College scores
Baseball: Winona State 10, St. Cloud State 8
Baseball: Saint Mary’s 4, Augsburg 1
Baseball: Saint Mary’s 7, Augsburg 6
Softball: Winona State 9, Augustana 8
Softball: Winona State 10, Augustana 6
Softball: Saint Mary’s 6, Adolphus 3
Softball: Saint Mary’s 4, Adolphus 3
Tennis (women): Augustana 7, Winona State 0
Minnesota prep
Baseball: Austin Packers 9, Winona Winhawks 7
Baseball: Austin Packers 12, Winona Winhawks 0
Baseball: St. Croix Saints 4, St. Charles Saints 2
Baseball: St. Charles Saints 5, Mabel-Canton Cougars 1
Golf (boys): Austin Packers 322, Rushford-Peterson Trojans 325, Blooming Prairie Awesome Blossoms 336, Dodge Center Triton Cobras 358, Harmony Fillmore Central Falcons 368, Lewiston-Altura Cardinals 374, LeRoy-Ostrander Cardinals 386, Hayfield Vikings 394, Caledonia Warriors 396, Randolph Rockets 398
Softball: Byron Bears 9, St. Charles Saints 5
Explosive ready to take out Lansing bridge pier
LANSING, Iowa — More dynamiting is ahead for the Lansing bridge over the Mississippi River to Wisconsin. The span itself was demolished dramatically in December. The new blast, this Thursday to take out a remaining concrete pier, will be underwater and may not even be heard, engineers said. Nonetheless: Shipping on the river and the hourly car ferry will be suspended from 12 to 2 p.m. as a safety precaution.
First daffodil of the new season
King Alfred reigns anew. In a residential yard at the Arches near Farmers Park in central Winona County.On a thick bed of vinca whose own petals are emerging in delicate lavender. Image: Steve Lunde
Firearms missing southwest of Fremont
FREMONT, Minn. – Sheriff’ s deputies took a report of firearms missing from locked trailers parked on remote Ponderosa Drive in south-central Winona County. The owner, who lives some distance away, told deputies he was unsure when the theft occurred. He said he suspected other items also were missing.
Winona woman missing almost a week
WINONA, Minn. — Winona Police reported being unable to locate a woman who was last reported seen Monday — five days ago. The public was asked to call clues to the whereabouts of Bridget Martinson, age 32 ,to police. She was known in to been downtown Winona on April 6, police said.
Martinson. 5-foot and 130 pounds. Missing since April 6.
NOTE: Meanwhile a search for a second Winona woman, Patricia Sweningson, age 73, was continuing. She was last seen March 4.
Minnesota prep
Baseball: Rushford-Peterson Trojans, St. Charles Saints 1
Softball: Lewiston-Altura Cardinals 7, Dover-Eyota Eagles 6
Softball: Winona Cotter Ramblers 10, Chatield Gophers 2
Wisconsin prep
Track and field (boys): Zumbrota-Mazeppa Cougars 156, Grand Meadow-LeRoy-Ostrander Bulldogs 145, Kenyon-Wanamingo/Goodhue 100, Lake City Tigers 69, Alma-Pepin Eagles 59, Wabasha-Kellogg Falcons 49, Cochrane-Fountain City Pirates 18
Track and field (girls): Zumbrota-Mazeppa Cougars 156, Grand Meadow-LeRoy-Ostrander Bulldogs 145, Kenyon-Wanamingo/Goodhue 100, Lake City Tigers 69, Alma-Pepin Eagles 59, Wabasha-Kellogg Falcons49, Cochrane-Fountain City Pirates 18
Shopping day for Amish in St. Charles
Minding the buggy. This horse learned patience long ago. Hitched to a railing thoughtfully placed for horse-drawn shoppers at a far corner of the Miller’s Market parking lot. Image: Steve Lunde
Man claims black-out in flashlight attack
WINONA, Minn. –— A Winona man was arrested after another man reported being beaten unconscious with a flashlight. The victim had a 1-1/2 inch bleeding gash above his right eye, police said. He told officers he had no odea how many times he was struck. There had been four men fixing a car in a garage near Broadway and Junction streets on the Far West End. The two other men had left before the flashlight incident but said the attacker had taken umbrage at comments about his girlfriend — although they had walked off without actually witnessing what happened with the flashlight. By the time police arrived, the alleged assailant had left on foot. He was located about 11 p.m. a few blocks away near Wabasha Street and Druey Court in the Maplewood housing complex. Police said Daniel Allen Liston, age 43, denied hitting the other man but admitted to shining the flashlight in his eyes. During arrest, officers found a baggy with 3.4 grams of meth in Liston’s jean’s right pocket. Liston was taken to jail and booked for assault and drugs. Meanwhile back at the garage, medics tended to the injured man’s head cut. The man, age 51, declined being taken to the hospital.
