With the Republican National Convention set to take over much of downtown St. Paul Sept. 1-4, and protesters likely to add to the congestion, should those who work in the area just take a few days of vacation and avoid the whole shebang? Not necessarily so, says an article in Finance and Commerce. Planners in St. Paul — and Minneapolis, site of many of the parties and convention hotels — say there are ways to ease the commute during those busy days. But I do know some bosses are encouraging employees to work from home.

Northcott Hospitality International of Chanhassen, parent company of the AmericInn hotel chain, says it is looking to sell its package of 216 AmericInn hotels, along with 21 Perkins restaurants, as part of an estate-planning strategy. Greene Holcomb & Fischer, a Minneapolis-based investment banking firm, will evaluate the company and market it to potential buyers.

Good news on the job safety front: Finance and Commerce reports that fewer people died on the job in Minnesota last year; but there were still 78. And 11 were from falls.

UnitedHealthcare, owned by UnitedHealth Group of Minnetonka — has a new health information program that's in Spanish.  It's rolling out in Texas in the San Antonio, Austin and Houston areas.

Hormel Foods of Austin reports itsthird-quarter performance this morning, noting higher sales but lower profits. It shouldn't be a surprise that increased costs of feed and fuel took a toll.

Patterson Companies of Mendota Heights reports first-quarter sales of nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars — that's billion with a b — which is a hefty amount for a dental and veterninary supply company that isn't exactly a household name.