February 4, 2021

Merck loses $2.1B in Q4; longtime CEO Frazier to retire

Merck posted a big fourth-quarter loss due to a hefty charge and higher spending on research, production and overhead. The company also announced Ken Frazier, […]
February 4, 2021

US unemployment claims fall to 779,000 but job cuts grind on

WASHINGTON — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits declined to 779,000 last week, a still-historically high total that shows that a sizable number of […]
February 4, 2021

Duluth tourist spending tumbles by nearly one-third in 2020

But the year could have been worse. At the onset of the pandemic, former Duluth Finance Director Wayne Parson predicted that the city likely would […]
February 4, 2021

'Pouring money from my pocket': Mpls. skyway business owners worried about slow return when COVID relents

The pandemic economy that’s been a boon to companies such as Amazon and Zoom has been awful for Ather Jameel. He owns I Grill, an […]
February 4, 2021

State regulators push ahead with 'clean car' rules, despite GOP opposition

Minnesota environmental regulators are pushing forward with proposed “clean car” rules, despite strong opposition from many Republican legislators. The state Pollution Control Agency’s proposed new […]
February 4, 2021

Asian shares down on caution after modest US gains

TOKYO — Asian shares mostly fell Thursday as caution set in over company earnings reports, recent choppy trading in technology stocks and prospects for more […]
February 4, 2021

The Latest: Mexico sees near-record daily coronavirus deaths

MEXICO CITY — Mexico reported a near-record 1,707 confirmed coronavirus deaths Wednesday, as the country runs out of vaccines. The Health Department reported Mexico’s COVID-19 […]
February 4, 2021

The Latest: UK coronavirus variant has arrived in Kansas

TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas health department says a more contagious variant of the coronavirus first identified in Great Britain has arrived in the state. […]
February 3, 2021

Mayo Clinic is founding member of World Economic Forum's Partnering for Racial Justice in Business coalition

Mayo Clinic is a founding member of the Partnering for Racial Justice in Business initiative, a coalition committed to building an equitable and inclusive workplace […]
February 3, 2021

California court rejects lawsuit challenging ride-share vote

LOS ANGELES — The California Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit Wednesday that sought to overturn a ballot measure that kept app-based ride-hailing and delivery drivers […]