Attempting to address the lack of affordable childcare, an issue vexing the rest of Minnesota, Stevens County did something creative. According to the Star Tribune, last year: The county took…
State and local taxes and spending Minn Post: Goldilocks report? Minnesota tax collections show economy not too cold, not too hot Star Tribune: Minneapolis to look at new taxes as…
To less fanfare than usual, the Census Bureau has released its estimates of State-to-State Migration Flows for 2023. They show that, overall, Minnesota gained 100,277 residents from other parts of…
State and local taxes and spending The Ely Echo: Council approves 3% tax levy increase Pioneer Press: Letters: St. Paul’s rise in property taxes is unsustainable Axios: The cost of…
Economic growth Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis: Fewer customers, less revenue for Minnesota hospitality and tourism sector Star Tribune: Ramstad: To solve the Minnesota Paradox, we must wake up —…
It was a near run thing, but, eventually, the Vikings put the Packers to bed at Lambeau Field last Sunday. But depressed cheese heads can find comfort in the results…
To combat the affordable housing crisis as well as the declining value of commercial properties, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey signed a law cutting red tape for office-to-residential conversions. According to…
Last week, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released data for state Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the second quarter of 2024. It showed that: Real gross domestic product increased in…
State and local taxes and spending Fox Business: Billionaire Glen Taylor: Tim Walz raised taxes on Minnesota Republican Eagle: Viewpoint: How the school district is funded Rochester Post Bulletin: Could…
Yesterday, I wrote about a questionable “fact check” by KSTP which said that a Minnesota Congressional candidate’s claim of “20% inflation” was misleading. I noted that: Inflation is calculated as…
One of the new things in journalism is running ‘fact checks’ of candidate’s claims. An example comes from KSTP’s recent fact check of an ad by Congressional Candidate Joe Teirab…
I’ve written a few times recently about the looming budget problems in Minneapolis and St. Paul resulting from the collapse in commercial real estate prices. These prices are down, for…
State and local taxes and spending The Ely Echo: St. Louis County Board considers property tax hike Duluth News Tribune: Our View: Taxpaying Duluthians can appreciate the ‘breather’ Caledonia Argus:…
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has released its employment numbers for August. Some of the local headlines include: Kare 11: Minnesota shares largest monthly job gain in two years…
Social capital Late last year we released my report “The X-Factor? Social capital and economic well-being: A quantitative analysis.” The key finding was that levels of what we call “social…
In June last year, I wrote that data show that families with children are fleeing the Twin Cities. Sadly, that is not all. Writing for the Institute for Family Studies,…
The Minnesota Reformer reports: The U.S. Census Bureau released new data last week showing that in 2023 the median household income rose significantly for the first time since 2019. In inflation-adjusted terms,…
State and local taxes and spending Rochester Post Bulletin: Rochester’s proposed 10.5% tax levy increase projected to add $58 to median-valued home’s tax bill Duluth News Tribune: Duluth mayor asks…
A couple of years ago, I wrote that: Shortly after moving to Minnesota in 2017, my wife and I went to see a Saint Paul Saints game. Arriving early, we…
Tonight sees the second televised debate of this presidential campaign, and Vice President Harris’ first after President Biden’s disastrous performance in the first debate ended both his campaign and, effectively,…
Back in 2021, I wrote about “a pair of studies from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis [commissioned by the cities] into the effects of the minimum wage hikes in Minneapolis and St.…
Labor market Winona Post: MN jobs, labor force little changed in July Bemidji Now: MN unemployment rate rises in July KRWC: State Job Numbers, Labor Force Sees Little Change in…
Two decades after releasing its first plan, the company hoping to develop Minnesota’s first copper nickel mine will go back to the drawing board to update its proposal. It’s an…
State and local taxes and spending Wall Street Journal: The Minnesota Tax-and-Spend Model Cato Institute: Governor Tim Walz’s Fiscal Record Washington Times: While other governors were lowering taxes, Walz socked…