January 2, 2021

After decades-long push, it's not clear who will bid in Arctic refuge oil lease sale

A polar bear with cubs in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in 2014. Barcroft Media via Getty Images Just two weeks before President-elect Joe Biden […]
January 2, 2021

The new year will bring more transparency in hospital prices

A new federal health care rule requires hospitals to publicly post prices for every service they offer and break down those prices by component and […]
January 2, 2021

Dispatch Top 10 – No. 5: After 137 years of the daily printed page, the Dispatch reduces its print days, moves to daily e-edition

“This change ends a long tradition for the Brainerd lakes area,” said Publisher Pete Mohs in July. “It’s another example of how the COVID-19 pandemic […]
January 2, 2021

Asia Today: Australian state under fire for slow response

SYDNEY — Australia’s leading medical group says the New South Wales state government has put the rest of the country at risk by its decision […]
January 1, 2021

GOP rebuffs Trump on $2K aid, defense as Congress wraps up

WASHINGTON — The Senate wrapped up a rare New Year’s Day session with Republicans rejecting President Donald Trump’s demand for $2,000 COVID-19 aid checks and […]
January 1, 2021

Trump vetoes Calif. fishing bill over seafood trade deficit

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump vetoed a bill Friday that would have gradually ended the use of large-mesh drift gillnets deployed exclusively in federal waters […]
January 1, 2021

The Latest: California hospitals struggle to stay afloat

LOS ANGELES — California hospitals ended the year on “the brink of catastrophe,” a health official said as the pandemic pushed deaths and sickness to […]
January 1, 2021

Qualifying for state aid a headache for Duluth restaurants

But the restaurant, located in the lower level of Fitger’s Brewery Complex, won’t receive any of the state’s $88 million in grants meant for businesses […]
January 1, 2021

Delta CEO sees some recovery from travel slump later in 2021

DETROIT — The leader of Delta Air Lines is telling workers that he expects some recovery from the coronavirus travel downturn by the spring. CEO […]
January 1, 2021

Some Minnesota businesses are booming amid the pandemic

“I feel a little guilty about it,” said Sunny Bowman, owner of Dakota County Lumber in Farmington, Minn. Sales this year have surged 40%, she […]