How they voted: Trump budget /2
WASHNGTOIN – The U.S. Senate voted 51-48 for massive tax breaks for top-bracket taxpayers and also massive cuts for public services. The President called it “one big beautiful bill.” The only Republicans who voted to oppose the bill were Susan Collins of Maine and Rand Paul of Kentucky. The bill goes next to the House, which must adopt it before lawmakers in both chambers can move on to specific details on tax and spending changes. At this stage the bill is called a “blueprint.” Here is how the Minnesota and Wisconsin delegations voted:
For Trump budget
> Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin
Against
> Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin
> Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota
> Tina Smith, D-Minnesota
Earlier: How they voted: Trump budget /1
College scores
Baseball: St. Olaf 5, Saint Mary’s 3
Baseball: St. Olaf 8, Saint Mary’s 2
Trump crisis: Fastenal stock drops through floor
WINONA, Minn. — Stock in the Winona-based global industrial supplier Fastenal plummeted in the sell-off triggered by President Trump’s massive tariff hikes. Fastenal shares on the New York Stock Exchange closed at $75.42 — off 20.5% from their 52-week high. The Fastenal loss was far worse than the one-day market averages:
> NYSE composite: Off 6.1%.
> NYSE U.S. 100: Off 6.2%.
> Dow Jones industrial: Off 5.5%.
> Standard & Poor’s 500: Off 6.9%.
Virtually all economists had predicted the disaster if Trump followed through with threats to impose new tariffs. He announced the hikes Tuesday after trading closed. Hardest hit was China, whose exporters will face a new 34% tariff surcharge at U.S. ports. Combined with an earlier Trump tariff hike, Chinese goods now will pay s60% tariff. The effect: China imports will evaporate and an expected retaliatory Chinese response will halt U.S. exports to China. Other Asian countries were targeted too: Cambodia, 49%; Vietnam, 46%. Neither of the largest U.S. trading partners, Canada and Mexico, were spared. The collapse in stock markets was global:
> United Kingdom: FTSE 100 index off 4.9%.
> France: CAC off 4.3%.
> Germany: Dax off 4%.
> Japan: Nikkei 225 index off 2.7%.
Trump said his goal was to create U.S. jobs. Even as stocks collapsed, he denied a crisis and predicted a “boom, boom, boom” as he boarded a helicopter at the White House for a weekend of golf in Florida. Critics were dumfounded that Trump seemed oblivious to having created a global financial collapse that would create job losses everywhere. Their question: Why was Trump not in a crisis leadership mode back at the White House. He was likened to ancient Rime’s Nero who played a fiddle as Rome burned.
Global players
> Ashley, of Arcadia, a furniture manufacturer: 35,000 employees globally.
> Fastenal, of Winona, a construction and industrial product suppler: 23,000 employees globally.
Fools Five foot race forecast sunny
LEWISTON, Minn. – Organizers of the annual Fools Five got a break – no freakish April snow storms this time. Forecasters said to expect the mid-40s and lots of sunshine. But bring a jacket to watch from the sidewalks. Winds can be chilly. Same-day registration on Saturday opens at 9 a.m. and closes at noon. The first cohort in the 8-kilometer and 1-mile run or walk events starts at 1 p.m. Students at the Lewiston-Altura High School already had raised $29,000 for cancer causes, said organizer Dan Goss.
Geocentric. Lewiston population 1,500, prides itself as “The Heart of Winona County.” On U.S. Highway 14 midway between Winona and St. Charles. No, the train doesn’t stop here anymore.
Train dissects grain truck at rail crossing
Driver escapes as impact rips two cargo trailers apart. In broad daylight just outside Sleepy Eye, population 3,400, west of Mankato. This was on Canadian Pacific’s trans-southern Minnesota line — 180 miles west of CP’s Winona railhead and 70 miles east its Tracy railhead near the near the South Dakota border. Images: Brown County sheriff
Locomotive was braking but too late
SLEEPY EYE, Minn. – A train sliced a truck-trailer rig in half at a rail crossing along U.S. Highway 14 near Sleepy Eye. Miraculously no one was hurt. The crash was about 2:15 p.m. Deputies said the grain truck driver, Robert Jewett, age 24, of New Richland, turned off Highway 14 onto a sideroad and across the single-track CP line. The train didn’t derail. Neither engineer in locomotive was hurt — Thomas Behsman, 57, and Jeffrey Schafer, 56, of Madison Lake. The truck’s cab and the train locomotive will need repair. The truck’s semi-trailers ere totaled
Although already braking at impact, the locomotive tore off sections of one grain trailer and carried the remnants a quarter mile down the track on its nose.
