Business and Economic News

Why a war in the Middle East hasn't sparked an oil crisis
Global crude oil prices are now lower than they were before Israel attacked Iran earlier this month. A price spike did occur, but it was short-lived — unlike oil crises of the past.
Minneapolis restaurant Stepchld closing after five years
Chef-owner Kamal Mohamed said multiple factors including rising food, labor and rent costs led to the closure.
TikTok bans #SkinnyTok. But content promoting unhealthy eating persists
The social media platform TikTok recently banned a hashtag called #SkinnyTok after European regulators warned it was promoting extreme weight loss. But eliminating this kind of content is not easy.
Mankato small businesses try to stay afloat after last year’s historic floods
There are areas that still haven’t been cleaned up since the previous flood and some businesses are slowly recovering, while city officials find ways to fund infrastructure projects responding to more frequent storms.
Reporters for Voice of America and other U.S. networks fear what's next
Journalists who have risked their freedom to report for Voice of America and its sister news outlets wonder what happens to them now that the Trump administration has gutted their parent agency.
What children in poverty could lose from the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Republicans want to change or reduce key social safety net programs that provide health care, food benefits and financial assistance for millions of children.
National Loon Center to break ground on new facility in Crosslake
The $18.5 million project has been a decade in the making. It will include a visitor center and space for research and education, and aims to teach people how to conserve freshwater ecosystems that are vital to loons’ health.
Juneteenth celebrations have been scaled back this year due to funding shortfalls as companies and municipalities across the country reconsider their support for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.