Spring cleaning on Riverview Drive
Fluorescent-vested Winona volunteers, 30 of them, began the annual pickup of trash and debris along the two-mile stretch between Huff and Pelzer streets. The volunteers were from Fastenal and the Minnesota Marine Art Museum. Image: Steve Lunde
Object crashes into windshield; driver hurt
RACINE, Minn. – A LeRoy driver was injured when an object fell off a passing vehicle and crashed through her windshield. Casandra Danielle Faulhaber, 36, was taken 16 miles to a Rochester hospital with sustainable injuries. Her passenger, Jerrod Ryan Faulhaber, 35, of Le Roy, was unhurt. Police were unable to trace the source the errant object immediately. The accident was about 1 p.m. just south the Olmsted County line. The Faulhabers were southbound toward LeRoy in a 2017 Kia Sorento.
Thousands take to street backing Milwaukee judge
Unmistakable messages. Chants: “No ICE, No KKK, No Fascist USA” and “No Hate, No Fear, Immigrants Are Welcome Here.” Signs: “Liberty and Justice for All” and “Resist Fascism.” Image: Darrin Brian Madison Jr.
Anger aimed at judge’s arrest by Trump’s FBI
MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Protesters chanted and marched outside the FBI’s Milwaukee field office the day after agents arrested a Milwaukee judge alleged to have helped a man evade immigration authorities. The crowd chanted “Immigrants are here to stay.” State legislator Ryan Clancy, a Milwaukee Democrat, said the arest of Judge Hannah Dugan was an abuse of power by Republican President Donald Trump: “Functioning democracies do not lock up judges.” The judiciary, Clancy said, acts as a check to unchecked executive power.
Earlier: Fellow judge on Dugan arrest: Trump bullying
Earlier: Wisconsin judge arrested for thwarting federal agents
Clancy. Among those with megaphones.
FBI compound. Behind steel fence at 3600 South Lake Drive in suburban St. Francis.
Wrecking ball due at Mayo’s LaCrosse hospital
LACROSSE, Wis. – The Rochester-based Mayo Clinic asked city permission to demolish the St. Francis and St. Ann buildings at its St. Franciscan-Skemp hospital in La Crosse. Interior demolition work has already begun. The $1.6 million demolition is part a major Mayo overhaul of the hospital, which it acquired in 1995.
Demolition. The St. Francis building had been the primary heart of the Franciscan-Skemp hospital campus. A skyway over Market Street connects to the smaller St. Ann building.
Tooth-brushing alert: Winona water may be dirty
WINONA, Minn. – The annual city hydrant flushing begins Thursday. The Water Department said a decrease in household water pressure and some discoloration is part of the process. What to do? Run the cold water tap until the water clears. The flushing continues neighborhood to neighborhood Through May.
Brief Gulfstream set-down in Winona
Runway just long enough. The St. Louis-based Gulfstream G500 executive jet dropped off two passengers in a 12-minute Winona stop. At 5,700 feet the runway is just enough for the 5,300 needed for G500s. The airport averages about 30 operations a day but not many long-range near Mach 1 jets. Image: Steve Lunde
Notable journalism
Quinn Gorham (KTTC, April 17, 2025): “Democrat Jake Johnson Talks Hopes, Motivations for CD-1 Race”
Rachel Mergen (Winona Daily News, April 24, 2015): “DNA Collected from Winona Women’s Trash Used to Tie Hern to Baby Angel’s 2011 Death”
Hannah Yang (Minnesota Public Radio, April 15, 2025): “Marshall Man Claims ICE Detained Him for Ear Protests Over Police Killings”
Semi-rig’s tractor in Tomah meltdown
Inferno at Kwik Trip. The cab was engulfed in flames when Tomah firefighters arrived at the northside KwikTrip where it was parked. This was about 1:40 a.m. Firefighters saved the trailer. The cargo of coiled paper was undamaged. It took two hours for crews to get on top of the fire in the cab. Nothing salvageable was left. No one was injured. The cause: Not determined immediately.
Image: Tomah Fire Department
Alcohol blamed for rollover; four hurt
NODINE, Minn. – A carload of young people, all of whom were believed to be drinking, survived a rollover about 1:15 a.m. on County Road 16 through ridge-top orchards south of Nodine. According to Winona County deputies, the driver was Tanner Paul Schroeder, age20, of LaCrosse. Deputies had been alerted to the accident by an onboard emergency device. They said Schroeder had glassy eyes, slurred speech, and poor balance. Charges were pending a blood analysis by the state crime lab. In the car and cited for under-age consumption:
> A boy, age 18, with a rural Winona address, who was taken by ambulance to a LaCrosse hospital.
