Business & Economy
Business & Economy

Congress Gave Colleges A $14 Billion Lifeline. Here’s Where It’s Going
Like so many sectors of the economy, higher education is taking a big hit from the pandemic. The U.S. Department of Education has so far distributed more than $10 billion in relief funds to colleges. Continue Reading Congress Gave Colleges A $14 Billion Lifeline. Here’s Where It’s Going

Businesses Are Reopening, But Many Customers May Not Be Ready To Go Back
Governors around the country have begun slowly allowing stores, restaurants and malls to serve customers again. But it won’t count for much if people are afraid to venture out again. Continue Reading Businesses Are Reopening, But Many Customers May Not Be Ready To Go Back

Yellowstone National Park Set To Reopen — With Caveats
There is growing economic pressure to reopen national parks and ease travel restrictions even as many states are still seeing a rise in coronavirus cases. Continue Reading Yellowstone National Park Set To Reopen — With Caveats

CDC Issues Tools To Guide Reopening Of Schools, Businesses, Transit
The flowchart-like documents released by the CDC ask businesses, schools and workplaces to first and foremost consider whether reopening is consistent with state and local stay-at-home orders. Continue Reading CDC Issues Tools To Guide Reopening Of Schools, Businesses, Transit

Pandemic Hits Spending Hard; 79% Dive In Clothing Sales Leads A Record Plunge
Retail sales saw record drops for the second month in a row. Other categories with huge declines included a 59% dive in furniture sales and 29% decreases in department stores and gas stations. Continue Reading Pandemic Hits Spending Hard; 79% Dive In Clothing Sales Leads A Record Plunge

Idaho Soon Moves To Next Reopening Phase; Washington Denies Spokane County’s Phase 2 Request
Idaho Gov. Brad Little says the Gem State will move to the second phase of state’s four-part coronavirus recovery plan on Saturday. That means businesses such as gyms and hair salons will be able to reopen with the appropriate precautions. Little made his announcement Thursday and threw in a surprise as well. Continue Reading Idaho Soon Moves To Next Reopening Phase; Washington Denies Spokane County’s Phase 2 Request

Millions Of Pigs Will Be Euthanized As Pandemic Cripples Meatpacking Plants
As the pandemic wreaks havoc on the meat industry, hog farmers anticipate they’ll soon be forced to euthanize millions of pigs unable to be sent for processing. Continue Reading Millions Of Pigs Will Be Euthanized As Pandemic Cripples Meatpacking Plants

Richard Burr To Step Down As Senate Intelligence Chairman During Probe Of Stock Sell-Off
Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., is stepping aside during the Justice Department’s investigation, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement Thursday. Continue Reading Richard Burr To Step Down As Senate Intelligence Chairman During Probe Of Stock Sell-Off

We’re Eating More At Home, And It’s Costing Us More
The latest inflation data offers a snapshot of Americans’ new pandemic spending habits. Prices are down for most goods and services but up sharply for groceries. Continue Reading We’re Eating More At Home, And It’s Costing Us More

UPDATE: At Least 34 COVID-19 Cases At Ellensburg Food Plant Pauses Kittitas County’s Reopening Plan
Health officials in Kittitas County have found at least one new positive case of COVID-19: a worker at a Twin City Foods processing plant in Ellensburg. The news came Friday after more than three weeks of no new confirmed cases. That plus the county’s low population made Kittitas County eligible to lift social distancing measures earlier than other parts of the state. Continue Reading UPDATE: At Least 34 COVID-19 Cases At Ellensburg Food Plant Pauses Kittitas County’s Reopening Plan

Here’s Who’s Being Hit Hardest By The Economic Downturn
The current estimated unemployment rate far exceeds the 10 percent peak reached in the Great Recession in 2009. It is the most devastating loss of jobs since the Great Depression, when economists estimate the unemployment rate reached 25 percent in 1933. Continue Reading Here’s Who’s Being Hit Hardest By The Economic Downturn

‘Let My People Go’: Opponents Of Coronavirus Measures Again Freely Gather To Protest In Olympia
For the second time in a month, opponents of Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s extended “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order – many of them openly carrying firearms – rallied at the state Capitol Saturday in an event that brought together sign-waving citizens, conservative state legislators, Republican and Libertarian candidates for public office and members of far-right groups. Continue Reading ‘Let My People Go’: Opponents Of Coronavirus Measures Again Freely Gather To Protest In Olympia