More mail will soon be processed in the Twin Cities under a plan to consolidate facilities in Rochester, Duluth, Waite Park, Mankato and Bemidji. Some of the positions will be eliminated, but the Pioneer Press reports more than 200 new jobs could be available at the St. Paul Processing and Distribution Center in Eagan.

A partnership of arts groups has raised $50 million toward building a new concert hall at the St. Paul Ordway Theatre Center and establishing an endowment to help run it.

Data released by the Minnesota Department of Education Wednesday revealed that reading and test scores among students in the state have remained relatively flat over previous years. Also, while the scores showed a wide achievement gap between white students and students of color, state officials are hoping a change in how testing data is evaluated will help them fix the persistent disparity.

The council that evaluates which conservation projects should be allocated almost $100 million next year in Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment dollars is sifting through 32 proposals. Competition for the state money is fierce as groups aim to protect various grasslands, wetlands and the golden winged warbler.

The electronics retailer plans three centers around the country -- including one in Minneapolis -- that will give teenagers a chance to improve their technology skills. Projects might involve art, music, robotics, filmmaking, or science. The company is still looking for a partner to help provide a location.

The Pioneer Press reports the city's Economic Development Authority unanimously approved plans for the $100 million open-air retail center. The 400,000 square-foot mall would be composed of 90 to 100 high-end retailers. Another developer also wants to build a 500,000 square-foot retail center on the Lockheed Martin site.

The state's chilly temperatures and geological stability could be just what the growing data industry needs to keep its "server farms" cool and reliable. Legislators this year passed a package of tax incentives in hopes of luring companies scouting out places to build data centers.

Google is now mapping shopping centers and transportation hubs in the United States and Japan, and apparently already has the floor plan for the Mall of America in its database. Though, for now, the Associated Press reports, users can only view the maps on mobile devices running Google's Android platform.