Minneapolis–Saint Paul

50 years after its TIME cover story, does Minnesota still work?

Minnesota’s eleven Native American tribes did very well during the 2023 legislative session. It’s not surprising given their $1 million in campaign contributions to the DFL and having one of…

Price floors and ceilings — Minimum wages and rent controls Public policymakers often intervene in economies using “price floors,” such as government-mandated minimum wages, or “price ceilings,” like rent controls.…

Where did the $18 billion surplus go?

State and local taxes and spending Alexandria Echo Press: An Echo Press Editorial: In defense of tax increases… Winona Post: County: Referendum on sales tax for jail next fall Pioneer…

State and local taxes and spending Twin Cities Business: Paying Your Fair Share! KSTP: Question on St. Paul ballot will ask for sales tax increase to fund road, bridge maintenance…

The easy part ended when the Minnesota Legislature rubber-stamped Rochester’s request to ask voters to extend the city’s expiring half-cent local sales tax for another 16 years. This fall residents…

Last week I wrote about how, faced with declining college enrollments after decades of above-inflation increases in college tuition fees, colleges ought to be cutting their fees. I also wrote…

Last year, I wrote about how Minneapolis and St. Paul lost residents in 2021. Census Bureau data show that Minneapolis lost 6,049 residents from 2020 to 2021 and St. Paul…

The Minnesota Legislature appeared to address one of our most vexing criminal issues this past legislative session: carjacking. However, it’s turning out to be an inconsequential move. You can help change that…

You need a program to keep up with the intramural warfare in the Minneapolis Democratic (DFL) party these days. The official party logo: All thirteen seats (representing individual wards) on…

Economic growth Star Tribune: Job market remains resilient, despite layoffs, leaving Minnesota planners scratching their heads Duluth News Tribune: Our View: Ensure Minnesota businesses grow in Minnesota MPR News: Downtown…

A year ago, I wrote about twin examples offered by one of Minnesota’s Twin Cities, St. Paul, of the principles of Econ 101 in action. The Saint Paul City Council passed a minimum…

There is no better way to combat crime than through swift and sure apprehension of offenders, timely prosecution of defendants, and the incapacitation of those awaiting trial or convicted of…

I recently appeared on the Republican Roundtable, a public access television program that appears on stations in the Twin Cities, to discuss the state of energy policy in Minnesota as…

As I noted last month, the state government voted to waste $200 million on a train running between Minneapolis and Duluth. The media is now — belatedly — asking “How…

The Met Council claims to be all about equity and inclusion in the grandstanding statements on the agency’s “Equity in Action” page posted on its website. Our public engagement plan…

State and local taxes and spending KSTP: For full impact of $72 billion budget, hurry up and wait CBS News: Supreme Court sides with woman after county sold her condo…

Citing unsafe working conditions, low pay, and exploitation, DFL legislators are trying to pass a law (HF2369/SF2319) that will add new rules for ridesharing software companies like Uber and Lyft.…

State and local taxes and spending AP News: Minnesota Legislature shapes budget bills as deadline looms WCCO: Businesses raise alarm about 75-cent retail delivery fee proposal at Minnesota Legislature Morrison…

A first-hand account of a Minneapolis murder case and what we can learn from it now.

In November 2021, the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis released two reports — each analyzing the impact of minimum wage hikes in the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul between…

Minnesota families are ditching public schools, and finding homeschooling is a challenging but fulfilling alternative.

State and local taxes and spending WCCO: Minnesota House passes tax bill with $3B in tax cuts, credits for low- to middle-income residents MPR News: Unpacking tax bills as Minnesota…