Minnesota employers added 5,900 jobs in August, and the state unemployment rate increased one-tenth of a percentage point to 3.6%, according to data from the Department of Employment and Economic Development released Thursday.

Minnesota’s growth equated to a 0.2% increase in jobs in August, compared to effectively flat employment for the United States as a whole.

Minnesota also added nearly 1,100 workers to its labor force, which accounts for the rise in the unemployment rate despite the addition of more jobs. The state’s labor force participation rate was 68.1% compared with 62.3% nationally. This measures the percentage of people either working or actively seeking work, and is used to calculate the headline unemployment rate. As more people enter the work force, the unemployment rate rises eve as jobs are added.

The state’s unemployment rate in August compares with 4.3% nationally.

Over the year, Minnesota gained 39,255 jobs, up 1.3%, DEED said in its news release. The private sector gained 37,692 jobs, up 1.4%. Both figures outpaced national statistics: U.S. employment grew 0.8% over the year with the private sector up 0.9%.

“Minnesota’s labor market had a strong month in August, adding thousands of jobs and people looking for work,” said DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek in the release. “We continue to monitor our economy for signs that federal disruptions are affecting Minnesota employers. But in August, we outpaced national trends.”

August represented a turnaround from July, for which the state now reports a net loss of 500 jobs compared with June. Those data were revised upward by 3,900 jobs from the initially reported net loss of 4,400 jobs. Varilek at the time attributed that to “mass federal layoffs and funding interruptions, erratic tariffs and shrinking immigration.”

Government employers shed 2,400 jobs, or 0.5%, in August, mostly at the local level.

Construction gained 1,900 jobs, or 1.3%, in August, the third consecutive month of growth, and Education and Health Services rose 4,300 jobs, or 0.7%. Manufacturing lost 900 jobs in August, down 0.3%.

On Sept. 9, the national Bureau of Labor Statistics announced preliminary revisions for national-level job estimates over the past year through March 2025. Minnesota’s annual data will be updated after national revisions are finalized in February.

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By LISEBERTH GUILLAUME

NEW YORK (AP) — New York’s iconic St. Patrick’s Cathedral is unveiling a massive new mural that honors the city’s immigrants.

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Spanning the sides to the Manhattan landmark’s entryway, the 25-foot-tall artwork of everyday immigrants and notable historical figures comes amid a federal crackdown on immigration that has divided many communities across the country.

The piece was not intended as a political message, according to the Rev. Enrique Salvo, the Roman Catholic church’s rector, but nevertheless sends a message.

“We want anyone that comes in to feel loved and welcomed,” said Salvo, who is himself an immigrant from Nicaragua. “It’s a reminder that it doesn’t matter what’s happening … politically. We have to treat everyone with love and respect.”

The work, titled “What’s So Funny About Peace, Love, and Understanding,” also just brightens up the space for the 6 million visitors that come into the church every year, said Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York who commissioned the piece.

A 25-foot-high mural by artist Adam Cvijanovic, the largest artwork ever commissioned for St. Patrick’s Cathedral, is shown during a media preview, in New York, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

“It was very drab,” Dolan told reporters Thursday of the old entryway ahead of the mural’s official unveiling at Sunday Mass. “So, we thought at least we need to spark it up and get some illumination.”

The mural, by local artist Adam Cvijanovic, in part honors Irish immigrants who contributed to the cathedral’s construction. One section depicts the Apparition at Knock, in which, according to Catholic lore, the saints Mary, Joseph and John the Evangelist appeared to locals in the Irish village in 1879 — the same year, Dolan noted, the cathedral opened its doors. Elsewhere, Irish immigrants are seen arriving on a ship.

Artist Adam Cvijanovic poses for a photo during the media preview his 25-foot-high mural, the largest artwork ever commissioned for St. Patrick’s Cathedral, in New York, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Other scenes show modern-day migrants alongside famous local figures, including journalist and social activist Dorothy Day, Pierre Toussaint, a former slave from Haiti who became a major philanthropist in the city, and former New York Gov. Alfred E. Smith, the first Roman Catholic to receive a major-party nomination for president.

Cvijanovic said it was also important to him to represent Native Americans in the piece, which features St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American saint.

