Report: Solera restaurant is sold: Solera, a popular downtown Minneapolis Spanish-style restaurant, has been sold, according to a report in the Star Tribune newspaper. The restaurant was sold by Tim McKeey and Josh Thoma to a group known as the Hennepin Avenue Opportunity Fund that includes Lee Lynch, former CEO of Carmichael Lynch. (Lynch is MinnPost’s board chairman.) Read full story

Minnesota High Tech Association announces Tekne awards: Cargill Inc., 3M Co., American Medical Systems Inc. and Tennant Co. were among more than a dozen companies and organizations, along with three individual leaders, honored with a 2010 Tekne Award from the Minnesota High Tech Association on Wednesday. The industry awards, presented during a ceremony at the Minneapolis Convention Center, included separate categories for small and growing businesses (with annual revenue under $50 million) and established businesses (with annual revenue of $50 million or more). Read full story

Xcel asks for rate increase in Minnesota: An Xcel Energy Inc. subsidiary Wednesday asked the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission to approve a base electric rate increase in Minnesota for 2011 and 2012. Northern States Power Co.-Minnesota, which provides electricity to 1.2 million customers in Minnesota, asked for a 5.6 percent increase in base rates for 2011 and an additional 1.8 percent increase in 2012, for a total of $198 million in hikes. Read full story