CHATFIELD, Minn. —The State Patol confirmed a fatality in a two-vehicle collision on U.S. Highway 52 outside Chatfield in southern Olmsted County. Until family are notified, the names were not released. The collision occurred on wet pavement about 11:45 p.m. This was near the County Road 7 intersection.

> A Preston man, age 40, driving a 2013 Ford Explorer, was northbound ward Rochester.

> A Chicago man, age 62, driving a 2015 Jeep Cherokee, was southbound into Chatfield.

WINONA, Minn. — A driver, unfamiliar with the steep and dangerous crooks on Garvin Heightts Road, lost control near the base. Desperate to regain control, the driver pressed his emergency brake, which compounded the problem. The vehicle slid sideways through a grove of trees, rolled twice, and stopped finally on its roof in the U.S. Highway 61 ditch at Huff Street. Both occupants were taken to the Winona hospital. Police described their injuries as non-life threatening. A dog in the vehicle survived.This was about 12:45 p.m.

WINONA, Minn. — A Lewiston man posted $75,000 bail and was released on condition that he not contact the teen-age girl with whom he’s accused having carnal relations. Jack Edward Schott, age 42, was advised at his hail hearing about details in the criminal complaint.

Earlier: Teen sex complaint against Lewiston man

ST.PAUL, Minn. — Through a spokesperson, Governor Tim Walz called a Congressional committee report that called for him to be investigated for complicity with fraud was “nothing more than a joke.” The 100-page report, released over the weekend by a Trump-controlled committee, was seriously flawed, said Teddy Tschann, the Walz spokesperson:

Swearing allegiance to truth. Walz and Ellison, both Democrats, were summoned before the Republican-controlled U.S. House Oversight Committee about fake claims for federal reimbursements from private entities in Minnesota. The hearing was in March. Now, 3-1/2 months later, the committee issued its recommendations.

Walz repeatedly has noted that several changes have been made over the last few years to address fraud. These include anew state  Office of Inspector General, which has independent power to investigate fraud.

Earlier: Ellison on Vance charges: “A political stunt”

WINONA, Minn. — The forecasting model that predicted a 101-degree afternoon Tuesday was wrong. Temperatures didn’t get much into the 80s. Consider it a quiet interlude: We’re not out of Harm’s Way. Atmospheric unrest that brewed in South Dakota and Nebraska was heading across southern Minnesota with possible tornadic activity. The first storms were expected Winona County in the late morning or early afternoon. Unknown was how quickly the atmosphere will recover. Muggy air with high dew points could create powerful updrafts that favor rotating supercells. A complicating factor could be an encroaching cold front.

Earlier: Not yet: Repairs delay Winona pool season

WINONA, Minn. — A Winona man called police that his girlfriend punched and clawed him during an argument. Arrested was Cayla Marie Schleich, age 28. The arrest was in the 600 block of Main Street at the apartment from which the man, age 32, had called police. This was about 1 a.m. Officers reported fresh scratch marks on one of the man’s arm and a wound inside the mouth. He didn’t require medical attention. Schleich admitted to the punch, police said.

Up Witoka way. Ground fog at sunset near the Big Springs cold headwaters of East Burns Valley Creek. Image: Andy Frank

LEWISTON, Minn. — Deputies arrested a Lewiston man at his residence on a complaint of sexual criminal conduct involving a female juvenile. Investigators said the case had begun over the weekend as a run-away report. Investigators were told the relationship had been had been going on 1-1/2 years. The arrest was without resistance about 6:50 p.m.

WASHINGTON — The man accused of assassinating Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband has escaped capital punishment. The U.S. Justice Department has accepted a federal judge’s opinion that an interstate stalking conviction  would not justify the death penalty. Interstate stalking was among multiple federal charges against Vance Boelte. There do remain state charges that could mean life in prison. Minnesota law does not permit execution.

Earlier: Assassination prosecutors unveil lode of evidence

Earlier: Minnesota assassination suspect indicted anew

Earlier: Boelter attorney: Assassination plea not guilty

Earlier: Assassination suspect’s car found 100 miles away

Earlier: $5 million bail in Minnesota assassinations

Earlier: As expected, Boelter indicted for assassination

Earlier: Key Minnesota legislator, husband assassinated

EYOTA, Minn. — An Ohio man was injured when he lost control of his pickup on Interstate 90 between the Eyota and Rochester-Chatfield exits. Jarvis Lamar Tolliver, age 41, Cincinnati, Ohio, suffered sustainable injuries, said Olmsted County deputies. Tolliver was taken 18 mils to a Rochester hospital. The accident was about 10:20 a.m. in westbound lanes. The pickup, a 2022 Ford Explorer, rolled in the eastbound ditch.

LINO LAKES, Minn. — The crumbling political career of two-term Minesota House member Elliott Engen took another dive. The two-term Lino Lakes representative withdrew his candidacy for re-election. For Engen, age 27, it’s been a bewildering career path from rising visibility in state Republican politics to confused ignominy in recent months. His trajectory:

> November 2020: Engen learned the ropes of campaigning in his first his bid for elected office at age 21. This was in District 38B. He barely lost, 50.1% to 49.8%.

> November 2022: On his second try Engen won the seat from the now-renumbered District 36A with 51%. At the Capitol he impressed fellow Republicans as a likable go-getter.  “A rising star” he was called.

> November 2024: Engen was re-elected from 36A with 54%.

