A clear-eyed guide to how AI could impact Hastings, Minnesota—our residents, small businesses, schools, and City Hall. From mental health and misinformation to jobs, privacy, and public safety, we map the local risks and offer practical antidotes: policy steps for the City of Hastings and Dakota County, digital hygiene for families, playbooks for Main Street, and ethical tech design. If you care about Rivertown Days, the Mississippi River community, and the future of work in 55033, this is your roadmap to keeping Hastings human-centered in the age of algorithms.

In Hastings, Minnesota, a new nonprofit called Imagine Hastings is funneling bar-room dollars into field trips, mini-grants, and more—sparking cheers and questions in equal measure. Dive into our independent investigation of how Dugarel’s charitable arm reshapes school funding, youth alcohol norms, and community ethics, and discover what’s at stake for local families.