ST. PAUL, MN-Contracts for many of the building trades unions expired at the end of last week. Larger projects are not affected, but work on the $41-million bus garage and $19-million parking ramp Downtown are halted.

ST. PAUL, MN-By buying locally-based Video Update's senior secured debt for 8 cents on the dollar, Alabama-based Movie Gallery hopes to add most of Video Update's 350 stores to its own chain.

MINNEAPOLIS-The highly competitive textiles and home furnishing industry forces HomePlace of America to shutter the rest of its stores, including five in the Twin Cities: Woodbury, Blaine, Eagan, Minnetonka and Maple Grove.

ST. PAUL, MN-A bill would have the state lend the Minnesota Twins $100 million to help build a $300-million, open-air ballpark. It was considered dead before the team started the season 21-8.

MINNEAPOLIS-Net Perceptions and Fingerhut.com are among the many companies that have put space back on the market. But high-tech firms aren't the only ones cutting back on space, brokers say.

PLYMOUTH, MN-The 96,000-sf retail center will be anchored by a Lunds Food Store when it opens next month. The North American Properties Marquette Bank development also includes four restaurants and a bank.

MINNEAPOLIS-Alan Hans, Cory Hoeppner and Steve Johnson all come from Evensen Dodge Inc. in Minneapolis. They will provide investment banking and financial advisory services to state and local housing finance agencies.

PLYMOUTH, MN-CB Richard Ellis helps close the sale of a 351,182-sf facility to Lend Lease Real Estate Investments. Prudential Insurance Co. of America stays at the property at 3033 Campus Dr. as lessor.