Tad Johnson

Eden Prairie

Managing Editor at HometownSource

None at Sun Thisweek

Writer, photographer, videographer

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Articles

Land use change for data center denied in Apple Valley

2 weeks ago | hometownsource.com | Tad Johnson

The Apple Valley Planning Commission recommended during its April 2 meeting denial of a Comprehensive Plan amendment that would revise a land use plan for portions of 357 acres south of County Road 42 between Pilot Knob Road and Flagstaff Avenue.
Apple Valley Mock Trial team on a roll, as it prepares for nationals

3 weeks ago | hometownsource.com | Tad Johnson

March is tournament time when the best rises to the top, but there may be no other squad on a roll like the Apple Valley Mock Trial team. This Minnesota season, the team has won every single ballot in every single round and 28 consecutive trials, including the national titles at the Empire Chicago and Empire Stardust tournaments in fall 2024. kAm%96 =2E6DE E:E=6 H2D E96 a_ad DE2E6 492>A:@?D9:A[ H96?
Planning Commission recommends cell tower approval

3 weeks ago | hometownsource.com | Tad Johnson

The Apple Valley Planning Commission recommended construction of an 86-foot tall wireless communication tower on a southern portion of Bethel's Rock Church west of Cedar Avenue and north of 143th Street during its March 19 meeting. Some residents expressed concerns about the tower during the March 5 commission meeting regarding radio frequency exposure, the visual aesthetics, and a negative impact on surrounding property values.
Legion national commander makes stop in Forest Lake, other metro cities

4 weeks ago | hometownsource.com | Tad Johnson

American Legion National Cmdr. James A. LaCoursiere Jr. of Connecticut urged veterans to advocate for themselves and fellow veterans during his Tuesday, March 25, visit to Apple Valley American Legion Post 1776.
Concerns expressed about VA job cuts in Minnesota

1 month ago | hometownsource.com | Tad Johnson

When John Helcl was let go from his job at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Minneapolis, he couldn’t read the termination email since his access had been cut off. Helcl, a veteran and former chaplain, said on Tuesday during a press conference at the Dakota County Northern Service Center in West St. Paul that the move was surprising since his job was to help eliminate fraud, waste and abuse at the VA.
Residents raise concerns about cell tower in Apple Valley

1 month ago | hometownsource.com | Tad Johnson

Editor's Note: Due to a production error, a line did not appear indicating the page where the March 14 Dakota County Tribune print edition of this story continued. The last two words of the story also did not appear on Page 6 where the story continued. The full story is here. The newspaper regrets the errors.
Residents raise concerns about cell tower in Apple Valley

1 month ago | hometownsource.com | Tad Johnson

Some neighbors opposed to the construction of an 86-foot tall wireless communication tower on a southern portion of Bethel's Rock Church west of Cedar Avenue and north of 143th Street expressed their concerns during the Apple Valley Planning Commission's March 5 meeting. During public comment, three residents said their concerns were radio frequency exposure, the visual aesthetics, and a negative impact on surrounding property values. kAmr@>>:DD:@? >6>36CD D@F89E 255:E:@?2= :?7@C>2E:@?
Eagan Science Olympiad team wins state title

1 month ago | hometownsource.com | Tad Johnson

For the first time in school history, Eagan High’s Science Olympiad won the state tournament March 1 at Bethel University in St. Paul and will advance to nationals in April for the first time. “Half of us were crying, the other half were in disbelief, and when it hit us what was happening, it was one of the most surreal moments of our time at Science Olympiad,” said sophomore co-captain Jonathan Rubin.
Eagan generates most 911 calls in Dakota County

1 month ago | hometownsource.com | Kara Hildreth |Tad Johnson

Dakota 911, the county's emergency call center in Rosemount, recently released its annual report, which shows the most calls or events originated in Eagan. Eagan held the top spot for most Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) events were 54,044 or 13.4% of total calls taken in 2024, according to the report.
Look beyond school attendance numbers

1 month ago | hometownsource.com | Tad Johnson

Reporting on consistent attendance figures in the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District changed my views on these statistics and my own children’s absences from school. It’s easy to look at a statistic like District 196’s consistent attendance of 82.8% (fall 2024) and lump all the kids who aren’t attending regularly into a judgmental box. For me, that was the stereotype of kids playing hooky because they don’t like school.