More local news
Last year’s headliner Spin Doctors sang on Stage 61 Saturday night.

'It’s something you don’t want to miss;’ What's new for Rivertown Days 2026

While the preparation for Hastings Rivertown Days takes the majority of the year, the runup to the event is when the rubber hits the road for Hastings Chamber of Commerce President Kirsty Barse: The …
Claire Stoffel was one of the top Raider golfers this season. Stoffel’s experience and leadership on the links will be missed with her graduating this spring.

Determination, growth, and a glimpse at the future

The Hastings Raiders varsity girls golf team wrapped up their 2025 season with a strong mix of leadership, determination, and promise for the years ahead. While the squad didn’t come away with …
Senior Jon Harris finishes his Raider career with two state tournament appearances, but those accomplishments are just a shadow of his leadership on and off the links that will be missed by the Raiders in 2026.

Raiders Boys Golf close: Bauer bound for State

Hastings varsity boys golf wrapped its 2025 season on a high note, delivering a balanced blend of senior leadership, depth across the lineup, and a standout individual performance. From chilly …

Sports Recap: Boys Tennis

The 2025 season for Hastings High School’s varsity boys tennis team opened with energy, optimism, and a sharp test right out of the gate. Hosting Woodbury on April 8, the Raiders came close to …

‘Norman Rockwell & World War II Masculinity’

SOUTH ST. PAUL - Historical Society will host their “Mendota After Hours” presentation at the Sibley Historic Site at 6 p.m. Friday, July 18. The presentation “Norman Rockwell and …

Dakota County Historical Society to host outdoor painting workshop

The Dakota County Historical Society will host an “En Plein Air” painting event at the Sibley Historic Site from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 27. Admission for this event is $50 per …

Pets, people, and community

Pet lovers in Hastings will soon have a new go-to destination for everything from premium food and grooming services to expert advice and community connections, as Chuck & Don’s prepares to …

Strong month for job growth

Minnesota saw another strong month of job and labor force growth in May, according to new data from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). Minnesota added 6,600 jobs …

Citations show more than 1,600 drivers and children at risk during Click It or Ticket campaign

A car darting into another lane, a sudden flat tire sending a vehicle off the road or a drunk driver going through a stop light. Unexpected incidents like these can cause a crash. There isn’t a …

Hastings mourns loss of Rep. Hortman

It was a somber moment at the Lawshe Memorial Museum Saturday morning at what was supposed to be a celebratory event. While law enforcement conducted the largest manhunt in state history looking …
Business
Hastings’ longtime Chevrolet dealership has entered a new chapter, bringing with it fresh energy, a customer-first philosophy, and local ties. The dealership, now operating as Tri River …
Government
The City Council approved the final plat and site map for the Central Water Treatment Plant on Monday, June 16. The site map was unanimously approved by the Planning Commission on Monday, June 9 with …
Crime
A woman who reportedly stole a vehicle from outside United Hospital – Hastings Regina Campus on June 11 was arrested when the car crashed in Goodhue County after leading law enforcement on a …
Community

All in the family

Air Force veteran Loren Mollet, of Hastings, gave his granddaughter, Courtney Mulhern, her first salute in a ceremony recently.
“Every time he would ask me, ‘When are you gonna go officer? When are you gonna go officer?’ And I kept saying, ‘You know, I'm working on my clinical hours, Grandpa. I'm …
U18 Boys Blue
The U18 boys (playing in a U19 bracket) finished the season with a record of 4-3-3, putting them in second place in their division. While they don’t have official captains, the leadership of eight graduating seniors: Brandon White, Geovanni Bustamante, Jacob Reuter, Jayvid Meier, Logan Heinlein, Peter Clark, Thomas Coyle, and Xavier Beal has shaped this team. With players from tenth through twelfth grade, this group now looks forward to its fourth appearance in the USA Cup to round out the summer.

Hastings Soccer Club Makes History with Eight Final Four Teams

HFC United is making waves this summer, qualifying a record-breaking eight youth teams for the Minnesota Final Four—more than double the usual number for the small-town club. In a typical …
Frank Sachs is a historian, author and award-winning educator who will be presenting on topics ranging from the articles of government to the Federalist Papers to the eras of the Supreme Court.

Dakota County Historical Society unveils America’s 250th Lecture Series

In preparation for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence which will occur on Aug. 2, 2026, Dakota County Historical Society has announced a 14-part presentation …

Dakota County residents continue to rate quality of life high, according to new survey

Dakota County residents continue to rate the overall quality of life in the county highly, while citing affordable housing as the most serious issue, according to a new survey from Polco. Erin …

Fifth annual Sound the Siren food drive raises over $3,800 for Hastings United Way

“I’d gladly take a pie to the face for this cause,” said Dakota County Sherrif Joe Leko at the launch of the fifth annual Sound the Siren food drive in April. On Wednesday, …
Obituaries
Judith 'Judy' Zaruba
Judith “Judy” Gail Zaruba, of Hastings, Minnesota passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on July 1, 2025. Judy was preceded in death by her parents Lucille and Raymond Gorny, …
Judith 'Judy' Zaruba
Judith “Judy” Gail Zaruba, of Hastings, Minnesota passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on July 1, 2025. Judy was preceded in death by her parents Lucille and Raymond Gorny, …
Elizabeth A. "Bets" (Lehmann) Hudella
Elizabeth A. "Bets" (Lehmann) Hudella, passed away peacefully at home in Hastings on her eighty-sixth birthday, July 1, 2025. Elizabeth Anne Hudella (née Lehmann) was born July 1st, 1939, …
Donald Amy
Donald G. Amy was born on October 25, 1937, in Hastings, Minnesota, to Joseph and Marion (Cotter) Amy of Prescott, Wisconsin. He was the youngest of six children and arrived just a few minutes after …
Kevin Hanson
Kevin Scot Hanson, age 59, of Belle Plaine, MN, passed away on Thursday, June 19, 2025. Kevin was born on November 10, 1965, in St. Paul, MN, to Duane and Rosalie Hanson. He grew up in Hastings …
Local sports

