Grand Marais hospitality businesses struggle to serve summer tourists
The seasonal vacation hot spot is dealing with a shortage of workers and affordable housing.
Business
Line 3 and the canceled Keystone XL: How similar are they?
Where some supporters and opponents of Line 3 see the Minnesota project and Keystone XL as largely similar issues, there are some major and minor differences between the pipeline proposals.
Too much or not enough: Latino workers in Minnesota describe one pandemic, but two very different economies
More than any other group, Latinos in Minnesota remained in the workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic. But many found themselves on divergent paths.
Rye observations: Minnesota distillery hopes study will expand how whiskey-makers, and farmers, think about ingredients
The study’s main takeaway: The kind of rye used in whiskey can play a role in its flavor. That’s significant for distillers because rye grains are generally mixed together at grain elevators without regard to their type.
New report touts importance of immigrants to Minnesota’s economy
Released by the Minnesota Chamber Foundation, the report found immigrants bring $12.4 billion in spending power to the state’s economy.
The Beautywell Project aims to expose the serious health risks of skin-lightening
Some skin-lightening products marketed to women of color had mercury levels of 150,000 parts per million.
What to know about Minnesota’s new restrictions on bars, restaurants and social gatherings
The restrictions announced Tuesday are an attempt to curb the spread of a pandemic that has already killed 2,698 Minnesotans even as the state is on pace for its deadliest month yet.
Lawmakers question health officials over Minnesota’s new reservation requirement for reopening restaurants
Sens. Michelle Benson of Ham Lake, Jim Abeler of Anoka and Mary Kiffmeyer of Big Lake said they had heard the system was meant to foster contact tracing — to collect the names of diners to use in case of a coronavirus exposure.
To understand the danger of COVID-19 outbreaks in meatpacking plants, look at the industry’s history
Two factors help to explain why U.S. meatpacking plants are so dangerous now – and why this problem will be difficult to solve.
How do you run a regional sports network when there are no sports?
At a time when Fox Sports North is normally gearing up for one of its busiest stretches, COVID-19 has brought the sports calendar to a halt. So how does Minnesota’s regional sports network choose what to put on TV?
What you need to know about Minnesota’s extended stay-at-home order
While most of the limits on public life will remain, the governor said nonessential retail businesses can start offering curbside pickup and delivery services for customers.
How COVID-19 could exacerbate inequalities in Minnesota’s workforce
Those who run some of Minnesota’s largest job-training nonprofits are urging the state to invest in programs to help those who had already been on the margins of the economy. If it doesn’t, they warn, Minnesota could face even worse joblessness among people who can least afford it.
Small farms are immune to safety investigations, even when a worker dies
In 1976, a few years after OSHA was created, Congress attached a rider to the agency’s budget that exempted farms with 10 or fewer employees from enforcement. The rider is included every year.
How the Walz administration is developing its plans for restarting Minnesota’s economy
Walz has not released a comprehensive plan for reviving business in Minnesota yet, a subject of growing frustration among some Republicans, but his administration has been working behind the scenes over the last week to build its strategy.
Twin Cities rising: 10 game-changing commercial real estate developments
Is the economy slowing down? Not if you keep watch on construction cranes in the Twin Cities.
Getting by: How businesses in one Greater Minnesota town are dealing with ‘social distancing’ disruptions
“It’s a really tough time right now because of the uncertainty,” said Judy Hulterstrum, executive director of the Litchfield Area Chamber of Commerce, “but we’re staying as positive as we can.”
Zoom hacks from local pros: Tips and tricks for better video conferencing
Even though Zoom has become a daily necessity for doing business, many still find video conferencing to feel awkward and unnatural.
‘It’s a start’: How the Legislature’s COVID-19 bill aims to help Minnesota child care providers
Under the coronavirus aid package passed by the Minnesota Legislature Thursday, child care providers can apply for a $4,500 monthly grant, with larger centers eligible for an additional monthly grant of up to $15,500, based on capacity.
Minnesota companies ramp up production to combat COVID-19
The moves come in response to shortages nationwide. Health care workers say they do not have enough respiratory masks to protect staff, while hospitals say there’s a critical need for more mechanical ventilators.
Asked to stay open during the COVID-19 crisis, Minnesota child care providers are calling for financial aid to help them stay afloat
The longer schools and businesses stay shut, the more uncertain the future is for many providers.
