Business and Economic News

Key aspects of the COVID-19 relief bill advancing in Congress
The Democrats' goal is to have COVID-19 relief approved by mid-March, when extra unemployment assistance and other pandemic aid expires. The Senate, which Democrats control with a tie-breaking vote from the vice president, will consider the bill next.
Biden hails House passage of $1.9T pandemic relief bill
The House approved a $1.9 trillion pandemic relief bill that was championed by President Joe Biden, the first step in providing another dose of aid to a weary nation as the measure now moves to a tense Senate.
Front-line food plant workers up next for COVID-19 vaccine
Meat and poultry processing plants were at the epicenter of some of the earliest COVID-19 outbreaks in communities in central and southern Minnesota. Vaccinations for the 45,000 workers at the state’s food processing plants are expected to begin in April.
With House voting on relief bill, Democrats mull wage plan rescue
A $1.9 trillion package aimed at helping the country rebuild from the pandemic seems headed toward House passage. Now, Democrats are also searching for a way to revive their drive to boost the minimum wage. 
With one move, Congress could lift millions of children out of poverty
Lawmakers are weighing a proposal to give families with kids a monthly, cash benefit to help ease the lifelong pull of poverty. Experts say it could cut U.S. child poverty nearly in half.
Budget turnaround: Projected $1.6B surplus shoves aside deficit
Minnesota finance officials say higher revenue and lower spending have turned what had been a budget deficit into a projected $1.6 billion surplus. Policymakers will use the latest figures to set a new two-year state budget, with taxes at the center of the discussion. 
Mr. Potato Head drops the mister, sort of
Hasbro created confusion on Thursday when it removed the gender from its Mr. Potato Head brand, but not from the actual toy.
North Dakota officials block wind power in effort to save coal
Across the country, coal plants are shutting down. Wind turbines are going up. But the transition can be rocky. In North Dakota, some officials are trying to defend coal by blocking new wind turbines.
GOP rallies solidly against Democrats' virus relief package
Republicans rallied solidly against Democrats' proposed $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill as lawmakers awaited a decision by the Senate's parliamentarian that could bolster or potentially kill a pivotal provision hiking the federal minimum wage.