Hurricanes Surge to 11-1

The 2025 Season is now into the second half for the Hastings Hurricanes 35-plus Baseball Team, and there haven’t been many days through the schedule in which the Canes haven't held the top slot …
The Hastings boys 4x200 relay team celebrates their national championship moment on the jumbotron at Hayward Field.

Hastings Track wins National Title at Nike Outdoor National Meet

The Nike Outdoor Nationals (NON) is a high school and middle school track and field championship held in Eugene, Oregon for the nation’s top track and field athletes. Athletes across the U.S. …
The Hastings High School varsity track and field teams put together a season for the record books in 2025, marked by dominant performances, blistering speed, and historic achievements. From early …
The Hawks have had a tough stretch of away games after starting the season 6-3, a seven-game losing streak dropped them to 6-10 and with the last four straight losses by just one run, brought about …
The Hastings Raiders embraced a fresh start in 2025, rallying behind new head coach Becca Sorenson to deliver a season packed with momentum, memorable comebacks, and a deep run into the Section 3AAAA …
Please note, these are coach or parent submitted. If you wish to have your child’s team photograph in the next edition, please email it to bruce@hastingsjournal.news with the details as written …
Education

ISD 200 School Board adopts strategic plan, reviews Fastbridge test results

The ISD 200 School Board unanimously adopted the new 2025-2027 strategic plan, the overarching guideline for the district over the next three years and replacement for Policy 100 which was sunset in …

Features
The muralists have been working to paint top-to-bottom in order to avoid streaking due to recent heavy rains.

‘There is a real sense of home here;’ New Hastings mural takes shape

The weight of replacing the 26-year-old mural that has welcomed visitors downtown for a generation was not lost on muralists Dena Young and Kada Groalen. The final design that passersby can see …

Opinion
Columns

AAUW Booksale at Rivertown Days Arts & Crafts Fair along the Mississippi River

NOTICE OF FILING DATES FOR ELECTION TO THE SCHOOL BOARD INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 200 HASTINGS PUBLIC SCHOOLS STATE OF MINNESOTA

NOTICE OF FILING DATES FOR ELECTION TO THE SCHOOL BOARD INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 200 HASTINGS PUBLIC SCHOOLS STATE OF MINNESOTA NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the period for filing …

State of Minnesota Dakota County In Re the Estate of: Antoinette Stenger, Decedent District Court FIRST Judicial District

State of Minnesota Dakota County In Re the Estate of: Antoinette Stenger, Decedent District Court FIRST Judicial District Court File Number: 19HA-PR-25-559 Case Type: Formal …

The "Turtle" Flambeau Flowage

Hello friends, This week I spent three days camped on an island on the Turtle Flambeau Flowage with my golden retriever Red. This trip was a bit unique as I hit some pretty harsh weather but still …

My View: The path to excellence

One morning each week, my alarm goes off much earlier than usual, and I leave the house early for work. The best thing about getting going at that time is the great AM radio that you can dial in from …

Legislative Update

On June 9, Governor Walz called state lawmakers into a special session in order to complete the outstanding budget work that remained after the regular legislative session concluded in mid-May. …
Letters
Letters to the editor: Thank you, Hastings Power of 100
To the editor, The Hastings Prescott Arts Council (HPAC) would like to thank the Power of 100 Women for their $18,700 award to our organization at the Power of 100 Women bi-annual meeting at the …
Letter to the Editor: Sound the alarm
To the editor: It is time to sound the alarm! Too many of our fellow citizens are apathetic or unconcerned about what is happening in our nation and around the world at the behest of the Trump …
What is wrong with America?
To the editor: What the hell is wrong with America? No one can’t argue that the current administration has been very chaotic. A country run on executive orders, many which are likely …
Letter to the Editor: Support for our school board’s commitment to student success
To the editor: I want to express our appreciation for our school board members who are making logical, practical decisions that prioritize student success. Their recent vote to remove Policy 100 …
Letter to the Editor: Policies in place protect students
To the editor: On March 26, the school board voted to sunset DEI policy 100 and replace it with the district strategic plan. The community was roughly divided in half, with some supporting sunsetting …
Web Extras
African women are key to fighting climate change – these are the green skills they will need
There’s a long list of green skills that women across Africa need so that they can get jobs and start businesses that help the world adapt to climate change.
What are the common causes of crane accidents?
CICB reports common crane accident causes include human error, mechanical failure, environmental factors, improper rigging, and inadequate planning.
Reverse phone lookup demystified: When, why, and how to use it legally
Spokeo reports reverse phone lookup tools help identify unknown callers, verify identities, and monitor digital footprints legally.
How credit scores are shaping the 2025 housing market
NewHomeSource reports that stronger credit scores in 2025 lead to fewer risky loans, ensuring a more stable housing market compared to 2008.
Your queer foodie guide: LGBTQ+ chefs, books, tours and events to know
News Is Out reports on thriving queer food culture, featuring chefs, cookbooks, tours, and events across the U.S. and beyond.