Iowa

CHICAGO — The economies of Iowa, Nebraska, and the Dakotas have emerged as some of the healthiest in the U.S., enjoying a rare stability anchored by strong commodity prices while largely escaping the strains posed in other states by the housing market’s collapse and high unemployment.

Iowa Gov. Chet Culver last week announced the state would cut an additional 180 positions and require 3,200 nonunion employees to take seven unpaid days off work to help balance the budget.

CHICAGO — Iowa Gov. Chet Culver yesterday ordered an across-the-board 10% cut in spending to wipe out a shortfall in the state’s $6.3 billion fiscal 2010 budget due to dwindling revenue collections.