A penny for your thoughts no more: The convenience store chain Kwik Trip has announced that it plans to phase out pennies, “opting instead to round down cash purchases to the nearest five cents,” according to Bring Me The News. “Card and digital transactions won’t be impacted by the new policy.”
Leaf-peeping traffic jams: As fall colors take over trees in northern Minnesota, throngs of autumn enthusiasts descend at our state parks and natural areas. “The fall leaf-seeking crowds have become so numerous at some state parks that the managers don’t advertise them as an autumn destination anymore. The stampede creates traffic control and park maintenance needs that the park isn’t fully equipped for,” the Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Public utility sold to private investors: As MPR News reports, “Minnesota regulators have unanimously approved the controversial $6.2 billion sale of Allete — parent company of the Duluth-based public utility Minnesota Power — to a pair of private investment firms. Under the deal, Global Infrastructure Partners, a subsidiary of the massive private equity firm BlackRock, which is the largest asset manager in the world, will own 60 percent of the utility. The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board is purchasing a minority stake.”
Climate-related grants cancelled: WCCO News reports that “[I]n the hours after the federal government shut down on Wednesday, the Trump administration announced it would cancel nearly $8 billion in climate projects in more than a dozen states, including Minnesota. The number of grants impacted totals $645 million in Minnesota, according to a statement from Democratic U.S. Sen. Tina Smith’s office.”
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