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.

A federal appeals court has ruled that Minnesota businessman Tom Petters received a fair trial. He was convicted and sentenced to 50 years in prison for orchestrating a multi-billion-dollar Ponzi scheme.

Administrators at St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth have decided to stop selling sugary drinks at its main campus and all of its clinics. The director of hospitality told the News Tribune, “What we’re learning from data that’s out there is that sugar-sweetened beverages are a significant contributor to obesity." St. Luke's is reportedly the first hospital in Minnesota to ban the beverages. The hospital will offer diet sodas, flavored water and juices with no added sugar.

Vancouver businessman Tom Gagliardi--whose family owns the Denny's restaurants, Sandman Hotels, and the Kamloops Blazers hockey team--is buying the Stars for $50 million and assuming $100 million in debt. The Stars moved from Minnesota in 1993. The team entered bankruptcy protection two months ago.

A bankruptcy judge has approved a deal that allows Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen to buy 14 KFC restaurants in the Twin Cities, even though a bid from another KFC franchisee involved more money, the Star Tribune reports. Creditor GE Capital said it preferred the "certainty" of the smaller offer from Popeyes.