Coming soon to a Kwik Trip near you
LACROSSE, Wis. — The convenience store chain has hatched a mascot — a chicken named “Red.” The fellow was introduced to a crowd of delighted kids at a publicity event at Emplify Health’s LaCrosse hospital. Steve Shapiro, chair of the Gundersen Medical Foundation, was there to issue a “hatching certificate” to mark Red’s arrival. The six-foot character had plenty of hugs all around. The Gundersen Foundation and Kwik Trip are partners to raise funds for the Children’s Miracle Network for families of children with serious and complex medical needs.
His name is Red. Not coincidentally Kwik Trip has established a line of fried, roasted and otherwise prepared chicken products at its 880 locations in seven states.
Burglar raids Green Terrace work shed
PICKWICK, Minn. — Machinery and tools were reported taken in the burglary of a work shed off U.S. Highway 61 south of Winona near Green Terrace. The work shed is adjacent to a residence. Also missing was a strange miscellany that included handmade arrowheads and prescription pills, deputies were told. The report was filed about 8:45 a.m.
College scores
Softball: Viterbo 3, Olivet of Illinois 2
Democrats fail to derail new Homeland chief
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate voted 54-45 to confirm President Trump’s choice to replace troubled Kristi Noem to run the Homeland Security Department that includes the run-away ICE law enforcement agency. Democrats organized unsuccessfully against Markwayne Mullin. They had doubts whether Mjullin had the backbone to stand up to Trump to overhaul ICE, which has been ruthless in following Trump’s quota to arrest 3,000 people a day for deportation. Mullin has been in the Senate three years with an undistinguished record. Earlier he was in the House 10 years. In Oklahoma he ran his family’s plumbing business. He also was a mixed martial arts fighter with a professional record of 5-0. Here is how he Minnesota and Wisconsin senators voted:
For Mullin
> Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin
Against
> Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota
> Tina Smith, D-Minnesota
> Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin
For river buffs: Spring officially here
Just passed Highway 61 bridge at Hastings and into locks at the Army Corps’ Dam 2. Almost to St. Paul. Marking the new commercial shipping season on the Upper Mississippi.
Season’s first tow enters Hastings locks
HASTINGS, Minn. —The Motor Vessel Crockett cleared the locks at Hastings in the late afternoon, winning the race to open the Upper Mississippi to 2026 shipping. The Crockett was pushing two barges. The small array was immediately followed by four other tows that had trailed the Crockett through Lake Pepin, where little ice remained. The Crockett’s lockage, on March 23, was typical. The historical average is the third week in Mach. The earliest were on March 4 in 1983, 1984 and 2000.
Chalk one up for Ellison against Tik Tok
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota case against media giant TikTok as exploiting children into online addiction has passed a hurdle. Hennepin County District Judge Rachna Sullivan ruled that the state can sue under consumer protection laws. The judge rejected Tik Tok’s insistence that internal corporate documents are not anyone else’s business. Tik Tok, she said, must provide documents so that Minnesota’s attorney general, Keith Ellison, to proceed with his case. At stake could be massive fine against social media giants on a scale like those that decimated the U.S. tobacco industry in the 1990s. The Ellison argument is that Tik Tok designed products to maximize its own profits by luring children into harmful addiction with short-form videos.
Earlier: Expert: Ellison has uphill battle against Tik Tok
Earlier: Lawsuit: Tik Tok snaring kids with “digital nicotine”
Election judge in tiny Up Norh township: I’m guilty
PARK RAPIDS, Minn. — The head election judge in a Hubbard County township pleaded guilty to election fraud. Timothy Scouton, age 65, accepted ballots from 11 unregistered voters in the November 2024 election. Scouton’s explanation was that he couldn’t find registration forms at the polling place so he instructed election judges to write down the voters’ names, dates of birth, and addresses instead of using the legally required forms. The problem was identified right away by County Auditor Kay Rave when she was cross-checking voter names with voter registration lists. Scouton was promptly charged with accepting ballots from unregistered voters and with neglect of duty. After Scouton’s plea of guilty, Judge Kathryn Lorsbach scheduled sentencing for mid-May. Possible sentence: 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Meanwhile Scouton has been prohibited from serving as an election judge ever again.
Scouton. Facing jail for shortcut in administering 2024 election.
Badoura Township profile
Hubbard County, population 21,000, is 80 miles west of Duluth. Badora Township has 41 households and 106 people. The median age: 48. Per capita income $37,600.
Verbatim
Steve Simon, secretary of state, who runs Minnesota elections: “Election crimes are extremely rare. “Election-related crimes by election workers are nearly unprecedented.”