Luther ends meals contract; 130 jobs in limbo
DECORAH, Iowa – A decision by Luther College not keep the local kitchen Sodexo as the campus food service provider will leav 130 people without a job, the company said. The number 130 was in a legally required Sodexo statement filed with the state jobs agency. Luther, which has 1,700 students, called the 130 number misleading. Many of the employees are part-time, the college said. Too, the college said, a new vendor may choose to keep some Sedexo employees.
Mayo doctor challenges murder case evidence
ROCHESTER, Minn. – The judge for the trial of a Mayo doctor accused of poisoning his wife has been asked to throw out prosecution evidence. Connor Bowman’s defense team claims that police lacked a sufficient search warrant to probe his personal communications. They also claim that police violated attorney-client privilege. Bower is charged with first-degree murder in the 2023 death.
Zumbrota too: More auto dealer consolidation
ZUMBROTA, Minn. – The Zumbrota auto dealership owned by the Johnson family for 26 years has been sold. Steve Johnsoon announced the sale to Mosaic Auto Group of Lake City. The name of the company will change, said Johnson. And too probably will Johnson’s novel “For the People” television advertising slogan. Mosaic earlier acquired the Johnson Chrysler dealership in Zumbrota.
Grassroots voices rising on Trump: “Hands off”
WINONA. Minn. — Nationwide “Hands Off” rallies for Saturday have grown to 1,000 locations in all 50 states plus, it was announced, a few places abroad. The Winona rally is at 12 noon at Windom Park. Local organizers include community activists Carol Bromeland and Craig Subra. There was a poster-making event Thursday at the Winona Arts Center. Nationally the protest has been organized by advocacy groups, including:
> Third Act, an environmental group led by environmentalist and author Bill McKibben.
> Reproductive Freedom for All.
> The 50501 Movement, the name standing for “50 protests, 50 states, one day.”
The rallies have been timed for the weekend before the SAVE Act will likely be voted on in Congress. The “Save” word is confusing at best, a diabolical misnomer at worst Opponents say the bill would create new obstacles for women and minorities to vote. “Hands Off” organizers characterized the rallies as grassroots messaging to the Trump administration, including Elon Musk. to take their “hands off” of Social Security, federal jobs, and Medicaid. Coincidentally the rallies will come two days after new Trump tariffs were announced that, it was feared, would bring on ultra-inflation, millions of job lay-offs, and economic recession.
Map legend. Yellow for major rallies. Red for mid-size rallies.
Notable journalism
Erin Adler (Minnesota Star Tribune, March 31, 2025): “How Much Should College Students Work? Mankato Professor Looks at Link Between Too Much Work and Failing Grades”
Mark Derosier (St. Paul Pioneer Press. March 31, 2025): “Will Minnesota Lawmakers Rase Taxes This Session?
Christopher Snowbeck (Minnesota Star Tribune, April 3, 2025): “UCare ‘Doing Everything Possible’ to Avoid Layoffs after $504 Million Operating Loss”
Winona Health awarded for prompt stroke care
WINONA, Minn. – The Winona hospital has received top regional awards for treating stroke victims. The recognition was from the LaCrosse-based Emplify Health and the Tele-Specialist organization. Of 13 total regional hospitals, Winona Health was cited for optimizing workflows, upgrading technology and increasing caregiver training. Also praised was timely treatment:
> One minute for arriving patients to undergo CT head scans.
> 14 minutes to receive clot-busting medication intravenously.
> 61 minutes for surgery to remove clots.
Said Chris Watras, the hospital’s stroke program director: “When someone comes through our doors with a possible stroke, they can expect to receive care that results in the best possible outcome — the kind of care that each of us would wish for our own family members.”