Wisconsin politico: Evidence shows Van Orden in trouble
MADISON, Wis. — Western Wisconsin’s two-term delegate to Congress, Derrick Van Orden, should be looking for another line of work, says a Democratic strategist with a granular knowledge of the state’s politics. Ben Wikler, former state Democratic chair, said all six of Wisconsin’s Republican delegates, including Van Orden, are unlikely to win re-election. He based his analysis on trends:
> The election Tuesday of Democrat-backed Chris Taylor to the state Supreme Court by 20 points — a “blowout,” he called it.
> The 2025 election of Democrat-backed Susan Crawford to the state Supreme Court despite a gigantic $25 million campaign cash infusion hy Trump ally Elon Musk.
> Trump dragging down support for Republican candidates everywhere. He pointed to deep public dissatisfaction with Trump policies on tariffs, war and consumer prices.
> Trump had only a slim margin in the 2024 presidential election in Wisconsin — 31,000 votes — so there is little base for his loyalists to build on.
> Trump’s current approval in polls nationally has slipped into the 30% range, a historic low. He has no coat tails
Wikler. Former Wisconsin Democratic chair. Voicing doubts about viability of GOP majority in Wisconsin’s U.S. House membership. This was in an MS NOW interview.
Van Orden. Has shunned news reporters for months. Recognizes vulnerabilities of his unwavering support of Trump. Also has refused invitations to townhall meetings and honest eyeball-to-eyeball dialogue with Wi-3 constituents.
Baseline heading into Wisconsin mid-terms
Most Wisconsin’s GOP delegates to the U.S. House, with the exception of Derrick Van Orden, carried their districts by wide margins in 2024. Wikler cites evidence that the GOP preferences in Wisconsin’s six largely rural Congressional districts have been in free fall since 2024. However, as he sees it, delegates from Madison and Milwaukee, both Democrats, are safe for re-election.
Republicans
Derrick Van Orden, Wi3 (Prairie du Chien): Carried his district by 3 points.
Bryan Steil, Wi1 (Janesville): By10 points.
Tony Wied, Wi8 (DePere): By 14 points.
Glen Grothman, Wi6 (Campbellsport): By 22 points.
Scott Fitzgerald, Mn8 Clyman): By 29 points.
Tom Tiffany, WI7 (Hazelburst): By 32 points.
Democrats
Mark Pocan, Wi2 (Madison): By 29 points
Gwen Moore, Wi4 (Milwaukee): By 25 points.
Child torture defendant sentenced
WINONA, Minn. — A La Crosse man accused of torturing a 3-year-old Winona child is perhaps going to jail. Jalil Wilson, age 28, was sentenced to 45 days, but the jail time will be excused if he finds and keeps a job. The sentence also specifies three years of supervised probation. Wilson earlier had pleaded guilty to the false imprisonment charge. The incident was in an apartement on Homer Road aRoad in July. Wearing a mask, Wilson petrified and duct-taped the child and locked him in a closet. The episode was video-taped and posted online as entertainment.
