Know What's Really Happening in the South Metro
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Staying informed about your community shouldn't require a dozen Facebook groups and hours of research.
South Metro Scoop curates the local news, events, and updates that actually matter — so you can feel connected to your city without the information overload.
From the Blog
Latest Stories & Local News
Deep dives, community spotlights, and the stories that matter to South Metro residents.
EaganEagan Planning Commission Recap: Amazon Warehouse Advances, Lake Lemay Apartment Gets Shot Down
Big night in Eagan — the planning commission greenlighted the next phase of the Amazon warehouse and told a developer “no” on a lakeside apartment complex after neighbors packed the room.
Mar 2, 2026
EaganNeighbors Packed the Room and Eagan Said No — Here’s the Story Behind the Lake Lemay Apartment Proposal
Over a dozen Eagan neighbors showed up to fight a 100-unit apartment on Lake Lemay — and for now, they won.
Mar 2, 2026
EaganEagan Just Approved a 337,000 Sq. Ft. Industrial Building on the Old Thomson Reuters Campus
The old Thomson Reuters campus in Eagan keeps moving closer to becoming a major Amazon distribution hub — and the planning commission just gave the next building a thumbs up.
Mar 2, 2026
LakevilleLakeville's Marketplace at Cedar Just Got Real — Here's Every Business That's Coming
A massive new commercial hub is coming to Cedar Ave in Lakeville — and we now know exactly who's moving in.
Feb 28, 2026
LakevilleLakeville's Middle Schools Could Hit 111% Capacity by 2028 — Here's Why the District Says It Can't Wait
Lakeville's middle schools are on track to hit 111% capacity by 2028-29, and the growth isn't slowing down.
Feb 28, 2026
HastingsHockey Day Minnesota 2026 Came to Hastings — And It Was Absolutely Brutal (in the Best Way)
Hastings hosted the 20th Hockey Day Minnesota with pro hockey, high school games, and wind chills that made your eyelashes freeze.
Feb 28, 2026
Dakota County & Scott County
Covering the Entire South Metro
From Shakopee to Hastings, we cover the communities south of the Minnesota River. If it's happening here, it's in the Scoop.
What's Inside
Everything You Need to Stay in the Loop
Each issue is a 5-minute read that covers the stuff your neighbors are talking about.
Local Events & Festivals
Weekend plans, family activities, live music, food events, seasonal festivals — curated picks for what's actually worth your time across the South Metro.
New Businesses & Openings
Be the first to know about new restaurants, shops, and businesses coming to your area. From groundbreakings to grand openings.
City Council & Development News
Tax levy decisions, new housing developments, road projects — translated from bureaucratic jargon into plain English so you know how it affects you.
Social Media & Video
Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook for quick-hit local stories, new business spotlights, and community conversations between newsletters.
The South Metro Scoop Podcast
Long-form conversations with local business owners, community leaders, and the people shaping the South Metro. Stories you won't hear anywhere else.
Blog & Deep Dives
When a story needs more than a newsletter blurb — full coverage of city council meetings, development projects, and issues that impact your daily life.
Sound Familiar?
Local Information Shouldn't Be This Hard to Find
You want to know what's happening in your community. But right now, keeping up feels like a part-time job.
Scattered Across a Dozen Sources
Facebook groups for every city. Individual event calendars. City websites buried in PDFs. You'd need to check ten different places just to plan your weekend or understand what the school board decided.
Overwhelmed by National Noise
Your feeds are flooded with national news, political outrage, and algorithm-picked content. The local stuff that actually affects your daily life gets buried under the noise.
Blindsided by Changes in Your Backyard
A new development gets approved two blocks away and you had no idea. The tax levy changes and you didn't even know there was a vote. You find out about the best events after they already happened.
That's Why We Built This
Think of Us as the Friend Who Reads City Council Notes So You Don't Have To
“We know how hard it is to stay on top of what's happening when information is scattered across Facebook groups, city websites, and event calendars. You care about your community — you just don't have hours to research it all yourself.”
Hyperlocal Focus
We only cover the South Metro — never broader, never diluted. Every story is about the cities you live in, the roads you drive, and the neighborhoods you call home.
Plain Language, Not Jargon
City council voted on a tax levy increment financing district? We'll tell you what that actually means for your property taxes. Complex local government, made simple.
Curated to Your Inbox
No searching, no scrolling, no algorithm deciding what you see. The most important local news and events, delivered directly to you every Monday and Thursday morning.
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How It Works
Three Steps to Never Missing Out Again
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Read Every Monday & Thursday
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Be the Neighbor Who Knows
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From Your Neighbors
What South Metro Residents Are Saying
3,700+ subscribers across Dakota County and Scott County.
I LOVE your newsletter! Thank you for doing the research for me!
Sammy
Burnsville
Informative, concise and very helpful.
Bill
Apple Valley
Excellent variety of stories and all relevant to our area.
Charlie
Hastings
Is This For You?
You Might Need the Scoop If…
If any of these sound like you, you're exactly who we write for.
You find out about the best local events after they already happened
A new development popped up near your house and you had no idea it was approved
You're in 5+ Facebook groups but still feel like you're missing things
You care about local decisions but don't have time to watch 3-hour council meetings
You keep hearing about new restaurants and businesses weeks after they open
You moved to the South Metro and want to feel like you actually belong here
What Changes
Become the Neighbor Who Always Knows What's Going On
When friends ask “Did you hear about that new restaurant?” or “What's happening with that development on Main Street?” — you're the one with the answer. You're not just living in the South Metro. You're connected to it.
Before
Scattered across Facebook groups, surprised by local changes, missing events, feeling disconnected from your own community.
After
Informed, connected, and confident. You know what's happening, where to go, and what decisions are being made — every week.
South Metro Restaurant Guide
By South Metro Scoop
Free Download
The South Metro Restaurant Guide
Our curated guide to the best local restaurants across Dakota County and Scott County — from hidden gems to community favorites.
- ✓Top picks in every South Metro city
- ✓New restaurant openings and reviews
- ✓Local favorites you won't find on Yelp
- ✓Family-friendly, date night, and quick lunch picks
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Common Questions
Everything you need to know about the Scoop.
Yes, completely free. You subscribe with your email, get the newsletter twice a week, and that's it. No credit card, no paywall, no catch. We're supported by local business sponsors who want to reach engaged South Metro residents.
Twice a week — every Monday and Thursday morning. Monday gets you set for the week ahead, Thursday helps you plan your weekend. Each issue takes about 5 minutes to read. We respect your inbox and will never spam you.
We cover Lakeville, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Eagan, Farmington, Prior Lake, Savage, Shakopee, Rosemount, and Hastings — essentially the communities south of the Minnesota River across Dakota County and Scott County.
A mix of local events and festivals, new business openings, city council decisions that affect your daily life, development updates, community news, and occasional deep dives on important local issues. We skip crime and political drama — just the stuff that helps you stay informed and enjoy living here.
Facebook groups are scattered, unfiltered, and cover one city at a time. South Metro Scoop curates the most important news across all ten cities into a single, easy-to-read email. No algorithm deciding what you see, no scrolling through drama — just the information that matters, delivered on a consistent schedule.
Anytime, with one click. There's an unsubscribe link in every email. No hoops, no guilt trips. But honestly? Most people don't. Once you start getting the Scoop, you realize how much you were missing.
Don't Miss What's Happening in Your Neighborhood
The next city council decision, the next great restaurant opening, the next weekend festival — it's all in the Scoop. Subscribe now and never be the last to know again.
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