Business and Economic News

As companies look to bring remote workers back to the office, a writer asks: Why?
Anne Helen Petersen is the co-author of a new book on the future of remote work. She says companies need to clearly know what goal they are pursuing when asking remote workers to come back in person.
Pandemic sparks union activity where it was rare: Bookstores
The rise of labor action during the pandemic includes a business where unions once were rare: bookstores. Since 2020, employees have unionized or are trying to do so everywhere from Printed Matter in New York City to Bookshop Santa Cruz in California. In Minnesota, workers at four Half Price Book stores have announced plans to unionize.
Storied General Electric to split into 3 public companies
General Electric is splitting itself into three public companies that concentrate on aviation, health care and energy. The company said Tuesday that it plans a spinoff of its health care business in early 2023 and of its energy segment in early 2024.
Women are unhappy. What can we do about it?
A recent Gallup poll found that a record low percentage of women say they are satisfied with the treatment of women in society. Host Angela Davis explores gender disparities in Minnesota and how to address them. 
As rules ease, travelers head to U.S. for emotional reunions
The U.S. is lifting restrictions on travel from a long list of countries including Mexico, Canada and most of Europe, setting the stage for emotional reunions nearly two years in the making and providing a boost for the airline and tourism industries decimated by the pandemic.
Carbon markets drive research in soil carbon storage
A growing number of agri-businesses are offering to pay farmers for practices that store carbon in the soil. But the cost of accurately measuring carbon in fields might be keeping farmers out of the market. Researchers are trying to improve the process.
Democrats are seeking largest-ever investment in affordable housing
The biggest problem facing the housing market is that there just aren't enough homes for people to buy or rent. In the aftermath of the housing market collapse and financial crisis more than a decade ago, about half of home-building companies went out of business.
Roads, transit, internet: What's in the infrastructure bill
The $1 trillion infrastructure plan that now goes to President Joe Biden to sign into law has money for roads, bridges, ports, rail transit, safe water, the power grid, broadband internet and more.
Biden hails infrastructure win as 'monumental step forward'
President Joe Biden on Saturday hailed Congress' passage of his $1 trillion infrastructure package as a “monumental step forward for the nation" after fractious fellow Democrats resolved a months-long standoff in their ranks to finally seal the deal.