Business and Economic News

Congress approves farm bill, $400 billion for farmers, forests, poor
The House voted 369-47 for the legislation, which sets federal agricultural and food policy for five years, after the Senate approved it 87-13 on Tuesday. It is now headed to the desk of President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it.
Chris Farrell's conversation on the creative economy
Conversations on the Creative Economy: Entrepreneurship and inclusive economic prosperity in the Midwest.
Iowa college becomes battleground for student worker unionization
Students with campus jobs at Grinnell College want to unionize, but the college is pushing back and asking the National Labor Relations Board to reconsider an Obama-era ruling allowing such unions.
Farm bill compromise reached with SNAP changes out, industrial hemp in
While much of the farm bill draft mirrors current law, there is a major change coming for farmers: industrial hemp will be legalized. Forestry and food stamps became sticking points.
Duluth lands Independent Television Festival
Backers compare the festival, scheduled for Oct. 9-13, 2019, to the Sundance Film Festival. But instead of screening independent movies, ITVFest aims to connect the creators of "episodic content" like TV shows with execs from HBO and elsewhere.
What should Minnesota do with its budget surplus?
As we reported on the show last week, state officials project Minnesota will have a $1.5 billion dollar budget surplus over the next two years. Now we're asking Minnesotans: What do you think we should DO with that surplus?
China summons U.S. ambassador over arrest of Huawei CFO
Meng Wanzhou was detained during a layover in Vancouver. The U.S. government says a subsidiary of Huawei violated U.S. sanctions with Iran, and that the company deceived financial institutions.