Vandals sought for stealing, marring road signs
BLACK RIVER FALLS, Wis. — A $1,000 reward has been offered to help authorities catch vandals who stole and damaged traffic signs west of Black River Falls in rural Albion and Franklin townships. Among stolen signs was one to watch for children. The reward was posted by Jackson County Crime Stoppers. The vandalism was over the weekend.
Rural man accused as electronic Peeping Tom
ALTURA, Minn — Deputies arrested a rural man whose female roommate said he had recorded her disrobing in her bedroom with a hidden camera. Arrested at their address, on County Road 28 northeast of Altura, was Darwin Amilcar Acevedo Centeno, age 34. The woman told deputies she found the recording device and called authorities. The arrest was about 10 a.m. The man was charged with interference with privacy. Deputies took the phone as evidence and for further investigation.
New mass protest rally set at Windom Park
WINONA, Minn. — The grassroots community organizers at Winona Indivisible are back with a third No Kings rally. It’s set for Saturday at the usual Windom Park. Time: 11:30 a.m. It was at Windom Park that the first mass protest against Trump policies and practices in June drew 1,000 demonstrators. A follow-up in June, also at Windom Park, October drew 1,400 demonstatrs in October. The theme has been nonviolence in the spirit of citizen rights in the U.S. Constitution to “peaceably assemble to petition the government for redress of grievances.” The weather is forcast as favorable for a turnout — sunny in the 50s. The Windom Park event is among 92 on a growing list in Minnesota and 2,600 nationwide. The national coalition of organizations coordinating events has chosen Minneapolis as its flagship city this time, marking the state’s success in driving back Trump’s violent military occupation over the winter. Three marches converging on the State Capitol in St. Paul are expetced to draw 80,000 people, said Rebecca Larson with the organizer Indivisible Twin Cities.
Earlier: No Kings update: Three dissidents left when urged
Earlier: A Winona portfolio: No Kings Day 2.0
Earlier: No Kings events: 11 in southeast Minnesota
Earlier: Crowds for No Kings Day pegged at 4 to 6 million
Earlier: Windom Park: A No Kings Day portfolio
Earlier: Fourth Winona protest coming against Trump
Earlier: Winona Indivisible pushes new mega-rally
Online poster. Besides posters and flags, participants are asked to bring item for Winona food shelves: Personal care items, cleaning supplies, canned meat and fish, and boxed meal kits.
Planning huddle. Winona Indivisible organizers.
other rallies hereabouts
Albert Lea: 10 a.m., New Denmark Park. Austin: 10 a.m., Eighth Avenue and 14th Street. Faribault: 11 a.m., Courthouse. LaCrescent: Noon, at Welcome to LaCrescent sign. LaCrosse: Noon, old K-Mart. Lake City: Noon, Gold Star Mothers’ Park. Owatonna: Noon, Owatonna. Preston: Noon, Fillmore County Courts. Red Wing: 10 a.m., AP Anderson Park and Highway 61. Rochester: Noon Sixth Street and Broadway Avenue. Rushford: Noon, four-way stop. Spring Grove: Noon, Viking Memorial Park. St. Charles: 10:30 a.m., U.S. 14. Wabasha: 11:30 a.m., Veterans Memorial Park. Zumbrota: 3 p.m., behind City Hall.
Expert: Ellison has uphill battle against Tik Tok
MINNEAPOLIS — A University of Minnesota law professor described the case that Tik Tok has sucked children into visual addiction is built on legal theories that are reasonably new and novel. Alan Rozenshtein was asked by Minnesota Public Radio about a lawsuit field against Tik Tok by Minnesota’s attorney general, Keith Ellison. The legal challenge, Rozenshtein said, is proving that Tik Tok’s algorithms are addictive: “You have to establish that in fact, these platforms are dangerously designed, and inthat in fact that they cause harm, and that in fact there’s no good way of redesigning them.” Rozenshtein said he doesn’t see Ellison’s case as in any way a slam dunk.
Earlier: Lawsuit: Tik Tok snaring kids with “digital nicotine”
Gunfire heard at Walmart; casings found
ROCHESTER, Minn. — Police found shell casings outside the North Walmart store after a customer ported a group of people running into the store, heard gunfire, and saw a vehicle drive off. This was about 11 p.m. off U.S. Highway 52 at 3400 55th Street Northwest. Police launched a search for perpetrators.