Artist Adam Cvijanovic, left, listens as Cardinal Timothy Dolan speaks during a media preview of the 25-foot-high mural, the largest artwork ever commissioned for St. Patrick’s Cathedral, in New York, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Dolan praised the painter for creating what he described as “an effusive ode to the greatness of this city and those who came here, and those who have turned into their leaders.”

PERHAM, Minn. — An 11-year-old Minnesota boy achieved a remarkable feat this summer by ascending Mount Kilimanjaro alongside his 70-year-old grandfather.

Wyatt Guck of Perham and his grandfather, Stewart Hofland, hiked the mountain in Africa together.

Hofland has been on many adventures through the years, including hiking to the top of the African continent’s highest peak. In December, he told his grandson, should he accept the challenge, he would also be agreeing to a big commitment to physically prepare.

“I thought it would be fun,” Wyatt said, adding that soon after he agreed, the 5 a.m. workouts began, and he built up stamina to hike up to 10 miles in a day while carrying a backpack with about 20 pounds.

Hofland took him to the Perham Area Community Center or CrossFit to use the stair stepper and treadmill. When the weather allowed, the two visited Maplewood State Park to hike its hilly terrain.

The two remained committed and were well prepared when they left for Africa in late June. After 36 hours of traveling, they arrived at Kilimanjaro International Airport.

Wyatt Guck enjoyed the vastly different landscapes while hiking up Mount Kilimanjaro. (Photo courtesy of Stewart Hofland)

Before beginning the ascent, Wyatt and Hofland met about a dozen hikers at the base of the mountain, as well as a dozen more guides or porters. Hofland explained the porters carried the bulk of the weight for the hikers, including their tents, food and other supplies.

When the hike began, Hofland gave his grandson some sage advice. During his past experience on the mountain, he learned the person walking directly behind the pace setter had the longest break.

“After I told him that, he was about one foot behind the leader,” Hofland said.

The crew traversed through five biomes. Including the cultivation, rainforest, heather-moorland, alpine desert and the Arctic summit.

“The rainforest was neat, and not a lot of bugs,” Wyatt said, before adding the “moors” looked like a “desert without sand, just rocks and gray dirt. The last two days it’s just rocks.”

Wyatt Guck hiked through five biomes on his way to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. (Photo courtesy of Stewart Hofland)

Mishaps create memories

There were many memorable moments with the people Wyatt and Hofland met, and things they saw on the trail. However, there are moments that really stick out in most adventures.

For Wyatt, those times often included silly banter and joking with his grandfather, or the time a packet of hot chocolate exploded in his face. In those moments, memories were being built that will likely last his lifetime.

Hofland appreciated those times too, but there was a moment during the ascent when he didn’t know if he could complete the mission.

“Somewhere along the way, I got COVID,” he said. “The night we were ascending my mind and body were telling me I can’t take another step. I’d never experienced that before.”

Because of past experiences climbing various mountains, Hofland knew altitude sickness can impact someone at any given moment. So, he told the lead guide about his dilemma. The guide reached into his backpack and pulled out a packet.

“They called it goo,” he said. “It’s just sugar. But I accused him of giving me illicit drugs because 15 minutes later, I was going up that mountain like it was a hill. It was the dangest thing, and poor Wyatt had to listen to me sing.”

The extra boost came during the final ascent, which was the most challenging day. Hofland explained the final hike lasts several hours and requires waking up at 11 p.m., hiking to the peak, then back down a good portion of the mountain.

Wyatt noted the night hike made him feel like he was in a “snow globe with stars everywhere.”

And at the top, he took in another inspiring view and looked down from the peak to see clouds and a sun that appeared to be poking through them.

As the hike became long and intense, Hofland was able to keep pace with the group, despite not feeling the best. He said his motivation came from his grandson.

“I think I told him there was a rope between his back and my heart,” Hofland recalled.

Wyatt Guck and his grandfather, Stewart Hofland, take in the view as they ascend Mount Kilimanjaro. (Photos courtesy of Stewart Hofland)

On the way down, the hikers were given the option of taking the trail or riding a half-mile scree slope. Wyatt dug his heels into the scree, or loose rocks, and then slid his way to a shortcut and an early break.

“He went down that thing like a squirrel,” Hofland said, adding he also took the shortcut.

