Breaking News

Monday Business

As AI language skills grow, so do scientists’ concerns

The tech industry's latest artificial intelligence constructs can be pretty convincing if you ask them what it feels like to be a sentient computer, or maybe just a dinosaur or squirrel. But they're not so good — and sometimes dangerously bad — at handling other seemingly straightforward tasks. Take, for instance, GPT-3, a Microsoft-controlled system that can generate paragraphs of human-like text based on what it's learned from a vast database of digital books and online writings. It's considered one of the most advanced of a new generation of AI algorithms that can converse, ...

Martin County startup focuses on dermatology treatment

FAIRMONT– New business, Southern Minnesota Skin Solutions, will open in Fairmont on Monday. The business, owned and operated by McKenzie Terfehr, is located at 1235 Highway 15 S. Terfehr grew up locally in Welcome and now lives south of Fairmont with her family. When asked if this was ...

Feds approves Minnesota’s tornado, flooding assistance request

WASHINGTON — Federal disaster assistance is coming to the state of Minnesota to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by the severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding in May. Public Assistance federal funding is available to the state, tribal and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance under Public Assistance, in Aitkin, Big Stone, Cass, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Douglas, Grant, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, ...

Grants available for reducing refrigerant emissions

Many of the chemicals that power refrigeration systems across Minnesota pose problems for the environment. These refrigerants can either contribute to climate change or damage the ozone layer when they leak from systems. Replacing systems that leak refrigerant or that use refrigerants with a high global warming potential can reduce harm to the environment and often lower operating costs. MPCA is offering approximately $110,000 for projects that will replace existing refrigeration equipment with new equipment that uses a refrigerant with at least 50% less GWP. Eligible applicants ...

Threatened wild bees get help from Washington researchers

OKANOGAN-WENATCHEE NATIONAL FOREST, Wash. (AP) — Few creatures exist closer to the front lines of climate change than wild, native bees. And few are more important, or as irreplaceable. They've always been subjected to a long list of existential threats: habitat loss through agriculture, construction and urban development; pesticides, insecticides and other harmful chemicals; and competition from domesticated honeybees. Add to that list the growing impacts of a warming planet — wildfires, heat waves and drought — all of which are growing in frequency and intensity — and the ...

Portugal battles wildfires amid drought, heat; 29 injured

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — More than 3,000 firefighters and 30 aircraft battled wildfires Sunday in Portugal that authorities say have injured 29 people. Authorities said 12 firefighters and 17 civilians required medical assistance to treat minor injuries caused by the blazes, as reported by Portuguese state television RTP and other local media. By Sunday afternoon, Portugal's Civil Protection Agency said more than 3,000 firefighters were combating active fires. The European Union on Sunday activated its firefighting air fleet assistance program that allows member nations to share ...