Business and Economic News

U.S. jobs rebound to solid growth: Unemployment holds at 3.8 percent
Employers added 196,000 jobs in March, bouncing back from February's weak growth, the Labor Department said Friday. The jobless rate was unchanged at nearly 50-year lows.
Final Four presents opportunity for pop-up entrepreneurs
Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis is the epicenter of fan festivities for the 2019 NCAA Final Four this weekend -- something 50 small business owners are taking advantage of to show off their work during one of the busiest weekends of the year.
Twin Cities shops, workplaces go dog-friendly, but not everyone digs it
Retailers and companies that have gone dog-friendly say the move has helped recruit workers and lure new customers. They also acknowledge it's opened the door to some messy situations.
Family-run Iron Range furnace company hopes clean design will pay off
Lamppa Manufacturing makes the cleanest-burning wood furnace in the country. And it's preparing for a big expansion, just as the federal government is about to tighten its regulations on wood heaters. The new rules could give Lamppa a leg up on its competition -- but only if the EPA leaves them in place.
Not just airplanes: Why the government often lets industry regulate itself
A number of government agencies work closely with the industries they are charged with regulating. The issue surfaced after Boeing's 737 Max planes had to be grounded by the FAA.
Orange cone season nears: MnDOT unveils 2019 road, bridge projects
State officials on Thursday detailed 221 road and bridge projects across Minnesota this year, including work on Interstate 35W in the Twin Cities and along Interstate 94 in central Minnesota.
Target raises its minimum wage to $13 from $12
The Minneapolis-based retailer announced in 2017 a plan to raise its starting hourly wages for workers to $15 by the end of 2020.
South Dakota veterinary program aims to fill rural shortage
South Dakota State University is creating a new veterinary program with the University of Minnesota to address a shortage of rural care in the region.
Why do many say this is a bad time for farmers? Between the tariffs and the recent floods, how is the local farm economy doing?
Paying student athletes: A renewed debate as the Final Four comes to Minnesota
Brackets have been busted, friends and families divided and billions of dollars invested as the Final Four arrives in Minneapolis. As March Madness reaches its climax, are student-athletes being compensated enough?