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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 …
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By Graham P. Johnson
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6/11/25
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The Hastings City Council met on Monday, June 2 to recognize various new employees, proclaim June LGBTQIA+ Pride month, and move forward with the central water treatment plan raw water main project. …
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By Graham P. Johnson
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6/5/25
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At its May 19 meeting, the Hastings City Council unanimously approved a resolution establishing how the city will issue its limited cannabis retail business licenses, opting for a first-come, …
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By John McLoone
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5/30/25
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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 …
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By State Rep. Tom Dippel
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5/24/25
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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 …
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By State Representative Tom Dippel
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5/14/25
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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 …
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5/9/25
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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 …
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By Tom Dippel District 41-B
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5/4/25
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On Monday, April 14, the Hastings City Council Planning Committee met to discuss a rundown of ongoing city projects ranging from the zoning ordinance update, the Gateway Project, cannabis special use …
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By Graham P. Johnson
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4/24/25
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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 …
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4/17/25
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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 …
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4/16/25
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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 …
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By Graham P. Johnson
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4/9/25
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It’s been a busy week with K-12 Education initiatives in the Minnesota House. As I serve on both the education policy and education finance committees, we’ve had numerous discussions on …
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4/3/25
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Hastings Fire Chief John Townsend presented before the city council workshop on Monday, March 16 on the future of the Hastings fire station including testing for new sites. Chief Townsend presented a …
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By Graham P. Johnson
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3/26/25
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A plan that would prevent biological boys in Minnesota from playing in girls’ sports received a full House floor debate this week. State Representative Tom Dippel (R-Cottage Grove) voted yes on …
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3/11/25
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Mayor Mary Fasbender and Rep. Tom Dippel (R-Cottage Grove) spoke before the House Capital Investment Committee on Thursday, Feb. 27 for state funding for PFAS water treatment plants within a future …
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By Graham P. Johnson
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3/5/25
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At the March 3, 2025 meeting of the Hastings City Council, the council discussed the 2025 Neighborhood Infrastructure Improvement, Gores Pool #3 and received a PFAS update from City Administrator Dan …
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By Graham P. Johnson
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3/5/25
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On Tuesday, Feb. 18, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners held its 2025 employee recognition ceremony celebrating some of its longest-working employees. The ceremony celebrated the longevity of …
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By Graham P. Johnson
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2/25/25
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From the Hastings City Hall, Rep. Tom Dippel (R-Cottage Grove) held a press conference to announce a new bill that would allocate funds from the Legacy Fund’s Clean Water Fund towards …
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By Graham P. Johnson
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2/20/25
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At the Feb. 12 meeting of the Arts and Culture Commission, newly revamped for 2025, members discussed moving forward with the civic arena mural as well as the creation of new arts and culture grants. …
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By Graham P. Johnson
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2/19/25
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On Tuesday, Feb. 4, the US Senate held a Judiciary Committee to hear about H.R. 27 Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act or simply the HALT Fentanyl Act. Among those speaking at the meeting was …
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By Graham P. Johnson
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2/19/25
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