Business and Economic News

Pandemic pricetag: U.S. employers cut 140,000 jobs in December
The runaway pandemic put more pressure on the U.S. job market last month. Employers shed 140,000 jobs as the unemployment rate held steady at 6.7 percent.
Neil Sheehan, Pentagon Papers reporter, Vietnam author, dies
Neil Sheehan, a reporter and Pulitzer Prize-winning author who broke the story of the Pentagon Papers for The New York Times and who chronicled the deception at the heart of the Vietnam War in his epic book about the war, has died. He was 84.
Minnesota's restaurants prepare for reopening, again
Starting Monday, Minnesota restaurants may reopen, but only at 50 percent capacity. Gov. Tim Walz also is easing up on restrictions at bars, movie theaters, gyms and sporting events.
Amid violence, Trump says, 'Remember this day forever'
President Donald Trump appears to be excusing the violent occupation of the U.S. Capitol by supporters who disrupted the formalization of his electoral defeat. Facebook and Twitter have removed a short video of Trump where he is urging his supporters at the Capitol to “go home” while at the same time keeping up false attacks about the presidential election.
Indoor dining to resume next week; theaters and museums can also reopen
Starting Monday, restaurants and bars will be allowed to open at 50 percent capacity. Bowling alleys, movie theaters and museums can reopen at 25 percent capacity.
Minnesota’s real estate market, both in the Twin Cities and in other regions of the state, saw stronger-than-average activity last year, despite the pandemic.
The new year will bring more transparency in hospital prices
A new federal health care rule requires hospitals to publicly post prices for every service they offer, and break down those prices by component and procedure.
After decades-long push, it's not clear who will bid in Arctic refuge oil lease sale
There's little solid data on how much oil is under Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and lawsuits and market forces could dampen industry interest. Any leases would also face opposition from a Biden administration.