EPLN introduces our new reporters

Eden Prairie Local News (EPLN) hired two new staff reporters July 1, the start of its fiscal year. Rachel Hoppe, the newsroom’s new general assignment reporter, and Maddie Robinson, the schools and education reporter, joined the news organization that day.

As we begin a new school year, it’s time to get to know them a little better.

Q. Who? 

A. Rachel Hoppe is the general assignment reporter for EPLN. 

Q. Where did you grow up? Where did you go to school? 

A. “I grew up in Chanhassen, and spent a lot of time in Eden Prairie because my grandparents lived there until 2012. I graduated from Chanhassen High School in 2021, where I participated in choir, theater and speech. 

“I got my undergraduate degree in journalism and Spanish studies from the University of Minnesota and graduated last May (2025). At the U, I wrote for the Minnesota Daily and the Star Tribune. I also spent my autumns enthusiastically cheering on the Gopher football team.”

Q. When did you know you wanted to be a journalist?

A. “I grew up writing short stories and was an avid reader (Harry Potter and Percy Jackson were everything to me … and still are). My love of reading and storytelling turned into a love for journalism in high school when I realized I wanted to write stories about real people.”

Q. What do you like to write about? 

A. “I like to write about anything and everything impacting my community. I especially enjoy writing stories featuring organizations that make a positive influence on my community. I also reported on science and technology for a year at the Minnesota Daily, which I found to be a fun challenge.”

Q. What do you like to do for fun? 

A. “I enjoy reading (Fredrik Backman and Emily Henry are some of my favorite authors), singing in the car and exploring the many parks in the Twin Cities.”

Q. What are you looking forward to as an EPLN reporter? Why EPLN?

A. “I’m excited to learn more about the journalism field and to expand my reporting skills as I enter my first year post-grad. 

“I initially chose to work for EPLN because of my connection to the southwest metropolitan area, but the organization stuck with me because of its dedication to accurately and fairly representing the Eden Prairie community.” 

Q. How can readers get in touch with you?

A. “If you’d like to reach out with comments, story ideas or tips, you can email me at rachel.hoppe@eplocalnews.org. I look forward to hearing from you!”

Q. Anything else?

A. “I’m honored and humbled to report for EPLN and hope you all enjoy my articles!”

Q. Who? 

A. Maddie Robinson is the schools and education beat reporter for EPLN.

Q. Where did you grow up? Where did you go to school? 

A. “I grew up in Fargo, North Dakota! I love being busy and I was involved in a lot of extracurriculars in my school years. I attended Fargo South High School, where I participated in theater, improv, band, pep band, choir, debate, speech, math club, Knowledge Bowl, Key Club and varsity tennis. No, I did not sleep much. 

“After I graduated from high school in 2021, I moved to the Twin Cities and attended the University of Minnesota. I graduated this past May (2025) with degrees in journalism and global studies. I also have a minor in technical writing. 

“In college, I was involved in Minnesota Long Form Improv and Vocal U A Cappella. I also wrote and copy edited for the Minnesota Daily, and had internships with the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the Minnesota Women’s Press, the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal and Healthista, a women’s health publication in the United Kingdom while I was studying abroad.”

Q. When did you know you wanted to be a journalist?

A. “Ever since I was young, I always loved to write. I would constantly steal my parents’ copy paper and write stories, and it got to a point where my mom told me that I should start a family newspaper and channel my early passion for writing in that way. For a grand total of about two weeks at the tender age of 5, I was the editor-in-chief, copy editor, lead reporter and head photojournalist of “The Robinson Press,” where I would cover hard-hitting investigative stories such as what my family was having for dinner that night.

“I had a lot of ideas of what I wanted to be growing up, like a lawyer (decided against it in high school) or an astronaut (would not have been feasible because I can’t swim and I’m afraid of elevators), but being a journalist was the only thing that really stuck.”

Q. What do you like to write about? 

A. “I love writing about arts and entertainment, but some of the pieces I’m most proud of writing are about social issues.”

Q. What do you like to do for fun? 

A. “For fun, I like to go on walks, read, bake, go to the movie theater, watch and play tennis and think about my dachshunds back in Fargo.”

Q. What are you looking forward to as an EPLN reporter? Why EPLN?

A. ”I’m looking forward to learning more about the Eden Prairie area and covering such an important and ever-evolving topic like education.

“I loved the idea of working for a hyperlocal, nonprofit news publication as my first full-fledged reporting job out of college because it allows for me to connect with a community more deeply and tell stories that normally don’t get told at larger newspapers. With local news constantly being in jeopardy, the need for it only grows, and I’m happy to be part of it.”

Q. How can readers get in touch with you?

A. “Get in touch with me via my email: maddie.robinson@eplocalnews.org.” 

Q. Anything else? 

A. “I’m really good at memorizing birthdays, and I have an ever-growing snow globe collection! As mentioned before, I also have two dachshunds! Feel free to reach out and ask me about any of these important and timely topics, a story idea you have, or just to say hello. 

“On a more serious note, thank you for trusting me with telling your stories!”