Violent crime declined in Minneapolis and St. Paul in 2023

Yes, but: Violent crime remains at much higher levels than before the pandemic and George Floyd's murder.

• Minneapolis tallied 48 homicides in 2019 and St. Paul averaged 17 a year between 2010 and 2019.

What they're saying: "The trend is going in the right direction," Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara told WCCO TV. "But it's nowhere near where it was prior to 2020."

Of note: Carjackings fell 43% in Minneapolis following a crackdown by U.S. Attorney Andy Luger. But thefts of empty vehicles skyrocketed.

Zoom out: The U.S. was on pace to end 2023 with one of the largest annual drops in homicides on record, writes Axios' Jacob Knutson.