A report to the Minneapolis City Council counts 204 people living on the streets as of January this year. That's down from 341 during the same period in 2010. The report on "Heading Home Hennepin," an initiative aimed at ending homelessness in the county by 2016, credits the decline to more outreach workers helping the homeless find access to housing.

Gov. Mark Dayton pledges $100 million in new direct lending money to job creators. He makes the announcement after Tuesday's Jobs Summit in St. Paul. The added funds will go to qualifying Minnesota banks to distribute as business loans. Dayton says the move will double the state's investment in Minnesota small businesses.

New preliminary estimates from the Sheriff's Office show violent crime is down 38 percent over the past five years. The Star Tribune reports last year was the fifth consecutive year it dropped across the county.

Twin Cities home sales are up by double digits so far this year, the Star Tribune reports. However, options for buyers are limited because so many potential sellers can't list their homes until prices increase. A tighter credit market and bigger down payments have also made it tough for borrowers to get a loan.