Minnesota’s economic news, w/e 10/25/19
State and local taxes
Bemidji Pioneer: Council ponders special use tax request to state Legislature
Bemidji Pioneer: Communities embrace Minnesota’s new lodging tax
KTOE: Bonding debate gears up as lawmakers tour SE and SW Minnesota
Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal: More Twin Cities suburbs are adding lodging tax
Winona Post: Local taxes on the rise
Agriculture
KNSI: Farmers can now sign up for crop safety net program
MPR News: Closing the farm gate: Struggling farmers take emotional step to forge new career paths
Labor market
KTOE: Minnesota companies need workers
Grand Forks Herald: Minnesota unemployment drops; labor market tightens
KIMT3: Iowa and Minnesota businesses are struggling to find workers
Redwood Falls Gazette: Minnesota’s minimum wage will increase in January 2020
KTOE: DEED pitching workers with disabilities to help fill employment gaps
Owatonna People’s Press: War on work? Former deputy chief of staff for Gingrich talks welfare reform at VFW
Star Tribune: Easy to find a job, hard to hire as Duluth unemployment remains near record lows
Economic growth
KTOE: Bankers survey shows improved rural economy in October
Mankato Free Press: Our View: Budget outlook | State fairly well-prepared for downturn
Economic development
Duluth News Tribune: The Memo: The cost of Essentia’s new properties, tightening labor market and more
MPR News: PolyMet opponents ask appeals court to overturn mine permits
Regulation
John Phelan is an economist at the Center of the American Experiment.