The St. Paul Port Authority received $1.6 million to clean-up soil at two former 3M Corp. properties and fund a low-interest loan program for developers. The City of St. Paul also received $200,000 to clean petroleum compounds in the Trillium Central site.

The Porton Group and its partners filed a lawsuit claiming the Maplewood company failed to deliver on a promise to market a diagnostic test for hospitals. 3M made a multimillion-dollar deal to acquire the test in 2007, but much of the payout was tied to future sales. A year later, 3M had dropped the product, BacLite. The investment fund had sought $40 million in the suit. Both sides have claimed a victory in the case.

Kansas officials say they won't pay 3M the remaining $4 million the state owes on its $25 million contract until the Maplewood-based vendor fixes the state's new $40 million motor vehicle system. Among the issues, the Topeka Capital-Journal reports the new software didn't convert more than 70,000 records correctly and counties continue to report other problems three months after the May launch.

A new investment by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community will fuel local and national expansion of the media company.

Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius told MPR the federal money will help "replicate high-performing charters and share those best practices across all schools." She also says the grant will help the state monitor the strengths and weaknesses of charter schools.

A 3M executive says the $50 million investment is part of a "five-year strategy for China to increase annual sales 15 to 20 percent." The Maplewood-based manufacturer plans to develop new technology and products for the China market -- 3M's biggest overseas market.

3M is planning a new lab facility at its Maplewood headquarters, the company has told employees. The facility, to be home to 700 researchers, could open by 2014, KSTP reports. The company in recent years has shifted more of its research and development work overseas.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is pledging nearly $1 million to the school to develop a new type of hazelnut that can thrive in Minnesota's climate. U researchers believe the hazelnut could become a major money-making crop for Minnesota in the next 10 years.