Business and Economic News

$300 weekly unemployment boost dries up
Out-of-work Minnesotans who had been getting an extra $300 in their unemployment checks will see that bump go away.
Why can't America make enough N95 masks? 6 months into pandemic, shortages persist
There's just not enough PPE to satisfy demand. Medics are reusing masks and small practices can't even find supplies they can afford. Some domestic manufacturers could help, but it's a risky move.
As economic recovery slows, Fed sees many risks and pledges full support
The Federal Reserve left interest rates near zero Wednesday and pledged it was ready to use all of its available tools to support an economic recovery that appears to be weakening.
It's getting hard to miss campaign ads in Minnesota
Millions of dollars in political ads are finding their way onto Minnesota TV stations, and the surge is only building.
La Raza Radio, displaced after Lake Street unrest, celebrates new home
Wednesday, La Raza Radio will christen its brand-new studios in Richfield, Minn. One of the buildings that went up in flames on the central business corridor on Lake Street after the killing of George Floyd housed the studios of La Raza Radio. Cathy Wurzer spoke with Maya Santamaria, CEO of the company that owns La Raza Radio, Santamaria Broadcasting.
Latinos report financial strain as pandemic erodes income and savings
An NPR poll finds 72 percent of Latino households in the United States are facing serious financial problems — double the share of whites who report this. Major health problems are mounting, too.
Jobs in the pandemic: More are freelance and may stay that way forever
Before the coronavirus hit, many workers chose freelance or contract jobs because they preferred the flexibility and variety it offered. But now millions are turning to freelancing out of necessity.
In 2020, wedding vendors say 'I do' to uncertainty
MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two local wedding industry insiders on what it’s been like to navigate the pandemic.
In his new book “No Rules Rules,” Reed Hastings argues that in order for a creative workplace to succeed, it needs as few policies and rules as possible. Others say the culture is demoralizing.
U.S. tariffs on China are illegal, says world trade body
The decision marks the first time the World Trade Organization has ruled against a series of tariffs that President Donald Trump’s administration has imposed on a number of countries, allies and rivals alike. The ruling could allow China to impose retaliatory tariffs.