News - Hastings Journal

Dakota County’s updated 2027 budget scenarios show the County Board has moved away from the two extremes originally considered, a 24.3% levy increase with no service reductions and a 13.9% increase requiring major service eliminations. The three remaining scenarios call for levy increases of 21.2%, 18.7% or 16.3%, with estimated impacts of $167, $145 or $123 per year, respectively, on the county portion of the property tax bill for a median-value home.

Budget options limited to higher taxes and fewer services

Dakota County homeowners are likely to see a sizable increase in the county portion of their property tax bills next year, but exactly how large that increase will be remains unsettled as … more

By Bruce Karnick | 8/12/26

Hastings man receives home monitoring sentence after Cottage Grove rollover

A Hastings man has been sentenced to electronic home monitoring and four years of supervised probation after pleading guilty to a gross misdemeanor criminal vehicular operation charge stemming from a … more

By Bruce Karnick | 8/9/26

Hastings water system unaffected by statewide cyberattack

Hastings was not among the more than 30 Minnesota communities whose water systems were targeted during a coordinated cyberattack in late July, according to City Administrator Dan Wietecha. The … more

By Bruce Karnick | 8/8/26

Washington County hospital fined more than $15,000 for improper disposal of infectious waste

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) fined Lakeview Memorial Hospital in Stillwater $15,862 for improperly disposing of infectious waste. On Dec. 11, 2025, a waste management facility … more

8/8/26

Final field set for Hastings School Board election

The field is set for the Hastings School Board election, with five candidates seeking three available seats in the Tuesday, Nov. 3, general election. The filing period closed July 28, and the … more

By Bruce Karnick | 8/7/26

Anna Stein proudly displays one of the two silver medals she earned while competing for Team Minnesota at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. Stein, a member of the Hastings Sharks, placed second in the 400-meter walk and helped Minnesota earn silver in the 4x100-meter relay. Photo

Hastings Sharks athlete shines on national Special Olympics stage

Anna Stein represented the Hastings Sharks and Team Minnesota on one of the biggest stages in Special Olympics competition this summer, returning home with two silver medals from the 2026 Special … more

By Bruce Karnick | 8/7/26

Hastings resident Amanda Durow was selected as one of 30 alumni featured in Agriculture Future of America’s Celebrating 30 Voices campaign, recognizing leaders making an impact across the agriculture industry.

Hastings resident Amanda Durow recognized for agricultural leadership

Hastings resident Amanda Durow is being recognized for a career that has combined agricultural lending, leadership development and a lifelong connection to Minnesota farming. Agriculture Future of … more

By Bruce Karnick | 8/7/26

Dakota County to host Budget and Property Tax Open House Aug. 6

Dakota County will host a Budget and Property Tax Open House Thursday, Aug. 6 from 5–6:30 p.m. at the Dakota County Community Development Agency, 1228 Town Centre Drive, Eagan. This open house is … more

8/7/26

Hastings High School Pathways students, wearing orange safety vests, gather with project partners in front of the Cycling Without Age storage and maintenance shed while it was under construction. The student-built project created a permanent home for the Hastings Area Rotary Club’s seven trishaws.

Rotary celebrates collaboration behind Cycling Without Age shed

The Hastings Area Rotary Club recently recognized five community partners whose work helped transform an idea into a permanent home for the club’s Cycling Without Age program. Chris Moore, Eric … more

By Bruce Karnick | 8/7/26

Dakota County Fair prepares for seven days of summer fun

The Dakota County Fair is ready to pack seven days of animals, music, carnival rides, friendly competition and grandstand action into one of the biggest celebrations of summer in the county. The … more

By Bruce Karnick | 8/7/26

Sharing stories at this year’s Dakota County Fair

The Dakota County Library will be featured in the Government Building’s Sharing Stories exhibit at the 2026 Dakota County Fair, which runs Aug. 10–16 at the county fairgrounds in Farmington. … more

8/7/26

Council advances data center moratorium, Pleasant Valley Farms review and PFAS work

The Hastings City Council tackled three issues that will help shape the city's future during its Monday, Aug. 3 meeting, taking initial action on a proposed data center moratorium, advancing … more

8/6/26

Dakota County issues missing person alert after island search

The Dakota County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help locating a 77-year-old man who disappeared near Prescott Island after his boat was found unoccupied. Michael William Robinson … more

By Bruce Karnick | 8/6/26

Hastings Raiders Marching Band & Colorguard perform in the Park Hill Parade, Denver's largest Independence Day parade.

Raider Nation Goes National!

The Hastings Raiders Marching Band and Color Guard recently wrapped up its parade season with appearances at two local parades, Rivertown Days, and a nationally televised performance in the Park Hill … more

By Bruce Karnick and Ryan Renneke | 8/6/26

Hastings Community Opens its Heart in a Record-Breaking Way

Hastings Family Service is grateful to the local community for its incredible support during the Open Your Heart July Summer Challenge. Just over $110,000 was raised to receive a proportionate match … more

8/6/26

Hastings School Board race grows to five candidates

The race for three seats on the Hastings School Board has grown to at least five candidates, giving voters a contested election to decide in November. Melissa Kinneman filed an affidavit of candidacy … more

By Bruce Karnick | 7/31/26

New auto repair business approved as Hastings City

The Hastings City Council unanimously approved a special use permit Monday, July 20, allowing a new locally operated automobile repair business to open in the former Hastings Cinema building on South … more

By John McLoone | 7/31/26

Hastings weighs one-year pause on data centers as officials study potential regulations

As artificial intelligence and cloud computing fuel a nationwide boom in data center construction, Hastings officials are considering hitting the pause button before the city becomes the next … more

By John McLoone | 7/31/26

Visitors gather near the music stage during the national anthem before entertainment begins at the Little Log House Antique Power Show. Live music gave guests a place to pause between trips through the village’s many displays and demonstrations.

Little Log House draws visitors despite sweltering summer heat

The machinery was old, the summer heat was relentless, and the interest in local history remained as strong as ever during the Little Log House Antique Power Show, held Friday through Sunday, July 24 … more

By Bruce Karnick | 7/31/26

Spiral Food Co-op in Hastings is seeking to raise $80,000 over the next several months to pay vendors and rebuild cash reserves after a difficult year that included a multiday power outage, prolonged road closures and an accounting error. The community-owned grocery store has served Hastings for 47 years and has 2,351 member-owners.

Spiral Food Co-op seeks community support after challenging year

Spiral Food Co-op is asking its members and the broader Hastings community for help as the community-owned grocery store works through financial challenges caused by several disruptions during the … more

By Bruce Karnick | 7/31/26