about a potential 2012 presidential run. Is she keeping her options open?
Urban economics: Superstar cities vs. 'mellow' cities

Do smaller urban centers promise a better life than a congested megalopolis?
Sarah Palin and the "America by Heart" book tour

Sarah Palin has pundits wondering where the book tour ends and the campaign trail begins.
Making It All Work – Getting Control: Engaging

This is the ninth entry in a twenty part series discussing the wonderful time and priority management book Making It All Work by David Allen. New entries in this series will appear on Tuesday mornings and Friday mornings through December 10.
Making It All Work – Getting Control: Organizing

This is the seventh entry in a twenty part series discussing the wonderful time and priority management book Making It All Work by David Allen. New entries in this series will appear on Tuesday mornings and Friday mornings through December 10.
Iowa nonprofit tops spending in U.S. House elections

An Iowa nonprofit that does not need to disclose the its donor list is the biggest spender in any U.S. House race in Iowa this year.
The president's backyard conversation on the economy (as it could be)

An imagined conversation about politics and the economy between President Obama and residents of Des Moines, Iowa.
What's Obama doing to try to fire up drooping Democrats?

Obama has busted out of Washington to try to regain some of the 'rock star' glow that fueled Democratic voters in 2008. He's also trying to prevent the election from being a referendum on him.
Tax cuts for the middle class? Obama will push for them Wednesday

Tax cuts: Obama and Democratic leaders want to extend the George W. Bush-era tax cuts for individuals making less than $200,000 and married couples making less than $250,000.
Gallery: Election Photos of the Week 09/16-09/26
Gallery: Who's who? Christine O'Donnell & Sarah Palin
Chicken magnate and Clarion, Iowa: uneasy pairing even before egg recall

The man behind Wright County Egg, the firm involved in last month's egg recall, may not be reviled in Iowa, but he's not admired either. How his egg business has changed Clarion, Iowa.
What are the real values behind buying local?

It may not always make sense to buy local. Consider what added value - or values - the local business offers, before making your decision.
Reader mailbag: Should you loan money to parents?

A reader asks if it's unethical to charge interest on a loan to parents.
Senior citizens carve their own niche with laptops and Facebook

They may not be "digital natives," but senior citizens find connectedness through laptops and Facebook
Photos of the Day: Photos of the Day 07/01
Photos of the Day: Photos of the Day 04/19
Like Sarah Palin, Karl Rove faces book tour disruption

Antiwar protesters rush the stage at Karl Rove's Beverly Hills book signing.
Gallup: Healthcare reform a 'political victory' for Obama

Gallup's latest poll on healthcare reform, conducted after the bill's passage, shows almost half the public approving. Nearly 4 in 5 Republicans, however, are 'angry' or 'disappointed.'
Iraq and Afghanistan: America's invisible wars

After seven years in Iraq and nine in Afghanistan, residents of York, Pa., talk about how the wars have become like a screen saver: always there but rarely acknowledged.
Daylight Saving Time: Remind me again why we 'spring forward'?

Daylight Saving Time is upon us. Turns out, not every place in the world goes for this one-hour loss in a good night's sleep. Hint: Pasty northerners like it.
Ten ways to really save at a warehouse club

Warehouse clubs can save you big money if you follow these 10 tips and don't give into temptation.
Who's poor in America? US tweaks how it defines poverty.

The Obama team is introducing a new formula for counting who is poor in America, but it won't be used to decide who qualifies for government aid. Reason for the change: Existing poverty formula, dating from the 1960s, doesn't capture modern expenses such as child care and healthcare.
To improve school performance, fire all the teachers?

When high school teachers refused to work extra hours without pay, Central Falls, R.I., fired them all. Will that improve performance?
Reader mailbag: Selling a car worth less than what you owe on it? Here's what to do.

This reader owes more than $9,000 on a 2006 Chevy Cobalt she wants to sell. Should she take the loss?