The number of Americans filing first-time claims for unemployment benefits climbed unexpectedly to 473,000 for the week ended Feb. 13, according to the U.S. Labor Department. That was up 31,000 from the previous week’s 442,000. CNNMoney.com reported that a consensus estimate of economists surveyed by Briefing.com expected claims to drop to 438,000. Read more.

FBL Financial Group Inc. announced today that its board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of 6.25 cents per share to owners of Class A and Class B common stock. The dividend will be payable on March 31 to shareholders of record as of March 15. For more information, go to www.fblfinancial.com.

Kemin Health L.C. announced the promotion of Jeff Flora to president, where he will oversee the company’s global operations. Flora has been with Kemin since joining as vice president of finance in 2004. “Jeff has modeled outstanding leadership and strategic vision as a member of the Kemin Health executive team,” said Chris Nelson, president and CEO of the Kemin group of companies, in a release. “I look forward to his continued success in this new role as he elevates Kemin Health to the next level.”

Raynard Kington will be Grinnell College’s 13th president, the college’s board of trustees announced Wednesday. Kington, who has M.D., M.B.A. and Ph.D. degrees, is the deputy director of the National Institutes of Health and is a leading scientific researcher, will assume the role on Aug. 1. Kington will succeed Russell Osgood, who served as president for 12 years and announced his retirement in May 2009.

More than 50 speakers testified for and against a “fair share” bill Wednesday evening in the Iowa House, including union leaders, business owners and average citizens, IowaPolitics.com reported. The bill sets reimbursement as a mandatory topic for conversation for public employee unions. If unions decide to require reimbursement, 18,000 non-union members could be forced to pay up to 65 percent of union dues for collective bargaining and 10 percent for grievance services, amounting up to $5.3 million.