Driver stopped, claims only four beers at most
ELBA Minn. — An Elgin driver was arrested on State Road 26 climbing out of Elba after weaving across the center line, said the deputy who made the stop. Brian Iverson, age 52, was charged the drunken driving and also for refusing to allow being tested for his blood’s alcohol level. This was about 10:30 p.m. The deputy said Iverson admitted to three or four Bud Lights over the previous 2-1/2 hours. The deputy said Iversion failed a roadside test for controlling his gaze. Four other standard sobriety y tests weren’t possible due to the man’s previous injuries.
Iverson. Stopped heading home from Elba.
Lindell now straight as a Minnesota voter
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Finally Mike Lindell is registered as a Minnesota voter and can vote for himself for governor in the August primary election. The former MyPillow executive has done the paperwork. He said he never should have been identified as not registered. Registration should have been automatic when he renewed his Minnesota driver license, he said. “Either it was done wrong at the Secretary of State’s office or at the DMV or something,” Lindell told the Star Tribune. Truth be known: Lindell is known neither as attentive to detail nor as readily acceptng responsibility when things don’t go right. The Secretary of State’s office stood by its records as accurate.
Earlier: Lindell not a Minnesota registered voter
Police use Narcan in overdose call
WINONA, Minn. — Police injected the opioid antidote Narcan to stall a man’s suspected overdose. This was on the street near Huff and Fourth about 4:40 p.m. Medics were called to take him to the hospital. Police said the man, age 48, was familiar to them as a drug-user.
Driver held: No license, no interlock
WINONA, Minn. – Police stopped a driver who had been clocked at 62 mph in the 40 zone on Riverview Drive and then learned the driver had deeper problens. He didn’t have a court-ordered ignition interlock in place. Also: His driver license had been revoked. The stop was beyond Riverview near Fourth and Pelzer streets on the Far West End. This was about 8:10 p.m. Held to see a judge was Emerson Dwayne Griffen, age 38, of the southwest Minneapolis suburb of Excelsior.
Griffen. Arrest began as a speeding stop.
Boelter en route to federal prison for life
MINNEAPOLIS — The assassin Vance Luther Boelter as sentenced to two consecutive terms of life plus a consecutive 40-year term for the stalking and murders of state House Speaker Melissa and her husband. The sentence also covered the stalking and attempted murders of state Senator John Hoffman, his wife and their daughter Hope. These crimes were last summer. Boelter avoided a death sentence through a plea feal. Boelter was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John Tunheim, a Bill Clinton appointee. Judge Tunheim said the sentence was the longest he’s ever imposed. The sentencing was n was on Boelter’s 59th birthday. Noted the judge: “This is truly a life sentence.”
Not done with him yet
The Hennepin County’s attorney, Mary Moriarty is moving forward with its casef or first-degree premeditated murder. Conviction would also carry a mandatory sentence of life. The state sentence also woud preclude the possibility of release.
A season of violence
The Minnesota shootings were amid growing political violence that has characterized the Trump era in American life A month earlier an arsonist firebombed the home of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. In September, a gunman fatally shot conservative activist Charlie Kirk at an event at Utah Valley University.
Where next
Through his attorney, Boelter requested to serve his sentence at the 1,200-inmate Coleman federal prison 50 miles northwest of Orlando, Florida. Although a maximum security facility, the prison has an adjacent mnimum security camp.
Wildfire crews gain upper hand in Boundary Waters
Firefighters deep in smoke. Can you see them? They are among 950 personnel sent into the wilderness following lightning-ignted fires in the wilderness.
Greatest losses on Minnesota side of Canada border
ELY, Minn. — Fifteen fires remained volatile in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, including the stubborn Little Knife Fire within 10 miles of the west end of the Gunflint Trail. Foresters hoped to have every fire under control Friday. Meanwhile, adventurers are bding parts allowed again into parts of the 1.1 million-acre backcountry along the Canada border. The burned acrege exceeded 63,000 acres on the Minnesota side of ghe border. Canada lost 8,400 acres\. The public was still asked to refrain from flying drones, which endanger firefighting aircraft. The public also was asked to keep to keep boats off the water in areas where water-gathering aircraft were scooping water for aerial drops.
New law tackles naughty nudification
ST. PAUL, Minn. — A new Minnesota law becomes effective in August to discourage nudification technology. The goal: End the perverse practices like slapping full frontal images on pictures of unwitting people. Violators can be fined $500,000 per download.
$7,000 spree with missing Winona debit card
WINONA, Minn. — Somebody rang up $7,000 in unauthorized purchases on a debit that had been lost — or stolen — within the past week. The purchases were at establishments in Rochester. The usual police procedure includes viewing check-out counter surveillance video where unauthorized purchases have been made. The card-holded advised Winona police of the loss about 9:40 a.m.
10 years in partnership: Kwik Trip, Southeast College
WINONA, Minn. –A partnership between the Kwik Trip convenience store chain and Southeast College in Winona keeps on truckin’ after 10 years. The college has graduated 370 Kwik Trip drivers for the chain’s far-flung distribution system through eight states. Truck driving instructor Tom Gierok was there at the beginning. Kwip Trip, based in LaCrosse, had experience with a few Southeast drivers but by 2015 but realized it needed more. The college began cohorts twice a year exclusively for drivers whom Kwik Trip had screened and hired. Said Gierokz: “It’s a partnership that has turned into a friendship. I hope it continues for another 10 years.”
Notable journalism
Rachel Mergen (Winona Daily News, July 16, 2026): “Burke Reflects on 25 Years at Winona Volunteer Services”
Rachel Mergen (Winona Daily News, July 21, 2026): “Winona Cannabis Shop Sees Women as Nice Market”
Sarah Squires (Winona Post, May 29, 2014): “John A. Latsch: The Man, the Legacy”
News summary at mid-week: July 22, 2026
CRIME: Girlfriend: He hated my dog, bludgeoned him dead
CRIME: Why steal bike? “Mine was old, in poor condition”
CRIME: Levee harassment: “Men circling me on motorbikes”
CRIME: Man accused of boy sex: 50-plus incidents
CRIME: Warrant out for Red Wing antiques caper
CRIME: Street scuffle ends in out-of-towner’s arrest
CRIME: Arrest after flamboyant Third Street disturbance
POLITICS: Craig, Flanagan pour millions into TV ads
POLITICS: Lindell not a Minnesota registered voter
POLITICS: These creeps must hate democracy
POLITCS: GOP chief foresees doom if Lindell doesn’t quit
GOVERNANCE: Judge stalls Paramount-Warner merger
DEATH: Woman dies at outlying Winona pickleball court
TRANSPORTATION: Amtrak eyes new one-level passenger fleet
TRANSPORTATION: Allegiant drops 324 MSP September flights
Emergency, fire crews make 62 calls
WINONA, Minn. – The Fire Department reported 52 emergency medical calls plus 20 fire calls in recent days:
> Tuesday, July 21: 6 medical calls plus 2 fire call.
> Monday, July 20: 4 medical calls plus 1 fire call.
> Sunday, July 19: 7 medical calls plus 1 fire call.
> Saturday, July 18: 5 medical calls plus 3 fire call.
> Friday, July 17: 9 medical calls plus 3 fire calls.
> Thursday, July 16: 8 medical calls plus 2 fire calls.
> Wednesday, July 15: 4 medical calls plus 4 fire calls.
> Tuesday, July 14: 7 medical calls plus 2 fire calls.
> Monday, July 13: 4 medical calls plus 2 fire calls.
Earlier: Emergency, fire crews make 36 calls
Kids caught after curvets atop Pizza Hut
WINONA, Minn. — Police located jtwo uveniles who scaled a wall at the vacant Pizza Hut on the West End and were running around the place’s signature red roof. The 13-year-old boy and 12-year-old girl were scolded and turned over to their parents for more scolding. This was about 5:40 p.m.
Girlfriend: He hated my dog, bludgeoned him dead
BLUFF SIDING, Wis. — A Winona man was charged with beating his girlfriend’s dog to death at the Winona municipally owned Aghaming wildlife preserve on Latsch Island. Quintin James Ehlo, age 21, was charged in Wisconsin’s Buffalo County, which has legal jurisdiction. The girlfriend told sheriff’s deputies that Ehlo called her July 10 thar the dog, a German shepherd named Tru, was “not doing well.” Come right away to Aghaming Park, he said. At the park she found Tru dead It was heat stroke, she said Ehlo told her. An autopsy revealed. however, that the dog died of blunt-force trauma, —not the heat. She and Ehlo had shared a Winona apartment a few months after moving from Arizona. She said Ehlo took Tru without permission while she was napping. He had commented frequently how hated the dog, she said. Tru, who was 7 or 8 years old, was a service animal registered to the girlfriend.Echlo was charged with mistreatment of an animal causing death, criminal damage to property, and disorderly conduct.
Aghaming Park profile
The 1,900-acre park is a strip of wild bottomland across the Mississippi River from Winona. Lumber baron John Katsch bequeathed the land to the city in 1934. The park is one of the best-preserved floodplain forests in the country. It’s on the Mississippi flyway, a major migratory route, and a a bird-watching paradise. The park is managed jointly by the City of Winona with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Legal jurisdiction is murky because the park, being east of the Mississippi main channel, is in Wisconsin’s Buffalo County.
Feds urge double life terms for assassin
MINNEAPOLIS — Federal prosecutors urged Judge John Tunheim to sentence political assassin Vance Boelter to two life prison terms. Boelter earlier pleadedguilty to killing state Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband and shooting a state senator and his wife in June 2024. It’s been called most serious political crime in Minnesota history. In a 31-page sentencing recommendation, federal prosecutors said Boelter should “never be free again.”
Boelter. In 1989 yearbook from Christ for the Nations Institute, which is in Dallas, Texas. Earlier, in 1997, he and his wife Jenny were married in Winona. Moved numerously. Holds 1996 degree from St. Cloud State University in international relations.
Earlier: Assassin’s plea deal: Prison forever
Earlier: Feds: No death penalty for Hortman assassinations
Earlier: Assassination prosecutors unveil lode of evidence
Earlier: Boelter attorney: Assassination plea not guilty
Earlier: Minnesota assassination suspect indicted anew
Woman dies at outlying Winona pickleball court
WINONA, Minn. – A woman collapsed and died at a community pickleball court on the flatlands a couple miles beyond the Garvin Heights bluffs. Sally Ann Moran was 63. This was about 10:35 a.m. in the 23000 block of Garvin Heights Road. An autopsy was ordered
Allegiant drops 324 MSP September flights
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — The budget airline Allegiant, which specializes in vacation destinations, is cutting 10 flights a day from its Minneapolis schedule in September. These flights earlier were operated by Sun Country, which Allegiant acquired in January. Allegiant blamed a pilot shortage for the cuts. Also: Allegiant said it needs to shift aircraft to its growing cargo business. For September there will be 324 fewer MSP flights. The airline said it hopes to expand MSP service eventually.
Earlie:r: Rival discount air carriers merging
Why steal bike? “Mine was old, in poor condition”
WINONA, Minn. — Police knew to be looking for Jorge Laguardia Dermas. On surveillance video they earlier had seen him pedal a bike up to an address on West Mark Street, dismount, drop the bike to the ground, pick up another bike that already was on the property, and ride off. The video showed the swap at 11:15 p.m. Next morning: Officers located Dermas downtown on a bench at Levee Park with the Schwinn Ranger mountain bike at his feet. “Why’d you swap bikes?” His answer: Mine was old and in poor condition. Schwin Rangers areworh about about $300. He was cited with misdemeanor theft. Dermas, age 20, has been staying at the Winona homeless shelter. Earlier he lived in Richland Center, Wisconsin.
Craig, Flanagan pour millions into TV ads
ST, PAUL, Minn. — The Democratic primary for the U.S Senate in Minnesota is shaping up as one of the most expensive history. And the primary election is still 3-1/2 weeks away. Both Congresswoman Angie Craig and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan want the seat, which is being vacated by the retirement of Tina Smith. Since the start of June, more than $11 million has been spent. Most of the money has gone into louder and louder negative television ads. Flanagan claims that corporate donors want to elect Craig to do their bidding if elected. Craig’s campaign has criticized Flanagan for accepting outside support from Big Tobacco and Big Oil when she previously chaired the national Democratic Lieutenant Governor’s Association. Candidates are required to file periodic pubic reports on sources of their campaign funding, but millions of dollars in so-called “dark money ” is channeled into political action committees, which aren’t required to report their sources.
