The Calgary, Alberta-based petroleum pipeline company is expanding its operations in the Twin Ports region. A company spokeswoman told the News Tribune it already has more than 550 employees and contractors. She says the new professional positions will include civil, electrical and environmental engineers and safety specialists.

Duluth-based Cirrus plans to bring up to 60 jobs at its Grand Forks, N.D., plant as it partners with a company that makes a new type of small "sport" plane. The Grand Forks Herald report Cirrus is taking over manufacturing for a large portion of the Icon A5 -- a plane that can take off and land on water.

The Minnesota company is expanding with a new facility in Bemidji. The Pioneer reports many of the new jobs will involve customer service work in a call center. The company's president said the firm chose Bemidji because of the number of people in the area looking for work, the communications infrastructure and the variety of training and educational opportunities.

New cargo is arriving in the Twin Ports. Ships are delivering "frack" sand from Russia bound for western oilfields. Hydraulic fracturing, which is used to break up rock and release oil and gas, has stirred up some controversy because of environmental worries.