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The Insider Notebook

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NOTEBOOK: Poll shows Dems gave Grassley a free ride by nominating Judge

The Iowa Poll published today shows that longtime U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley dodged a very real bullet in June when Democrats nominated the aging Patty Judge over up-and-coming state Sen. Rob Hogg of Cedar Rapids.…
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NOTEBOOK: Kemin building homes in Nepal

I had the opportunity to emcee the Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity Key Awards on Sept. 29, where I learned something interesting about one of the honorees. Kemin Industries was honored with the Corporate …

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NOTEBOOK: Birdland build for Habitat

Executive Director Lance Henning told the crowd at the Sept. 29 Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity Key Awards to be on the lookout for more information on a big project the organization is undertaking …

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NOTEBOOK: Why John and Jackie Norris returned to Des Moines

John and Jackie Norris are back in town, living with their three sons and dog Boss in a Waterbury neighborhood house where former Lt. Gov. Sally Pederson and author James Autry had lived. The couple …

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NOTEBOOK: Confessions of a late smartphone adopter

I felt like I officially joined the 21st century last weekend when I finally bought my first smartphone. (I’ll pause a moment for you millennials to stop laughing). Not to be too trendy or spend …

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NOTEBOOK: Who’s in the October 7 issue?

Here’s a list of local people in the October 7 issue of the Business Record and the page number of the article in which they are mentioned. Members can read all of this week’s stories …

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NOTEBOOK: Doubts about TIF

  There’s little question that a 26-story, $80 million high-rise apartment building proposed for downtown Des Moines is grabbing attention.

Its 276 luxury apartments will bring residents to a stretch of Walnut Street that for…
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NOTEBOOK: Here’s a meeting you definitely don’t want to miss

There are meetings you can skip, but missing this one would be ironic. The newly created Iowa Chronic Absenteeism Advisory Council will be meeting monthly at the Pappajohn Higher Education Center. We’re not sure if …

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NOTEBOOK: Now serving, a 3 percent health care fee

While dining out at a trendy Italian restaurant during a recent vacation to California, I noticed a curious note at the bottom of the menu. It read: “A 3% charge is added by the restaurant …

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NOTEBOOK: Raising the bar a bit at Central Campus

I was talking recently with Aiddy Phomvisay, who’s been director of Central Campus for about a year now. It was a Monday afternoon, and that morning he had asked a student how he was doing. …