After a few more nights camping on the mountain as they descended, they arrived at basecamp where a celebration with singing, dancing and fistbumps awaited them.

Wyatt hopes this is the first of many adventures. He is hoping his next one will take him to the untamed Amazon River for some piranha fishing.

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By ROB GILLIES and MARIA VERZA

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met with President Claudia Sheinbaum Thursday on a two-day visit to Mexico focused on how to diversify trade under U.S. tariff threats and keep the most important free trade agreement in the Western Hemisphere alive in the lead up to negotiations next year.

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The United States-Mexico-Canada trade pact, or USMCA, is up for review in 2026. More than 75% of Canada’s exports and more than 80% of Mexico’s go to the U.S.

The two leaders shook hands and strode side-by-side into the presidential palace in Mexico City, where Canadian Sen. Peter Boehm said the leaders were slated to commiserate about U.S. President Donald Trump.

“What are they hearing from the Americans, what we are hearing. It’s an opportunity to talk about how to handle the U.S. administration going forward,” Boehm said.

Canada-Mexico trade by maritime routes

Sheinbaum said they want to increase bilateral trade in different sectors through the free-trade agreement and to do so through maritime routes – which would avoid those goods having to pass through the United States.

“The idea is to strengthen trade through ports between Canada and Mexico on both oceans,” she said Thursday during her daily morning press conference before Carney’s arrival.

Carney is also looking to improve relations with Mexico during his two-day visit after some of Canada’s provincial premiers talked last year about cutting Mexico out of any new free trade deal with the U.S.

Seeking improved relations

Trump lumped Canada in with Mexico on fentanyl smuggling and promised sweeping tariffs on both countries. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said then that Trump comparing Canada to the Mexico was “the most insulting thing I’ve ever heard from our friends and closet allies, the United States of America.”

Boehm said the comments by the premiers, which he deemed out of their lane, upset the Mexicans.

“The Mexicans are particularly sensitive on these matters and there was concern about that, no doubt,” Boehm said.

Boehm represented the Canadian government when Sheinbaum was sworn in as Mexico’s president last year and is pushing for more engagement with Mexico. He said relations recently improved, noting Mexico appreciated Carney inviting Sheinbaum to the G7 summit in Alberta in June. Carney also sent his foreign minister as well as his finance minister to meet with Sheinbaum in August.

“A lot of people don’t realize that we trade more with Mexico than we do with the entire European Union, all of the Europe, including the U.K.,” Boehm said. “It’s a pretty big deal for us.”

Mexico is Canada’s third-largest trading partner after the U.S. and China. Canada was Mexico’s fifth-largest trading partner in 2024.

But trade with the U.S. remains paramount for both countries and preserving the free trade pact will be critical.

Trump looms over visit

A key exemption for Canada and Mexico shields the vast majority of goods from the punishing duties. Canadian and Mexican companies can claim preferential treatment under the USMCA. But Trump has some sector-specific tariffs, known as 232 tariffs, that are having an impact. There is a 50% tariff on steel and aluminum imports.

“Trump looms over this visit. Mexico and Canada now share a common threat from the U.S,” said Nelson Wiseman, professor emeritus at the University of Toronto.

“While both leaders are interested in expanding their countries trade with each other, I think their priority is to strategize on how to deal with Trump and the coming renegotiation of the USMCA. Carney and Sheinbaum now recognize that tag-teaming Trump may be more effective than competing for separate deals with Trump, although they are still angling for them.”

Different approaches to Trump administration

Mexico and Canada have had different approaches to manage the negotiations with Trump’s administration but both countries want to increase bilateral commerce within the North American treaty. Sheinbaum said the countries are already setting up teams and reviewing the agreement with the hopes of keeping trilateral free trade in place.

Mexico also wants to encourage more Canadian investment in the country but Sheinbaum said the mining companies should respect Mexican laws, namely environmental regulations which the leader said “they haven’t necessarily followed.”

Canadian companies are the largest foreign investors in Mexico’s mining sector, accounting for almost 70% of foreign investment in the sector.

Carney will have a one-on-one meeting with Sheinbaum on Thursday. There will then be a working lunch, which the leaders will be joined by their Cabinet ministers and secretaries. Carney will visit the Canadian embassy on Friday.

Gillies reported from Toronto. Verza reported from Mexico City.