The United States supports a month-long ban that the Ivory Coast's president-elect has instated-and the U.S. Department of State on Monday applauded Cargill's decision to halt its purchase of Ivory Coast cocoa.

The executive order sets goals for two state agencies, including the timeframe in which it must be determined whether an environmental permit should be issued.

The three men will be sentenced next month by U.S. District Judge Joan Erickson for their roles in defrauding Chrysler Financial Services, LLC.

Mark Eckerline replaces Doug King, who stepped down in October from leading the company's Minneapolis operations.

The Edina office will house about 230 employees, including seven at a new technology center that will showcase Microsoft technology and develop solutions to address customers' technology needs.

According to the Star Tribune, the banking industry and some members of Congress are working to weaken, repeal, or delay a new set of restrictions proposed by the Federal Reserve-restrictions that prompted TCF to file a lawsuit late last year.

New student-owned ventures that incorporate sustainable business practices and environmental stewardship, community service, or biking advocacy are eligible for funding under the new program-which was launched by the U and Bloomington-based Quality Bicycle Products.

Occupations that will grow the most in 2011 are in the IT and health care sectors, according to the company.

Media and marketing firm Haberman launched an initiative that implores businesses to put some of their ad dollars to better use-and provides a forum for people to identify ads that benefit society and ads that they would have rather deleted.

The hotel's new owner, Los Angeles-based private equity firm Platinum Equity, plans to spend $12.5 million on renovations and will rebrand it as a DoubleTree hotel later this year.

The company also announced that its fire-fighting product, TetraKO, will now be distributed in parts of the western United States.

Cargill's recent spinoff of its 64 percent stake in The Mosaic Company will reportedly free up millions of dollars for the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation.