Business and Economic News

Factory workers across the U.S. say they were exposed to asbestos on the job
Their accounts contrast sharply with what chemical giants have said about worker safety at their facilities. At an Olin plant outside of McIntosh, Ala., workers recall decades of asbestos exposure.
Minnesota nurses strike averted as hospitals, union reach deals
The Minnesota Nurses Association and more than a dozen hospitals in the Twin Cities and Twin Ports reported tentative agreements on new three-year labor contracts Tuesday, averting a walkout by thousands of nurses that was scheduled to start in just days.
A congressional report says financial technology companies fueled rampant PPP fraud
Fraud in the Paycheck Protection Program, which gave potentially forgivable loans to small businesses during the pandemic, was largely due to financial technology companies, according to a new report.
Minnesota budget surplus tops $17 billion
Minnesota’s budget surplus has grown to $17.6 billion, setting the table for the governor and lawmakers to use for the 2023 legislative session. The state, though, still faces economic headwinds from beyond its borders.
There's a lithium mining boom, but it's not a jobs bonanza
Lithium mining is experiencing a boom right now, but it's no jobs bonanza. The promised surge in clean-energy jobs is mostly focused farther down the supply chain, like at battery assembly plants.
Supreme Court hears clash between LGBTQ and business owners' rights
The case involves a Colorado web designer who says state law prevents her from designing wedding website because she believes that marriage should only be between a man and a woman.
Green group pitches alternative vision for PolyMet site
An environmental group fighting the proposed PolyMet copper-nickel mine in northeastern Minnesota has proposed an alternative vision for the site that reimagines it as a clean energy and manufacturing hub.
Senate DFLers tap college professor to lead ag committee
Sen. Aric Putnam isn’t a farmer and hasn’t worked in agriculture, but starting next month, he’ll chair the Senate Agriculture Committee. Before lawmakers head back to St. Paul, Putnam said he hopes to immerse himself in Minnesota agriculture.