Wal-Mart: always more stores

Yesterday Wal-Mart Watch released an internal document from the corporation detailing plans to open or expand 484 U.S. stores in 2006--or roughly 100 more than previously believed. Minnesota is certainly part of the retailing behemoth's expansion plans. According to the document eight stores are slated to open or expand in the state next year. The lucky municipalities: Elk River, Maple Grove, Shakopee, Waseca, Alexandria, Pine City, Thief River Falls, and Oak Park Heights.

Residents of those towns might want to seek out a viewing of Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price, Robert Greenwald's new muckraking documentary about the company. It's screening tonight at Unity Church in St. Paul, Wednesday at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Mankato, Thursday at some guy's house in Duluth, Friday at the union hall of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 789 in South St. Paul, and a whole slew of other places.