Target loses consumer buzz in rocky August: Target Corp.’s reputation with consumers took a hit in August over controversial political spending, according to a new brand survey. Braqndweek magazine said in its weekly BrandIndex Report that the Minneapolis-based retailer's consumer perception — or buzz — "plummeted" in August. The consumer backlash came after Target made its infamous $150,000 donation to MNForward, a group supporting Republican Tom Emmer for Minnesota governor. Read full story

Mayo Clinic gets $16 million for genetics research: The Mayo Clinic has received $11 million for the continued study of how genetics determine an individual's response to medication. The National Institutes of Health funded the federal research grant to expand its network for pharmacogenomics research. Mayo also received another $5.4 million for other genetic research. Read full story

Minnesota Vikings in two of top-selling NFL openers on StubHub: The Minnesota Vikings are in two of the NFL's top-selling home openers of the 2010 season. That's according to a ranking by ticket reselling website StubHub, which ranked demand for the games based on gross ticket sales as of Friday. The team's first game of the season, Thursday against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome, ranked fourth. The average ticket sold on StubHub for $375, the highest price among the top 10 games. Read full story