Design work to start on Newport commuter lot

Washington County transit planners are ready to begin detailed design of a park and ride station in Newport that is scheduled to open to commuters in 2013.

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Lehrke says city should stop review of Cottage Grove charter petition signatures

Cottage Grove City Council member Derrick Lehrke questioned the city’s inspection of nearly 1,600 signatures collected by a group of Cottage Grove residents who are seeking to create a city charter.

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Cover girl: Cottage Grove teen featured in 'Prom Guide' magazine

Being featured on the cover of “Prom Guide” is an honor in itself for Cottage Grove teen Ali Seymour. But it also came with other pluses such as a one-year modeling contract and a $5,000 college scholarship. Another perk was a trip to New York for the cover shoot.

• Ali Seymour
• Magazine cover
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After one year in office, Rep. John Kriesel challenges image of conventional legislator

With one year in the Minnesota House under his belt and a possible re-election bid later this year, Rep. John Kriesel — for better or worse politically — in many ways has proven himself to be anything but a conventional legislator.

• Rep. John Kriesel
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Washington County Attorney's Office launches alternative court program for troubled military veterans

Washington County’s Veterans Program will divert combat veterans from traditional criminal court and lay out a strict court-monitored treatment and rehabilitation plan aimed at aiding a population often beset by drug and alcohol abuse and mental illness.

• Washington County attorney
• Veterans advocate
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At Cottage Grove town hall, Sieben criticizes GOP-backed constitutional amendment proposals

Sen. Katie Sieben called Republican-backed proposed constitutional amendments “not a smart way” to govern the state.

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Budding small businesses may fill soon-to-be-vacant Cottage Grove City Hall

Officials have begun working on a plan that would transform the current city hall building on 80th Street into what they are calling a business incubator, a building that would house start-up businesses in need of more space to continue expanding.

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Crews working on Highway 61 bridge in Hastings are working to limit project delay

Crews working on the new Highway 61 bridge in Hastings are getting ever more optimistic that they will get the project completed by the late fall of 2013.

Sieben, Kriesel, McNamara all plan re-election bids in District 57

South Washington County’s state lawmakers plan to ask voters for another term this fall.

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Retiring county administrator 'will be missed'

Washington County Board members paid tribute to outgoing County Administrator Jim Schug at the final Board meeting of his 17-year tenure

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• Jim Schug

Feds indict 3 people accused of defrauding Target stores in Woodbury, Cottage Grove

Indictments were handed down last week against three people federal authorities accused of racking up thousands of dollars in fraud with counterfeit checks around the Twin Cities, including Woodbury and Cottage Grove.

Court reviewing Cottage Grove charter group's petition

A group aiming to change the way the city of Cottage Grove is governed has said it collected nearly 1,600 petition signatures, over 200 more than are needed to begin the legal process that could put a city charter before voters in a referendum.

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UPDATED: Former St. Paul Park refinery owner's benzene leak 'egregious'; new owner has alleged MPCA violation

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency said it charged Marathon Petroleum Co., former owner of the St. Paul Park oil refinery, a $700,000 civil penalty for a 2010 benzene leak. Meanwhile, a separate alleged violation is pending against the refinery's new owner, Northern Tier Energy.

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Snow, slick roads slow south Washington County commute

A new layer of snow and slick roads wreaked havoc on south Washington County drivers' commute Friday morning, causing spinouts and fender benders.

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Home construction still lagging in Cottage Grove

New home construction in 2011 crept up – barely – in Cottage Grove over 2010, with the number of new housing starts in the city still hovering near a 40-year low.

• Home construction
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