John Mueller
Verified
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by John Mueller
There’s more to MCA results than proficiency
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com Understandably so, folks took note of the results from last spring’s Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs), tests given to New Prague students and children across the state last spring to assess their proficiency with curriculum meant to meet state standards.
Standing up for what she believes was right
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com While the other members of the Scott County Board might not have agreed, Commissioner Barb Weckman Brekke did what she believed was the right thing to do when she publicly backed Rep. Angie Craig’s unsuccessful bid for a U.S. Senate post representing Minnesota. Commissioner Weckman Brekke, whose district includes the portion of New Prague in Scott County, appeared in a commercial endorsing Craig’s failed bid for Senate.
Standing up for what she believes was right
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com While the other members of the Scott County Board might not have agreed, Commissioner Barb Weckman Brekke did what she believed was the right thing to do when she publicly backed Rep. Angie Craig’s unsuccessful bid for a U.S. Senate post representing Minnesota. Commissioner Weckman Brekke, whose district includes the portion of New Prague in Scott County, appeared in a commercial endorsing Craig’s failed bid for Senate.
BakerHostetler Advises Powder Alloy Corporation in Acquisition by AE Industrial Partners, LP
DOJ Expands Health Care Fraud Strike Force to Philadelphia: What Providers, Life Sciences Companies and Investors Should Do Now
Assessing the perils, if any, of nuclear proliferation
Since 1945 the number of people who have died in a nuclear explosion is zero. The number who have died as a result of dedicated efforts to halt nuclear proliferation, however, registers in the hundreds of thousands—mostly in Iraq as the result of sanctions and then war to keep its leader, Saddam Hussein, out of the nuclear club. Throughout, people have obsessed about the potential for massive, even civilization-ending, destruction seemingly inherent in the weapons.
Election interference by foreigners
Last Thursday, President Donald Trump rendered his highly-touted prime time speech about how foreigners, particularly the Chinese, have been interested in intervening in US political campaigns. Although promising “shocking” revelations, the speech has been broadly attacked for mainly recycling already-debunked charges that Trump has previously repeatedly made and for the fact that the documents that the president grandly released to support his case often refute his charges.
Happy birthday to us
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com Somehow, we’ve made it this far – 250 years old. With the power of governance divided between a central national government and individual states, the United States celebrated its 250th birthday as a constitutional federal republic and a representative democracy this past week. We’ve been around for 250 years. That’s a drop in the bucket compared to some governments around the world. Fifty years ago, we thought 200 years was a really big deal.
NP Legion team showing strong bounce-back after a loss
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com The few times New Prague’s American Legion team has lost, the team has rebounded with a win, a resilience impressing team leaders and coach Jackson Sirek. Case in point: Saturday, July 27, the NP team fell to Zumbrota-Mazeppa, 19-10, in the first game of a round-robin mini-tournament at Jordan. New Prague rebounded with a nice win over Jordan, 5-1. Monday, June 22, NP dropped a 10-2 decision to Prior Lake.
For Dorner, Olympic experience is a special lifetime memory
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com He entered the Special Olympics 2026 USA Games looking to enjoy the experience and do the best he could. For New Prague’s Seth Dorner, mission accomplished. A defender on the soccer team, Dorner and his teammates from the Prior Lake-Savage Soccer Club represented their state and themselves well, winning a silver medal. The team fell in the championship, a 2-1 overtime loss. Team Minnesota fell to Maryland, 2-0, Monday, June 22.
You’ll like what the USPS delivers
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com There have been a few posts on the local social media pages the past few months regarding the site of the anticipated new post office and if the post office isn’t going to use it, maybe – insert the name of your favorite restaurant – might be interested.
Home run derby was a blast for area family
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com By all accounts, the 10th annual Home Run Derby to benefit Jacob Kirchner and his family was, well, a grand slam as generous donors overwhelmed the Belle Plaine family with financial support, a wheelchair-accessible minivan, financial support and a sense that people they don’t even know genuinely care when a child and his family are in need.
Before the first firework is fired towards the heavens, plenty of work has already been completed
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com Hours before the first shell wwill be fired into a dark sky over New Prague, a crew will started working on the launch site. But the actual work of presenting a fireworks show tomorrow evening began weeks ago.
DRS action from the past week
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com River Valley League action also. Irish come up just short vs. Waconia Irish bats were strong against the Waconia Lakers Sunday, June 21, but it wasn’t enough as St. Patrick fell, 9-8, at Bonin Field. Waconia Lakers were the first to get on the board in the first when Matt Mieras hit a sacrifice fly, scoring one run.
NP Special Olympians thankful for the games
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com Whether they are competing as athletes or volunteering their time to make another athlete’s or spectator’s experience more enjoyable, a pair of New Prague men have a special connection to the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games this week in the Twin Cities. New Prague’s Seth Dorner is a member of the soccer team representing Minnesota, one of 258 special Olympians from the state.
Stepaniak left legacy for New Prague students
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com Former superintendent led effort to build new high school It’s unlikely the students who’ll walk the hallways and sit in the classrooms at New Prague High School ever heard of Robert A. Stepaniak. But he’s the former school district superintendent who led the effort to build the new high school nearly 30 years ago. Surrounded by his family, Stepaniak passed away Saturday, June 13, after an extended illness.
Remember our Vietnam vets
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com In the mid- and late-1960s, the United States began drafting its young people into military service in a faraway place called Vietnam. It’s safe to say many of them had never heard of the southeast Asian country nor understood why they were being called to serve. And yet, they went. They suffered casualties, were maimed, and died for their country and the pursuit of its political and commercial interests in the region.
NP shooters earn a trip to clay target state meet
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com When they started the season neither one would have likely stated they would make the Minnesota State High School League’s clay target state meet. Yet when the top shooters in the state line up and take aim at clay targets flying across a field at the Minneapolis Gun Club in Credit River, New Prague’s Ava Chlan and Amber Indykiewicz will be among the trapshooters competing as individuals at the state meet.
What are you willing to pay for?
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com New Prague city councilors met in a special meeting Monday, June 8, to discuss a challenging question – how to handle the city’s budget today and in the future and begin to discuss the long-term plan for how to bridge the gap between that the city and its residents want and what they are willing to pay for.
With lofty goals, legion baseball team off to fast start
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com Armed with players from the New Prague High School varsity team, NP’s American Legion Post 45 baseball team is all-in on enjoying a strong season this summer. This year’s team is working to reschedule games initially lost because of the extended high school season. The 45s will play Rochester Saturday, June 20, 7 p.m., at Memorial Park. Monday, June 22, 7 p.m., NP will be at Prior Lake and Thursday, June 25, 6 p.m., the team heads east to face Rosemount.
NP teacher offers students hands-on lessons in business
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com Growing up, she never looked at education as the career which would define her adult life. Thirty-plus years after she arrived in New Prague to begin teaching elementary school students, Jodi Prchal has used a strong work ethic and lessons on how to earn a living to provide lifelong lessons for students at Falcon Ridge. Prchal was recently honored by the Minnesota Council on Economic Education as its Elementary Educator of the Year.
Area boy with a love of baseball guest of honor at annual HR Derby
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com If he could, if his body would allow it, Jacob Kirchner would love to play baseball with his friends. Sadly, the 14-year-old boy from Belle Plaine cheers for his favorite teams – the Tigers and his big brother, Zachary, who plays outfield for the high school and town baseball teams.
Trojans shine bright at state track meet
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com New Prague’s athletes made a strong showing last week at the Minnesota State High School League’s Class AAA track and field championships at St. Michael-Albertville High School, setting new school records and advancing several athletes to the medals stand. In the pole vault, John Walters cleared 14 feet to finish eighth and earn all-state.
Hiring process missed the mark on equity
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com The New Prague School District loves to credit itself for its attention to treating everyone equally. And there’s no reason to believe the district is sincere with its claim equity matters. But in a recent case, its attention to the notion of treating everyone equally missed the mark. Badly. The district recently hired Michael Schmidt as its new director of activities. He’ll replace Brad Skogerboe, a man who is resigning after 18 years in New Prague.
New Prague’s Kallal finishes state golf meet with strong Day 2 performance
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com A strong second-day performance vaulted New Prague’s Azalea Kallal 18 places in the individual standings at the Minnesota State High School League’s Class AAA state golf tournament Tuesday and Wednesday, June 9-10, at Bunker Hills Golf Course in Coon Rapids. Competing as an individual, Kallal, a ninth-grader, shot 82-76 to finish in tied for 23rd at the state tournament. The 82 (10-over par) she shot Tuesday, June 9, left her in 41st place.
Orioles win a pair of town baseball games
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com New Prague improved its position in the Dakota-Rice-Scott (DRS) League standings with a pair of wins in the past week. The Orioles thumped Shakopee Sunday, May 31, and topped Lonsdale two days earlier. Sunday, June 7, 2 p.m., the O’s travel to face the Waldorf Wood Ducks. After two games, the quackers are looking for their first win. Tuesday, June 9, 7:30 p.m., NP will face Lonsdale again, this time at Memorial Park, New Prague.
Trojans take second in section baseball tournament
Lead Summary New Prague's baseball team out-performed its No. 3 seed and finished second in the Section 1AAAA baseball tournament. By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com New Prague High School's baseball team suffered two losses to Farmington Tuesday, June 2 after the newspaper's print edition went to press, in Dundas and settled for a second place finish in the Section 1AAAA baseball tournament.
NP golf teams strong at section meet
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com Kallal earns state berth Although they advanced only one golfer to the state tournament, New Prague’s girls’ and boys’ golf teams were strong at the Section 2AAA meet Tuesday and Wednesday, May 26-27, at Ridges of Sand Creek in Jordan. The NP girls took second in the team competition, posting a two-day, 36-hole total of 676. Minnetonka won the team competition at 581. Orono took third at 705.
U.S. Post Office has lease for new site
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com While there has been little progress to creating a new U.S. Post Office for New Prague, behind-the-scenes work toward a new home for a facility has continued. The Postal Service has secured a lease for a new facility at 1102 First St. NE in New Prague, said Desai Abdul-Razzaaq of the U.S. Post Office’s Corporate Communications Office. The location is the site of the former Pizza Ranch restaurant just east of the intersection of NE 10th Ave.
Letter to the editor: Restore a metallic dollar now
Published May 29, 2026 The Washington Times I have written for more than 40 years about the “reserve currency curse”: America’s heavy burden of supplying the world’s “reserve currency.” By devaluing the U.S. dollar from about 1/20th of an ounce of gold under President Washington to less than 1/4,000th of an ounce today, the markets have made it possible to restore a metallic (gold and silver) dollar. The task would not be easy, but it is now doable.
Backs against the wall, Trojans earn rematch against South
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com After a tough loss in the opening round of the Section 1AAAA playoffs, New Prague has rallied with a pair of wins and has earned a chance at playing the role of spoiler. The Trojans were slated to take on Lakeville South Tuesday, May 26, in Austin after the newspaper’s press deadline. Lakeville South opened the section tournament Tuesday, May 19, defeating the Trojans soundly. NP didn’t fold after the thumping.
Trojans rally to advance in section baseball playoffs
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com The New Prague Trojans rallied in their first game, 5-4, of the Section 1AAAA baseball tournament, Monday, May 25. In the bottom of the seventh inning of the game at Memorial Park, the Trojans, seeded third, scored four times to beat Lakeville South, seeded sixth. (Further details of the game were not available as of press time.) New Prague took on the second seeded Lakeville North Panthers, Wednesday, May 27, at Lakeville North.
Lawmakers did what they were supposed to do: Please don’t applaud
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com The Minnesota Legislature called it a day Sunday, May 18, taking credit in the House for working together for the good of the state and its citizens as mature adults ought to do. People working together for a common good, compromising and acting reasonably in a legislative session will oftentimes occur when the two major parties enjoy equal representation.
The class of 2026’s graduation was worth waiting for
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com Any New Prague High School graduate who was asked Saturday afternoon agreed postponing the ceremony to Saturday afternoon, May 23, 2 p.m. was the right decision. On a sunny afternoon, 343 seniors joined the ranks of graduates ready to begin the next chapter of their lives. Rain before and up to the commencement ceremony’s scheduled 7 p.m. start time Friday evening prompted the rescheduling of the ceremony to Saturday.
Shimota brings a unique blend of skills to POPS committee
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com When he thought about a contribution to the committee raising funds to build the Praha Outdoor Performance Stage (POPS) in New Prague, Eddie Shimota might have been able to cut a check and be done with the matter. But Shimota, owner of Shimota Project Management, noticed the committee had plenty of generous, dedicated and talented people, but none of them with much experience building anything.
Town ball, DRS teams back for another season
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com This spring, area town baseball teams in the Dakota-Rice-Scott League have returned to the diamond for another season ending with New Prague being one of the communities hosting state tournament games. Area teams were asked about their prospects for the season which started last month. Those which responded are listed below. The New Prague Times will begin covering area teams in greater depth as the high school seasons end.
Congratulations to the Class of 2026
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com Tomorrow evening, Friday, May 22, New Prague High School’s Class of 2026 and seniors from the community, regardless of where they attend high school will join the ranks of high school graduates this community has a right to be proud of and hold in high esteem. Young people are the future of this community, its future leaders, its someday civic leaders, its elected representatives of a community looking up to you.
Hayden Tourtillott: The diploma is for her; the ceremony is for the people who stood behind her
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com She could have taken any of a number of easier routes to graduating high school. Friday night, Hayden Tourtillott will receive her high school diploma as a reward to herself for not giving up and thinking of her future. Hayden Tourtillott, 20, should have graduated with New Prague High School’s Class of 2024.
Boy volleyball clips White Hawks
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com New Prague’s boys’ volleyball had a light week as the Trojans clipped the Westonka White Hawks in four games in a Metro West Conference Match, Tuesday, May 5. New Prague won with scores of 25-19, 25-19 and 25-18 and Westonka won one 25-20. This week the Trojans started with two home matches, first against Austin, Monday, May 11, and then against Jefferson, Tuesday, May 12. Scores for the matches were not available as of press time.
Some taking a stand against new state flag
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com The city of Belle Plaine has reportedly received a request from citizens to not fly the Minnesota state flag. New Prague has not received such a request. Over a dozen Minnesota cities and many townships have decided to reject the new state flag. The decision is understandable. Lacking creativity, it looks like a design an elementary student could have created using clip art. To its credit, the new flag addresses Gov.
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com On a windy afternoon in New Prague, the NPHS boys’ tennis team defeated Mankato East in the opening round of the section boys’ tennis team tournament Tuesday afternoon, May 12, at the high school.
New Prague’s golf teams enjoy solid showings
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com New Prague High School’s girls’ and boys’ golf teams have enjoyed the benefits of practice and patience during the past week. The teams have earned solid showings at area courses and on the road. The NP girls will host Metro West teams tomorrow, Friday, May 1, 1:30 p.m., at New Prague Golf Club for a nine-hole event. Wednesday, May 6, 3 p.m., Waconia will visit Creeks Bend GC for a dual meet.
Rebuilding trust
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com New Prague city councilors approved the purchase of two Matrice 4TD Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAV) from Vertex Unmanned Solutions for $24,598. Last Monday, April 20, drones the police department will use to serve the public in times of urgent need – when searching for a lost person, searching for a suspect or someone in need.
Von Bank dedicated decades of service to New Prague
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com When he was working a shift for the old New Prague Ambulance Service, there was never a need to ask Harry Von Bank how to get to wherever the ambulance was headed. He just knew the way. From its inception in 1969 through 2010, Harold ‘Harry’ Von Bank gave 41 years of his life to the community’s ambulance service. Von Bank passed away earlier this month, April 10. He was the last surviving member of the people who formed the old New Prague Ambulance Service.
John Mueller (@johnmu.com)
This is a heavily interactive web application, and JavaScript is required. Simple HTML interfaces are possible, but that is not what this is. Post John Mueller johnmu.com did:plc:4cv34f5o756rx377sm3mhrhm Some sites go up, some sites go down - I don't see anything exceptional there. 2026-04-30T10:15:39.362Z
Why Perfect SEO Doesn’t Exist (And Why That’s Actually Good News)
I’ve been running PWD Digital Agency since 2007. I’ve personally reviewed thousands of websites, diagnosed hundreds of ranking problems, and watched businesses panic over technical errors that turned out to be completely irrelevant to their search performance. Here’s what I’ve learnt: the web doesn’t reward perfection. It rewards resilience. John Mueller from Google recently said something that should change how you think about SEO entirely.
Hockey community taking on a worthy task
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com Back in the late-1980s, when Shakopee’s ‘Bubble,’ home of the community’s fledgling hockey program, went down for the last time, community members matter-of-factly assumed they could go to an area indoor rink for hockey practices and games. For many years, a dedicated group of guys had mended the bubble. They repaired the ripped fabric by hand, sometimes in sub-zero temperatures, and reinflating the Bubble after snowfalls.
Boys’ volleyball starts season with hearty action
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com The New Prague High School boys’ volleyball team saw a lot of action with two matches and then its first tournament. “The first week of competition for the boys’ volleyball program was one that kept everyone's heart rate up,” said head coach Greg Sayuk. The Trojans were on the road for two matches this week. The first was at Richfield Tuesday, April 14, and New Prague faces Eagan tonight (Thursday, April 16).
NP’s indoor softball team opens with two wins
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com New Prague’s indoor softball team is off to a fast start with a pair of important wins and two big games this week. The Trojans, 2-0, defeated their longtime rivals from Lakeville-Farmington-Burnsville Wednesday, April 8, in New Prague and then thumped Minnetonka-Wayzata, April 13, at Minnetonka. Yesterday, Wednesday, April 15, after the newspaper’s print deadline, New Prague faced Shakopee-Prior Lake-ChaskaChanhassen.
A changing of the whistle
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com Saturday evening, April 11, at the 138th annual New Prague Firemen’s Dance & Drill, drillmaster Drew Koloc (left) handed over the whistle to new drillmaster Sam Peterson. Koloc is retiring with 14 years on the fire department, 11 as the drill team’s drillmaster. Peterson is a three-year member of the fire department and the department’s lone military veteran. Tradition calls for the drillmaster to be a military veteran.
NPHS teacher brings experience on Navy aircraft carrier back to classroom
By: John Mueller, news@newpraguetimes.com Some of her students and colleagues spent their spring break at the beach while others traveled with their families to various other vacation destinations. New Prague High School instructor Allison Olson spent a portion of her time away from the classroom learning how thousands of sailors work together aboard a US Navy aircraft carrier at sea. Olson spent her spring break participating in the Navy Educators at Sea program.
Show More
loading
Actions
Get in touch with John
Contact John, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack