Recent content from Emma Nelson
What a Trump immigration crackdown would mean for Minnesota's economy
The state's labor shortage is among the country's more severe, with just 51 workers for every 100 open jobs.
Developer of St. Paul's Keg & Case food hall declares bankruptcy
Craig Cohen listed the W. 7th neighborhood project when filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy with more than $11 million in liabilities.
Minnesota added thousands of jobs in March but worker shortage still an issue
The aging population is causing pressure on the job market, though wages on the upswing.
Minnesota child care providers struggle to fill more than 700 open positions
Difficulty finding qualified employees means fewer children served, including more than 2,000 unavailable child care slots statewide, a new survey showed.
Inflation stays stubborn: What the latest numbers mean for you
Prices have been persistent, and that means interest rates will probably stay high, too.
A Japanese cafe tucked into an Edina office park survived a decade on work crowds, then word-of-mouth
Like JK's Table, go-to breakfast, lunch and happy hour spots around the metro that made it through the pandemic have had to evolve in the work-from-home era.
Women's salaries are lower than men's, but the pink tax costs them more. Here's how to push back.
Women pay thousands of dollars more than men each year for necessary items.
Closures show uphill battle for Minnesota's employer-sponsored child-care centers
Though there's demand for workplace child-care centers, they face the same budget woes gutting the larger child-care economy.
Tell us: How has the gender wage gap impacted you?
The median woman working full time in Minnesota earns about 80 cents for every dollar a median man makes, and some earn far less.
Minnesotans are again living with debt after COVID pause
The state had nearly $63,000 in debt per capita at the end of 2023.
Minnesota Taylor Swift fans geared up, tuned in for Chiefs-49ers Super Bowl
Months into her relationship with the Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce, the pop star has had an unprecedented effect on the NFL.
Slower wage growth might be good for the economy, but not everyone is celebrating
Workers and advocates say there's a disconnect between policy and reality.
From the Eras Tour to the NFL, Taylor Swift will be key to teaching students economics
The superstar's relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has already changed consumer behavior.
Jim Crockarell, downtown St. Paul's most prolific property owner, dies at 79
A complicated figure at times embroiled in conflicts with the city, labor unions and more, Crockarell — through his real estate development company Madison Equities — owned some of the most recognizable facades in the state capital's skyline.
Minnesota TikToker films as he gives food to homeless people, and his 5M followers eat it up
Josh Liljenquist has built a following with videos of himself feeding unhoused people, but the more people watch, the more complicated it becomes.
Remote options brought moms back to work. Return-to-office could push them out again.
As companies call employees back to the office, many women will likely leave jobs, presenting long-term consequences for workers, employers and the economy.
Minnesotans take big hits on non-negotiable bills like electricity, insurance
While commodities inflation has declined, services inflation has remained stubborn.
From borrowed attire to skipping showers: How to save money as a guest during wedding season
The average guest spends more than $600 for each wedding they attend.
Minnesota's economy picked up speed in third quarter
The state still trails overall growth in the U.S.
Minnesota job growth outpaces U.S.
The state added 9,500 jobs between October and November, the fifth consecutive month of growth. But employers are still struggling with a worker shortage.
Are we out of the woods yet? What to expect from the U.S. economy in 2024
The Federal Reserve is projecting interest rate cuts next year as inflation continues to decline.
U.S. Bank to pay $36M for blocking access to unemployment benefits during COVID
The Minneapolis-based bank froze tens of thousands of accounts as a fraud-prevention measure.
Are you a woman affected by return-to-office policies? Share your story.
If you are a woman who's working, has stopped working or is thinking about leaving the workforce because of return-to-office policies, we want to hear from you.
Minnesota's economy is still growing, but lags U.S. as a whole
The state's real gross domestic product, or the total value of goods and services, rose 0.7% in the second quarter compared to 2.1% nationwide.
Tell us about the rising costs that you can't trim from your budget
While some parts of a household budget are trimmable, others — like utilities and health and car insurance — are not. And those prices keep going up. Share your experience to help inform an upcoming story.
Did Amelia Earhart play basketball at St. Paul Central High School?
The groundbreaking pilot lived in Minnesota as a teenager.
Star Tribune hires chief product officer with New York Times, the Guardian experience
Aron Pilhofer also co-founded news-related startups DocumentCloud.org, Hacks & Hackers and Tiny News Collective.
Politics colors our perception of the economy, a lightning-rod topic in the 2024 election
Americans view the economy differently based on political beliefs, and as the presidential election approaches, the Republican and Democratic parties are ramping up their messaging.
St. Paul's Keg & Case food hall defaults on loans, is repossessed
St. Paul's Keg and Case Market is in foreclosure, five years after the ambitious W. 7th Street food hall opened its doors.
More than 3 million Minnesotans worked in October, the highest total ever recorded
Minnesota has continued to outpace national job growth.
Star Tribune announces new chief financial officer, adds vice president of brand
Stephanie Ness will serve as CFO; Chris Iles as vice president of brand and communications.
U.S. inflation is cooling faster than expected, a sign interest rate hikes might be done
The consumer price index rose 3.2% year-over-year in October, down from 3.7% in September.
Minnesota unveils $10 million low-interest loan program for small businesses
The Minnesota Expanding Opportunity Fund will provide loans to nonprofits, which then will lend the money to small businesses.
Fed interest rate hikes tame inflation but hit small, often diverse, business owners hardest
Women and people of color, who drove pandemic-era business growth, are especially vulnerable to rising costs.
First Avenue says it will recognize employee union
Workers informed management Thursday of their intent to unionize.
Minneapolis Fed's Kashkari says that 'it's too soon to call' whether interest rates will rise again
The Federal Open Market Committee kept interest rates steady this week.
