The acquisition of Iowa Telecommunications Services Inc by Windstream Corp. is now complete, the Windstream announced Tuesday. Windstream paid $260 million in cash in the aquisition, along with paying off $613 million of Iowa Telecom debt. The company also gave Iowa Telecom shareholders 26.7 million shares of Windstream stock, worth about $284 million.

The Nationwide Insurance Foundation, an independent affiliate of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co., has donated between $50,000 and $99,999 to Urbandale-based Farm Safety 4 Just Kids. Farm Safety 4 Just Kids works to raise awareness about the health and safety hazards that are an inherent part of the rural environment. It has more than 130 chapters in the United States and Canada.

Glen Oaks Country Club in West Des Moines will continue to be the site of the Principal Charity Classic golf tournament through 2012, tournament organizers announced today. Principal Financial Group Inc. also will continue to sponsor the event through 2012. “The Principal Charity Classic is an important event for the whole Des Moines community,” said J. Barry Griswell, president of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, in a statement. “In just three short years, the tournament has donated more than $1.7 million to children’s charities right here in Central Iowa. It also brings an estimated economic impact of $20 million. Glen Oaks helps us make all that possible.”

BP plc stock fell 11 percent this morning, after the company failed over the weekend to plug the well that has been leaking oil since April 20 off the Gulf Coast. Company stock also fell throughout world markets, including a 14 percent decrease on the London Stock Exchange. Read more.

Ames-based engineering firm HWS Consulting Group announced today that it will merge with Chicago-based Alfred Benesch & Co. According to a release, the merger will bring together both companies’ expertise in engineering for the transportation sector. The combined company headquarters will be based in Chicago and will use the Alfred Benesch name.

Milwaukee-based certified public accounting and consulting firm Clifton Gunderson LLP, which has an office in West Des Moines, announced Tuesday that it will acquire U.S. Tax Advantage LLC, adding 14 tax professionals to its team. Tax Advantage will still operate under the same name as a subsidiary of Clifton Gunderson. The two companies will continue to focus on international tax services.