Mono recently issued a request for proposals to find a client for which it will develop a campaign-and give winnings from a recent award.

The company, which manufactures and repairs tank trailers, said that a boost in demand from the oil industry has helped it hire more than 600 employees in the past nine months-and it has plans to add another 70 to 80 workers in the next couple of months.

The company said that the additions are in response to organic growth that it experienced in 2010 and has continued to see in 2011.

The "Surly bill," which would create a taproom license that would allow Minnesota breweries to sell pints of their beer on-site, passed in both the Senate and the House this week and is now poised to become state law.

The company, which emerged from bankruptcy two years ago, is exploring "strategic alternatives," including a possible sale.

Renee Marie Brown of Golden Valley is accused of defrauding investors and using their funds to buy a condominium and pay off credit cards.

The offering follows Cargill's plan to exchange a portion of its Mosaic stock for Cargill debt held by third parties.

Founder and CEO Bob Walker, along with other leaders of Bixby Energy Systems, have resigned-a move that settled two civil lawsuits; however, the company reportedly is still subject to investigation from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and a federal criminal probe.

Ray Elliott, who has led the medical device giant since 2009, will serve on a CEO search committee that will select his successor.

The new company will be a 50-50 joint venture between Cargill and Teys Bros Pty., Ltd.-an Australian beef-processing company.

The company's C4 Systems unit is closing its Bloomington facility, resulting in more than 100 employees being laid off. The closure is due to a terminated U.S. Army contract.

Construction began Wednesday on the final planned facility at the University of Minnesota's Biomedical Discovery District-a state-of-the-art cancer and cardiovascular research building.

The clinic is building a store through which it will gather input from people regarding what it should offer at its new permanent facility at the mega mall.

In two separate cases, the state's Commerce Department issued a $100,000 fine to debt collection agency First Financial Services and its owner, as well as a $70,000 fine to Marlon Pratt, a former loan officer.

Approximately 58 percent of the outstanding shares held by non-Cargill shareholders were cast in support of the deal.

The City of Minneapolis claims that a bill that would merge closed Minneapolis police and fire fighter pension funds with a statewide fund would protect taxpayers from rising property taxes. But it appears some details of the proposed consolidation still need to be worked out.