Heather Tran, co founder of "The Better Society"
In this episode of the Living in Carver County Podcast, host Greg Anderson talks with David Brecht, Director of Finance & Operations for Eastern Carver County Schools (District 112), about the upcoming November 4th school funding referendum.
They discuss Minnesota’s state funding gap, how local referendums support classrooms in Chaska, Carver, Chanhassen, and Victoria, and how the proposal could affect homeowners’ property taxes. You’ll learn how housing growth, student enrollment, and inflation shape the district’s financial outlook.
It’s everything voters need to make an informed choice this fall.
Learn more at eccsvote.org, call 952-556-6107, or email eccsvote@district112.org
Taylor Hubbard is the new Mayor of Chaska after years on the city council and time on the board of the Chaska Human Rights Commission. We talk about municipal projects underway as well as upcoming commercial development happening in Chaska. She has a huge heart for service, a sharp mind and commitment to the community.
Please refer to the City of Chaska's web site for information about new developments in Chaska at www.chaskamn.gov/174/Proposed-Developments
The South West Chamber of Commerce serves the cities of Chaska, Chanhassen, Victoria & Carver as well as the broader Carver County area. Since combining the chambers several years ago, the combined efforts have been a force multiplier and enabled business to expand, network and collaborate across city boundaries to promote local business and commerce. Steve has brought a breath of varied work experience along with a renewed sense of enthusiasm. Steve shares the exciting events they have on the horizon.
Welcome back to Living In Carver County, the podcast that dives deep into the people, places, and stories that make our corner of Minnesota so vibrant. In this episode, we are spotlighting a powerful force in local journalism—one that’s bringing news back to the heart of our community.
Joining me is Mike Huang, board chair of Carver County Local News, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a bold mission: to restore a dedicated news operation to Chanhassen, Chaska, Carver, and Victoria. In an era where local reporting is vanishing, this grassroots effort is stepping up to keep our residents informed—covering everything from city council meetings and school updates to sports scores and neighborhood events.
Fueled by volunteer subscriptions and community donations, Carver County Local News isn’t just reporting stories—it’s building a civic lifeline. In this episode, Mike shares the vision behind the organization, the challenges of launching a nonprofit newsroom, and why local journalism is essential to the health of our towns.
So grab your coffee, settle in, and let’s explore how one group is rewriting the narrative for local news—right here in Carver County.
To scribe: http://cclocalnews.org
To donate: http://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_id=2GMD9J9LAM54S
Graham Johnson wanted to be a writer most of his life. He landed what he thought was going to be a dream job reporting for SW News on the Chaska Herald and Chanhassen Villager. Unfortunately for Graham and the community, the parent company decide to close both papers. We visit a little about the importance of local news and then dig into effective story telling. Graham is kind, thoughtful and gives some wonderful insights and crafting communication. Please enjoy this fun conversation and be sure to check out-https://carvercurrent.com/villager-tower for some local news with a flair by Rickie Schultz per Graham :-)
Have you ever read those thoughtful editorials about the human condition in the Chaska Herald or Chanhassen Villager? Doug and Lynn Nodland offer readers wisdom and assurance based on years of life experiences as accomplished professionals, Lynn in counseling and Doug practicing law. They now run a successful coaching business and work with clients of all ages but with a specialty with people going through profound live changes. Whether it is in caring for family members at end of life or people going through career or personal changes, they help clients navigate with grace and confidence. I invite you to really listen for their warmth and sage insights. To find out more and to read other columns they've published, visit them online at:
TheBalanceCenter.com
SharingLifesLessons.com
Policing has changed radically over the past several years. Bad policing makes the news and affects public opinion, making a hard job, even harder to do and a challenge to recruit new officers. Given the fact that the Carver County Sheriff's Department are responsible for policing everywhere in Carver County except Chaska, we thought an update from Carver County Sherriff Jason Kamerud was due.
Jason is a lifelong Carver County resident and is fully invested in the community. He talks about recent challenges and the proactive way the department is addressing those issues. As our area continues to grow, the spotlight will get even brighter. Innovations and strategic thinking will make all the difference. We hope you enjoy this fast paced conversations with Sherriff Jason Kamerud. (This episode was recorded before the Burnsville shootings. Our hearts go out to everyone affected by this terrible and senseless tragedy)
Back for another visit is long time Chaska community advocate Bob Roepke to discuss happenings in Chaska and broader Carver County Minnesota. Bob has a great deal to be thankful for and we discuss that in detail and as always, Bob drops a ton of wisdom for anyone wanting to make a difference in their community. We also talk about some important changes happening downtown Chaska with Cooper's Grocery store and Bob graciously acknowledges the decades of contribution the Coopers have made to Chaska and Carver County. Please enjoy this conversation with one of my very favorite people!
Thank you for your interest in Living In Carver County Minnesota and our hyper-local podcast. What started as a bit of a lark is now in season 6 and we've been humbled by your feedback and inspired by your feedback and guest recommendations. Our lofty objectives are to educate listeners about local events, happenings and introduce them to the people who make them happen. We try to do that in an informal and hopefully entertaining way, we are not "60 Minutes" so we don't try and trip people up to make them look bad, but we do try and go beyond a Facebook Meme or a bumper sticker and ask the questions you would ask if you were sitting down for coffee. Lastly, we hope to inspire you to get engaged and maybe even involved in Carver County organizations, activities and for you to make your difference.
This season we have some wonderful guests who have already agreed to talk and of course we are always looking for interesting people, stories and causes, so please reach out to me with YOUR ideas. Greg :-)
Grecia is the Executive Director of Latino Voices, an organization formed in 2019 with a mission to connect and inform the Latino Community in Carver County with resources, news, events, and activities that will improve their livelihoods and give them opportunities to thrive and succeed. Grecia and her team also help people in our local communities and organizations learn about the Hispanic Culture and are committed to recognize the contributions of Latinos to Carver County. VOICES= Voice, Organize, Inspire, Connect, Equip, Serve.
To find out more about Latino Voices, visit or reach out to-
Email: betzygf@gmail.com
