Business and Economic News

St. Paul’s 1 percent sales tax bump has started. Here’s what’s changing first
The city of St. Paul’s new 1 percent sales tax increase began Monday, raising the total county, state and local sales tax to nearly 10 percent — the highest in Minnesota. As residents adjust to a cost bump on nonessentials, they can expect construction signs in the coming months, too.
‘No timeline’ to recover 4 bodies after Baltimore bridge collapse, as cleanup begins
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore called the recovery operation "complex" after a ship smashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Officials have not given estimates on when the river will reopen to traffic.
Dairy cows have tested positive for bird flu in Texas, Kansas and Michigan
Livestock in Texas, Kansas and Michigan are confirmed to have the virus, and herds in New Mexico and Idaho have also tested positive. The threat to the public is low, federal officials say.
Gmail revolutionized email 20 years ago. People thought it was Google’s April Fool’s Day joke
Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin loved pulling pranks, so much so they began rolling outlandish ideas every April Fool’s Day not long after starting their company more than a quarter century ago. The jokes were so consistently over-the-top that people learned to laugh them off as another example of Google mischief. And that’s why Page and Brin decided to unveil something no one would believe was possible 20 years ago on April Fool’s Day.
Millions of customers’ data found on dark web in latest AT&T data breach
The provider says it has reset the passcodes of the current account holders whose data was compromised as it investigates the leak, the latest in a string of telecommunications company data breaches.
Stearns County debates location of new jail, justice center
Stearns County officials face some major decisions on replacing its outdated jail and sheriff’s office, while adding more court space. Other Minnesota counties are facing similar costly choices, as their jails reach the end of their life expectancies and expectations of care change.
New study shows climate change is already affecting food prices
Increasing global average temperatures and more intense and frequent heat waves are already driving up the prices of food and other goods. So just how much is climate change affecting inflation?