Earlier: Second man in custody on child torture warrant
Earlier: New arrest for duct-tape child torment
Earlier: Two men sought in Winona child-torture case
UW president won’t protest being fired
MADISON, Wis. — The fired University of Wisconsin president ,Jay Rothman ,said he was “blindsided” by the the decision of the Board of Regents to fire him. He hasn’t been told why, Rothman told the Associated Press. “I asked for reasons why. They were not able to articulate any.” He said his last performance review, in August, was favorable. Rothman was barred from the 30-minute Tuesday night meeting at which the 18-member board voted unanimously to remove him. In the AP interview Rothman did not criticize any regent by name but expressed frustration generally with the board:
“For a board to be functional, it needs to be able to provide clarity to the management team — not 18 different voices with different opinions and pet projects. There has to be Board leadership that is able to consolidate that, build a consensus and provide clear direction.”
Rothman, a lawyer, said he has no plans to appeal his removal or to sue: “I am disappointed with the board’s action, but I’m not angry.” He did express concern about concern about the UW system’s future.
Bucky Beaver busy busy in lower East Burns Valley
Critter knew where good stuff was. The beaver took the bark off the tree up to where it hit the stream, then again on the other side of the stream. It was a clever way to access and eat the cambium, a nutrient-rich portion of the inner bark. ‘Twas a sizable tree, as attested by the golden retriever Holly, who posed so you could see the scale. Image: Kevin O’Reilly
News summary at mid-week: April 8, 2026
GOVERNANCE: Wisconsin senator: Trump wrong on Iran annihilation
GOVERNANCE: Court date up in air in legislator’s DWI case
ARTS: Winona school auditorium to be an Edstrom memorial
POLITICS: Wisconsin leans left in Supreme Court choice
POLITICS: Candidate takes GOP mantle for 24-B House seat
EVENTS: Rain on the parade? Scattered showers perhaps
CAMPUS: Regents oust $600,000-a-year UW
CRIME: Baby Angel judge opens some trial evidence
CRIME: Child torture defendant sentenced
CRIME: Unwary men nabbed as seeking illicit minor sex
EVENT: Rain on the parade? Scattreed showers perhaps
JUSTICE: State’s chief justice nears age 70, to retire
Winona Schools nets $100,000 for tech courses
WINONA, Minn. –A campaign to raise money for career and technical education programs in Winona public schools has reached its $100,000 goal. Superintendent Brad Berzinski thanked:
> Altra Federal Credit Union, $30,000.
> Merchants Bank, $25,000.
> Farmers Insurance, $25,000.
> A local manufacturer that asked anonymity, $20,000.
> Eagles Lodge, $15,000.
The money is for state-of-the-art equipment, hands-on courses and related curricular matters.
College scores
Baseball: Saint Mary’s 1, Hamline 0
Baseball: Saint Mary’s 6, Hamline 4
Softball: Winona State 6, MSU-Mankato 2
Softball: Winona State 3, MSU-Mankato 2
Softball: Saint Mary’s and UW-LaCrosse (postponed)
Softball: Saint Mary’s and UW-LaCrosse (postponed) (doubleheader)
Downed power lines ignite West Burns fire
WINONA, Minn. — A tree, uprooted from soggy soil, crashed and brought down three power lines that ignited a small wild fire. This was about 3 p.m. off State Highway 43 in West Burns Valley. When firefighters arrived, the downed lines were arcing across a driveway on Brookview Drive. Vegetation on a hillside next the driveway was on fire. A crew from the utility company Xcel de-energized the downed lines by tripping fuses upstream. Once power was off, firefighters cooled remaining hot spots.
Child lathers up Burger King with shave cream
WINONA, Minn. — A 10-year-old girl went crazy with shaving cream in the Burger King on Mankato Avenue. The manager called police but was undecided whether to press charges. Police held the girl and notified her parents. The Burger King is part of the Cave fast-food franchise chain out of Chicago. The extent of damage was not assessed immediately, police said. This was about 8:55 p.m.
Emergency, fire crews make 42 calls
WINONA, Minn. – The Fire Department reported 29 emergency medical calls plus 13 fire calls in recent days:
> Tuesday, April 7: 4 medical calls plus no fire calls.
> Monday, April 6: 2 medical calls plus 1 fire call.
> Sunday, April 5: 6 medical calls plus 3 fire calls.
> Saturday, April 4: 3 medical calls plus 2 fire calls.
> Friday, April 3: 9 medical calls plus 4 fire calls.
> Thursday, April 2: 2 medical calls plus no fire calls.
> Wednesday, April 1: 3 medical calls plus 3 fire calls.
Earlier: Emergency, fire crews make 51 calls
Winds render Lansing ferry unsafe
LANSING, Iowa —The ferry service between Lansing and Wisconsin points was suspended because of high winds. Depending on the winds, Iowa highway authorities hoped to resume ferry shuttles Thursday. The ferry is the only way to cross the Mississippi River for 6o miles between LaCrosse and Prairie du Chien until a new bridge is completed. In 2027.
Rain on the parade? Scattered showers perhaps
LEWISTON, Minn. — It looks to be a great day for the Fools Five Road Race on Saturday in the upper 60s, perhaps low 70s — if the rain holds back. Scattered showers are a possibility, forecasters say. The race, which has attracted hundreds of runners annually since 1979, begins at the Lewiston post office at 1 p.m. It’s a fundraiser for cancer research. A live-auction celebration the night before will have Gary Mills, former Lewiston track and cross-country coach, as guest speaker. Mills and high school athlete Dan Reinboldt came up with the idea of hosting a road race in the winter of 1978. Mills, who now is battling pancreatic cancer, will share his story.
Banner-bedecked in waiting. Come Saturday afternoon the normally quiet Main Street will be swarming with runners. For now the event’s signature logo, a four-toe foot, heralds what’s coming from every lamp post on Main Street. Images: Steve Lunde
Police called to quell street disturbance, make arrest
WINONA, Minn. — Police arrested a man after a report of a bloody assault on Lafayette Street near the Winona Day Center. This was about 11:35 p.m. No children were at the center at such a late hour. Arrested was Joseph Matthew Mason, age 25, of Burnsville, a south Minneapolis suburb. What Mason was doing 95 miles from home was uncertain. A 47-year-old man, at the scene and with blood on his face, told police that Mason punched for no obvious reason. Police said Mason appeared looped on drugs. He tried walking off despite a police command to stop, which constituted resisting arrest, police said. A second charge: Disorderly conduct.
Wisconsin leans left in Supreme Court choice
MADISON, Wis. — Voters elected Madison-based appellate judge Chris Taylor to the state Supreme Court. Taylor’s magin was 60% to 590% over Republican -backed Maria Lazar. The election was watched nationally as a bellwether on whether the public is growing weary of Trumpism. In recent years Wisconsin has been a battleground for Democrats and Republicans. he Supreme Court race was seen as an indicator of how Trump and his chosen candidates will fare in November midterms for Cogress. Taylor’s history is as a Democratic legislator and state policy director for Planned Parenthood. Lazar is from the Waukesha, historically a conservative bastion outside Milwaukee. The election was significant at the state level because it gave liberals a 5-2 majority on the state supreme court. Wisconsin justices hold 10-year terms.
Whence Wisconsin?
Trumpers hold a majority of Wisconsin seats in the narrowly divided U.S. House going into national November mid-term elections:
Democrats: Gwen Moore, Wi4 (Milwaukee); Mark Pocan, Wi2 (Madison).
Republicans: Scott Fitzgerald, Mn8 Clyman); Glen Grothman, Wi6 (Campbellsport); Bryan Steil, Wi1 (Janesville); Tom Tiffany, WI7 (Hazelburst); Derrick Van Orden, Wi3 (Prairie du Chien); Tony Wied, Wi8 (DePere).
Taylor. A 20-point election victory to state’s high court. Although Wisconsin judicial candidates are officially nonpartisan, they reflect distinctive ideological leanings.
College scores
Baseball: Bethel 2, Saint Mary’s 0
Baseball: Bethel 11, Saint Mary’s 5
Softball: Saint Mary’s and Carleton (postponed)
Softball: Saint Mary’s and Carleton (postponed) (doubleheader)
Softball: Viterbo 9, Calumet 0
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