Business and Economic News

UnitedHealth hikes profit forecast after big 2Q
UnitedHealth raised profit expectations for the year after second-quarter earnings climbed almost 13 percent, and the nation's largest health insurer continued expanding beyond its core business and into care delivery.
The City Council is working toward finalizing an ordinance requiring that 10 or 20 percent of apartments in many developments be affordable for low-income renters. An interim ordinance is now in effect.
Tru Shrimp had planned to build a multi-million-dollar shrimp production facility in Luverne, in southwestern Minnesota. But in January, the Minnesota-based company told Luvene officials it was building in South Dakota instead.
CenturyLink under state investigation after hundreds of complaints
The Minnesota Office of Pipeline Safety is investigating CenturyLink over hundreds of complaints that the utility failed to respond to requests to locate underground cabling.
Apple, Google continue inclusive push with new emojis
Apple and Google are rolling out dozens of new emojis that include cute critters, of course, but also expand the number of images of human diversity.
EU investigates if Amazon hurts competition by using sellers' data
The European Union's antitrust arm will evaluate Amazon's role as both a retailer and a marketplace for others. One focus will be on Amazon's use of data collected from third-party sellers.
This economic theory could be used to pay for the Green New Deal
Liberal Democrats have embraced an obscure brand of economics — "modern monetary theory" — to make the case for deficit-financed government programs like the Green New Deal for clean energy and jobs.
EPA asked to reconsider use of dangerous chemical
The Duluth City Council is asking the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider whether petroleum refineries should be allowed to continue their use of a dangerous and potentially deadly chemical.
Man whose family died in Boeing 737 Max crash: Scrap the jet
Paul Njoroge said that 737 Max planes should have been grounded after a deadly crash off the coast of Indonesia in October. Instead, they kept flying until another crashed five months later near Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, shortly after takeoff, claiming the lives of his family and 152 others.
Amazon's Shakopee workers, unions stage demonstration over conditions
Several hundred people gathered outside Amazon's sprawling fulfillment center in Shakopee Monday to protest what they say are difficult working conditions at the online retailer.