Business and Economic News

Some Minnesota farmers could feel the government shutdown well after it ends
The government shutdown halted payments to farmers who participated in conservation programs. Even though the government has reopened, farmers may still face delays in receiving their funds.
Minnesota hemp-THC producers say they’re ready to fight federal hemp ban
Minnesota’s hemp-derived THC industry is ready to defend itself from a federal ban that was passed on Wednesday. The ban caps hemp products like beverages and edibles to 0.4 milligrams of THC per container.
New Latino supermarket offers pieces of home for its Richfield customers
Three entrepreneurial brothers are making a gastronomic mark in the Twin Cities. The trio behind Lomabonita Market in the Twin Cities opened their sixth — and biggest — location in Richfield.
U.S. Mint in Philadelphia presses final pennies as the 1-cent coin gets canceled
The U.S. Mint has ended production of the penny, a change made to save money and in recognition of the growing irrelevance of the 1-cent coin. The last pennies were struck Wednesday at the mint in Philadelphia, where the country’s smallest denomination coins have been produced since 1793, a year after Congress passed the Coinage Act.
Google launches a lawsuit targeting text message scammers
Ever gotten a text saying you forgot to pay a nonexistent road toll or need to pick up a mystery package? Google's going after the scammers behind those messages.
It's harder to get home insurance. That's changing communities across the U.S.
Home insurance is getting less affordable, and less available, as insurers raise prices and pull back from areas with extreme weather. That's forcing families across the country to make tough choices.
 WIC benefits, Minnesota and the government shutdown: 4 questions, answered
The federal Women, Infants and Children program got a reprieve from federal shutdown cuts through early December. But even as the government moves closer to reopening, WIC families in Minnesota are still affected by the uncertainty. 
As demand for energy surges in Minnesota, interest in battery storage booms
Batteries can store electricity from solar and wind when it’s plentiful and cheap to produce, and release it when it’s in short supply. There's a growing consensus that batteries are critical to making the switch to decarbonized electricity.