Minnesota City Looks to AI for Economic Revival

The small city of Becker, located in central Minnesota, was initially set to host Amazon's massive data center. However, plans were halted due to state regulatory disputes. Now, the city is hopeful that a new data center driven by AI advancements will fill the economic void as Xcel's coal plant is set to retire soon.

Recently, laid-off janitors have accused Hennepin County of age discrimination. Many of the affected workers are from immigrant backgrounds and were dismissed when the county switched to a new janitorial services contractor. SEIU Local 26 political director Samantha Diaz noted the unusual number of employees not retained.

Hyperlocal weather data is vital for farmers, and soon, Marshall and Pennington counties in northwestern Minnesota will have access to real-time environmental data, including air temperature, rainfall, dew point, and soil moisture.

The University of Minnesota Crookston is anticipating its highest enrollment year ever. New programs and national rankings are cited as potential reasons for the increase in student numbers, according to Lynsey Huseth, strategic marketing and communications director.

The personal finance site WalletHub previously ranked Minnesota among the top ten happiest states, but this year it has dropped to 11th place.