The Federal Reserve on Friday gave the go-ahead for some large banks to boost their stock dividends; U.S. Bancorp is one of several major banks that immediately announced plans to do so.

Andover Healthcare withdrew its compression system products from the market and stopped taking orders for them-prompting 3M to withdraw an injunction request related to a patent lawsuit that it filed in December.

The company, which has not admitted any wrongdoing, has agreed to pay up to $12 million to settle a seven-year-old age-discrimination lawsuit.

The theater wanted to renew its lease in Block E under the same terms of its current arrangement, which has allegedly allowed it to operate rent-free-but a judge ruled that the landlord is not obligated to extend the lease.

A local man will spend a month living at the Mall of America in an attempt to provide a model for passersby of how to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Tom Donnelly has been appointed president, a newly created position, while the company searches for a new chief financial officer.

The manufacturing giant appears poised to beat out out eight other bidders and plans to partner with Sodiaal, which owns the remaining 50 percent stake, to expand and grow the yogurt brand in various markets around the world.

Buyer Dassault Systmes plans to retain all of Eagan-based Intercim's employees, according to a spokesman.

The city said that its high credit ratings allowed it to sell $33.8 million of general obligation bonds to Morgan Stanley & Company and $71.25 million in bonds to Wells Fargo.

Omaha, Nebraska-based Woodmen of the World claims that it lost $47 million because U.S. Bank was negligent in its investments and misinformed its beneficiaries; U.S. Bank denies the allegations.

The program's coordinator was pleased with the 2010 results and emphasized that the initiative is rapidly gaining steam; with a strong start to 2011, he expects this year's results to be more significant.

In celebration of St. Patrick's Day, Lucky the Leprechaun-the well-known cartoon character that appears on boxes of General Mills' Lucky Charms cereal-began the day of Wall Street trading.

The Golden Valley-based restaurant operator experienced a 14 percent sales increase in 2010.

Ecolab, Target, Best Buy, and General Mills are among 110 companies that have leading ethics and compliance programs, according to the Ethisphere Institute.

February's unemployment rate of 6.7 percent matched January's rate-which was the lowest rate since December 2008.