The unemployment rate in Minnesota last month remained at a record low as the state added 19,100 jobs, according to a state jobs report released on Thursday, Aug. 18.

New job numbers from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development show seasonally-adjusted unemployment held at 1.8% in July, holding at an all-time low reached in June. The state continues to outperform the national unemployment rate. In July, the national unemployment rate fell one-tenth of a percent to 3.5% — still nearly twice that of Minnesota’s.

July job growth significantly outpaced June, when the state economy saw 1,000 new jobs. At 0.7%, Minnesota’s job growth rate is more than double that of the national rate of 0.3%.

“Despite a very tight labor market, employers are hiring at a fast rate, and continue to offer ample opportunities for Minnesotans seeking good-paying jobs,” DEED Commissioner Steve Grove said in a statement about the new jobs numbers.

Leisure and hospitality was the leading growth sector in July, adding 6,700 jobs. Government added 4,500, professional and business services added 3,900 and construction added 1,100. Since the beginning of the year, leisure and hospitality has had the most growth of any sector, adding more than 23,000 jobs, state numbers show.

While Minnesota unemployment held steady at a record low last month, the size of the labor force declined for the first time this year. With 4,000 people no longer participating in the job market, the state’s labor force participation rate shrank by one-tenth of a percent to 68.4%. For much of 2022, the workforce participation rate had been on the rise but slowing, according to DEED. The U.S. labor force participation rate is 62.6%.

Minnesota has not completely recovered its workforce after the pandemic recession. In March 2020 Minnesota’s workforce participation was 70.2%. That dropped significantly as many workplaces shuttered to slow the spread of COVID-19, and has not returned to the same level since.

A federal judge is ordering Starbucks to reinstate seven employees in Memphis who were fired earlier this year after leading an effort to unionize their store.

In a decision issued Thursday, U.S. District Judge Sheryl Lipman agreed with the National Labor Relations Board, which had asked the court to intervene in May.

Lipman’s decision requires Starbucks to offer to reinstate the employees within five days. Starbucks will also be required to post the court order in the Memphis store.

The case has been among the most closely watched in the unionization effort at Starbucks, which began late last year. Since then, more than 220 U.S. Starbucks stores — including the Memphis store — have voted to unionize. Starbucks opposes the unionization effort.

Starbucks fired the seven employees in early February, citing safety. The Seattle coffee giant said the employees violated company policy by reopening a store after closing time and inviting non-employees — including a television crew — to come inside and move throughout the store.

The NLRB had begun administrative proceedings against Starbucks, saying the company was unlawfully interfering in workers’ right to organize. But those proceedings can take so long that the NLRB asked the federal court for an immediate injunction requiring Starbucks to reinstate the workers.

“Today’s federal court decision ordering Starbucks to reinstate the seven unlawfully fired Starbucks workers in Memphis is a crucial step in ensuring that these workers, and all Starbucks workers, can freely exercise their right to join together to improve their working conditions and form a union,” the labor board’s General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo said in a statement. “Starbucks, and other employers, should take note that the NLRB will continue to vigorously protect workers’ right to organize without interference from their employer.”

A message seeking comment from Starbucks was left by The Associated Press.

Félix Bautista doesn’t really understand the reference. He’s never seen “The Wire” on HBO. But the Orioles closer still wore the T-shirt with his own face photoshopped where the face of Omar Little should be.

The Orioles love their T-shirts, and the latest addition was seen Thursday in the clubhouse with most of Bautista’s teammates wearing a shirt that reads “Félix Comin’,” referencing the phrase used in the show to signal that Little, the beloved stickup man played by the late Michael K. Williams, was on his way to the neighborhood.

The connection took off earlier this month when the Orioles began to play the iconic whistling of “The Farmer in the Dell” from Little on “The Wire” before Bautista entered for a save situation. The stadium lights flashed at Camden Yards, too.

“It feels great,” Bautista said through team interpreter Brandon Quinones. “It’s super enjoyable, super exciting. When I come in, there’s a lot of adrenaline.”

“The Wire” is set in Baltimore and was created by former Baltimore Sun reporter David Simon, and the whistling, a distinctly Baltimore tune, has been used before by the Ravens. Last year, less than two weeks after Williams died of an accidental drug overdose at 54, the Ravens played the whistling before kickoff against the Kansas City Chiefs on “Sunday Night Football” in September.

It’s not the first unique T-shirt to appear in the Orioles’ clubhouse. Earlier this month, they unveiled a “Robbie’s Playlist” shirt that featured all of catcher Robinson Chirinos’ favorite sayings. Several of the starting pitchers, including Tyler Wells, wore “Best dad ever” shirts with Jordan Lyles’ face on it for Father’s Day.

“It’s a light environment,” right-hander Joey Krehbiel said. “There’s no eggshells to be walking on. There’s guys with a lot of big league time. There’s guys that have five days of service time and everyone gets treated the same and we’re a winning environment, and we’re trying to keep that on the shirts, just any little thing like that helps.”

“Félix Comin’” is the latest addition, and fans can purchase it from BreakingT.

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