More local news

Smead Manufacturing acquired by TOPS

TOPS Products LLC and Smead Manufacturing announced that TOPS has acquired Smead, including its full product portfolio. This strategic acquisition strengthens TOPS’ position as a North American …
One aspect of David Bauer’s game is his fierce competitiveness. Once he steps on the links, he is laser focused on getting the job done and he rarely breaks that concentration. On day two of the state tournament, he may have been ribbed a little to look like he is having fun too, and he really was. The threesome he was part of was having a little laugh while waiting for the group in front of them.

Bauer represents Hastings with determination and poise at Class AAA State Golf Meet

David Bauer didn’t have a teammate on the course at the MSHSL Class AAA State Golf Meet, but he didn’t walk it alone. The Hastings sophomore, the Raiders’ lone state qualifier this …
Ellie Magnus crosses the finish line in the 100-meter prelims, clocking 12.36 seconds and placing just outside the finals cutoff in 10th place.

Hastings Girls deliver standout performances at Class AAA State Track Meet

The Hastings High School girls track and field team closed out their season with a series of strong performances at the Class AAA State Meet, showcasing grit, speed, and promising potential for the …

Car stolen from hospital leads to high-speed chase, arrest

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 …

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. …
Honesty Jackson joined the line dancers of Dance with Deena during Pridefest’s programming.

Hastings celebrates fifth annual pride festival

Hastings celebrated its fifth annual pride festival on Saturday, June 14 at Levee Park. The event was organized by the nonprofit Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Alliance (IDEA) and featured …

HEDRA approves agreement to market industrial park site

Hastings Economic Development and Redevelopment Authority (HEDRA) moved forward to market the industrial park site, authorized an enviormental assessment on Block 28 and discussed the 2026 HEDRA …

Driver arrested after high-speed chase

A St. Cloud man driving without a license led Hastings Police Department officers and other law enforcement agencies on a high speed chase on Thursday, June 5. Kane Logan Jackson-Minser, 24, was …

Surprise state transportation proposal raids Dakota County sales tax dollars

Dakota County and other metro counties would lose an estimated $93 million in sales tax revenue intended for local transportation projects in a surprise state budget proposal. Those tax dollars …
The 24 Bush Fellows were selected from more than 1,000 applicants for 2025.

Hastings woman awarded Bush Fellowship

Hastings resident Talaya Dendy is one of 24 winners of the Bush Foundation Bush Fellowship for her work in providing wholistic care to cancer patients. The Bush Fellowship is awarded to leaders …
Business
Treasure Island Resort & Casino employees recently were at the Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center in Hastings for their new Island Impact social responsibility program. Over 30 Treasure …
Government
The first look at the 2026 Hastings city budget showcased various budgetary pressures on the city from PFAS to capital improvements and overdue maintenance to debt service on the civic arena. On …
Crime
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. …
Community
In the summer of 2023, Mitch Carmody (R) befriended William “Ike” Eickholt by simply stopping to talk to him on Eickholt’s morning walks. Carmody, a local author, wanted to get to know Eickholt because he seemed like an interesting person. Carmody had hoped to write a book about Eickholt after getting to know him, but that never came to fruition with Eickholt’s death. Now, Carmody hopes that celebrating the diversity of Ike will help bring his killers to justice and help prevent tragedies to other people who are different.

Diversity and Vulnerability Day scheduled for June 15 to honor the life of William ‘Ike’ Eickholt

Previously reported on February 2, 2025, the body that was found along Ravenna Trail just past the bridge over the Vermillion River near the Hastings Dog Park. Identified as William “Ike” …

HYAA has a busy weekend with opening day ceremonies and youth championships

Hawks move to 6-4 after making a meal of the River Rats

The Hastings Hawks amateur baseball team had a big weekend on June 7 and 8. Saturday morning started with the opening day for HYAA’s in-house baseball and softball teams where the entirety of …
The Hastings High School Band, directed by Emily Chandler, performed the National Anthem and pre-ceremony music.

