Iowa is one of several states working through the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to adopt a settlement agreement with Conseco Inc. Two of the insurer’s subsidiaries, Conseco Senior Health Insurance Co. and Bankers Life and Casualty Insurance Co., are accused of harming consumers in its long-term-care insurance business primarily by delaying claim payments. Under the terms of the agreement, Conseco will pay a $2.3 million penalty to be shared by all participating states, pay at least $4 million in restitution and administrative costs to harmed policyholders and invest $26 million in system upgrades and improved claims administration. It also is obligated to pay $10 million in fines if problems are not corrected. Learn more at www.naic.org.

West Des Moines-based American Equity Investment Life Holding Co.’s first-quarter operating profits were $17.7 million, or 31 cents per share, up 17 percent from $15.1 million, or 26 cents per share, in the year-ago period. Annuity sales rose 16 percent to $515.2 million. Net income for the quarter was $49.2 million, or 85 cents per share, compared with $9.9 million, or 17 cents per share, a year ago. First-quarter 2008 net income was affected by a financial accounting policy change. The company’s total invested assets grew to $12.8 billion, with record investment earnings of $195.5 million for the quarter. To learn more, go to www.american-equity.com and click on “investor relations.”

The Ankeny City Council approved a $1 million self-sustaining economic development fund that will provide grants, revolving loans and special project funds. The program has allowed the city to develop economic development tools designed to create jobs and promote business growth in the city’s targeted industries. As part of the program, the city has grants of up to $1,500 available to create new jobs in targeted industries. Learn more at www.ankenyiowa.gov/economicdevelopment.

ITT Educational Services Inc. has opened its 99th ITT Technical Institute in Clive. It is the company’s first technical institute in Iowa. Classes will begin in June 2008 in four areas of study: information technology, electronics technology, drafting and design and criminal justice.

FBL Financial Group Inc. will release its first-quarter 2008 earnings results after markets close today. The release will be posted at www.fblfinancial.com. FBL will hold a conference call to discuss earnings at 10 a.m. tomorrow. To access a live webcast of the event, visit the company’s Web site or call (888) 668-1648. A transcript of the prepared comments from the call and an audio replay will be available shortly after the conference on the company’s Web site.