Those numbers have Google pushing to connect those businesses to potential customer by offering up free web workshops. So far, more than 900 businesses attended the first workshop held in St. Paul this month.

The search giant is joining with retailers such as Best Buy and Macy's to create Web-based circulars, similar to what appears in your Sunday paper. The service will display custom ads based on your location and search topics. Best Buy hopes the new ads will get Web surfers into their stores. Researchers says the new ads will likely give Google an even greater share of the online ad market.

A study by The Pew Center on the States says Minnesota's election site is a model for the nation. The study rated websites based on content, look-up tools and usability.

The Economic Policy Institute says China’s currency manipulation and other policies have led to the growing trade deficit that has cost so many jobs.

Brandon Sawalich, a vice president at Starkey Hearing Technologies who ran unsuccessfully for the post in 2009, says he has a business background that should please party delegates. But MPR raises the question of whether grass-roots activists committed to some key conservative values will rally around him.

Nearly 3,000 high-tech jobs were lost last year in the state. However, Minnesota still ranks 17th in the nation for the number of technology-based jobs.

Factory managers in a new survey say they’ve seen 26 straight months of growth, but that’s flagging now. One economics expert tells MPR the report suggests pink slips could be coming for some factory workers.