July 2009 - Rochester Business News & Events

Denny Hecker denies wrongdoing after FBI raid

ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. -- Former Twin Cities auto magnate Denny Hecker is denying wrongdoing after the FBI searched the headquarters of his bankrupt empire looking for evidence of fraud

Published Fri, Jul 31 2009 8:45 PM by Postbulletin.com Local Business

Profit reports push Dow to best July in 20 years

NEW YORK -- New hope for the economy just gave the stock market its best July in 20 years. Investors placed big bets over the last month that the profit machine at U.S. companies will continue to rev highe

Published Fri, Jul 31 2009 8:00 PM by Postbulletin.com Local Business

House approves $2 billion more for 'cash for clunkers'

WASHINGTON -- The House voted overwhelmingly Friday to rush $2 billion into the popular but financially strapped "cash for clunkers" car purchase program, heeding calls from consumers eager to keep taking advantage of

Published Fri, Jul 31 2009 2:20 PM by Postbulletin.com Local Business

Disability benefit claims surging

WASHINGTON -- Social Security officials say they expect an even larger spike in new disability claims than they had expected, as aging, injured baby boomers tumble out of the work force and need income. Officials esti

Published Fri, Jul 31 2009 10:05 AM by Postbulletin.com Local Business

Recession eases: GDP dip smaller than expected

WASHINGTON -- The economy sank at a pace of just 1 percent in the second quarter of the year, a new government report shows. It was a better-than-expected showing.

Published Fri, Jul 31 2009 9:55 AM by Postbulletin.com Local Business

BBB: Don't fall victim to check scammers

Experts estimate that billions of dollars have been lost as the result of fake check scams. Scams involving fake checks come in many different forms and can be very hard to identify as printing technology improves.

Published Fri, Jul 31 2009 9:55 AM by Postbulletin.com Local Business

Minn. colleges urged to sell American apparel

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- That University of Minnesota sweatshirt on the sales rack at the campus bookstore might just be made in Minnesota, or at least the United States. After Friday, public colleges and universities will have to make ext

Published Fri, Jul 31 2009 9:45 AM by Postbulletin.com Local Business

FBI targets fallen auto dealer Denny Hecker

ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. -- FBI agents searched the headquarters of former Twin Cities auto magnate Denny Hecker on Thursday

Published Thu, Jul 30 2009 9:15 PM by Postbulletin.com Local Business

Yahoo comes full circle with retreat from search

SAN FRANCISCO -- Yahoo Inc. invested billions of dollars in its Internet search engine during the past six years before realizing it made more sense to entrust the job to an outsider

Published Thu, Jul 30 2009 12:15 PM by Postbulletin.com Local Business

Buyout reflects interest

Interest in biotech firms -- and possibly Mayo Clinic -- is bouncing up as drug companies are looking to find new hits to replace money-makers rolling toward compet

Published Thu, Jul 30 2009 9:30 AM by Postbulletin.com Local Business

Heard on the Street: New businesses open doors at old sites

The king of the kids' pizza and games jungle is long gone. But instead of an empty building on Superior Drive, there is a Catch. Catch 22.

Published Thu, Jul 30 2009 6:50 AM by Postbulletin.com Local Business

IBM buys SPSS in $1.2 billion deal

IBM Corp. is bulking up its most profitable division with a $1.2 billion acquisition of business software provider SPSS Inc., which has an office in Rochester with about 100 employees.

Published Wed, Jul 29 2009 9:40 AM by Postbulletin.com Local Business

Businesses look at ways to improve employee health

If you want to live, don't take a seat. "The worst thing you can do is to say 'take a seat' when they walk in your office," Andy Wood told a group of about 45 people Tuesday at the Rochester Athletic Club.

Published Wed, Jul 29 2009 9:00 AM by Postbulletin.com Local Business

Williams to lead RPU board

Jerry Williams was voted in as the new Rochester Public Utilities Board president at Tuesday's meeting. Williams, a former Rochester School Superintendent, has served on the board since April 2008. He replaces outgoing pr

Published Wed, Jul 29 2009 8:50 AM by Postbulletin.com Local Business

SCORE: Equipment leasing equals lasting value

Ready to invest in some new equipment for your small business, but concerned about the added burden of a loan? Consider leasing. Compare the costs of owning plus the potential cost of a loan, as compared to a lease arrangement.

Published Wed, Jul 29 2009 7:15 AM by Postbulletin.com Local Business