More local news

Treasure Island team helping out!

Last week Treasure Island Resort & Casino employees were at the Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center in Hastings for their new Island Impact social responsibility program. Over 30 Treasure …
Auxiliary Volunteer of the Year - Joanne Hetzel

Regina Auxiliary recognizes Auxiliary Volunteer of the Year and Milestone Members

Milestone Years of Service award recipients in attendance – (front row, from left) Bernie Estenson, Rita Kriha, Verna Fuller, Roberta Klein, Phyllis LaCroix and Mary Jones; (back row) Betty …

Hastings Alumni Association highlights history, scholarships, and hope for the future

At a recent Hastings Area Rotary Club meeting, Rob Halberg, president of the Hastings Alumni Association, offered a wide-ranging and heartfelt look into the past, present, and future of one of the …

Prescott man arrested after Minnesota chase

A 19-year-old Prescott man was booked into the Dakota County (MN) jail May 2 on charges of fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, a felony, and misdemeanor 4th degree driving while impaired. …

Burnsville man charged with murder for fatally stabbing  mother of his children

Jason Philip Filas, 48 of Burnsville, was charged today with one count of second-degree intentional murder in connection with the death of Danielle Grace Warren, 32, Dakota County Attorney Kathy …

Legislative update with State Rep. Tom Dippel

Budget bills continued to arrive for debate on the House floor this week, and I am hopeful those few that remain outstanding will receive approval early next week. The Senate is going through a …
Dakota County Public Health Awards 2025 - LiveGreen — Student representatives and supporters of School District 197’s LiveGreen Clubs after they received the county’s Public Health Achievement Award for youth on Tuesday, May 6 at the Dakota County Administration Center.

Residents awarded for working to create healthier communities

The Dakota County Board of Commissioners presented the 2025 Public Health Achievement Awards to three recipients Tuesday, May 6 in celebration of National Public Health Week. The winners are the …
Seniors in Trishaws came for the ribbon cutting of the Vermillion River Greenway.

Dakota County hosts Vermillion River Greenway Ribbon Cutting

HASTINGS – Dakota County celebrated the completion of the Vermillion River Greenway on Tuesday, May 6 with a ribbon cutting at Vermillion Falls Park. The 2.1-mile section of the Vermillion …

Celebration of Trees set for May 31

Since 1996, Hastings has been recognized as a Tree City, USA by the Arbor Day Foundation. To commemorate that honor, the Hastings Environmental Protectors (HEP) and Hastings Area Historical Society …

Black Dirt Theater sets sail with a local star-studded cast for "Anything Goes"

This summer, the local stage will light up with toe-tapping tunes, comedic chaos, and classic Broadway flair as Black Dirt Theater announces the cast for its 2025 summer production of Anything Goes. …
Business
Dozens of guests gathered at Simply Still Spa, 1250 N Frontage Rd #206, to celebrate the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony of Krehbiel Natural Health, a new wellness practice that brings a …
Government
State Representative Tom Dippel (R-Cottage Grove) is pictured with Hastings High School student Katherine Vieth. Vieth was at the State Capitol in St. Paul recently to participate in the Minnesota …
Crime
Mehdi Badaoui, 52 of Farmington, was charged today with one count of attempted murder in the first degree (premeditated) and one count of attempted murder in the second degree (with intent, not …
Community

The 16th annual Hootenanny raises $21,000

Jonah Conway played in the crowded Busted Nut during Saturday’s Hootenanny in downtown Hastings.
From Country Road to Don’t Stop Believing to Learn to Fly, Second Street echoed with music for the 16th annual Hootenanny. The event provides live music across various bars, breweries and …
The Sibley Historic Site is located at 1357 Sibley Memorial Highway in Mendota.

DAKOTA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY TO OPEN HISTORIC SITES FOR TOUR SEASON

SOUTH ST. PAUL - The Dakota County Historical Society will open its historic sites for the tour season starting in May. The LeDuc Historic Estate opens for the tour season on Thursday, May 15, 2025. …

School Board announces superintendent finalists

At the Tuesday, April 29 special school board work session, the ISD 200 board announced the five finalists for the district’s superintendent position. They are: Dr. Daniel Edwards, Executive …

Legislative Update

Many people I speak with are shocked when I tell them Minnesota provides free health care to illegal immigrants. This week we learned this taxpayer-funded giveaway is one of the reasons Minnesota now …
Sibley Site
The Sibley Historic Site is located at 1357 Sibley Memorial Highway in Mendota.

