Progress slow as urgency grows on virus relief legislation

The latest negotiating session on a coronavirus relief bill has wrapped with modest concessions being made by both sides.

Wave of evictions expected as moratoriums end in many states

Housing advocates fear that they could see a wave of evictions in the coming months, as states end moratoriums put in place during the coronavirus pandemic.

US manufacturing improves in July, outlook clouded by coronavirus

The Institute for Supply Management, an association of purchasing managers, said Monday that its manufacturing index rose to 54.2 last month, up from a June reading of 52.6. Any reading above 50 signals that U.S. manufacturing is expanding.

Bar owners fret over impact of new COVID-19 restrictions in Minneapolis

Saturday, new restrictions put in place due to COVID-19 went into effect, closing all indoor bar areas in the City of Minneapolis.

Minnesotans stuck on unemployment lose $600 added benefit put in place during pandemic

Thousands of Minnesotans collecting unemployment will no longer receive an additional $600 a week put in place during the pandemic. The benefit was allowed to expire with no extensions at this time at the federal level.

Rent's due, again: Monthly anxieties deepen as aid falls off

The coronavirus pandemic is entering a new month, meaning Americans struggling amid the economic fallout once again have to worry about paying their rent.

Trump, GOP suggest temporary fix for $600 jobless benefit

Frustrated congressional negotiators of a massive coronavirus relief bill are facing new pressure with Thursday's brutal economic news and the approaching lapse in a $600 per-week COVID-19 jobless benefit.

Record economic plunge, bleak jobs numbers reveal virus toll

The U.S. economy shrank at a dizzying 33% annual rate in the April-June quarter — by far the worst quarterly plunge ever — when the viral outbreak shut down businesses, throwing tens of millions out of work and sending unemployment surging to 14.7%, the government said Thursday.

Walz: Mask mandate, not business closures, will slow hospitalization increase

Gov. Tim Walz said the state's mask mandate would be enough to slow a worrisome rise in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations without imposing new restrictions on businesses.

US is expected to report a record-breaking economic plunge

Having endured what was surely a record-shattering slump last quarter, the U.S. economy faces a dim outlook as a resurgent coronavirus intensifies doubts about the likelihood of any sustained recovery the rest of the year.

More payments, extended benefits:  Inside the GOP's COVID stimulus proposal

The framework is expected to extend — but reduce substantially — just-expired expanded unemployment benefits, send a fresh round of $1,200 stimulus check to American adults earning less than $75,000 in August and funnel tens of billions of dollars in aid to schools and universities.

Minnesota salon owners urge state to relax COVID restrictions

Nearly two months after being allowed to reopen after a COVID-19 shutdown, barbershop and salon owners and workers say they are still facing struggles.

Minnesota's unemployment rate ticks down to 8.6 percent in June

Minnesota's unemployment rate ticked down to 8.6 percent in June, but is nowhere close to returning to pre-pandemic levels. In May, the jobless rate was 9.9 percent, the highest in the state's recorded history. It was 2.9 percent in March before the crisis started. Minnesota reported adding 82,000 jobs in June. The state lost a total of 258,000 jobs between February and May. Fears of another round of business closures and job losses have started anew as the coronavirus flares in several U.S. states.  In Minnesota, the infection rate has ticked upward over the past two weeks. Gov. Tim Walz has said he's considering a statewide mask mandate, but has not moved toward new closures.

Junk mail? Tens of thousands may have mistakenly thrown away stimulus payment

Despite warnings issued by the federal government, tens of thousands of individuals may have inadvertently thrown out their $1,200 stimulus payments.

White House campaign to help jobless 'find something new'

A new White House-backed ad campaign aims to encourage people who are unemployed or unhappy in their jobs or careers to “find something new.”

Businesses across US request ‘exact change’ amid coin shortage caused by COVID-19

Following an announcement from The Federal Reserve last month that the coronavirus pandemic has created a shortage in coins in the U.S., businesses around the country have been urging their customers to use alternative forms of payment or bring exact change.

Coronavirus causes uncertainty for state lotteries

State lottery revenues do not make up a huge portion of a state budget. But because the monies are often directed to specific programs like education, environment or veterans programs, they can have an outsized impact when there are upticks or declines in sales.