Business and Economic News

Workers at Amazon warehouse in Alabama are poised for union vote
Some 5,800 workers at the facility will vote starting this week on joining the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, potentially making it Amazon's first union shop in the U.S.
A 'carbon bank' could mean extra cash for Midwest farmers
Minnesota-based Land O’Lakes is launching a program to pay farmers for storing carbon in the soil to offset climate change effects.
Weary postal workers hope Biden will bring new tone, change
The U.S. Postal Service's stretch of challenges didn't end with the November general election and tens of millions of mail-in votes. The pandemic-depleted workforce fell further into a hole during the holiday rush, leading to long hours and a mountain of delayed mail.
Biden revives presidential tradition, releases first weekly address
Biden's first address was a conversation with a woman who lost her job during the pandemic. The White House says Biden will use a "variety of forms" in his take on the weekly radio address.
Gatehouses that symbolize Minnesota city's meatpacking era in jeopardy
Two brick and limestone gatehouses in South St. Paul are the lone vestige of what was once the world’s largest and most modern meatpacking plant. But the future of the gatehouses could be in jeopardy.
Walz targets smoking, vaping with higher taxes
Gov. Tim Walz wants to discourage young people from using nicotine by raising taxes, but Republicans in the Legislature say no matter what the aim, they won’t support higher taxes.
A sexy Alexa, Dan Levy's M&M habit: Super Bowl ads to watch
This year there are more than 20 newcomers as well as old favorites. Amazon shows off a sexy new body for its Alexa assistant, Dan Levy apologizes for eating M&M's and Bud Light Seltzer Lemonade makes a downpour of lemons a metaphor for 2020's troubles. And as always, there are likely to be some surprises as well.
Senate OKs fast-track of COVID aid, Harris casts tie-breaker
The Senate early Friday approved a budget resolution that's a key step toward fast-track passage of President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan without support from Republicans. Vice President Kamala Harris was in the chair to cast the tie-breaking vote, her first.