State and local taxes and spending Austin Daily Herald: Sen. Gene Dornink: Working with a budget surplus Fergus Falls Daily Journal: County taxes reflect support of residents The Center Square:…
Labor market Alexandria Echo Press: New year, new minimum-wage rates as of Jan. 1 Fergus Falls Daily Journal: Minimum wage increase Duluth News Tribune: ‘More of what workers want’: Wage…
Labor market Pine Journal: Can this workforce be saved? Here’s why US workers are quitting in droves Morrison County Record: Letter: Walz to blame for worker shortage Bemidji Pioneer: Child…
State and local taxes and spending Minn Post: Online retail sales are way up. So are local sales tax collections in Minnesota Park Rapids Enterprise: Hubbard County’s first levy increase…
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has upheld the air permit for the PolyMet mining project in Northeastern Minnesota. This act rebukes anti-mining groups who oppose the project, despite the scientific…
‘Minnesota job growth outpaces US, unemployment at 3.3%‘ – Duluth News Tribune ‘Jobless rate in Minn. hits pre-pandemic level‘ – MPR News ‘Minnesota jobless rate falls to 3.3%, lowest since…
State and local taxes and spending The Globe: Nobles County works to reduce tax burden; eyes 4.988% property tax levy increase Duluth News Tribune: Feeding frenzy follows news of state…
It’s almost as unusual as a tornado in Minnesota in December (maybe even more so). Namely, government holding a perennial recipient of hundreds of thousands of tax dollars publicly accountable,…
On Sunday, Alpha News reported: Lisa Hanson owns The Interchange Wine and Coffee Bistro in Albert Lea, Minnesota. When Walz issued an executive order last year demanding that all bars…
Economic growth Star Tribune: Supply chain trouble takes big bite out of Minnesota’s small food producers Minn Post: Long-term thinking is they key to Minnesota’s economic prosperity KPVI: Minnesota is…
Minnesota’s record-breaking budget surplus has induced mixed reactions from state leaders. But among those celebrating the surplus as a testament to our growing economy and effective handling of COVID-19 is…
Back in July, I had a column in the Duluth News Tribune about how federal government tariffs on Canadian lumber would serve to make housing less affordable. I noted that…
The Duluth News Tribune recently ran a story on the proposed Tamarack nickel mine near Tamarack, Minnesota. Talon Metals, which owns a majority stake in the project, told investors a…
The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed some state policies in urgent need of reform. In the field of healthcare, two stand out. First, Minnesota should join the national Nurse Licensure Compact.…
Labor market Kare 11: Retailers ramp up hiring for the holiday shopping season KEYC: Childcare shortage impacts southern Minnesota families, economy Bemidji Pioneer: Minimum wage set to increase 2.5% as…
Overwhelming local opposition to the requirement for students and faculty at Rock Ridge Public Schools to mask up has led more than 275 parents to sue the northern Minnesota school…
One of the few positives to come out of Duluth’s response to COVID-19 was the postponement of the city’s tax on plastic bags penalizing businesses and consumers for their complicity…
In May 2020, Great River Energy made a surprising announcement: It would close the Coal Creek Station — a large, 1,150-megawatt coal plant in North Dakota — if it could…
In case you missed it…and what to watch for.
State and local taxes and spending Associated Press: Walz celebrates budget as House leaders credit ‘win-wins’ Southernminn.com: Legislature passes final budget bills Star Tribune: Minnesota’s new budget includes major spending…
A version of this op ed appeared in the Duluth News Tribune on June 21, 2021 In March, the median price of a home sale in Duluth hit $217,000, up…
State and local taxes and spending Minn Post: Latest tax collection report reveals the state of Minnesota is pretty much rolling in cash Bemidji Pioneer: Commentary: State needs to fix…
When the Democrat-controlled Congress resurrected earmarks earlier this year, the Grand Forks Herald reminded readers of why the poster child for wasteful government spending was abolished in a bipartisan effort…
The following article was written by Isaac Orr. It originally appeared in the Duluth News Tribune: Prior to the 2020 presidential election, an anonymous source from the Biden campaign told…