The proportion of African-Americans with moderate incomes shrank by 25 percent in just four years during the recession. And many are finding it hard to bounce back: the unemployment rate for black Minnesotans is more than triple that of white residents.

Western exporters, faced with anemic growth in Europe and North America, are banking on China's rapidly growing middle class. But Western companies have misjudged Chinese shoppers' priorities and clumsily tried to export U.S.-style stores. Best Buy is unlocking the mysteries of these consumers -- through trial and error, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak was the only Minnesotan to gain a prime-time spot at the podium during the Democratic National Convention. He used it to extoll the accomplishments of President Obama and exhort Americans to re-elect him.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development says manufactured, agricultural and mining products were at record highs -- bringing in more than $5 billion. Canada, China and Japan are the state's largest export markets.

Health officials have confirmed three cases of fungal meningitis in Minnesota, while hundreds of other patients who were injected with a recalled steroid are being tested. An executive with one of the clinics that dispensed the steroid says officials are reassuring patients while also arranging tests for those who need them. Nationwide, the death toll in the fungal meningitis outbreak has reached 11, with the number of cases over 100.

Despite slowing economies in Asia and Europe, Minnesota exports broke a record in the second quarter, reaching $5.4 billion. The previous record was $5.3 billion in the same quarter last year. Minnesota increased exports to Canada, the state's largest foreign buyer, by 2.8 percent to $1.6 billion.