> October 2025: Perhaps a little too eager to advance his political career, Engen declared his candidacy for statewide office — auditor. In this period he had discussions with fellow Republican representative Peggy Bennett of Albert Lea, who was pondering a gubernatorial bid and who was looking for a running mate for lieutenant governor. A deal was struck. For reasons that were never clear, Bennett put off identifying Engen as her choice. At some point — it’s unclear why or exactly when —Engen lost interest in his campaign for state auditor.

> March 2026: Engen was arrested driving drunk late at night after a day of drinking around town with a fellow Republican House member, Walter Hudson, who was carrying a firearm. During the day he played hooky from a House committee meeting, which would very soon come back to haunt him.

> April 2026: As punishment the House Ethics Committee, chaired by Greg Davids, a Preston Republican, stripped Engen and Hudson of their committee assignments.

> June 2026: Engen texted Bennett that he was withdrawing as her running mate.  She quoted him the next day as considering a career change out of state. Engen however, had a different explanation in a news release the next day: That family finances precluded him from continuing in elected office. That same afternoon, however, Engen contradicted himself and filed for re-election from House District 36A, which requires residency not only in Minnesota but also in the district.

> June 2026: Feeling let down and betrayed, Bennett ended her gubernatorial campaign. It was impossible to find a substitute runnng mate in the remaining four hours to the filing deadline.

> June 2026: Engen withdrew as a 36A candidate in a message to state election authorities.

Earlier: Bennett’s secret sidekick: Troubled fellow solon

Earlier: Bennett gubernatorial ticket falls apart

Earlier: Auditor hopeful creates stir with fraud charge

Earlier: House leadership distressed at boozing arrests

Earlier: Legislators, both drinking at late lunch, go AWOL

Earlier: Two legislators caught after night out

NODINE, Minn. — Overcome with fatigue, hikers called for help from a backtrail in Great River Bluffs State Park. A Nodine rescue team reached the hikers in an all-terrain vehicle and ferried them out. There were no injuries. This was about 3:20 p.m. The access was from Kipp Drive on the Nodine side of the 2,200-acre park. Vistors are pretty on their own. No full-time ranger.

Great River Bluffs State Park. Rises 500 feet on ridge connecting King’s Bluff and Queen’s Bluff.

Summer fun postponed. Upgrades and repairs not yet ready. Anybody have a backyard with a garden hose?

Temps coming at sweltering100 degrees

WINONA, Minn. — With the first 100-degree day of summer coming Tuesday, the Bob Welch aquatic park still isn’t open. The Winona Parks Department said the contractor performing major repairs on the 36-year-old facility has fallen behind. The target now is to open a week from Wednesday — 11 days late. When open, the park will have new heaters, chemical controllers, and a high-efficiency filtration system. Alternatives:

> Lake Lodge beach on Lake Winona.

> A small wading and splash pool at Levee Park.

bLaCanne Park beach in Goodview.

> Pubic pools with visitor fees 30 miles away in St. Charles, LaCresent, LaCrosse and Trempealeau.

> Indoor pool at Winona Y with visitor fee.

LANESBORO, Minn.— A Wisconsin woman was hospitalized in critical condition after a motorcycle-car collision outside Lanesboro on Saturday. Her name, Linnea Birgitta Rice, was released belatedly by the State Patrol. The Patrol was waiting for local authorities in her hometown, Galesville, to notify her family. Rice, age 53, was taken to a Rochester hospital, as was the motorcycle driver, who was less seriously injured.

Earlier: Winona biker hurt in Lanesboro crash

LANESBORO, Minn. — A Winona motorcyclist was injured in a collision on U.S. Highway 16 at the road out of Lanesboro to Mabel.  Mathew Christian Barnholtz, age 57, suffered sustainable injuries. He was taken 32 miles to a Rochester hospital. With Barnholtz on his bike was a  woman from Galesville in Wisconsin. Troopers delayed releasing her name until family could bc notified. They were westbound toward Preston. The driver of the second vehicle, Robert Lee, 74, of Rochester, was unhurt. Lee was in a lightweight 2024 Mitsubishi Mirage. Troopers said his airbag deployed. He was unhurt. The Barnholtz bike was a 2005 Harley FLHTCI Cruiser and heading east into Lanesboro. Barnholtz was not wearing a helmet, troopers said. They believed alcohol was a factor.

DAKOTA, Minn. — An out-of-town traveler turned his van too tight into a vacation rental property and hung up on the Canadian Pacific’s mainline tracks. Winona County deputies called the railroad to halt freight trains both directions. A tow truck rushed 24 miles from Goodview and pulled the van off the tracks. Deputies said the van driver was of good mind and not impaired. The four Amtrak passenger trains that use the CP mainline already had passed through Dakota for the day.

Softball: St. Francis Fighting Saints 6, Byron Bears 1

LAMOILLE, Minn. — A father called the sheriff’s office that that his adult daughter’s boyfriend had knocked him to the floor and caused minor injuries. This was up Moner Valley near Twin Bluffs about 8:50 p.m. The father told deputies that the boyfriend was keeping the daughter from leaving for work and that the boyfriend struck him when he intervened. By this time deupties were scenee, however, neither the father nor daughter wanted to pursue charges. Rather than escalate the situation, deputies took notes for the county attorney to assess what charges, if any, should be pursued. The boyfriend, deputies said, has a record io domestic abuse.

.