Minnesota prep
Baseball (boys): St. Charles Saints 14, Grand Meadow-LeRoy-Ostrander/Spring. Valley Kingsland 1
Baseball (boys): LaCrescent-Hokah Lancers 2, Pine Island Panthers 1
Volleyball (boys): Rochester Century/Marshall/Mayo 3, Woodbury East Ridge Raptors 0
Winona home sales: March 2025
WINONA, Minn. – Among residential property sales logged by Bob Bambenek, county recorder, in March:
270 West Broadway Street: Beiesanz Trust to corporate Eljamo, $625,000.
175 Sweetwater Drive: Nelestuen to Thill, $450,000.
223 East Broadway Street: Frisch to Nelestuen, $440,000.
1603 Valley View Drive: Cisewski to Solberg/Fortune, $375,000
24123 Homer Valley Road: Bachle to Birck, $350,000.
1306 Wincrest Drive: Linn to Oevering/Atkinson, $335,000.
104 Goen Mary Road: Double to Hauser, $310,000.
Earlier: Winona home sales in February 2025
Winona County home sales: March 2025
WINONA, Minn. – Among residential property sales outside Winona logged by Bob Bambenek, county recorder, in March:
Dresbach: 30086 Valleview Road: Takeshita/Hendrson/Drogemuller to Gross, $710,000.
LaCrescent: 30784 Old Hickory Lane: York to Nash, $825,000.
Lewiston: 26106 Ferndale Road: LaRoque to Pringle, $540,000.
St. Charles: 973 East 15th Street: Eide to Tuseth, $665,000.
Winona County commercial sales: March 2025
WINONA, Minn. – No commercial property sales exceeding $1 million were logged by Bob Bambenek, county recorder, in March:
Earlier: Winona County commercial property sales in February 2025
College scores
Lacrosse (women): UW-LaCrose 14, UW-River Falls 13
Savage attack on board Winona school bus
WINONA, Minn. – Police arrested a 16-year-old boy after a savage attack on a fellow student on board a cramped school bus taking a load of kids home from the Winona High School. The driver stopped the bus in the 1450 block of Gilmore Avenue to break up the fight, but onlookers kept him back. He drove eight blocks back to the school. With the attack still going on, teachers pulled everybody off. The attack lasted a painful seven minutes, said police, who viewed video from on board the bus. The victim, age 15, was taken to the hospital, his face all puffy and possibly, police said, with fractures. There was no blood, officers said. No one else was injured. Police said the video shows the attacker jumped the unsuspecting victim from behind and began pummeling him. The victim tried initially to fend off attacker but gave up and cowered in a defensive mode. Students who tried to intervene were held back by other students who egged on the attack. A girl also punched the victim, police said.
What next?
> The attack was halfway down the aisle of the 48-passenger school bus.
> Police learned of the attack at 3:58 p.m. from Principal Luke Madsen, who called for help.
> The assailant walked away after teachers boarded the bus and pulled everybody off.
> The first two police officers to the school quickly found the assailant.
> Assault charges will depend on hospital reports on the extent of the victim’s injuries, police said.
> Police were unsure what triggered the attack. Random violence? Targeted? Calculated? Just plain meanness?
> Charges of aiding and abetting a criminal act were possible against students who blocked other students and the bus driver from stopping the attack, police said.
> No weapons were involved, just fists. police said.
Fleet Farm: Those boots not made for walking
WINONA, Minn. – A Winona man accused of shoplifting new boots at the Fleet Farm mega-store resisted arrest and had to be cuffed forcibly, police said. Store detectives had called police after videotaping Tyler Lee Jonsgaard, 24, pulling new boots from a box, trying them on, putting his old boots in the box, and walking off. Police said Jonsgaard first cooperated with them. He had been through this before. In October he had been ticketed for shop-lifting bullets at Fleet Farm and banned from coming back. Police said Jonsgaard apparently assumed he would get off easy like the last time but turned belligerent when told he would be arrested as a repeat offender. He resisted and bad-mouthed the officers. The officers managed, however, to cuff him and take him to jail.
Jonsgaard. Arrested wearing new $87 boots. Charges: Shoplifting, trespassing, resisting arrest.
