News - Hastings Journal

Philip McLaughlin, a Veteran Service Officer with Dakota County, spoke to the Hastings Area Rotary Club on Nov. 6 about local veteran support efforts, including the annual green light bulb campaign.

Green Light for Veterans: Dakota County Officer encourages support, awareness

At the recent meeting of the Hastings Area Rotary Club, Dakota County Veteran Services Officer Philip McLaughlin, highlighted a community initiative designed to shine a light of solidarity for … more

By Bruce Karnick | 11/12/25

Dakota County sees 5.7% increased cost of living in 2024

“It’s like Christmas,” quipped Dakota County Commissioner Mary Hamann-Roland as members of the Dakota County Office of Performance and Analysis (OPA) presented on updated … more

By Graham P. Johnson | 11/12/25

To study how PFAS moves in the air, MPCA turns to pine needles

Volunteers across all of Minnesota’s 87 counties have been busy carefully plucking pine needles from coniferous trees in their neighborhoods and collecting them in plastic bags. Why? … more

11/12/25

Musician and photographer Chris Falteisek at Lake Rauddalsvatnet in Skjåk, Norway.

‘Sweden and Norway 2025: A Concert Through the Eyes of a Photographer and Musician, Featuring Chris Falteisek’

WOODBURY – At 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, Christ Episcopal Church of Woodbury will host “Sweden and Norway 2025: A Concert Through the Eyes of a Photographer and Musician, Featuring … more

Submitted by Chris Falteisek | 11/12/25

Dakota County approves solid waste management plan

The Dakota County Board of Commissioners recently adopted the Dakota County 2024–2044 Solid Waste Management Plan, outlining how waste and recycling are managed in the county. The Minnesota … more

11/12/25

Homestead application deadline Dec. 31

Classification will affect 2026 property taxes and refund eligibility All new property owners or qualified relatives who changed residences during the past year and use the residence for homestead … more

11/12/25

Greta Larson extends into a clean layout during her dive. She made history as the first Hastings Raider ever to qualify for state in both swimming and diving.

Raiders make waves at Sections, send strong contingent to State

The Hastings Girls Swim and Dive team capped off their most successful postseason in recent memory with a standout performance at the Section 4A Championships, held this past week at John Glenn … more

By Bruce Karnick | 11/12/25

Highway 61 Public Meeting set for Nov. 18

The public is invited to the Highway 61 public meeting by the city of Hastings and the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT) from 5-7 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Hastings City Hall. MNDOT officials … more

By Graham P. Johnson | 11/12/25

ISD 200 School Board seeks public engagement

ISD 200 School Board seeks public engagement By Graham P. Johnson The topic of the day was community engagement from the ISD 200 School Board at its workshop last week. From polls to community … more

By Graham P. Johnson | 11/12/25

Elaine Mikel-Mulder will be ISD 200’s newest school board member. Mikel-Mulder won 60.8% of the overall vote.

Mikel-Mulder wins school board seat in 2025 election

Across the country, Americans came out to vote in elections big and small last week. While off-year elections tend to draw fewer voters to the polls, races for mayors of St. Paul and Minneapolis, as … more

By Graham P. Johnson | 11/11/25

Council discuss legislative priorities, focusing on E-bikes and community TV

The Hastings City Council’s workshop on legislative priorities last week had councilors discussing what they as a body would like to officially recommend to legislators in the upcoming … more

By Graham P. Johnson | 11/11/25

Last week Carbone’s Pizza filed a lawsuit against the city of Hastings regarding the sale of 1290 North Frontage Road “which resulted in their loss of lease and income,” according to the city’s November PFAS update. The business’s previous building on the site was demolished earlier this fall.

Carbone’s sues city of Hastings

Last week Pizza on 50th and France DBA Carbone’s Pizza filed a lawsuit against the city of Hastings regarding the sale of 1290 North Frontage Road “which resulted in their loss of lease … more

By Graham P. Johnson | 11/5/25

Bridgette Norring, founder of the Devin J. Norring Foundation, stood before a banner of lives lost to drug overdoses from pills purchased on Snapchat at the Devin J. Norring Foundation booth at this year’s Red Ribbon Week Community Event.

Hastings Red Ribbon week event showcases hurdles to communication on addiction

Booths from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) to the Hastings Police to the Devin J. Norring Foundation lined the high school commons last Saturday for the 2025 Red Ribbon Week community … more

By Graham P. Johnson | 11/5/25

Prairie Island Indian Community and Treasure Island made an emergency donation to Hastings Family Service through their Island Impact program. The donation was made with urgency to help HFS offset some of the additional burden from pause in SNAP benefits on November 1 from the Federal government shutdown. (L to R) HFS Board Member Tony Jurgens, Prairie Island Indian Community Treasurer Michael Childs Jr., HFS Director Amy Sutton, HFS Food Program Manager Kyle Bultinck, HFS Board Member Debbie Grimm, HFS Director of Philanthropy Dawn Marie Vihrachoff, Treasure Island Impact Community Engagement Supervisor Kristin Edmundson.

Crisis breeds creativity and brings communities together

On the morning of Oct. 31, representatives from the Prairie Island Indian Community and Treasure Island Resort and Casino walked into Hastings Family Service (HFS) with a $20,000 check in hand. The … more

By Bruce Karnick | 11/4/25

Lock and Dam Eatery in downtown Hastings is serving free spaghetti dinners every Tuesday in November, offering a warm meal and a seat at the table to anyone in need.

Local restaurants serve more than meals as Hastings faces SNAP cuts

It started with a social media post, a borrowed idea, and a big heart. When Jennifer Melecio, co-owner of Lock and Dam Eatery in downtown Hastings, saw a friend share what a restaurant in Texas was … more

By Bruce Karnick | 11/4/25

Dylan Kirchoff posed with the first Hastings bottle from the dig.

Unearthing history: privy diggers shed light on local history

When looking at the lot on a bird’s eye view of Hastings in 1867, the house doesn’t look particularly noteworthy. The corner house was at the edge of the city at that time, but its … more

By Graham P. Johnson | 11/4/25

The Senate Capital Investment Committee’s stop in Hastings was one of more than two dozen such meetings with cities and towns across the state seeking state bonding dollars on local projects.

Hastings hosts Senate Capital Investment Committee seeking PFAS funds

Last week Hastings city staff hosted members of the Senate Capital Investment Committee, seeking $39.1 million in state bonding dollars for the eastern and western water treatment plants. City staff … more

By Graham P. Johnson | 11/4/25

Farmington Police set up a memorial outside the Farmington Police Station where residents can leave notes and flowers for Officer Peter Zajac.

Farmington and Hastings communities mourn loss of Officer Peter Zajac

On Oct. 28, Officer Peter “Pete” Zajac with the Farmington Police Department died by suicide. The news came in a Facebook post on Oct. 29 from the Farmington Police: “Late last … more

By Graham P. Johnson | 11/4/25

Hastings’ Kristy Barse joins statewide network of business leaders shaping Minnesota’s economy

The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce announced Hastings’ Kristy Barse as part of its Leadership Minnesota Class of 2025-26 today. The select group of business leaders from across the state are … more

11/4/25

Hastings Knights of Columbus Council 1600 provides pree winter coats for kids

As temperatures begin to drop, the Hastings Knights of Columbus Council 1600 is stepping up to ensure no child in our community goes without the basic necessity of a warm winter coat. Through the … more

11/4/25