Business and Economic News

Black women bore the brunt of federal job cuts
Federal job cuts last year hit one group the hardest — Black women. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with a journalist who interviewed some of the women who lost their jobs about how they are doing a year later — financially and emotionally.
USDA cancels $300M grant program, affecting projects for underserved Minnesota farmers
In cancellation letters shared with MPR, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said that the cancelled projects engaged in discriminatory diversity, equity and inclusion practices and did little to improve land access for farmers.
Do good neighbors make good economies? Minnesota could be a test case
Economic studies strongly suggest that higher levels of trust can lead to increased commerce, promote financial innovation and even foster economic growth. Will the neighborly care and civic engagement in Minnesota during the Immigration and Customs Enforcement surge translate into economic resilience?
What's behind the financial crisis at HCMC, and will other hospitals be next?
Hennepin Healthcare’s flagship hospital faces a financial crisis, and county leaders hope to save it with a sales tax. MPR News host Angela Davis talks about the financial crisis at HCMC and how hospitals are struggling in the face of rising costs and Medicaid cuts.
It’s Equal Pay Day. Women have lost ground for the second year in a row
The annual observance marks how far into the new year women must work to make what men earned in the previous year. This year, it's March 26, a day later than it was in 2025.
How unemployment affects our mental health
It’s a tough moment in the job market right now. Layoffs are happening across industries and finding a job isn’t easy. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with a researcher and a therapist about how unemployment affects our mental health.
Great Lakes shipping season starts up again in Duluth port
The Soo Locks, which connect Lake Superior to the lower Great Lakes, open at 12:01 a.m. on March 25, signaling the start of another shipping season on the lakes.
Trump delivers farmers another financial blow with Iran war
Some of President Donald Trump's policies, the latest being the war in Iran, are testing his support among farmers who are being burdened with higher costs.