DAKOTA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY TO OPEN HISTORIC SITES FOR TOUR SEASON

SOUTH ST. PAUL - The Dakota County Historical Society will open its historic sites for the tour season starting in May. The LeDuc Historic Estate opens for the tour season on Thursday, May 15, 2025. …
Obituaries
John 'Jack' Thomas
John E “Jack” Thomas, 77, died on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, after a brief battle with lymphoma. He was grateful to be home, cared for by his loving family until his peaceful end. Jack was born to …
Carol McNamara
Carol Ann (Mamer) McNamara, 81, of Hastings MN, passed away on May 3, 2025 from complications of Alzheimers. Carol was a lifelong resident of Hastings. She was valedictorian of her class in 1962 …
Douglas Laumeyer
Douglas J. Laumeyer, age 74, of Hastings, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, May 2, 2025, surrounded by the love of his family. Doug was born on June 13, 1950, in Long Prairie, Minnesota, …
Bernard 'Bernie' Schroeder
Bernard “Bernie” A. Schroeder, 78, of Hastings, MN passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, May 7th, 2025 at his residence. Bernie was born in Luxembourg to John B. and Jean T (Moitzheim) …
Orval Zellmer
Orval Jay Zellmer, 88, of Hastings, Minnesota died on May 1, 2025. Orval was born on April 3, 1937, to August and Nellie (Phillips) Zellmer in Walnut Grove, Minnesota. After spending his teenage …
Local sports

Hastings High School celebrates Student-Athletes at Third Annual Raiders Sports Awards

Hastings High School’s Academic All-Conference athletes proudly represent the balance of brains and athleticism, maintaining top GPAs while competing at the varsity level across multiple sports.
Hastings High School capped another exceptional year in athletics with the third annual Raiders Sports Awards, a celebration honoring the dedication, achievements, and spirit of its student-athletes, …

Two Raider athletes reach career milestones

Last week, Hastings had two senior athletes reach career milestones. Girls basketball player Haley Strain (left) scored her 1,000th point, and girls hockey player Victoria Steinke (right) made her …
Entering last week at 12-2, Hastings Softball has had an amazing season thus far with a 10-game win streak that was broken up by the North St. Paul (NSP) Polars with a 5-4 loss on May 5. The girls …
The Hastings Raiders Trap and Skeet Team continued to build momentum in their second week of the spring season, showing solid improvement and impressive individual performances. With state …
There really is “no place like home” for the Hastings Hurricanes 35+ Baseball Team, as the Federal League South Division Season kicked off this past Mother’s Day Weekend. Now, the …
The Hastings Hawks launched their 2025 baseball campaign with back-to-back games on May 10 and 11, kicking things off in emphatic fashion before falling just short in a hard-fought league opener. …
Education
Hastings School District
Dr. Tamara Champa

Superintendent Report

Board Member Appointment Process Thank you to all community members who expressed interest in serving in this important temporary role and to the 7 selected candidates for participating in the …

Features
At the First Responder Fundraiser held at Hastings Public House, a poster was made to help donors quantify the sheer volume of work that Hastings First Responders take yearly. Hastings Fire responded to 563 calls, EMS - 3,214, Hastings Police – 20,000, Dakota County 22,598.

Fundraiser for Hastings First Responders held at Hastings Public House

Sunday, April 6, was more than just a sunny spring afternoon at Hastings Public House, it was a day dedicated to showing real appreciation for Hastings’ first responders. The event was …

Opinion
Columns

My View: It better be covered

I lived through the heart attack that, thankfully, wasn’t. Some background: By virtue of winning, or losing, the genetic lottery, I landed firmly on the McLoone side. Men are bald, carry a …
Senior Madison Haines drives from the 15th tee at Emerald Greens, leading the Raiders with a team-best 90 during Thursday’s meet that featured several of the state’s top teams.

Girls Golf gears up for conference meet

Cutline for Bentley Brown: Hastings freshman Bentley Brown double checks her target before she tees off on the 15th hole at Emerald Greens during Thursday's invitational. Brown shot 111 on the day as …
Drew Gillespie chases down a bunt early in the game against the Warriors.

Raider baseball earn season’s fourth win

Coming into the season, the possibility of the team having struggles was certainly known given the team graduated 18 seniors last season. While a 4-11 overall record is not fun, it was something that …

It better be summer now

I don’t know how it happened, but somewhere in the last couple months, I turned into an old man. Winter, I believe, aged me. I feel like I went into it with at least a little vim and vigor. …

My View: Catholic Education

By the time this hits print, there could be a new pope. It’s unlikely that the 133 cardinals gathered in the Sistine chapel will arrive at a choice that quickly, but stranger things have …

My View: Veterans Park, it’s not a dog litter box, it’s an athletic complex

It is Monday morning with a day planned to finish the five remaining sports stories before the 5:00 p.m. deadline and a text comes in. “Is the water on at Vets yet?” then another …
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
Parents play an important role in teaching their children about alcohol.
Teens of any age who drink alcohol with their parents’ permission drink more as young adults, new research shows
Many parents think that drinking at home is a safe way to teach teenagers about alcohol, but research suggests this is not true.
Rocky Mountain coal mine in Alberta takes next step to expansion
The Narwhal offers updates on the proposed expansion of the coal mine in Alberta, Canada, near Jasper National Park, and the public concern surrounding it.
5 fresh tips to make summer evenings feel effortless
(BPT) - Summer nights are meant to feel relaxed and carefree, but when your family's schedule is packed to the brim, they can quickly become anything but. These easy tips can help take the pressure …
5 steps businesses should take now to meet Europe’s new accessibility rules
AudioEye breaks down what the European Accessibility Act means and the five steps businesses should take to avoid fines and get compliant with new requirements for online businesses in the European Union.
Where cost of living increased and decreased most
SmartAsset compared relative cost of living data across 240 U.S. cities between 2023 and 2024 to identify places where costs are changing most suddenly.