Money in and out
These are candidate campaign reports filed June 30 by leading U.S. Senate candidates on Minnesota‘s August primary election ballot:
Democrats
Angie Craig: Total received, $11.9 million; spent far, $6.9 million; remaining war chest, $5 million.
Peggy Flanagan, who holds the state party’s convention endorsement: Total received, $6 million; spent so far, $4.5 million; remaining war chest, $1.5 million
Republicans
Adam Schwarze, who holds the state party’s convention endorsement: Total received, $1.4 million; spent so far, $1.3; remaining war chest, $200,000.
Michele Tafoya: Total received, $4.7 million; spent so far, $$2.6 million; remaining war chest, $2.1 million.
Craig. In U.S. House since 2017.
Flanagan, Lieutenant governor since 2019.
Who’s leading
These are the July 14 weekly updates on Minnesota’s U.S.Senate race by the leading nonpartisan services:
Cook Political Report: Likely Democratic, unchanged for four weeks.
Inside Elections: Likely Democratic, unchanged for four weeks.
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Likely Democratic, unchanged for four weeks.
Stockton Hill being resurfaced: Expect delays
WINONA, Minn. — Commuters iver Stockton Hill in and out of Winona will find U.S. Highway 14 reduced to a single lane starting Monday. The road is being resurfaced. Flaggers and a pilot car will guide traffic. The project is expected to take to the end of September.
Judge stalls Paramount-Warner merger
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — A federal judge threw cold water on the pending Paramount-Warner mega-media merger — at least for the time being. Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin granted a 14-day restraining order after hearing the case against the merger from a coalition of states. Minnesota’s attorney general, Keith Ellison, was in the 12-state coalition. Judge Martinez-Olguin could extend the delay to six weeks if she needs more time to consider the pros and cons. The restraining order is the latest victory for Ellison, who has participated in a series of multistate coalitions opposing President Trump policy preferences. Trump favored the merger, which was engineered by Paramount’s Larry Ellison, a major political campaign donor. The state coalition claims the merger would violate federal antitrust law and lead to higher prices for access to media content and also less choices.
Earlier: Minnesota objects to scheme to tame CNN
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Levee harassment: “Men circling me on motorbikes”
WINONA, Minn. — Police arrested a Winona man on a motorbike after another man, on foot, reported being harassed at Levee Park. The complainant said two men on motorbikes kept circling him. Police arrived and saw one biker leaving. They followed him slowly with flashing red lights. After a block or so, the biker stopped but refused to dismount or identify himself or to comply with other instructions. Later he was identified as Antonio Dewayne Mitchell, age 32, of Winona, who had been warned twice before that state law forbids motorbikes on sidewalks. This was about 9:40 o.m. Back at the Levee the original reporting party, age 29, said that a court order had been issued against one of the motorbikers to stay away from him. It turned out that the restraining order had noty et been served. Officers did so on the spot.
Notable journalism
Jennifer Benderly (HuffPost, June14, 2026): “ICE-Ravaged Minnesota:\ Now Roiling in Democrats’ U.S. Senate Race”
Gabriel Hathaway (Winona Post, July 15, 2026): “Initial Vote Supports Shelter at St.Paul’s Church”
Derek Sullivan (SouthernMinn,com, February 22, 2013): “Blooming Prairie Awseome Blossoms Go for Most Unique Mascot Title”
Man sought in Lewiston domestic case
LEWISTIN, Minn. — A Lewiston woman called deputies that she had been slapped in the face during an argument with a man whom she knew. The man was gone when deputies arrived. This on First Street South about 5:10 p.m. Deputies issued a bulletin for the man to be picked up. Deputies logged the call as domestic abuse.
Southeast College honchos to national roles
WINONA, Minn. —Two administrators at Minnesota State Southeast have been appointed to commissions of the American Association of Community Colleges. To three-year terms:
> Steve McNaughton, vice president of strategic initiatives, to the Commission on Institutional and Financial Resilience.
> Ashlesha Pawar, institutional effectiveness officer, to the Association’s Commission on Research, Data and Strategic Narrative.
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