Update: Trump’s beef with birthright citizenship
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — A federal appeals court upheld a block on President Trump’s order denying citizenship to children born in the United States to immigrants. Twenty-two states had sued Trump for what they called an un-American violation of the U.S. Constitution. After a federal judge in Seattle agreed, Trump went to the higher court and with a claim there was an immediate crisis. Nonsense, wrote Judge Danielle Forrest of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Forrest reprimanded Trump for fast-tracking his appeal with a bogus claim about an emergency. Fact: Birthright citizenship is ensconced in the U.S. Constitution, adopted in 1789; confirmed by the 14th Amendment, 1866; confirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court in Plessy v. Ferguson, 1895; and confirmed again by the Supreme Court in U.S. v. Ark, 1898. Although the Ninth Circuit denied emergency consideration of the Trump appeal, it did schedule a further review in June. Meanwhile, Trump could go immediately to the U.S. Supreme Court. His argumentt is that ending birthright citizenship is :part of a broader effort to repair the United States’ immigration system and to address the ongoing crisis at the southern border.”
Forrest. Appointed to the Ninth Circuit bench by Trump in 2019. Earlier a county judge in Oregon.
Verbatim
Forrest: “Deciding important substantive issues on one week’s notice turns our usual decision-making process on its head. We should not undertake this task unless the circumstances dictate that we must. They do not here.”
Mayo teens add voices against Trump-Musk
High school protest. Dozens of Mayo students took a 10-minute break from classes to protest the Trump pogrom against immigrants. The protesters were a Latino and gringo mix. Immigrant arrests since Trump took office have totaled 7,400 nationwide so far.
Delta sends $30,000 to each crash victim
ATLANTA, Ga. — Delta Air Lines has offered $30,000 to each of 76 passengers on a flight out of Minneapolis that crashed while landing at Toronto. Delta subsidiary Endeavor Air of Minneapolis operated the plane. Delta said the $30,000 checks have “no strings attached.” Passengers could still sue. No one died in the crash, but one victim remaieds hospitalized. One-way fares on the 590-mile flight ranged from $311 to $412.
Earlier: Circumstances: The MSP-Toronto plane
Tit-for-tat nastiness over Wabasha school bullying
WABASHA, Minn. — A federal lawsuit that alleges negligence and school bullying has become a pissing match. The Wabasha-Kellogg School District filed documents alleging misconduct by the boy whose family alleges that years of harassment and bullying had been insufficiently addressed, even ignored, by school authorities. In response, school attorneys now have filed affidavits that accuse the boy himself of spouting derogatory language and making fun of other students. The affidavits offered examples of school discipline against bad behavior. The student’s attorney shot back that the school had fabricated its documents and was lying. This was all at a closed hearing before a federal judge. Both agreed one thing: They told the judge they will be ready for trial in January 2027.
Earlier: Wabasha mom escalates bullying case
Wisconsin cows to Trump on transgender sports
MADISON, Wis. – The agency that regulates Wisconsin high school sports ruled to prohibit transgender girls from girls sports. Stephanie executive director of the interscholastic activities board, said he ruling follows an executive order signed by President Trump two weeks ago — even though Trump has no direct control over high school athletics. Hauser was unspecific about gender policing: Who will administer gonad examinations: Coaches? Principals? Teammates? PTA committees? The new state policy reverses the agency’s own 2013 directive that athletic eligibility constituted illegal sex discrimination. Hauser noted that the new policy allows transgender girls to play boys sports.
Other states
Since 2020, 25 states have passed legislation banning transgender girls or all transgender youth from participating in teams that align with their gender identity. Wisconsin now has joined Alaska and Virginia as states to prohibit transgender participation in sports even though state law has no such ban. In 2024 Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers vetoed a Republican proposal to forbidden transgender high schoolers from aligning with their gender identity.
Winona faculty leader: Put reset on Trump cuts
WINONA, Minn. – Everybody in higher education needs to rally against arbitrary and reckless federal funding freezes by President Trump. These cuts punish colleges whose policies promote diversity, equity and inclusion, said Jenna Cheenega of Winona State, who is president of the State University system faculty union. Chernega urged faculty, students too, to contact their representatives in Congress immediately to the reverse first Trump cuts and also others he has promised. Resistance is essential to freezes that are based on ideology from old racist and Robber Baron eras, she said:
“Everyone deserves access to world-class healthcare, innovative research, and high-quality public higher education. The evidence is clear: When we invest in education and research, everyone — not just the wealthy — can thrive.”
Chernega drafted tips for messages.
Chernega. Her statewide base is as a sociologist at Winona State.
Emergency, fire crews make 56 calls
WINONA, Minn. – The Fire Department reported 39 emergency medical calls plus 17 fire calls in recent days:
> Tuesday, February 18: 4 medical calls plus 2 fire callw.
> Monday, February 17: 7 medical calls plus 1 fire call.
> Sunday, February 16: 10 medical calls plus 1 fire call.
> Saturday, February 15: 2 medical calls plus 2 fire calls.
> Friday, February 14: 7 medical calls plus 2 fire calls.
> Thursday, February 13: 4 medical calls plus 5 fire calls.
> Wednesday, February 12: 5 medical call plus 4 fire call.
Earlier: Emergency, fire crews make 47 calls
R.I.P.: Dick Smith
GOODVIEW, Minn. — Dick Smith, of Goodview,, who managed the first Yahama motorcycle and snowmobile franchises in Winona, died at age 88. He retired from a ShopKo sales job in 2002. He also worked at Pletkes Foods. He was a graduate of Winona High School in1955 and Winona State University in 1968. He called himself a “river rat.” He often recalled days at Crooked Slough growing up. He had a home away from home in a boathouse on Latsch Island. He played high school hockey and later joined the Winona Hornets amateur hockey team.
Detail: Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home
1937-2025
WSU chooses Utah academic as provost
WINONA, Minn. – Winona State has a new executive to run the university’s academics — Brenda Marsteller Kowalewski of Weber State in Utah. The announcement was made by Winona State President Ken Janz. He himself wsa in the provost’s chair before becoming president. Kowalewski was chosen after a national search organized by an all-university committee. Her salary: $235,000.
Minnesota prep
Basketball (boys): Caledonia Warriors 66, Winona Cotter Ramblers 48
Basketball (boys): Wabasha-Kellogg Falcons 65, St. Charles Saints 50
Basketball (girls): Red Wing Wingers 73, Winona Winhawks 38
Basketball (girls): LaCrescent-Hokah Lancers 63, St. Charles Saints 53
Wisconsin prep
Basketball (girls): Whitehall Norse 77, Augusta Beavers 76
Basketball (girls): Cochrane-Fountain City Pirates 71, Augusta Beavers 33
Basketball (girls): West Salem Panthers 90, Galesville Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau Red Hawks 27
Nodine incident: A strangulation arrest
NODINE, Minn. – A rural man was booked by Winona County deputies for assault and strangulation after a report of domestic abuse. Arrested was Sean William Saweikis, 45. Deputies said his live-in companion, a woman, had red marks om her neck. The arrest was about 2:45 p.m. in the 33000 block of County Road 16 south of Nodine.
Saweikis. Deputies reported seeing strangulation marks.
17-below isn’t the worst of it
What of chill factor. The “real feel,” as they say on television, can be minus-40 on bare skin in the wind. These dangerous days are predicted most of the week. Image: Andy Frank
Circumstances: The MSP-Toronto plane crash
TORONTO, Canada – The crash of a medium range Delta airplane at the Toronto airport injured 18 passengers, at least one critically, an airport spokesperson said. No one died. Shaken but without significant injury were 58 passengers and four crew. Everyone on board managed to climb out of the overturned plane, some assisted by crew and fellow passengers. They were stumbling out into bitter cold as the airport’s rescue vehicles were rolling up. Fire had erupted on impact, ignited by sparks as one wingtip scraped into the runway and ignited fuel still pumped into engines that were being dislocated by the impact. The fire was quickly suppressed even as passengers continued their self-evacuation. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada, which is heading the investigation, discouraged premature speculation about what caused the crash. This much, however, was known:
> Ground controllers alerted the Delta pilot that a plane on the same flight path may have generated a turbulent air bump in its wake, which is nothing extraordinary.
> The runway was dry and frost-free. Plow crews had worked through the night to clear eight inches of snow from the weekend
> The plane was landing from the northeast. Winds were from the east. Cross-winds were not significant, although there were non-cross current bursts to 40 mph – not beyond a CRJ900’s capabilities to handle.
> Temperatures were well below freezing but not unusual for CRJ-900 operations.
> Passengers called landing especially hard. They said that the plane began a tumble that a wingtip may have dug into the runway.
> One if not both wings broke off the fuselage, when explosive bolts did what they were designed to do — prevent the fuselage from breaking up in a crash and further endangering passengers.
> Passengers, belted for landing, found themselves hanging upside down. Once unbelted, they crawled on the ceiling to doors on the portside.
> Nearly 400 flights headed into Pearson International, the nation’s major gateway from Europe, were diverted to alternate airports, mostly in Ottawa, 280 miles away: Montreal, 400 miles: and Quebec, 500 miles. Some 300 departures were held on the ground at Toronto.
> Twenty-two Canadians were on board the flight. Other nationalities were not immediately released.
> Survivor were bused to the Sheraton Gateway Hotel near the airport. They either stayed the night, left in taxis, were picked up by friends or family, or rebooked and went shopping to replace essentials from their now-lost suitcases.
> Flights in and out of Toronto resumed after four hours, although two of the five runways remained closed.
Runway 23. Where Delta Flight 4819 touched down, tumbled sideways, then on its roof, ripping off wings and tail.
Verbatim
Neil Vigor: “The second that the wheels hit the ground, then everything happened. The next thing I know, we’re sideways. So you look down and you see sparks and flames on the side that’s touching the ground. We ended up completely upside-down. I unbuckled pretty fast and kind of lowered myself to the floor, which was the ceiling. People were panicking.”
Peter Koukov: “We were upside down hanging like bats”
John Nelson: “When we hit, it was just a super hard. _The plane went sideways. There was a a big fireball out of the left side. It was mass chaos. We tried to get out of there as quickly as possible. Even now I smell like jet fuel.”
Peter Carlson: “All the sudden everything just kind of went sideways and then next thing I know it’s kind of a blink and I’m upside down still strapped in. I didn’t care how cold it was oiutside, didn’t care how far I had to walk, how long I had to stand. All of us just wanted to be out of the aircraft.”
Kindergarten preview for little people, their folks too
Kindergarten adventure. Future kindergarteners and their families are invited to Goodview Elementary open house Monday. Time: 5:30 to 7 p.m. The function is to meet teachers and explore a kindergarten classroom. Future kindergartners will receive a Winhawk goodie bag. That tall guy is Winhawk basketball player Andrew Heltemes. Here he’s with Jessica Boyd’s class to read stories to the kids.
College scores
Softball (women): Winona State 10, Quincy 2
Softball (women): Winona State 11, Quincy 0 (doubleheader)
Minnesota prep
Wisconsin prep
Basketball (girls): LaCrosse Logan Rangers 35, Winona Winhawks 32
Basketball (boys): Black River Falls Tigers 86, Bangor Cardinals 69
Basketball (boys): Galesville Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau Redhawks 61, Cochrane-Fountain City Pirates 52
City OKs chaplaincy contract to support police
WINONA, Minn. – The Winona City Council voted 5-1 to hire a faith-based organization, Salt and Light Partners, to counsel police officers who have been through horrific trauma. The program was approved for $15,000 a year for unlimited calls. Salt and Light has a corps of ordained chaplain available, all with emotional wellness training. The chaplains will be compensated directly by Salt and Light, not the city. Two Council members, Jeff Hyma and Sam Zierden Shortridge expressed concern about lots of God-talk in Salt and Light literature. To Baptist Pastor George Beech, who runs Salt and Light, Hyma said he was less than comfortable with repeated references to Christian scripture. Zierden Shortdge worried about proselytizing in violation of the core separation of church and state in the American pluralistic creed. In the end, Hyma supported the Salt and Light contract. How they vioted:
For chaplaincy contract
George Borzyskowski (4th Ward, East End).
