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State Capitol
100 Years After Being Excluded From The Minnesota State Capitol, Women Rebuilt It
From the Star Tribune, Briana Bierschbach, June 22, 2017
"When the Minnesota State Capitol opened to the public and legislators on Jan. 2, 1905, it was a modern wonder, with a dazzling white marble exterior and the latest technology: interior lamps that ran on electricity.
But there was something notably missing from the project, and from the group of legislators and construction workers gathered in St. Paul to celebrate the occasion: women.
Women didn't work on the construction crews that built the Capitol, and no women were part of architect Cass Gilbert's original design team. And since there were also no women serving in the state Legislature, the original design of the Capitol didn't even include women's restrooms.
Fast forward more than 100 years, as crews finish up work on a massive $310 million project to restore the Capitol for the next 100 years: restoring murals and plaster work in every corner of the building; installing and carving massive slabs of marble on the exterior; rewiring the building to make it a modern workspace. Everyone agrees: It wouldn't have happened without women."
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Minneapolis wage
6 Hour Public Hearing On Minneapolis' $15 Minimum Wage: It Probably Won't Affect How The Council Votes
From Minnpost, Peter Callaghan, June 23, 2017
"Thursday's long-awaited public hearing on a city only minimum wage in Minneapolis was long and often emotional, taking nearly six hours with testimony from more than 150 people. Council vice president Elizabeth Glidden said it was the longest public hearing in the 12 years she's been on the council.
But it might not have changed many minds among council members. Long before it was convened, a large majority had publicly announced their position on the big issues surrounding the policy, which would eventually raise the city's minimum wage to $15 an hour. In fact, the ordinance that was the subject of the hearing has 10 sponsors among the 13 council members.
So those who support the wage ordinance as drafted knew even before the meeting that they had prevailed. Nearly three years after launching a campaign - and taking full advantage of the fact that city officer-holders in the midst of reelection campaigns - $15 wage advocates could have considered the meeting as something of a victory lap.
Those activists, however, said they didn't want to take success for granted. And there remain a few issues on the margins to be decided. Council members may still try to extend the phase-in period for the wage, especially for smaller employers. Or they may try to speed it up, especially for the city's large employers. A proposal for a 90-day training wage also remains in question.
But the substance of the ordinance has been decided for weeks, if not months. Even before 16 listening sessions were conducted throughout the spring - and well before city staff drafted their report on the issue - Mayor Betsy Hodges and a majority of the council said they wanted a $15 minimum wage. The only contentious issue left to decide was whether restaurants would be allowed to count tips to calculate what they pay tipped workers, which a majority of council opposes.
Throughout the hearing, support for the higher wage was broadly consistent. That is itself significant; as recently as a year ago, there were not enough council votes for such a thing.
The council is set to consider any amendments to the ordinance next Wednesday at 10 a.m. If the committee of the whole approve it that day, the measure will move to the full council for approval on Friday June 30."
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Retail changes
Minnesota Liquor Stores Gear up For The Start Of Sunday Sales
From the Star Tribune, Erin Golden, June 24, 2017
"Thomas Liquors has sold wine, beer and spirits on St. Paul's Grand Avenue for more than six decades, but next week brings a historic first when the family business somewhat reluctantly opens its doors to customers on Sunday.
On July 2, Minnesota will drop its more than century-old prohibition on Sunday liquor sales, and the small, brick-walled shop in the Macalester-Groveland neighborhood won't be alone in opening for a seventh day. Though some stores plan to keep the old tradition and remain closed, hundreds of corporate, independent and municipal liquor retailers across the state are stocking up, rescheduling employees - and hoping shoppers make it all worthwhile.
"People have said: 'Well, you don't have to be open," said Mike Thomas, the store's third-generation owner, who opposed the change when it was under consideration at the State Capitol. "Well, you really do, if you're any kind of businessman at all."
Many liquor retailers share Thomas' mixed feelings about Sunday hours. But after the Legislature approved the change and Gov. Mark Dayton signed it in March, Thomas said it was clear his business had to adapt to changing times.
Under the new law, liquor retailers can open their doors from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays - still a shorter window than the rest of the week. Nothing is forcing store owners to open on Sundays, and individual cities have the option of voting to limit those hours even further or maintain the prohibition on Sunday sales."
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Holiday trends
More Americans Plan Cookouts, Fireworks And Road Trips For Independence Day
From the National Retail Federation, June 22, 2017
"Americans are expected to spend $7.1 billion on food for cookouts and picnics as they celebrate the Fourth of July this year, up from $6.8 billion in 2016, according to the annual survey released today by the National Retail Federation and conducted by Prosper Insight & Analytics.
According to the survey, 219 million Americans plan to celebrate the holiday, or 88 percent of those surveyed. A total of 162 million - 66 percent of those surveyed - plan to take part in a cookout or picnic, spending an average $73.42 per person, up from last year's $71.34. The numbers cover only food items, not other holiday-related spending.
"With warmer than average weather so far this summer, Americans should be in the mood to head outside to celebrate, whether it's watching fireworks or firing up the BBQ," NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. "Retailers will be well-stocked with everything from flags to burgers to help Americans prepare for their holiday activities."
The survey found that 65 percent of consumers already own a U.S. flag, 53 percent patriotic-themed apparel such as T-shirts, bathing suits or shoes, and 40 percent own patriotic decorations. Nonetheless, 28 percent plan on purchasing more patriotic items.
When it comes to other activities to celebrate Independence Day, 44 percent of Americans will attend a firework show or community celebration and 14 percent will watch a parade.
The holiday weekend is also a popular time for travel, with 32.9 million Americans saying they will head out of town (13 percent of those celebrating), up from 31.1 million from last year. Only 18 percent say the price of gasoline will affect their plans, down from 21 percent last year and a record low since the survey began in 2004. The number who said high gas prices would discourage them from spending for Independence Day peaked at 59 percent in 2008.
"With more Americans planning to travel this Independence Day, gas prices are far less of a factor than they were in previous years," Prosper Insights Consumer Insights Director Pam Goodfellow said. "Many consumers will take advantage of low gas prices by taking long road trips with their family or heading to the beach for a long weekend."
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Minnesota Retailers Associaiton
400 Robert Street North, suite 1540
St. Paul, MN 55101
Tel. (651) 227-6631 - mnretail.org - mnra@mnretail.org
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