ONE OF THE MORNING'S MAJOR STORIES HAS MINNESOTA TIES. HONEYWELL HAS AGREED TO A MERGER WITH GENERAL ELECTRIC. THE DEAL WAS ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY. IT'S WORTH ABOUT 45 BILLION DOLLARS. THERE ARE ABOUT 8, 000 MINNESOTANS EMPLOYED BY HONEYWELL. FRED ZIMMERMAN IS A BUSINESS PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ST THOMAS AND HE'S BEEN FOLLOWING RECENT DEVELOPMENTS WITH HONEYWELL. SOT OC: