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    The History of EPLN

    2020

    • June 2020: EPLN’s founders, including Brad Canham, Mark Weber, Ingrid Sundstrom, Jenifer Loon, Nancy Tyra-Lukens, Kelly Salwei, Roy Terwilliger, Vijay Dixit, Pastor Rod Anderson, David Lindahl, Jeff Strate, Dean Edstrom, PG Narayanan, Patrick Donahue, Pat MulQueeny, and Mark Neuzil, start meeting as a “working group” during the COVID-19 pandemic to create a local news outlet.
    • July 2020: EPLN is incorporated, and Jenifer Loon becomes its first CEO, with Brad Canham becoming the first editor. Together with the working group, and additional volunteers, they establish the initial systems required for an online newspaper. EPLN also receives critical support from the Eden Prairie Community Foundation, whose director Mark Weber had spent much of his career with the legacy print weekly, the Eden Prairie News.
    • Sept. 16, 2020: EPLN launches its website at eplocalnews.org, with one of the first stories being about a damaged area of a Southwest Regional LRT trail.
    • Sept. 25-26, 2020: EPLN publishes interviews with candidates for city council and school board.
    • A look back on stories from 2020.

    2021

    • February 2021: EPLN joins the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN). INN’s NewsMatch program and member education offerings are critical to EPLN’s development as a viable online news organization.
    • April 2021: The first in-person meeting of the EPLN staff and volunteers is held at Smith Coffee (everything prior was virtual).
    • April 11-20, 2021: EPLN covers breaking local news about a county-level curfew prompted by the killing of Daunte Wright and community reaction to the Derek Chauvin verdict.
    • August 2021: Jim Bayer and Stuart Sudak become co-editors, succeeding Brad Canham. Dean Edstrom leaves the board of directors, and Carol Bomben joins the board.
    • November/December 2021: EPLN conducts its first NewsMatch campaign.
    • December 2021: EPLN receives its IRS non-profit certification. Jenifer Loon resigns as CEO to become executive director of People Reaching Out to People (PROP).
    • A look back on stories from 2021.

    2022

    • January 2022: Steve Schewe becomes CEO / Publisher.
    • January 2022: EPLN receives a $5,000 Impact Grant from the Eden Prairie Community Foundation to support general operations.
    • March 2022: Ryan Williamson becomes the sports and social media editor.
    • April 2022: Isaac Kerry becomes the first beat reporter covering schools.
    • June 25, 2022: EPLN publishes its 1,000th story.
    • July 2022: Isaac Kerry steps down to run for the school board, and Juliana Allen assumes the role of school reporter.
    • October 2022: EPLN publishes an Election Voter Guide; the print edition is mailed to every household in Eden Prairie. Roy Terwilliger leaves the board and is succeeded by Frank Farrell.
    • October 17, 2022: The first in-person board meeting is held at Star Bank (all previous meetings were virtual only).
    • A look back on stories from 2022.

    2023

    • February 2023: EPLN hosts a Local News Shoptalk event at the Eden Prairie Library, attended by five other news organizations. Find the Shoptalk report here.
    • February 2023: EPLN receives a $2,500 Impact Grant from the Eden Prairie Community Foundation to support a special project on teen suicide.
    • May 2023: Brianna Collett becomes the EPLN social media editor.
    • May 2023: Jim Bayer transitions from co-editor to EPLN’s general assignment reporter, while Joanna Werch Takes assumes the role of co-editor alongside Stuart Sudak, who remains in his position as co-editor.
    • July 2023: Greg Olson becomes EPLN’s first sales specialist.
    • July 2023: Rick Olson receives second place in the sports photography category of the Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists’ Page One Awards, while Jim Bayer also receives second place in the feature reporting category for publications of less than 50,000 circulation.
    • August 2023: Gillian Holte is a finalist in the Institute for Nonprofit News Awards in the category of Insight Award for Visual Journalism.
    • October 2023: EPLN begins publication of Silent Struggles, an eight-part series on the important issues surrounding mental health and suicidal ideation in Eden Prairie teens.
    • October 2023: EPLN and the Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce host a town hall -style event, “AI: Hype, Harm, or Hope?“
    • A look back at stories from 2023.

    2024

    2025

    • January 2025: Editors’ roles are clarified and divided into editor-in-chief (Stuart Sudak) and managing editor (Joanna Werch Takes) positions.
    • January 2025: EPLN receives a $40,000 grant from Press Forward Minnesota to expand reporting on economic development and its impact on diverse communities.
    • February 2025: EPLN launches an ongoing series, Sustainability in Action, spotlighting sustainability efforts in Eden Prairie at various levels, from local government and businesses to community groups and residents.
    • March 2025: EPLN launches new newsletter highlighting local events and things to do. Events newsletter committee includes managing editor Joanna Werch Takes, social media manager Brianna Collett, and calendar editor Amy Nylander.
    • March 2025: EPLN receives a $10,000 donation from Eden Prairie Lions Club.
    • April 2025: The name of the events newsletter, chosen through means including a reader survey, is announced as Prairie Pulse, with a name reveal through a pie commissioned from Pieway to Heaven.
    • June 2025: EPLN receives a $10,000 Impact Grant from the Eden Prairie Community Foundation to support a full-time reporter.
    • June 2025: Board chair Nancy Tyra-Lukens, publisher Steve Schewe, editor-in-chief Stuart Sudak, managing editor Joanna Werch Takes, and board member Jeff Strate attend the Institute for Nonprofit News’ 2025 INN Days, held in Minneapolis.
    • June 2025: EPLN receives first place in the State Politics/Government Reporting category for coverage of the 2024 Minnesota House District 49 election at the Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists Page One Awards. Additionally, EPLN receives second place awards in Local Politics/Government Reporting for staff coverage of the 2024 elections and in Best Interview for Joanna Werch Takes.
    • July 2025: Rachel Hoppe becomes EPLN’s first full-time reporter. Her general assignment reporter position has a particular focus on expanding coverage of Eden Prairie’s diverse communities and the intersection of these communities with economic development. Maddie Robinson replaces Juliana Allen as the schools beat reporter.
    • July 2025: Publisher/CEO Steve Schewe announces his impending resignation for health reasons, and EPLN begins a search for a successor.
    • August 2025: EPLN receives a $20,000 grant from the McKnight Foundation to support general operating funds.