Business and Economic News

Southwest Airlines says ‘assigned and premium seating’ will replace open seating plan
Southwest President and CEO Bob Jordan says research shows passengers “overwhelmingly prefer” an assigned-seat system. He also pledged to improve the airline’s financial performance.
Minneapolis looks to rent vacant storefronts to local artists, organizations
A new Minneapolis initiative will give local artists and organizations a break on rent to fill empty storefront properties. The Vibrant Storefronts Initiative came out of Mayor Jacob Frey’s Vibrant Downtown Storefronts Workgroup. The City Council approved $250,000 from the 2024 budget and debuted the initiative on July 24.
Some Essentia Health nurse practitioners and other advanced providers vote to unionize
More than 400 nurse practitioners, physician assistants, certified nurse midwives and clinical nurse specialists who work for Duluth-based Essentia Health voted Tuesday to form a union, the first time that so-called “advanced practice providers” have unionized at Essentia.
Rainbow Health staff still looking for answers after abrupt closure
Staff members say they’re still looking for answers to why the clinic which served LGBTQ+ clients closed so suddenly last week other than financial challenges.  In the meantime, Hennepin County is assessing how the closing will impact people needing vital services.