Jerome Christenson (at-large).
Jeff Hyma (2nd Ward, West Side).
Jason Dicus (at-large).
Scott Sherman (mayor).
Steve Young (1st Ward, West End).
Against
Sam Zierden Shortridge (3rd Ward, downtown).
Beech. Executive director of Salt and Light. Gave assurances that his chaplains can meet an individual’s religious or non-religious needs. This includes he said, connecting clients with counselors of their choice.
Fillmore County town to allow chicken coops
SPRING GROVE, Minn. — The City Council voted to allow residents to raise chickens – an ordinance to help address record high egg prices. A license will be required. Coops will be limited to eight hens. Chickens will not be allowed to roam free but must be confined to coops, pens, runs or loops. Spring Grove, population 1,300, had not allowed chickens in town about as long as anyone can remember.
About the plane in Delta crash in Toronto
QUEBEC, Canada – The CRJ0900 is a stretch version of the 50-seat Canadair CRJ-100, which first flew in 1991. The CRJ-900 can be configured to seat 90. CRJs dominate the fleet of Minneapolis-based Endeavor Air. Endeavor is a subsidiary of Delta Air Lines for shorter routes. Endeavor claims to fly the world’s largest fleet of CRJs. The company has 700 daily flights in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. The CRJs were a product of Bombardier and manufactured mostly at a factory complex in Montreal. The CRJ line was sold to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Tokyo in 2019. Some 478 were built starting in 2018. About the CRJ900:
> Cruises at 550 mph at 41,000 feet.
> Typical landing seed: 145 mph.
> Powered by two General Electric turbofans mounted high on the rear fuselage.
> Requires runways of 5,820 for take-off and 5,360 feet for landing
> Is flown Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Endeavor Air, Mesa Airlines, PSA Airlines, and SkyWest Airlines.
CRJ900. Holds a solid safety record with but two hull loss incidents.
Minneapolis-to-Toronto jet crashes on runway
Flipped upside down. Flight 4819. Departed MSP at 10:30 a.m. Minneapolis time. Crashed at 1:56 p.m.
Severe winds at time; extreme cold hinders rescue
TORONTO, Canada – A Delta regional airliner in-bound from Minneapolis crashed on landing at the Toronto airport The plane was carrying 80 persons — 76 passengers and four crew. All survived, according to initial reports. Although upside down, the fuselage was intact. Most walked or stumbled off the plane through front and red exits. Some were carried away on stretchers. The plane, a twin jet Bombardier CRJ-900, was operated by Endeavor Air under contract with Delta.
Notable journalism
Seth Borenstein (Associated Press, February 16, 2025): “Very Cold Weather Is Coming. U.S. about to Get 10th and Chilliest Polar Vortex This Winter”
Tony Kennedy (Minnesota Star Tribune. Februryb17, 2025): “Canada’s ‘Pause’ of Remote Border Crossing Permits Puts Some Minnesotans’ Lives, and Livelihoods, in Limbo”
Richard Teitelbaum (CNN, December 8, 1997): “Who Is Bob Kierlin — and Why Is He So Successful?”
Post-autopsy: Police release shooting victim’s name
AUSTIN, Minn. — Police released the name of a man who was shot fatally on Saturday afternoon. He was Opoka James Bot Lob Nathanael, age 27, of Austin, police said. Police had delayed releasing the man’s man’s name until an autopsy was completed.
Car strikes, injures pedestrian at Hy-Vee
WINONA, Minn. – A Hy-Vee shopper pushing her grocery cart was struck by a car in the parking lot. Police said the woman, age 75, was taken to the hospital with sustainable injuries. The driver told officers he had been blinded by the sun.
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