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Banks report tougher credit standards in wake of failures

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Federal Reserve report Monday showed that banks raised their lending standards for business and consumer loans in the aftermath of three large bank failures and expect to lift them more this year, a trend that could slow the economy in coming months and increases the risk of a recession. The report, known as the senior loan officers survey, asked banks if they have tightened their lending standards by taking steps such as demanding higher credit scores, charging higher interest rates, or requiring more collateral, among other steps, that altogether would make it ...

MN Senate passes paid family and medical leave plan

ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Senate approved a plan Monday to entitle workers across the state to paid leave when they’re sick or caring for relatives who are ill. While Senate Democrats hold only a one-seat majority, paid family and medical leave has been a priority of the party for several years, and the final 34-33 vote followed party lines. The proposal passed the House last week on a 68-64 vote, and Democratic Gov. Tim Walz is expected to sign the final version that emerges from a House-Senate conference committee. The legislation would create an insurance-like system to allow ...

Warming-stoked tides eating huge holes in Greenland glacier

Scientists now fear increasingly warmer water in daily tides are doing much more damage to one of Greenland’s glaciers than they thought. A study published Monday examined the Petermann glacier in far northwestern Greenland. Warmer water from climate change is eating a large hole deep inside the glacier and accelerating ice loss at its key connection point with the ocean floor. The hole is bigger than the Washington Monument. Researchers say if this is happening on the rest of the world’s ice sheets, global ice loss and sea level rise could be twice as fast as previously thought. ...

Public Notices, May 6, 2023

PUBLISH: (May 6, 2023) NOTICE OF ANNUAL PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING CITY OF NEW ULM, MINNESOTA STORM WATER POLLUTION PREVENTION PROGRAM MS4 (MUNICIPAL SEPARATE STORM SEWER SYSTEM) NOTICE is hereby given that the Annual Public Information Meeting on the City’s Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program will be held on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 3:30 P.M. at City Hall, 100 North Broadway, New Ulm, MN. The purpose of the meeting is to present and discuss the City’s Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP). Information will be presented regarding the activities the City has ...

States add laws on pronouns, sports for transgender students

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb this week signed into a law a requirement that schools notify a parent when their student asks to be called a different name or uses pronouns that correspond with their gender, not their sex. It’s the latest law to emerge from a focus in Republican-controlled states on restricting transgender students in the name of parental rights or protecting other students. LTBTQ+ advocates say the measures are harmful to students, especially those who are trans. Some things to know: Pronouns As the idea that people should be referred to by the pronouns they ...

Texas investigates hospital over care for transgender minors

AUSTIN, Texas — A Texas hospital’s care for transgender minors is being investigated by state Attorney General Ken Paxton, who said Friday he’s seeking evidence of alleged “potentially illegal activity” but did not elaborate. Texas law does not currently ban gender-affirming care for minors, but Paxton has sought to designate it as child abuse. The hospital investigation in Austin is the latest attempt by Paxton and Gov. Greg Abbott, both Republicans, to pursue other legal avenues for restrictions. The move came against the backdrop of state Republican lawmakers trying to ...