Medtronic Lays Off 500 in Minnesota

Not clear how many of the layoffs are at the medtech giant's headquarters and Rice Creek campus in Fridley.

Medtronic, based in Fridley, is cutting about 500 jobs in Minnesota as part of 2,000 layoffs worldwide, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported: Cindy Resman, a Medtronic spokeswoman, wrote in an email that as Medtronic is eliminating 500 jobs in Minnesota, the company also has added 160 positions in the state. "We also currently have job postings online for around 130 positions in (Minnesota)," Resman wrote in an email this morning. Read the full article at twincities.com. Asked by email for information about where in Minnesota the company is eliminating positions, Resman responded: In addition to the 500 reductions in MN, we've also added 160 positions so the net is 340. There are also 130 jobs in MN currently posted on our website today. …

• Photos (1)

Minnesota Gas Prices Soaring; Where to Go in Fridley for Cheapest Fuel

Minimize your costs at the gas pump with this helpful guide to the lowest gas prices in the city.

 Seeing your bill at the gas pump climb to $50, $60 or even $70? The Minnesota statewide average gas price is $4.27—the highest in the lower 48 states, according to a Monday report in the Pioneer Press. Fridley's gas prices roughly mirror the state's predicament, with per-gallon prices at many stations hovering at or just below the average. Wondering where to go for the cheapest gas in Fridley? Here are a handful of local stations with the lowest gas prices on Monday morning, according to gasbuddy.com. Editor's note: Gas prices can change several times throughout the day, therefore there may be discrepencies between what is shown here and what the price is when you stop at a station. Where do you usually go for the lowest gas prices in …

• Photos (1)

Same-Sex Marriage Decision, Jablonski and New Fast Food: Pick of Our Patches

This week's selections include a new Taco Bell, more on the Buddhist monastery, another attempt at school levies and a healthier sport drink for young athletes.

Editor’s Note: Every week we bring you a sampling of stories from Patch sites in the west metro: Eden Prairie, Edina, Fridley, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Lake Minnetonka, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Richfield, Shakopee, Southwest Minneapolis, St. Louis Park and St. Michael. Dibble Introduces MN Same-Sex Marriage at MN Senate: 'A Very Simple Bill' Southwest Minneapolis' state representative introduced his gay-marriage bill at the Minnesota Senate Monday. Kiffmeyer: MN Same-Sex Marriage Bill Betrays Vow that 'Nothing Would Change' Minnesota state Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer, who represents St. Michael-Albertville, recalled promise that 'no' votes on constitutional amendment to ban marriage wouldn't lead to legalization. ZipRealty Lists Westonka …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (9)

Pain at the Pump is Only the Beginning

Reader and blogger Shawn Aune says we should prepare for even more expensive gasoline—and more.

Getting Organized: Choosing the Right Business Structure

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development gives tips for starting a business.

Murder Conviction, Blood Evidence and Hiker's Body Found: West Metro Police, Fire Report

This week's compilation includes a house fire investigation, the 'man in black,' attempted kidnapping, man caught burglarizing church and gas skimmer.

Editor’s Note: Every week we bring you a sampling of stories from Patch sites in the west metro: Eden Prairie, Edina, Fridley, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Lake Minnetonka, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Richfield, Shakopee, Southwest Minneapolis, St. Louis Park and St. Michael. Tim Huber Guilty of Second-Degree Murder, Not Guilty of First-Degree Murder The jury found Huber guilty on two counts of second-degree murder in the 2011 killing of Timothy Larson of Albertville, but not guilty of premeditated murder, the West Central Tribune reported. Mandy Matula’s Blood Found on Jacket in David Roe’s Vehicle Ballistics testing has confirmed that markings on the unfired bullet discovered last weekend indicate it was at some point in the chamber of…

•  1 Comment
• Photos (6)

Search Continues, Child Porn Conviction and 'Civil Marriage': Pick of Our Patches

This week's selections include a new Buddhist monastery, 100-meter dash record, Southdale Center on TV, hospital milestone and a record-breaking betting day.

Editor’s Note: Every week we bring you a sampling of stories from Patch sites in the west metro: Eden Prairie, Edina, Fridley, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Lake Minnetonka, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Richfield, Shakopee, Southwest Minneapolis, St. Louis Park and St. Michael. Police Release Maps in Search for Mandy Matula Eden Prairie police have released maps of the areas where Mandy Matula, the missing Eden Prairie woman, might be located. The areas are in Benton, Carver, Sherburne, Stearns and Wright counties.  3 Years, 3 Months Behind Bars for Ex-City Staffer on Child Porn Conviction Scott Andrew Bradley of Oakdale, who once worked as communications coordinator for the City of Richfield, got the maximum sentence. MN Same-Sex Marriage…

• Photos (5)

Hot Topics

Should You Pay Tax When You Buy Online?

A bill to let states impose sales tax on big online retailers passed the U.S. Senate Monday. Minnesota Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken voted for the Marketplace Fairness Act, as did many Republicans.

Why should online shoppers pay sales tax? Why or why not? Leave a comment below. You could pay the same sales tax for online purchases as you do for shopping at a physical store if a bill that passed the U.S. Senate Monday becomes law. The Marketplace Fairness Act would allow states to collect sales tax from retailers with more than $1 million in annual gross sales to out-of-state customers. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken (both DFL-MN) voted yes, joined by 67 other senators including 21 Republicans. Minnesota Revenue Commissioner Myron Frans praised the Senate action in a press release: "This legislation levels the playing field for all those Main Street businesses in Minnesota and across the country. It also helps large retailers like…

•  17 Comments
• Photos (1)

Nick

1:57 pm on Monday, May 20, 2013

Actually, a great number of online companies are small businesses here in America. Amazon Marketplace is mostly small businesses, and there is Ebay, as well as many, many small businesses that sell through their own websites. It is much easier for an entrepreneur to start an online business as opposed to a brick-and-mortar business because of the very low overhead and the dropshipping that they …   more ›

Spring Cleaning for Your 401(k)

"This spring is a great time to finally break out of the every-few-years up-and-down stock market company retirement plan account value cycle," says blogger Ric Lager