The Star Tribune reports 29 claims by highway contractors, who lost work during the shutdown, have already settled for $2 million. That amount is likely to increase significantly with contractors for 65 more projects already or potentially filing claims.

Budget officials say the state lost almost $50 million in revenue and spent about $10 million preparing for and recovering from the shutdown. But those costs were more than offset by roughly 22,000 layoffs. Still, as the Associated Press reports, those figures do not reflect lost productivity or other "indirect" impacts.

New state data for the second quarter of 2012 has revealed that the state government has shed 863 positions -- more than two percent of its workforce -- from the same period a year ago. Among those affected the most are the Department of Transportation, which lost 298 positions, leaving a workforce of 4,686 people; and the Employment and Economic Development Agency, which shed 218 positions to leave 1,570 employees.

Minnesota's Department of Commerce recommends closing Minnesota Power’s five oldest coal-fired power plants by 2020 to save consumers money. The Duluth News Tribune reports environmental groups have also sent letters urging the Public Utilities Commission to close the plants to reduce emissions.