More local news

Inside the move from Carbone’s Pizzeria and Stacy’s Stars

When the city pivoted in late 2024 to building the central water treatment plant (WTP) first, zeroing in on the lot at 1292 N. Frontage Road for the location of the future PFAS WTP, none were more …

Regina Auxiliary Spring Luncheon set for May 5

The Regina Auxiliary will hold its annual spring membership luncheon on Monday, May 5, 2025, at the Hastings Public House. Attendees may arrive early at 10:30 am to shop the new spring items from the …

Hudson man charged with murder of South St. Paul man

Jacob John Audie, 36, was charged* today with one count of second-degree intentional murder in connection with the death of Michael Maurice Schille, 72 of South St. Paul, announced Dakota County …

Senator Judy Seeberger presents bill to promote mental health in the construction industry

The Senate Labor Committee held a hearing on a bill authored by Senator Judy Seeberger (DFL-Afton) on Tuesday, April 8. The bill, Senate File 2744, would appropriate $1 million to the Minnesota …

U.S. butterfly population declined 22% in two decades

Nathan Brockman has been researching butterflies for years in Iowa. “Insects have the ability to bounce back. They're really resilient creatures for the most part,” said Brockman, Reiman …
Presenter Sue Heinz spoke to her “friend named Elmer” in a presentation to the Dakota County Star Quilters highlighting the use of Elmer’s glue in quilting.

Star Quilters celebrates 30 years

Dakota County Star Quilters celebrated 30 years with the 30th annual quilt show at the Lawshe Memorial Museum. Quilts made by members of the group were showcased in the museum from March 19 to April …

Regina Auxiliary Spring Luncheon set for May 5

The Regina Auxiliary will hold its annual spring membership luncheon on Monday, May 5, 2025, at the Hastings Public House. Attendees may arrive early at 10:30 am to shop the new spring items from the …

Community rallies to fight local hunger

Hastings Family Service (HFS) is excited to share this year’s Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign, which ran March 1 through April 6, raised $181,102 and 34,181 pounds of food to help HFS carry …

Dakota County Board recognizes Public Health Week and Child Abuse Prevention Month

At the Tuesday, April 8 county board meeting, the Dakota County Commissioners declared the week of April 7-13 to be National Public Health Week and the month of April as a whole to be Child Abuse …

Gov. Evers approves US 10 safety improvement project

To invest in Wisconsin’s transportation system, Gov. Tony Evers has signed a $950,615 contract with prime contractor Haas Sons, Inc. of Thorp for a safety improvement project on US 10 just east …
Business
With the last blast of winter (I hope) melting away, around our household, our thoughts turned to spring. With spring break coming next week, we decided to get a jump on the fun. We’re …
Government
On Saturday, April 5, Rep. Tom Dippel (R-Cottage Grove) held a town hall at the HERO Center in Cottage Grove and spoke to issues ranging from the budget deficit to PFAS to federal changes appearing …
Crime
Felony charges of theft by swindle (over $5,000) and receiving stolen property (over $5,000) were filed in Dakota County Court against a Georgia woman who allegedly scammed a Hastings man out of …
Community

Pinewood Derby brings speed, smiles and community to Hastings Middle School

The cafeteria at Hastings Middle School buzzed with energy on the morning of April 12 as Cub Scouts from Packs 9278 and 9444 gathered for one of Scouting’s most cherished traditions, the …

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 …

River Valley Band gears up for a spectacular ‘Pops Concert’

Hastings is buzzing with anticipation as the River Valley Band prepares to take the stage for its "Pops Concert". The concert, set to take place on Sunday April 27 at 1 p.m. at the Hastings Middle …
Eric Pearson sang “Angels We Have Heard on High,” accompanied by Sarah Lockwood on the piano as an interlude to Spencer Johnson’s discussion of the early days of Guardian Angels Church and the city of Hastings.

10 Years of music and art: Hastings Arts Center celebrates 10 years

The Hastings Arts Center celebrated its 10-year anniversary with events ranging from open mic nights to concerts to masses in the old Guardian Angels Church. Founded in 2014 to better house the piano …

‘Steamboats, Towboats, and River History Exhibition’ Will Open at the Prescott History Center on Saturday, May 3

"Steamboats, Towboats, and River History Exhibition" will be opening the weekend of May 3, 2025 at The Prescott History Center. It will bring Prescott’s river history to life through river …
Obituaries
Roger Rother
Roger Rother, 82, of Hastings, MN, passed away peacefully January 3, 2025.May 4, 2025. 2-5 pm Hastings Golf Club 2015 Westview Dr, Hastings, MN
Ivan Hakseth
Ivan J. Hakseth, age 91 of Hastings, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 6, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. Heaven gained an angel. Ivan John Hakseth, loving, devoted husband, dad, …
Vergina 'Gena' Snyder
Vergina “Gena” Snyder died on Sunday April 13, 2025 at Regina Hospital. She was born the daughter of Rozella and Roy Johnson on August 19, 1938 in Cannon Falls, MN. Vergina graduated high school …
Mary Muench
Mary V. Muench, age 85, of Hastings, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on April 7, 2025, at Regina Hospital, surrounded by her loving family. Born at home on December 31, 1939, in Coon Rapids, …
Donald Kulla
It is with both sadness and joy that the family of Donald Robert Kulla announces his peaceful passing into eternal life. A beautiful life came to an end, and he died as he lived – everyone’s …
Local sports

