With the unexpected closure of two local newspapers in the southwest metropolitan area earlier this year, community members lost publications that had delivered trusted news for decades.

Within weeks of those closures, a small group of concerned citizens began meeting to discuss the possibility of launching a local news organization to fill the news void.

According to Heather Tran, executive director of a Chanhassen-based nonprofit, A Better Society, everyone was shocked and frustrated by the sudden closure of the local newspapers. Then she and others were quickly prompted to do something about it.

On April 29, Heather Tran, her husband Khai, Bob Roepke and several other local residents met with leaders of an Eden Prairie nonprofit news organization that launched in the wake of that community’s newspaper closure two years ago.

“We knew that something needed to be done,” Heather Tran said. “Getting the right people in the room was key.”

The Eden Prairie Local News has succeeded in starting up a digital news organization to cover local government, follow sports teams, write stories about school happenings, provide obituary notices and more. That organization was willing to offer advice about how Chaska, Chanhassen, Carver and Victoria residents might bind together to make the same thing happen here.

“We hope to create something that fills the needs of the community and provides a trusted source for upcoming events and issues our community faces,” Heather Tran explains.

Unbeknownst to that group of community boosters, several others were having similar conversations about restarting a local news outlet. Two Chaska City Council members – Mike Huang and McKayla Hatfield – were among those who quickly jumped in to support the burgeoning effort. They eventually connected with the other group to join forces.

“The Chaska Herald, established in 1862, was a pillar and it was hard to look forward to what the future without things like news, obituaries, and letters to the editor would look like,” Hatfield said. “It left a hole in our community. I was surprised at how deeply sad it made me … my community that I loved so much had suffered a great loss.”

That loss spurred both elected officials to act.

“We were both passionate about there needing to be a newspaper focused on our community, our residents, and our stories,” Huang explained. Huang has since decided to not seek reelection to his council seat so he can spend more time getting the news organization off the ground.

Huang admitted he wasn’t surprised by the newspaper closures, noting that the hedge fund that owned the newspapers had a track record of running their properties down for the sake of profits.

“They would shut down purely for the benefit of shareholders elsewhere with no regard for how it would impact our local communities,” he said. “But it wasn’t enough for us just to be sad. Others, along with myself, felt that something needed to be done to rectify the situation.”

Following the closure of the newspapers, Huang said he was disheartened as social media became the primary news source for residents.

“Even the most basic news on city activities or school programs resulted in hearsay, speculation, and half-truths replacing journalist-verified facts,” he said. “People would debate or formulate opinion on issues based on a vacuum filled with guesswork and misinformation. This is no way for a community to function, and it only sows discord and bad decisions.”

Huang and others are now optimistic that a community-supported news organization can help inform and pull the communities in a positive direction.

“I’m hoping that we’ll create a well-respected, reliable, sustainable, and trusted source of news that people will rely on and trust for generations to come,” he said.

Hatfield agrees.

“My greatest hope is that Carver County Local News not only fills the hole left by the closing of our local papers, but that it is a catalyst for quality community dialogue,” she said. “I hope it reaches far into the future and makes the way for future communities to realize the potential an effort like this has crossing city boundaries.”

Over the past two months, Carver County Local News has formed a volunteer Board of Directors, with retired business owner Dan Keyport as its president. The organization has filed organizing documents with the state and federal governments, formed a 501c3 nonprofit and opened a bank account to collect donations from readers and concerned citizens.

“Our vision is to develop a new local news service that adheres to established journalism standards such as objectivity, truthfulness, fairness, respect for others, and public accountability,” Keyport said. “These principles are essential to maintaining a strong sense of community, civil public discourse, and accountability for local leaders and public institutions.”

As word has spread that a local news organization is in the works, Heather Tran said community members have come forward to offer help. Financial donations have started coming in, and other citizens have stepped up to fill volunteer roles – including reporters, graphics professionals, photographers, and more.

“People are excited and can’t wait for it to be a reality,” she said.

Hatfield reports hearing similar feedback from residents.

“There is so much excitement,” she said. “Every person I’ve told has responded with some version of excitement and relief. Often the first thing out of their mouth is ‘thank goodness.’ It seems so many were hoping there were people working on something like this. Now that the news is out, there is a great deal of anticipation for the launch.”

The organization’s initial project was creating a Voter’s Guide for the November election. Visit the Carver County Local News website, cclocalnews.org, to access the content.