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CIRCLE PINES: Declares vacancy on City Council PAGE 10
Enforcement activity disrupts local businesses BY MAYA BETTI NEWS INTERN
MADELINE DOLBY | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
Legislators and representatives of the Centennial School District got together for breakfast at the district office to discuss the district’s priorities going into the legislative session, which will begin on Tuesday, Feb. 17.
Centennial covers 2026 priorities with area legislators BY MADELINE DOLBY EDITOR
Before the legislative session starts, Centennial staff and school board members meet with area legislators over breakfast to share the district’s needs. In turn, senators and representatives share how the district can help them in
reaching some of their goals. “(This) is an opportunity for dialogue and conversation around things that matter to Centennial Schools, but also the communities that we serve,” said Centennial Schools Superintendent Jeff Holmberg. At this year’s breakfast, Sen. Heather Gustafson (DFLDistrict 36), Sen. Michael Kreun
(R-District 32) and Rep. Matt Norris (DFL-District 32B) were in attendance. In 2026, the district has three priorities it would like legislators to focus on. There also are lingering items from previous legislative sessions that were included.
As thousands of federal agents are deployed in and around the state, locals have come to find the doors to their favorite restaurants and businesses shuttered. Some are covered in handwritten Post-it notes saying things like “We are here for you” and “We miss you.” Beyond those doors, owners and staff wrestle with uncertainty as they navigate what’s next for their business. In Circle Pines, residents and business owners have also rallied around those affected by recent ICE activity. On Jan. 14, ICE agents detained a legally employed worker at Pancho’s Taqueria. Footage of the incident shows two plain-dressed agents cornering the worker while he retrieved something from a storage unit behind the restaurant. The agents then grabbed him and threw him to the ground before taking him to Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis. Within 12 hours, he was in a processing facility in El Paso, Texas. SEE BUSINESS IMPACT, PAGE 8
SEE LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST, PAGE 12
Meet the new faces on the Lino Lakes City Council This year, two newly elected members joined the Lino Lakes City Council. Council Members Julia Nelson and Randy Rennaker — both longtime residents of the community — recently shared with the Press their backgrounds, what motivated them to seek office and their priorities as they start their terms. Council Member Julia Nelson: CONTRIBUTED
Julia Nelson
Q: Tell us a little about yourself. A: I have lived in Lino
Q: What first motivated you to get involved with city government? A: I joined the Lino Lakes Environmental Board about three years ago because I love our rural feel, and I wanted to do what I could to protect our environment and water for the animals and people who live here. Q: How has your past experience prepared you for this role?
A: Being on the Environmental Board gave me insight into how Lino was developing, which led me to attend many City Council meetings to further expand my knowledge of how and why decisions were made. My managerial experience gives me insight into budgets, taxes and how to plan thoughtfully. Q: What do you see as top priorities for the city and why? A: My top priorities for our city for the next four years will be to: (a) hold taxes steady, (b) fully fund our public safety programs, (c) figure out a way to pay for The Rookery, because it is an excellent public asset and (d) protect our
environment as development happens. Q: How do you define successful leadership at the local level? A: I define successful leadership in several ways: (a) accessibility, (b) representation and (c) boldness. A leader must be easily accessible to those she represents, she must stand up for what her constituents want, and she mustn’t be afraid to advocate even if constituent desires are unpopular with other city leaders. SEE CITY COUNCIL Q&A, PAGE 2
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