Softball drops two close games

Rachel Notch makes a toss to first in an attempt to log a double play. Aside from her solid defense, Notch was also responsible for a bases clearing three-run double in the fourth inning against Rosemount. Hastings fell 5-4.
After a hot two game start of the season where the Raiders scored 25 points in two games while allowing only two runs, the girls dropped two close games to move to 2-2 for the start of the season. On …

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 boys started the competitive action on April 9 against Two Rivers at Gopher Hills. That match had a different format with the teams having two varsity teams, both Hastings teams topped the Two …
The Hastings Raiders boys tennis team kicked off their 2025 season with a home match against the always-tough Woodbury Royals, on April 8. The Royals aced the Raiders 7-0, but Hastings returned well …
Despite wet field conditions and some early-season confusion, the Hastings Raiders girls’ softball team started their 2025 season with a bang on Friday, May 4. Taking on the Tartan Titans at …
Mile Spring sports are officially in full swing, and the Raiders Track and Field team was the first team to get outdoors for their time trials. Park of Cottage Grove joined in the fun on a beautiful …
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
This loom is currently being used at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church for a special purpose, ‘Weaving a Community of Hope’. As the owner of the loom, Bronwyn Skov leads the assembly process, teaching would be weavers how the loom operates. It is much easier than it looks, which is great when a prayer requestor wishes to weave their own prayer into the project.

Weaving a Community of Hope at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church

Nestled in the heart of Hastings stands St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, a quiet but powerful beacon of love, faith, and acceptance. This historic congregation, incorporated in 1855 and meeting …

Opinion
Columns

My View: Maybe put a sweater on

The older I get the cooler I get. I’m not talking about cool, like I was in high school, with my hair feathered back and collar up. I’m talking about temperature. At some point in life, I …

My View:

Apr 17, 2025

Superintendent Report

Board Member Appointment Process Thank you once again to all the community members who expressed interest in serving in this important interim role. The Board has selected Elaine Mikel-Mulder to …

Oh crap!

I am the go-to guy for many of my friends and family when it comes to computer help. I can build PCs from scratch. I can solve many software problems, I just know technology and more importantly, …

My View: Skating away

I thought you were supposed to get wiser as you get older. I think I’m getting dumber by the decade. For days last week, weather alerts were popping up on my mobile device alerting me …
Letters
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 …
Letter to the Editor: Disappointed with teachers, reporting
To the editor: Hastings School District was why our family chose to build here and raise our children, all graduating from ISD200 and are productive adults. Their excellent education sufficiently …
Letter to the Editor: Many teachers did not sign letter
To the editor: I was thoroughly disgusted with the article in last week's Hastings Journal regarding the sunsetting of ISD200's Policy 100. Graham Johnson continues to show he is not qualified to be …
Letter to the Editor: Thanks for votes to sunset Policy 100
To the editor: Many thanks to Carrie, Jessica, and Melissa for voting to sunset Policy 100 at last week’s schoolboard meeting. It took lots of intestinal fortitude for them to face a nearly …
Web Extras
Window-box gardening has been a Philly tradition since the 1800s. Sonja Dümpelmann, CC BY-SA
The hidden history of Philadelphia’s window-box gardens and their role in urban reform
A landscape historian explains how a Victorian tradition became a tool for social change in 19th- and 20th-century Philadelphia.
Not all children learn to read in the same way, but schools tend to adopt a single approach to literacy.
How do children learn to read? This literacy expert says ‘there are as many ways as there are students’
US schools are going all in on phonics, but research shows that approach won’t work for every child. A blended literacy strategy can get more students reading.
Getting involved when your kids are watching digital media can make it an educational experience, rather than just entertainment.
These 4 tips can make screen time good for your kids and even help them learn to talk
In moderation, watching educational TV shows, movies and apps can boost language development among young children. 2 experts explain.
The universe is filled with countless galaxies, stars and planets. Astronomers may find life one day, but they will need extraordinary proof.
‘Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence’ − an astronomer explains how much evidence scientists need to claim discoveries like extraterrestrial life
An astronomer breaks down 3 key components that allow researchers to make groundbreaking discoveries – and decide when results aren’t significant.
The rising cost of cocoa and tariffs: A bitter reality for the U.S. chocolate industry
Compartés reports that the U.S. chocolate industry is in turmoil with new tariffs to disrupt supply chains and increase costs, and both manufacturers and retailers are feeling the squeeze.