Hastings Raiders Class of 2025 celebrate with pride and promise

Todd Field filled with energy and emotion on the evening of June 7, 2025, as nearly 300 members of the Hastings Raiders Class of 2025 took their final steps as high school students. Family, friends, …

Discounted mattress pickup offered for Dakota County residents

Dakota County residents can receive a special curbside mattress pickup price from Memorial Day through Oct. 1 to recycle or reuse any type of unwanted mattress or box spring. The fee is $60 for the …
Obituaries
Richard (Dick) Fox
Richard (Dick) Arnold Fox, 91, of Rosemount, Minnesota, passed away peacefully June 11, 2025. Richard, the son of John and Clara (Conzemius) Fox, was born September 14, 1933, in Hastings, …
Loren Gratz
Loren Gratz passed on to the next place on June 3rd, 2025 at his home in Marana, Arizona. He was born November 25, 1945 in Red Wing, Minnesota at St. John’s Hospital to Marlin Albert Gratz and …
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, …
Local sports

Raiders shine bright at Section 3AAA Meet, break records and claim runner-up spots

The Hastings Raiders track and field team brought home pride and hardware at the MSHSL Section 3AAA Championships held on May 28. Both the boys and girls teams delivered standout performances, with …

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 …
The Raider Baseball Team finished the regular season with a 5-15 record earning them the sixth seed in the Section 3AAAA tournament. The first round of the tournament went through Rosemount where …
With the final week of regular practice behind them, local high school trap and skeet shooters are setting their sights on the State Tournament. This past week was marked by a blend of competition …
The Hastings Raiders boys golf team capped off a strong season with a fourth-place finish at the Class AAA Section 3 tournament, held May 29 at Loggers Trail Golf Course in Stillwater. The Raiders …
The Hastings Raiders girls golf team closed out their 2025 regular season with a solid showing at the Section 3AAA meet at Loggers Trail Golf Course in Stillwater on May 29. Competing against some of …
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

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. …

Opinion
Columns

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 …

My View: There’s only one of me

I think I’m actually being too good of a husband. I may have gone above and beyond my husbandly duties. Problem is, I’m hoping I don’t have a hard time getting things back to the …

Superintendent Report

Raider Spotlights At each regular school board meeting, we take time to celebrate the outstanding achievements and contributions of students, staff, and community members. At last week’s …

My View: Embodies the spirit

I’m envious of people who have artistic talents. A few software versions ago, I felt I could hold my own in graphic design. A few years back, however, I alerted anyone who needed to know …

Legislative update with State Rep. Tom Dippel

May 19 marks the official end to the 2025 legislative session, but we will need a small overtime period in order to finish up our budget items. Late last week, legislative leaders and Governor Walz …
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
Burned ground can become hydrophobic and almost waxlike, allowing rainfall to quickly wash contaminants downslope. Carli Brucker
After the smoke clears, a wildfire’s legacy can haunt rivers for years, putting drinking water at risk
Scientists analyzed water quality in 145 watersheds after wildfires and found dramatic spikes in contaminants.
Many heavy atoms form from a supernova explosion, the remnants of which are shown in this image.
How do atoms form? A physicist explains where the atoms that make up everything around come from
Almost everything on Earth is made up of atoms, but where do these fundamental building blocks come from?
The best movies of 2025 so far
Stacker ranked the best films of 2025 as of June 12 using data from Metacritic. Find out which movies critics are loving the most this year so far.
Firing up the Fourth: Instacart’s Independence Day favorites
Instacart reports on popular Independence Day items, highlighting spikes in orders for barbecue essentials and holiday treats.
AI-fueled fake IDs and identity theft: What you need to know
Heimdal reports AI enhances identity theft, making fake IDs easier to create using social media photos, escalating fraud risks for everyone.