(Radio Iowa UPDATED) – Former President Donald Trump is meeting with smaller groups of Iowans (today) rather than hosting a big outdoor rally. Trump told a crowd in a suburban Des Moines restaurant there’s no way he’ll lose Iowa in 2024. “We’d have to do some really bad things to lose at this point…It’s the best polls we’ve ever had,” Trump says. “Overall, nationwide, in Iowa — no matter where I go it’s the best polls because they love the four years that we had.”

Trump’s visit comes a day after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis told Iowa crowds he’d be a disciplined, energetic president for the next eight years. “I’ve been watching (DeSantis) go out and say: ‘I’ve got eight years. It’s going to be 8 years!’ Let me tell you something, right there you should vote against him,” Trump said. “It’ll be take me six months to have it totally the way it was. We’ll have it fast.”

Allan Richards of Des Moines was among the first to arrive for Trump’s first stop. Richards says this is the type of campaigning Trump should have done heading into the 2016 Caucuses. “I wrote an editorial that was published where I told Trump he was fired because I did not appreciate the way that he campaigned in the Iowa Caucus and I think it was a mistake on his part, you know, as far as it comes to Iowa,” he says. “I think he made up for it later on in his campaign and in his presidency.” Richards says it appears Trump has evolved and Richards plans to Caucus for Trump in 2024.

“I would always support a former leader before anybody else,” Richards says. “I think the power of the presidency and the importance of it — once we put a person in there, I think that we have to stand behind them because of their experience, knowledge and things they know that the average person wouldn’t know, even a congressman wouldn’t know.”

David Oman was in the room as Trump addressed the Westside Conservative Club and other Trump supporters who crowded into a meeting room at the Machine Shed restaurant.  “There was a lot of energy in the room,” Oman says. “He entered with support and I think he left with the same if not more support, people excited about the encore campaign that he has begun and their ability to be a part of it again.” Jon McAvoy, a former Adel City Councilman, says the place was packed and it was a Trump crowd.

“I thought his presentation was maybe a little different than I expected…spent a lot of time talking about his accomplishments as president and how he wanted to do it again,” McAvoy says. “…I went in there just wanting to just listen and I was pretty much impressed, to be honest with you. He kept a low, even keel. Didn’t fly off at anything and that made me more comfortable with him.”

Trump met next with a group of pastors at a Des Moines church. Late this (Thursday) afternoon he’s taping an interview with Sean Hannity that will air tonight (Thursday) on the Fox News Channel.

(Audubon, Iowa) – Officials in Audubon County, today (Thursday), said “Due to current water and drought conditions in our county, the four Fire Chiefs have made a decision to place Audubon County in a burn ban until further notice.” Authorities said also, “We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.” Details of the Burn Ban can be viewed in the documents below:

(Radio Iowa) – Inflation is keeping prices high on all sorts of goods, and a survey of business leaders in Iowa and eight other Midwestern states finds prices rose nearly six-percent in the past year, but may only rise three-percent in the year ahead. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says the leading economic indicator for the region grew a modest amount during May compared to April on the zero-to-one-hundred scale, where 50 is growth neutral. “The overall rating remained above growth neutral for the fourth straight month, that’s the good news,” Goss says. “The bad news is, it’s still only slightly above growth neutral, down from 54.8 in April to 51.3 in May, so that’s still moving along, I’d call it very slow growth we’re looking at ahead.”

The overall index specifically for Iowa fell in May to 51.9, a drop from April’s 55.8. The survey found many employers in Iowa and the other states continue having trouble finding qualified workers to fill open positions, so they’re retaining workers, which Goss says is creating another sort of problem. “Lots of labor hoarding out there, and that’s causing productivity numbers to go down. In other words, we’re recording very low productivity readings for the region, and for the nation,” Goss says. “That’s because you’ve got these workers, the companies just fear letting those employees go. Thus, they retain them, even when there’s not sufficient work for them to do.”

Goss says the survey found only about one in six employers reported job gains during the past month, almost the same as during April. He says a couple of industries, in particular, are struggling.  “The outlook is still of slow growth, but there’s some sectors it’s going to be negative growth and that’s commercial real estate, that’s office space, and particularly in downtown areas of the region,” Goss says. “You’re going to see open spaces there, and un-rented office space.”

The banking and finance industry is also “having a tough go of it,” Goss says, with short-term interest rates very high compared to long-term rates. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, manufacturing employment in Iowa expanded by 1.9% over the past 12 months, while manufacturing hourly wages climbed by 6.9% over the same period.

(Des Moines, IA) – Governor Kim Reynolds has proclaimed June 2023 as Iowa Craft Beer Month. The proclamation celebrates the impact and importance the craft brewing community is having in Iowa. The celebratory month kicks off June 3rd with the Iowa Craft Brew Festival. In the proclamation Gov. Reynolds states, “Iowa Craft Beer month is an opportunity to celebrate the State’s growing brewery businesses and craftsmanship and raise the profile of this outstanding Iowa product.”

The gubernatorial proclamation notes the industry’s impact on the state including manufacturing growth, tourism, and community revitalization. Iowa has over 115 breweries in 76 different communities who generate over $1.0 billion of economic impact annually.  Iowa breweries have received national recognition including medals at the Great American Beer Festival® and the World Beer Cup®.

“The Iowa craft brewing industry touches every corner of the state,” said Noreen Otto, executive director of the Iowa Brewers Guild. “Iowans should be proud to raise a glass of Iowa beer and celebrate all month long.”

For details on the June 3rd Iowa Craft Brew Festival, visit iowacraftbrewfestival.com. The Iowa Brewers Guild exists to unify craft brewing professionals, promote Iowa beer, and advocate for the industry’s growth.  For additional information on the Iowa Brewers Guild, visit iowabeer.org.