First Avenue's 200 hospitality workers move to unionize
Employees at the company's seven Twin Cities venues cited low pay, inconsistent training and short-notice scheduling as top concerns.
Minnesota added 8,000 jobs in September, another surge in an already tight labor market
The state has added nearly 50,000 jobs in the past year.
Twin Cities inflation is still lower than U.S.: Here are 5 things to know
Prices rose 2.2% in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region over the past year as of September, compared to 3.7% nationally.
The U.S. labor market is still growing. What does that mean for Minnesota workers?
Unemployment is low and new jobs are plentiful, but there are signs of a coming slowdown.
Strong job growth in U.S. will likely extend to Minnesota
Employers added 336,000 jobs in September, smashing economists' predictions.
Minnesotans are still spending, but the post-pandemic boom is slowing
Nationwide, necessities like housing, utilities and health care drove consumer spending in 2022.
'Struggling' Minnesota child care centers brace for the end of federal aid
After two years and $24 billion, the Child Care Stabilization Grant program is coming to an end, and that has many providers concerned.
Minneapolis Fed's Kashkari: Inflation target in sight, but one more rate hike still likely
The Minneapolis Fed president said in an essay Tuesday the odds are in favor of an economic "soft landing."
Former Minnesota Gov. Al Quie dies at age 99
The lifelong Republican, who represented southern Minnesota in Congress for 20 years, was known for working across the aisle.
Minn. abortion battle turns to November and the ballot box
Groups on both sides of the issue have been preparing to take their case to Minnesota voters. Abortion could now be a defining theme of the 2022 campaign.
Current and former Minnesotans remember life before Roe v. Wade
Less than 50 years ago, abortion was illegal in most states. Some Minnesotans remember it well.
Minnesota becomes island for legal abortion access in Upper Midwest
Minnesota is flanked by states that immediately outlawed abortion when the Dobbs ruling came down, either through so-called "trigger bans" or by reverting to legislation pre-dating Roe.
With Roe overturned, Minnesota abortion opponents win a long-fought battle
Activism over decades elevated the issue to a fundamental tenet of the Republican Party.
Park and recreation projects in Minnesota cities get federal boost
Sites in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Rochester will split $8.7 million in grants.
More COVID-19 'test-to-treat' sites coming to Minnesota
The White House will send clinical personnel to Minnesota to staff existing state-run testing locations, transforming them into "test-to-treat" sites where eligible patients can get a prescription for the antiviral drug Paxlovid.
Minnesota leaders' response to Texas school shooting shows political divide over guns
It's unlikely that grief will translate into policy changes.
Klobuchar highlights Minnesota ties to Finland, Sweden as they seek to join NATO
The two countries are seeking to join NATO in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Attorney General Keith Ellison easily wins DFL endorsement for second term
Delegates also endorsed Secretary of State Steve Simon, who is seeking a third term.
Minnesota DFLers endorse Walz, Flanagan for second term
The first day of the party's state convention focused on incumbents' track records and the possibility that Roe v. Wade could be overturned.
Minnesota DFLers work to build momentum in tough election year
With a slate of incumbents on the ballot, party activists are aiming to ramp up enthusiasm at this weekend's convention.
Minnesota's divided Capitol strikes end-of-session deal
Gov. Tim Walz said he and top legislative leaders have agreed to the "broad framework" of a deal to spend a historic budget surplus to cut taxes, spend money on classrooms and public safety.
State error means wealthy Minnesotans owe more taxes
The state collected about $38M too little in 2019 and 2020 from some of its wealthiest taxpayers.
Minnesota House votes to legalize sports betting, but obstacles remain
The measure is unlikely to move forward this session as key differences remain in proposals from the House and Senate.
Who's getting Minnesota's new 'hero pay,' and how will it work?
What you need to know about the Minnesota Legislature's agreement on coronavirus pandemic hero pay bonus checks for front-line workers. Who qualifies?
Dust off the growler: This could be the year Minnesota liquor laws change
Legislators say they're optimistic a measure allowing larger breweries to sell beer to-go could pass this session.
Leaked abortion opinion prompts outrage, hesitation
While procedure is constitutionally protected in Minnesota, the draft signaled that opponents may soon win a long-sought victory.
Mondale remembered: 'One of the finest men I've ever known'
The late Minnesotan climbed to the pinnacle of U.S. politics as an influential senator and vice president.
Minnesota could become an island for legal abortions
If the U.S. Supreme Court overturns the landmark abortion case, states like Minnesota could become islands for women seeking the procedure.
Family, friends and officials honor Mondale at U memorial
The event Sunday at Northrop Auditorium includes speeches from President Joe Biden and U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar.
Gov. Walz signs pandemic pay, unemployment insurance deal
Bonus checks would amount to roughly $750 a person if all 667,000 eligible workers who qualified apply. Also, the House passed the Democrats' $200 million public safety and judiciary bill focused on addressing the root causes of crime.
Michelle Benson bows out of Minnesota governor's race
The Ham Lake Republican will not seek re-election to the state Senate.
GOP legislators pass 'tough on crime' public safety package
Senate DFLers pushed back on the Republican proposals, which focus on boosting law enforcement and strengthening criminal penalties.
Rep. Fischbach pushes bill to ease supply-chain woes
The SHIP IT Act would lift some restrictions for truck drivers transporting goods to and from ports.
Minnesota could expand support for immigrant workers, business owners
The proposed Office for New Americans would be housed in the state's employment and economic development department.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar pushes furniture safety standards
Federal legislation would require companies to test clothing storage products for safety and stability.
Walz leads GOP challengers in fundraising heading into midterm election
Republican donors are split among more than a half-dozen candidates for the nomination.