Minnesota birth rates are at their lowest level since 2002. Officials say the economic recession has convinced more couples to delay having children.

Six companies based in the Twin Cities and one in Duluth made Inc. magazine's 2012 list of America's 500 Fastest-Growing Private Companies, the Business Journal writes. A company in Plymouth was the highest ranking Minnesota company -- cracking the top 75. Last year, eight Minnesota firms were featured on the list.

Instead of rushing to the nearest hospital, James Robbins rushed to the nearest computer to watch the birth of his baby boy thousands of miles away, WCCO reports. Robbins is a former marine who is currently on assignment for the Department of Defense in Kuwait. “It’s amazing what technology can do that you can bring somebody from Kuwait all the way to Woodbury, Minn., to be present for a delivery," he said.

Rochester-based Envirolastech has developed a new kind of plastic that company founders say can replace lumber in construction. The product outperforms wood in strength tests, won't split, rot or fade, and it gets stronger in cold weather, not more brittle like most plastics, company founders say. They plan to launch manufacturing operations next year, Finance and Commerce reports.

There are only 35 female CEOs leading Fortune 1000 companies, however, experts expect that number to surge in the coming years. The Wall Street Journal explored the topic over the weekend and suggested that two Minnesota women are well on their way to the corner office at some of the nation's largest companies: Juliana Chugg, of General Mills and Gail Boudreaux, of United Health Group.

With another school year beginning for many Tuesday, the School Nurse Organization of Minnesota has issued a reminder to parents to add meningitis vaccinations to their student's back-to-school check list. The group says about 40 percent of Minnesota students haven't been properly vaccinated, if vaccinated at all.