> A girl, 17, from Onalaaska, also to a LaCrosse hospital.
> A boy, 18, from LaCrescent.
College scores
Lacrosse (women): UW-LaCrosse 19, Texas
Softball: Ridgewater 7, Rochester Community 5
Minnesota prep
Baseball: Rushford-Peterson Trojans 2, Lewiston-Altura Cardinals 0
Baseball: Rushford-Peterson Trojans 5, Lewiston-Altura Cardinals 1
Softball: Lewiston-Altura Cardinals14, Rushford-Peterson Trojans 0
Fellow judge on Dugan arrest: Trump bullying
MILWAUKEE, Wis. — The arrest of a Milwaukee judge for thwarting federal agents from storming her courtroom was “a bridge too far” by the Trump administration, according to a state appellate judge. Pedro Colón called the arrest a Trump attempt to intimidate the judiciary. The arrested judge, Hannah Dugan, is “unbiased and ethical,” Judge Colón said. He’s known Dugan 15 years,.In a CNN interview he said.
“They’re trying to send a message to chill the judiciary. It speaks more to the politics and sort of the symbolic gestures of power by people who don’t really appreciate the Constitution, don’t really appreciate the rule of law. They want to create circumstances and a culture where people are unsettled about their rights, about their duties, and about the way we go about our jobs.”
Colón’s comments came a day after the FBI charged Milwaukee Judge Dugan with obstruction. She had objected to FBI agents who wanted to enter her courtroom to handcuff and carry off an immigrant at a hearing on a state-level charge unrelated to his immigration status. Colón called Judge Dugan’s arrest an example of Trump overreach:
“What they want to do is to essentially have the judiciary not only in Wisconsin but the independent judiciaries of the state essentially succumb to their power and their policy priorities independent of Constitutional rights and what other rights people have. That’s not the way we do business in a democratic, in a democratic country. What they are doing essentially is creating is chaos.
Wisconsin judge arrested for thwarting federal agents
MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Federal agents arrested a Milwaukee judge when she showed up for work at the courthouse and took her to jail. The arrest was on orders from President Trump’s FBI director in Washington. The FBI chief, Kash Patel, was perturbed that the judge had intercepted FBI agents from entering her courtroom to arrest a Mexican immigrant who was on the witness stand. The judge, Hannah Dugan, told the federal agents in no uncertain words to leave. They did. The immigrant then fled the courthouse through a back entrance. This was last week. The FBI then drafted a criminal complaint alleging that Judge Dugan facilitated the man’s escape. The arrest of Judge Dugan — at 8:30 a.m. Friday, several days after the confrontation — is being viewed widely as an escalation of President Trump’s roundup of immigrants. Some 40,000 immigrants have been detained. Many arrests have been for flimsy reasons and with detainees being denied the U.S. constitutional right to defend themselves in court. It suggests also that Trump lacks respect for the sovereignty of state judicial systems.
Verbatim
Gwen Moore, who represents Milwaukee in the U.S. House, the arrest of a judge is a serious matter and would require a high legal bar: “The Trump administration’s willingness to weaponize federal law enforcement is shocking. This arrest has all the hallmarks of overreach.”
Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the Berkeley Law School, told the Los Angeles Times: “This is an attempt by the Trump administration to send a message with regard to how aggressive they’re going to be in enforcing immigration law. It’s a message to judges that this administration has little respect for the judiciary and isn’t going to let the judiciary get in the way of what it wants to do.”
Cavalier Johnson, Milwaukee mayor, called the judge’s arrest “overly dramatic” and calculated for effect: “They’re just trying to have this show of force, and in the process of doing this in the courthouse where people have to go for court proceedings, they’re scaring people away from participating in the process.”
Peter Burgelis, Milwaukee Common Council member: “Judge Dugan serves the community with integrity, intellect and an unwavering dedication to constitutional values. She is a model of what public service should look like: Fair, principled and rooted in justice.”
Judge’s profile
Dugan was elected as Milwaukee Circuit Court Judge in 2016. She holds a 1987 law degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. For 20 years she was a litigator with an emphasis on housing, public benefits, civil rights and domestic abuse with Legal Action of Wisconsin and the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee. Dugan was in private practice as a civil rights attorney from 2010 until her election as judge.
