Labor market Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal: State hits lowest unemployment rate in 20 years as more Minnesotans go back to work MPR News: Unemployment rate falls, labor market tightens Duluth…
Governor Tim Walz’s fishing opener has always been a public relations bonanza for the state’s top elected official, particularly in an election year. It’s one of the few must-cover media…
A new report from the Minnesota Department of Health lays bare a looming problem for our state’s hospitals: a staffing shortage. The report — Three Key Trends for Minnesota Community…
Minnesotans are getting back into the workforce. According to new numbers, Minnesota’s unemployment rate in February was the lowest in decades. And fortunately, this is due to people moving into…
State and local taxes and spending Star Tribune: Gov. Tim Walz proposes bigger rebate checks as surplus grows Kare 11: Gov. Walz unveils revised Minnesota state budget Knox Radio: MN…
Exactly one year ago today, the Star Tribune ran a story called “Oil demand questioned as Line 3 permit hits appeals court” in the printed version of the paper. The…
Minnesota regulators have shut down three free-food distribution networks, so far. The smallest of the three took in $26 million in its only year of operation. The Star Tribune reported…
Broad agreement exists that we suffer an affordable housing crisis in Minnesota — especially in the Twin Cities. The cause is no mystery. Affordable housing is scarce here because state…
A number of cities in Greater Minnesota have been linked to the alleged free food scandal. None have received more attention than the west-central Minnesota city of Willmar. Back on…
Last week, I testified in front of the Senate Committee on Housing Finance and Policy in support of SF 3259. This bill would give cities the ability to impose both…
State and local taxes and spending MPR News: GOP pushes to end taxes on Social Security, but many don’t pay them KNSI: Deal to Stop Minnesota’s Business Tax Increase Remains…
As reported by the Star Tribune, St. Paul city officials on Wednesday unveiled a proposal that would provide five full-time employees and funding to administer the rent-control ordinance passed by…
Despite a major initiative by state education officials, the number of high school seniors filling out college aid applications, a key predictor of interest in college, continues to decline. The…
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Minnesota last year, the virus and the state government’s response to it wrought havoc with our state’s economy. The unemployment rate rocketed from 3.5 percent in…
State and local taxes and spending St. Cloud Times: Minnesota needs to end tax on Social Security: Letter The Center Square: How Much Minnesota Homeowners Pay in Property Taxes Each…
The Met Council’s attempt to force through the Southwest Light Rail Transit line has finally sparked the scrutiny that the biggest public works construction in Minnesota history should have received…
The state Department of Education (MDE) has shut down a third nonprofit network in the free-food scandal. The Minneapolis Star Tribune has reported that MDE shut off the nonprofit network…
A lot of states nationwide are facing budget surpluses. To a large extent, this is due to federal efforts during the pandemic. However, the sizes of those surpluses vary. And…
Under the umbrella of the now-disbanded nonprofit Feeding Our Future, the alleged free food fraud is said by the FBI to center on three private food vendor networks. One of…
State and local taxes and spending Owatonna People’s Press: Support the Drink Local Economic Recovery Act Duluth News Tribune: ‘Send the money back’: All Minnesota tax filers could see rate…
According to the Star Tribune, Developers of a $251 million project with luxury apartments, retail and office space in Edina are seeking a $22 million tax subsidy to counter rising…
Chad Helton’s tumultuous tenure as head of the Hennepin County Library system from afar in sunny California may be over, but not before one last departing bout of controversy. As…
The number of students enrolled in Minnesota public schools for the 2021-2022 school year has dropped again, while online school, charter school and private school enrollment continues to increase, according…
Economic development Duluth News Tribune: Local View: Mining isn’t Minnesota’s future; natural resources are Finance & Commerce: Rochester-area fund looks to spur development Star Tribune: Counterpoint: We must welcome investment…