International Business News - MN http://www.ibtimes.com All articles are copyrighted by IBTimes.com 400 100 http://www.ibtimes.com/ http://www.ibtimes.com/images/top_logo_ibt2_3.gif The Star Tribune Company is technically in default to its junior debt holders after failing to make an interest payment due Monday. The newspaper reports Tuesday that it declined to make the quarterly interest payment to the holders of $96 million in second-tier debt. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080701/star-tribune-in-default-to-junior-debt-holders.htm Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:18:47 EDT A 2006 lawsuit settlement between former Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch and a credit card company has gotten new scrutiny because of its creative terms. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080630/auditor-eyes-2006-minn-lawsuit-settlement-terms.htm Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:28:21 EDT An audit that set out to compare the academic performance of Minnesota charter schools and their traditional school peers found minimal achievement differences, but the examination also concluded that charters could benefit from tighter financial oversight. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080630/audit-minn-charter-schools-need-more-oversight.htm Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:14:47 EDT A 570-foot smokestack that's part of a power plant in St. Paul will soon be a pile of dust. Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy Inc. plans to implode the smokestack Saturday morning. The utility said the 36-year-old structure is being brought down to make way for cleaner technology. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080627/xcel-energy-to-implode-smokestack-in-minn-city.htm Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:59:34 EDT Sen. Norm Coleman has been living in the basement of a campaign consultant for the past year while in Washington, and missed a couple of rent payments until a magazine brought them to the attention of the senator. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080627/minn-senator-rents-room-from-campaign-consultant.htm Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:56:34 EDT Minnesota's highest court on Thursday said an executive who pleaded guilty to Medicare fraud can try to force his former employer and its parent company to pay his fines and related costs. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080626/minn-court-rules-on-medicare-fraud-fines-dispute.htm Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:02:21 EDT Minnesota's unemployment rate climbed to 5.4 percent in May as a result of losing 12,000 jobs the month before, a state agency reported on Thursday. The unemployment rate was a sharp jump from the 4.8 percent jobless rate in April. In May 2007 it was 4.6 percent. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080619/minnesotas-may-unemployment-climbs-to-5-4-percent.htm Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:46:04 EDT The left lane of northbound Interstate 35 near downtown Duluth has been closed due to an accident that injured four people, and officials say the closure could last six to eight weeks. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080619/one-lane-of-i-35-near-downtown-duluth-closed.htm Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:08:56 EDT The Minnesota Court of Appeals has upheld a state agency's denial of an application by Northshore Mining Co. to relax an air quality standard at its taconite plant in Silver Bay. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080521/minnesota-court-rules-against-northshore-mining.htm Wed, 21 May 2008 12:16:56 EDT Top legislative Democrats and Gov. Tim Pawlenty headed into a fresh round of budget talks Tuesday with renewed optimism for negotiating an end to the session. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080513/talks-resume-for-budget-deal-in-minnesota.htm Tue, 13 May 2008 17:27:15 EDT Despite concerns voiced by Gov. Tim Pawlenty, the Minnesota House endorsed a plan Monday that closely links state property tax assistance to homeowner income, which would mean smaller bills for some and extra costs for others. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080506/minn-house-passes-bill-altering-property-tax-code.htm Tue, 06 May 2008 13:57:51 EDT The Minnesota House has approved a $38 million compensation package for victims of last year's Interstate 35W bridge collapse. The vote was 127-5. The bill now heads to the Senate for a final vote. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080505/minn-bridge-victim-compensation-sails-through-house.htm Mon, 05 May 2008 15:38:24 EDT A plan to raise Minnesota's minimum wage to as much as $7.90 an hour by July 2009 cleared the House on Thursday, but Gov. Tim Pawlenty said he can't live with the bill as it stands. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080502/minn-house-oks-minimum-wage-hike-governor-has-objections.htm Fri, 02 May 2008 13:57:30 EDT The former millionaire chief executive of a Maple Grove-based company faces 10 years in prison after a jury convicted him of tax evasion. Robert Beale, 65, was found guilty in U.S. District Court Wednesday on seven charges of evading taxes, conspiracy and failing to appear in court. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080501/former-maple-grove-ceo-found-guilty-of-tax-evasion.htm Thu, 01 May 2008 13:18:29 EDT It looks like Minnesota lawmakers will get their wish to hear from a Delta Air Lines Inc. executive. Delta President and Chief Financial Officer Ed Bastian will appear before the Minnesota House Commerce and Labor Committee, chairman Rep. Joe Atkins, D-Inver Grove Heights, said Wednesday. A date has not been set. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080430/delta-exec-to-appear-before-minnesota-committee-on-northwest.htm Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:39:10 EDT Minnesota's most powerful legislators united Tuesday behind a major Mall of America expansion based on hundreds of millions of dollars in public subsidies and to be built by thousands of construction workers. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080429/mall-of-america-subsidy-backers-showcase-top-tier-support.htm Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:56:27 EDT A new ad that blames DFL legislators for raising Minnesota's gas tax will start airing Tuesday. The 15-second ad will appear on network stations in the Twin Cities. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080429/house-gop-ads-against-minn-gas-tax-start-today.htm Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:11:55 EDT Minnesota tax collectors want to enlist banks and their electronic records in their search for the assets of tax cheats. The state Revenue Department is pushing a plan to collect an extra $10 millio... http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080418/minn-bill-would-track-down-tax-cheats-through-their-banks.htm Fri, 18 Apr 2008 11:34:45 EDT Democrats who run the Legislature dared Gov. Tim Pawlenty to block a bevy of public-works projects by sending him a bill that far exceeds the amount he is willing to add to state debt rolls. The bil... http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080403/minn-big-building-plan-reaches-guv.htm Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:38:38 EDT Charter flight operator Champion Air says it will stop flying on May 31 because of the high cost of jet fuel. The Minnesota-based carrier currently flies 14 Boeing 727s. Those planes have three engines, making them expensive to run when oil costs more than $100 a barrel. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080331/champion-air-shutting-down-may-31.htm Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:23:39 EDT