Courthouse drama
Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a Mexican citizen, had been arrested March 18 in Milwaukee. The charge was a violation of state law: Domestic abuse with physical assault. Before Judge Dugan, a state court judge, could hear the case, the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency decided to arrest Flores-Ruiz. They went to the Milwaukee courthouse to make the arrest. Alerted that feds were in the building, an angry Judge Dugan confronted them and demanded whether they had a judicial arrest warrant. She was aware that hundreds of deportation arrests during the Trump presidency have been made without judge-issued warrants. She insisted that the agents speak with the chief judge elsewhere in the courthouse. Dugan then returned to her courtroom and pointed Flores-Ruiz and his attorney to a jury door. They fled. The feds gave chase and caught Flores-Ruiz.
Cops: At 83 mph ex-Viking really flying
RICHFIELD, Minn. — Former Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was arrested and booked for driving drunk in this south Minneapolis suburb. Peterson was going 83 mph in a 55 zone, a state trooper said. A preliminary breath test showed his blood-alcohol at 0.14% — nearly double the allowable level. This was about 3:25 a.m. Peterson, age 40, had been at a Vikings draft party. He was released from jail after posting $4,000 bail. Peterson was driving an Audi Q5.
Peterson. Earned $94.7 million in his Vikings career.
So sorry: Red Wing re-invites Ellison to speak
RED WING, Minn. – Red Wing’s red-faced Powers-Who-Be have invited Attorney General Keith Ellison to speak after an invitation for him to speak at a Black History Month event in February was cancelled inexplicably. The new event: May 3 at 11 a.m. at Twin Bluff Middle School. The high school Black Student Union will moderate the event. The original invitation was cancelled by Bob Jaszczak, the school district superintendent. who is white. Jaszczak expressed concern about racial unrest if Ellison, who is black, were to address a high school assembly. There turned out to be no substantiation for the superintendent’s concern. The new invitation was extended by the Red Wing Community Education, the High School Black Student Union, the League of Women Voters, the American Association of University Women, the Fair Trade bookstore, and the Southeast Minnesota Labor Council.
Ellison profile
Keith Ellison is in his second term as the state’s attorney general — one of five state government executives elected statewide. He served eight terms in the U.S. Congress. Earlier he was a state legislator. He was deputy chair of the Democratic National Comittee from 2017 to 2018.
Spring silhouette on Gilmore Creek
Poetically needful of a blacksmith. Were the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow still with us and in Winona, he would tell us about a brawny smithy under this mighty chestnut. Err, it’s an oak. And this is 2025. This mighty oak stands ready to burst forth its leafy canopy of green along the Gilmore Creek ditch on Vila Street on the West End. Image: Steve Lunde
Minnesota prep
Baseball: Caledonia Warriors 4, Winona Cotter Ramblers 1
Baseball: Caledonia Warriors 5, Winona Cotter Ramblers 2
Baseball: Dover-Eyota Eagles 4, St. Charles Saints 2
Baseball: Dover-Eyota Eagles 14, St. Charles Saints 9
Golf (boys): Rochester Century Panthers 303, Northfield Raiders 307, Albert Lea Lions 312, Rochester Mayo Spartans 312, Mankato West Scarlets 317, Winona Winhawks 321, Mankato East Cougars 326, Rochester Marshall Rockets 327, Austin Packers 332, Owatonna Huskies 335, Red Wing Wingers 344, Faribault Falcons 354
Bail at $200,000 in Baby Angel infanticide
WINONA, Minn. – The woman arrested for the death of her new-born-infant in 2011, Jennifer Nichole Baechle, was released on $200,000 bail pending further court procedures. The sum posted was actually $20,000 on condition that she wear an ankle bracelet GPS tracker. Prosecutor Karin Sonneman asked for bail at $500,000. Judge Nancy Buytendorp chose $200,000, not seeing Baechle as a danger to the community although declaring her what’s legally called “a flight risk.” If convicted, Baechle could be sent to prison for four years. Possible prison makes her a flight risk, Sonneman said. Baechle herself was braced for the arrest. Investigators had questioned her for months, as well as relatives, as evidence was building up.
Sonneman profile
At 67 and with retirement pending, the Baechle case may be Sonneman’s final high-profile prosecution. In 2023 and 2024 she headed the murder case against Adam Fravel for the death of Maddi Kingsbury.
Sonneman. Chief Winona County prosecutor since elected as the county’s attorney in 2010.
Garvin Heights wildfire quickly contained
WINONA, Minn. –Firefighters extinguished a grass and woodland fire on Garvin Heights Road above the city. With no hydrants nearby, a pumper truck supplied water. This was about 1 40 p.m.
