The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission voted today to approve one of four bids for casino licenses in Iowa, KCCI.com reported. Lyon County was the lucky winner, while Fort Dodge, Ottumwa and Tama County all had their applications denied. Read more.

The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) board of directors awarded more than $2.1 million in no-interest Planning & Design Loans to assist seven water quality initiatives throughout the state. Polk County received a $1.27 million loan. “I commend the entities awarded Planning & Design Loans today for choosing IFA’s no-interest financing option to assist in the first stages of their water infrastructure projects,” said IFA Executive Director Joseph O’Hern in a press release.

For the fourth week in a row, the number of people filing first-time unemployment insurance claims fell. The most recent report from the U.S. Department of Labor shows 444,000 claims, down 4,000 from last week’s 448,000. Read more.

A free seminar will be held on May 24 to explain how businesses can become certified as part of the Targeted Small Business (TSB) program – an initiative unique to Iowa that is designed to help small businesses owned by women, minorities and people with disabilities. For businesses that qualify for certification, the TSB program offers financial assistance, technical guidance and procurement advantages in doing business with dozens of state agencies. The program is administered through the Iowa Department of Economic Development. The seminar will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at the Urban Center on the campus of Scott Community College, 306 W. River Drive, Davenport.

The Des Moines Business Record will host Patrick Kuhse of Aware4Life Inc., who will speak on the topic of dealing with ethical dilemmas during the Business Record’s “Power Happy Hour – Speaking of Ethics” from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 18, at Commerce Park by DeWaay, 13001 University Ave., Clive. Kuhse originally worked as a successful stockbroker, but when he cheated his clients and illegally bumped up his commission, he spent four years on the lam from the FBI in Costa Rica. Eventually, he turned himself in, took responsibility for his actions and spent four years in prison. Now he devotes himself to speaking on ethical behavior in decision-making. For more information or to register, click here.

The Des Moines Area Association of Realtors said it mistakenly transposed numbers in a report earlier this week on home sales in Greater Des Moines, causing it to report a larger increase in contracts written to buy a home than actually occurred. The association issued revised numbers Wednesday that show 886 contracts were written in April to purchase a home, a 50 percent increase from April 2009. Real estate agents closed 572 contracts. An article containing the incorrect numbers and year-to-year increase appeared in the May 10 Business Record Daily.