Impact of COVID-19 pandemic a mixed bag for northwest Minnesota border communities
The COVID-19 pandemic has created winners and losers. Nowhere, perhaps, is that more apparent than in Minnesota s U.S.-Canada border communities such as Roseau, Warroad and Lancaster.
Written By:
Ann Bailey and Brad Dokken | 10:00 am, Dec. 31, 2020 ×
Polaris employee Kris Ostby works on the ATV line in early October at the company s production facility in Roseau, Minn. (Photo/ Eric Hylden, Grand Forks Herald)
project, which includes multiple stories and a three-part video documentary.
In the months before Gov. Tim Walz restricted indoor dining in Minnesota s bars and restaurants for the second time, Roxy Kulyk didn t need to worry much about social distancing customers at her diner in Lancaster, Minn.
Dec 30, 2020
Somerset s Congressman Hal Rogers and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are usually on the same page.
That didn t appear to be the case on Tuesday.
On Sunday, Rogers and the House voted for a bipartisan COVID relief and federal funding bill to avoid a government shutdown. The House on Monday night then voted in support of an amendment requested by President Trump that would increase the COVID stimulus checks from $600 to $2,000 per person.
However on Tuesday, McConnell was in no hurry to push the bill through Senate.
McConnell, speaking on the Senate floor, only said the Senate would work on responding to the concerns raised by Trump when he signed the $900 billion pandemic relief and government funding bill Sunday.
Tens of millions in PPP loans given to Buffalo-area colleges, private schools
More than $10 million in PPP loans went to WNY colleges and universities, with millions more going to other educational institutions.
Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto Published: 12:40 PM EST December 30, 2020 Updated: 12:40 PM EST December 30, 2020
BUFFALO, N.Y. More than $10 million in PPP loans went to WNY colleges and universities, with millions more going to other educational institutions.
More than $10 million in Payroll Protection Program loans went to Western New York colleges and universities, with millions more going to other educational institutions.
An analysis of the released PPP loan details showed Medaille College to be the top recipient with a $3.38 million loan. Receiving a loan does not mean that the entire amount was used. Other colleges received loans, as well as groups affiliated with colleges, totaling more than $14 million.
Tuesday, December 29, 2020
For employers, there are two key elements of the stimulus package that you should be aware of:
Unemployment Insurance (UI)
The package provides that individuals receiving unemployment benefits will receive an additional $300 per week in federal UI benefits for up to 11 weeks through March 14, 2021. As you may recall, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (more familiarly known as the CARES Act) provided recipients of state unemployment benefits with a $600 supplement, which expired in July 2020. The package’s $300 federal payment is, likewise, in addition to payments that individuals receive from their state unemployment programs.
In addition, it extends the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) programs. The PUA program provides federally funded benefits to individuals who do not otherwise qualify for state unemployment benefits, such as self-employed work
Area arts venues say federal aid is vital
Felix Ramirez, of Optimum Building Systems Inc., works in the Lebanon Opera House on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020, in Lebanon, N.H. During the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, the performing arts venue is becoming more energy efficient with additional insulation in the walls. ( Valley News - Jennifer Hauck) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.
Abraham Xum, of Optimum Building Systems Inc., works on drywall at the Lebanon Opera House on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020, in Lebanon, N.H. During the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, the performing arts venue is becoming more energy efficient with additional insulation in the walls. ( Valley News - Jennifer Hauck) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.