Renaissance Festival hopes post-fire to rebuild
SHAKOPEE, Minn. – The community group that has sponsored the Renaissance Festival for 52 years hopes to rebuild after a major fire. Ivy Anker, of JCI Shakopee, said hundreds of people have called to help – “past JCs, past festies, past patrons.” The festival draws as many as 320,000 people a year. Mid-America Festivals, which owns several booths, has insurance, Anker said. Independent crafters and small vendors have been contacted about their plans, he said. There may need to be a fund-raising campaign.
Arrest made in 2011 Baby Angel death
WINONA, Minn.– The death of a new-born infant 13-1/2 years ago — the Baby Angel Case — has been solved, sources said. Jennifer Nichole Baechle, 43, of Winona, was booked into the county jail at 7:51 a.m. on two charges
> Second-degree manslaughter for committing or attempting to commit a fatal crime.
> Second-degree manslaughter for culpable negligence.
The infant, a girl, was found in rushes along the Mississippi six miles downriver from Winona in September 2011. The body was in a bag packed also with porcelain angels. Jeff Mueller, chief deputy sheriff, said details would be announced at at a news conference at 12:30 p.m. at Sobieski Park.
Earlier: Sheriff: Baby Angel evidence so far only inferential
Baechle. New generation DNA technology had narrowed the search.
Hot water at Fort McCoy: Who flipped photos?
Baez-Ramirez. The first woman to be garrison commander at the U.S. Army’s Fort McCoy. Here she’s conducting a briefing several weeks before this week’s manifestation of growing disrespect in the uniformed ranks for the top chain-of-command.
Commander suspended; review pending
FORT MCCOY, Wis. – The garrison commander at Fort McCoy, Colonel Sheyla Baez-Ramirez, was suspended because portraits of President Trump, Vice President Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were turned backwards, facing the wall, in a chain-of-command display. It was not clear whether Baez-Ramirez flipped the portraits herself or was even aware of it. At the Pentagon there was confusion to explain what happened. An early top-level acknowledgement suggested vandalism. Even so, Baez-Ramirez was relieved of duties pending an investigation. Major General Joseph Ricciardi, commander of the 88th Readiness Division at Fort Snelling, who ordered the suspension, said his decision was “not related to any misconduct.” The general provided no further detail.
Before and after. The display has since been restored. Trump is back. So too Vance, Hegseth.
.
McCoy profile
The post has a permanent party of 2,500 civilian employees and 500 military personnel. Thousands of reservists undergo annual training at the post, mostly in summer months in two-week increments.
Baez-Ramirez profile
Colonel Baez-Ramirez assumed the duties as garrison commander at Fort McCoy in July 2024. Earlier she was chief of the Army Reserve component at the Intelligence and Security Command at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. She holds a bachelor degree in psychology and mental health from the University of Puerto Rico and a master degree in strategic studies from the Army War College.
Tricky dicky
In the waning days of the the Richard Nixon presidency with public anger at the Vietnam war at a feverish pitch, these light switch covers cropped up lots of places. These places included Army Reserve centers. Commanders understood. They pretended not to notice. Nor did they toggle the lights off.
News summary at mid-week: April 23, 2025
GOVERNANCE: Walz upbeat on Minnesota status but also worried
GOVERNANCE: Weekend rallies escalate voices against Trump
GOVERNANCE: Minnesota to Trump: Don’t mess with our culture
GOVERNANCE: Whither the Boat House café on the Levee
FAITH: Bishop praises Pope Francis as merciful
POLITICS: Finstad home but skips glad-handing contacts
POLITICS: Rochester teacher out of gate after Finstad
JOURNALISM: Scholar: Protests need focus for max impact
CRIME: Manhunt in fifth day for Lake Park beating
CRIME: Cops: Jealous man chases woman, takes her shoes
CRIME: Eichorn: Not guilty in police sex sting
Southeast College rated good for vets
WINONA, Minn. – The organization Viqtory has awarded Minnesota State College Southeast a Silver Level designation as a good school for military veterans. The college was in the top 20% of 1,800 schools that were evaluated. The designation earned the college a listing in Viqtory’s G.I. Jobs magazine. Of Southeast’s 2,100 students, 28 use veteran benefits for tuition and other assistance.
Riverview Flats peaks out at four floors
Like icing atop a cake. Crews have framing completed for the top floor of new apartments at the foot of Huff Street. It’s a tight, tight fit, squeezed between the Union Pacific industrial spur inside the Levee and Burgaff’s hardware store. Image: Steve Lunde
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