Waseca building breaks apart; nobody hurt
Wall gapes not new. Tenant Celina Campagna reported seeing fissures seven months ago. She said she was especially concerned because of the proximity of gas line ports into the building. Image: Andrew Deziel
No fire, no blast as back wall drops off
WASECA, Minn. – The backside of an aging building in the downtown Waseca historic district collapsed into the alley. Upstairs tenants got out in time. Celina Campagna, said the building collapsed around her: “I looked at my husband and said ‘The building just fell.’” The first-floor storefront was vacant. Adjoining businesses on State Street were evacuated as a precaution. These included the Waseca Music band equipment shop. Highway 13 south to Albert Lea and north to St. Paul, which winds through town, was blocked for emergency crews. The city public safety director, Kris Markeson, had no idea when — or if — tenants would be able to move back in. Markeson said a building engineer was being called to evaluate structural worthiness. First-responders went inside to rescue pets and retrieve personal belongings for tenants. There had been warnings. Celina Campagna said she started seeing cracks in September. “I called the city several times. I talked to the building inspector and our landlord.” she said.
Rape plea is guilty; other cases pending
ROCHESTER, Minn. — A Rochester man accused of sexual misconduct with juvenile girls has pleaded guilty in one of the cases. The girl said she was assaulted when she went with David Ray Servin, age 21, to a southeast Rochester location near McQuillan Park to buy marijuana-loaded vape cartridges. There she was raped, the girl said. That was in November 2023. Police searched Servin’s home and a storage unit and found a 40-caliber Glock pistol reported stolen out of a storage unit in Robbinsdale and also $8,000 cash and marijuana and nicotine vape cartridges. Still pending against Servin are other sex cases. One involves a a 15-year-old Stewartville girl who later committed suicide. A third pending case involves an 11-year-old girl.
Servin. Has been held in lieu of $50,000 bail.
Judge to Trump: Explain UM deportation arrest
MINNEAPOLIS — A federal magistrate judge ordered President Donald Trump to explain why federal immigration agents pounced on a University of Minnesota student and hauled him away. If Trump or his aides don’t respond within 24 hours or have only a lame explanation, Magistrate Douglas Micko could order that Doğukan Günaydin be freed from custody. Günaydin, age 28, a Turkish citizen, was arrested outside his home in St. Paul and was been jailed 40 miles away in Elk River. That was seven days ago. If Micko orders that Günaydin be freed, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency could continue to prosecute him for whatever the offense may be but would need to do so in open court with public scrutiny. ICE prefers to operate secretly and deport its detainees out of country without anyone knowing. In Günaydin’s case, for example, ICE notified neither local police nor university authorities about the arrest. Details about what happened have emerged only because friends suspected ICE was responsible for his disappearance and hired an attorney to go to court for answers.
Earlier: Our arrested UM student had driven drunk
Earlier: ICE arrest of UM grad student baffles friends
Earoier: ICE arrest of UM grad student baffles friends
Günaydin court record
Unbeknown to Günaydin, the U.S. State Department earlier had revoked his student visa. Why remains unclear. But a scan of Minnesota court records shows a traffic offense three years ago. It was a felony adjudicated in a local court as is the custom in the U.S. judicial system. Günaydin paid his fine and did his time. The offense, although a felony, was hardly a threat to national security.
> January 2022. Günaydin, age 25, came to the United States from Istanbul to study at St. Olaf College in Northfield.
> June 2023. A Minneapolis police officer noticed Günaydin driving recklessly. Günaydin did not stop despite the officer’s flashing lights but eventually pulled over. As the officer stepped out of his squad car, however, Günaydin drove away. The officer called for assistance and Günaydin finally stopped again. His blood-alcohol concentration tested at more than twice the legal 0.08% limit.
> March 2024. Günaydin pleaded guilty and was sentenced in a plea deal to six months in jail although the sentence was stayed for two years if he didn’t do it again.
> The catch clause. The plea agreement contained this boilerplate: “I understand that if I am not a citizen of the United States, my plea of guilty may result in deportation, exclusion from admission to the United States, or denial of naturalization as a United States citizen.” The question: Should judges impose such double jeopardy language in sentencing.
