Business & Economy

Housing and homelessness are top of mind in Minnesota which means that Jennifer Ho, Minnesota's new housing commissioner, has a lot on her list of issues to tackle.

Gasoline prices have been dropping steadily for months; they're averaging right around $2.25 per gallon nationally. Enjoy, but don't get used to them, analysts say.

Congress legalized industrial hemp as a crop in the latest farm bill -- and Minnesota farmers and economic development officials are ready to jump into the new industry. Minnesota's hemp program coordinator urges caution as the state breaks new ground.

The Inspector General for the General Services Administration, said that agency lawyers decided to ignore the constitutional issues when they reviewed the lease after Trump won the 2016 election.

Arts and social service agencies in the Twin Cities are learning that the foundation may withdraw its support.

As the partial government shutdown continues, some federal workers and contractors are looking for temporary jobs to earn income.

Bird expert Sharon Stiteler, a park ranger for the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, said she's been furloughed several times before but that this time it's different. "This one has been unpredictable from the very beginning," Stiteler said.

The company's chair and largest shareholder won a bankruptcy auction for Sears in New York, averting liquidation of the iconic chain, according to a source familiar with the negotiations.

While the hit to the overall economy so far remains slight, economist foresee real damage if the shutdown drags into February or beyond.

Following podcasters' advice, officers try spreading the word through beauty salons to recruit more female African-American police officers.

Airlines paid for the meals and airport conference center staff packed nearly 500 breakfast and lunch box meals Monday. A community service organization contributed 400 sambusas.

The Internal Revenue Service is recalling about 46,000 of its employees furloughed by the government shutdown -- nearly 60 percent of its workforce -- to handle tax returns and pay out refunds. The employees won't be paid.

The developer of a $230-million riverfront project backed by Bloom Holding is assessing if it will scale back its plan, potentially throwing it in flux.

Federal employees deemed "essential" are still showing up to work despite not receiving a paycheck last Friday. That's one of several ways the partial shutdown of the federal government is affecting Minnesota financially.

How will four newly-appointed members of the Walz administration address issues affecting the business community and workforce in Minnesota?

UnitedHealth's fourth-quarter earnings slid 16 percent from last year, when federal tax cuts helped the nation's largest health insurer, but the performance still came in well above analyst expectations.

With the rise of online retailing and the ubiquity of credit and debit cards, a majority of consumers prefer to pay with plastic. And some businesses are going plastic-only for purchases.

Federal regulations haven't kept up with technology, say drone operators and enthusiasts. Now the Department of Transportation is proposing to allow drones to fly over cities and at night.

President Trump addressed the Farm Bureau Federation on Monday, courting a constituency that was key to his 2016 election. He tried to reassure his audience that his trade policies will soon pay off.