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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
Deep dives, community spotlights, and the stories that matter to South Metro residents.
Dakota CountyThree residents asked the county to do something about data centers. The county had to explain it's not legally the right address.
Apr 18, 2026
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Apple ValleyThe Arkansas-based drive-thru coffee chain just had its building dropped into place at Pilot Knob and 155th. Here's what's coming and when it opens.
Apr 17, 2026
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LakevilleLakeville's council wants a one-year timeout on new housing — and it could reshape what gets built next.
Apr 15, 2026
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Apple ValleyDistrict 196’s new busing rules mean you have to sign up to get a bus, your kid can only have two addresses, and one Rosemount road became the center of a heated debate.
Apr 15, 2026
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Apple ValleyLakeville’s school board went deep on a years-long policy backlog, got good news on the $139.6M bond, and dropped some interesting student data.
Apr 15, 2026
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Apple ValleyDistrict 196 just pulled the plug on magnet school busing at four schools and created new zones for two more — roughly 400 families need a new plan.
Apr 14, 2026
Read More →Dakota County & Scott County
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
Each issue is a 5-minute read that covers the stuff your neighbors are talking about.
Weekend plans, family activities, live music, food events, seasonal festivals — curated picks for what's actually worth your time across the South Metro.
Be the first to know about new restaurants, shops, and businesses coming to your area. From groundbreakings to grand openings.
Tax levy decisions, new housing developments, road projects — translated from bureaucratic jargon into plain English so you know how it affects you.
Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook for quick-hit local stories, new business spotlights, and community conversations between newsletters.
Long-form conversations with local business owners, community leaders, and the people shaping the South Metro. Stories you won't hear anywhere else.
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?
You want to know what's happening in your community. But right now, keeping up feels like a part-time job.
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.
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.
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
“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.”
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.
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.
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How It Works
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Show up to the best events. Understand what's happening at city hall. Actually know what's going on in your backyard.
From Your Neighbors
4,100+ 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?
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
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.
Now Booking
We match you with 5 locals for a curated dinner out — based on your age, interests, and where you like to eat. You show up. We handle everything else.
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.
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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