Van Orden sees “duty” to seek WI-3 re-election
LACROSSE, Wis. — Republican Derrick Van Orden, who represents WI-3 in Congress, said he’s committed to running for a third term. In an interview with Allyson Fergot of WKBT, Van Orden was clear: “It’s a duty I must perform.” Van Orden has been a lock-step supporter of President Trump. The support, political observers say, has become a liability as grassroots opposition to Trump has swelled in recent weeks. As a result, Van Orden has avoided the risk of unpleasantness of eyeball-to-eyeball townhall meetings with constituents. Van Orden also faces vulnerability if WI-3 boundaries are redrawn. The boundaries have been jury-rigged by Republicans in their favor for years, but the state Supreme Court is expected soon to reset the distorted election district boundaries.
Earlier: Wisconsin voters turn left on Supreme Court choice
Earlier: Cooke back: Running for Wi-3 seat in Congress
Earlier: Van Orden on townhalls: They’re all anti-GOP conspiracies
Earlier: Van Orden follows GOP playbook, skips Viroqua townhall
Van Orden. Has cultivated beer-swigging macho biker image. Former Navy SEAL.
Winona rally coming with message to Trump-Musk
WINONA, Minn. – The citizen group Winona Indivisible is organizing a rally for people to express opposition to Trump executive orders to transform the republic. “The event invites individuals to come together, share personal stories, and engage in constructive dialogue around the relationship of America with oligarchy,” said organize Craig Subra. He called it a “Hands Off Rally.” It’s among hundreds of rallies erupting nationwide. against Trump-Musk policies.
Time: 12 noon on Saturday at Windom Park off Harriet Street.
Emergency, fire crews make 55 calls
> Tuesday, April 1: 9 medical calls plus 2 fire calls.
> Monday, March 31: 6 medical calls plus 7 fire calls.
> Sunday, March 30: 4 medical calls plus no fire calls.
> Saturday, March 29: 5 medical calls plus 1 fire call.
> Friday, March 28: 6 medical call plus 6 fire calls.
> Thursday, March 27: 6 medical calls plus 3 fire call.
> Wednesday, March 26: 7 medical call plus 3 fire call3.
Earlier: Emergency, fire crews make 49 calls
The Lindell tease: For governor again?
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Once high-flying but now penniless pillow purveyor Mike Lindell says he may run for governor. He expressed interest on his online site Frank. Lindell, age 63, has done this before – in 2020 while campaigning for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, but he didn’t follow through. Instead he put a fortune into theTrump campaign. His MyPillow business, which had made him rich, collapsed over reckless spending for Trump and libel suits for fomenting whacky conspiracy theories. Although Trump lost his 2020 re-election bid, he welcomed Lindell at the White House the next few weeks but eventually dumped him as a nuisance and crank and declined to help with his escalating legal bills. Whether Lindell is currently a Minnesota resident is unclear. His MyPillow factory in Chaska has gone into receivership. In a 2021 interview he said he was no longer living in Minnesota and was not attending in-person events over safety concerns. Now he’s back, he says.
Verbatim
Lindell: “I live here in Minnesota. Everywhere I go, nobody wants Tim Walz. They don’t. You would not want Walz, you would want anything but him. You know, that’s what I’m hearing all over.”
Duckworth. A freshman in state Senate. Age 37. Father of four.
Duckworth candidacy
The second term of Democrat Tim Walz as governor ends in 2026,, He hasn’t announced his intentions — although he’s expected to seek re-election. The only announced candidate so far is state Senator Zach Duckworth, a Lakeville Republican, who said he also had pondered running for the U.S. Senate. Duckworth’s lively sense of humor, however, has clouded whether he’s serious: “For those asking about the U.S. Senate seat, I’m flattered and would love nothing more than to serve my country at a higher level. But I have four amazing reasons to stay close to home in Minnesota. Someone told me the governor’s residence has enough bedrooms for four kids.”
Earlier: Earlier: MyPillow thrown out of warehouses for back-rent
Earlier: Lindell off the Minnesota campaign trail
Earlier: Pillow guy eyes governorship
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