NEW PRODUCTS St. Jude Medical Inc., Little Canada, said that physicians from the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute will lead the company's transcatheter aortic valve implantation clinical trial. The study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of the St. Jude Medical transcatheter aortic valve for patients who have severe narrowing of the aorta and who may be at an elevated risk for open-heart surgery.

NEW BUSINESS The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration has awarded Connect Minnesota about $2.7 million under the State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program to further implement broadband initiatives.

DEBT AND EQUITIES Hormel Foods Corp., Austin, declared a regular quarterly dividend of 21 cents per common share, payable Nov. 15 to stockholders of record on Oct. 23.