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.

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 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.

An employee confirms the Eagan sports bar has closed its doors for good. Some people have speculated whether the family's legal problems following a deadly hit-and-run would have an impact on the business.

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 Minnesota Twins are negotiating a deal with Hennepin County to get a stake in a new light-rail transit hub near Target Field that connects the Hiawatha, Northstar and future Central Corridor lines, the Pioneer Press reports. The $79 million project also includes an entertainment plaza on the north side of the ballpark.

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.

Fairview and North Memorial are notifying more than 16,000 patients that they're private data is at risk after someone stole a contractor's laptop computer. Fairview's director of privacy says the information was supposed to be encrypted but was not.