College scores
Baseball: Winona State 15, Bemidji State 3
Baseball: Winona State 7, Bemidji State 1
Baseball: Saint Mary’s 6, UW-Superior 3
Softball: Mary 4, Winona State 3
What were burgers like 1926? Ask at Centerville
Four Corners Bar. Although times have changed since this crossroads bar opened 100 years ago, the hamburger recipe hasn’t. The current owner, Jeremy Wood, who’s known the place since he was 7, swears the recipe goes all the way back. Frank and Josie Kiedrowski, who lived nearby up Pine Creek, bought one acre and built a gas station and bar in 1926. No gas any more. But still a gathering place for country folk for beer and burgers. Image: Steve Ljnde
Wood. At his place to be. Forever at crossroads between Galesville, Arcadia, Fountain City and Trempealeau.
Among Jackson fatalities: A 74-year-old birthday boy
JACKSON, Minn. —The multi-fatality accident Friday near Jackson punctuated a family birthday celebration. Among those who died was Richard Warren Johnson of Jackson, whose 74th birthday was coming up. His wife Katleen also was killed. Hey were among 12 family and friends packed into a van with a hired driver. They collided with a second vehicle. Some early news accounts called the van a “party bus,” which led to misleading inferences. State Police said there was no evidence of alcohol. The accident was between 4 and 5 o’clock on a Friday. The crash was a lengthy straight stretch of two-lane U.S. Highway 71 between Jackson and the Iowa border. The driver of the van escaped critical injury. The driver of the other vehicle died on impact.
Legislators act against now-sullied farm reformer
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota House voted 129-0 to end the state’s annual Cesar Chavez Day. The action was in response to recent allegations of predatory sexual conduct. Chavez, who died in 1993, had been memorized in Minnesota law in 2014 for crusading against Big Agriculture’s labor abuses of immigrant farm workers. The sexual allegations emerged only last week. The bill next goes to the State Senate.
Verbatim
María Isa Pérez-Vega, Democrat from St. Paul, chief House sponsor of the repeal legislation, said a way needs to be found to honor the movement Chavez led with absolutely no shout-out for carnal cavorting: “How can we effectively separate individuals from the movement? We must address the allegations and afford credibility and support to the victims, to the survivors.”
You can almost hear Beethoven even now
Glass encased elegance. Look carefully: You can see temporary construction railing on the grand staircase to concert seating at the new Masterpiece Hall in Winona. Yes, there’ll also be an elevator. Among yet-to-finish exterior touches: Cladding over the temporary turquoise rim band on the roof. Image: Steve Lunde
News summary at week’s end: March 21, 2026
METRO SURGE: JFK Award recognizes Minnesotans’ courage
AGRICULTURE: Farmers fret with diesel at $4.79
AGRICULTURE: Posthumously persona non grata: Chavez
TRAGEDY: Five dead, others hurt in Minnesota crash
POLICING: Capitol Police back down on Minnesotan arrest
GOVERNANCE: How they voted: On voter suppression /1
GOVERNANCE: Expert: Ellison has uphill battle against Tik Tok
FIRE: Electrical issue blamed for St. Charles motel fire
CRIME: Mystery in Jackson County death: An intruder?
CRIME: Shooting of pet dops blamed on gun enthusiast
CRIME: Charge: He punched woman, smashed car windows
CRIME: Displeased patient accused of making threats
CRIME: Cops nab Rollingstone fugitive after two-mile chase
POLITICS: Zumbrota traditionalists: We like old flag
Displeased patient accused of making threats
LACROSSE, Wis. — A La Crosse man was arrested at Emplify Health’s LaCrosse emergency room after a doctor reportedly was threatened with bodily harm. Randy Nevsimal, age 42, was taken to jail. The doctor told police that he had examined Nevsimal for a complaint about pain but couldn’t justify prescribing th medicine he sought. Nevsimal then threatened bodily harm to the doctr and other staff and and their families. Police said they later learned that Nevsimal was wanted already on a warrant from Prairie du
Nevsimal. Bail at $2,000. Judge’s order: Don’t go back to emergency room.
College scores
Baseball: Winona State 4, Bemidji State 3
Baseball: Winona State 5, Bemidji State 4
Baseball: Saint Mary’s 5, UW-Superior 0
Baseball: Saint Mary’s 7, UW-Superior 0
Softball: Winona State 3, Jamestown 0
Softball: Winona State 2, Jamestown 0
Tennis (women): Jamestown 6, Winona State 1
Tennis (women): Mary 4, Winona State 3
Rods and reels out on spring afternoon
Anglers line the shore and the fishing pier at Lock and Dam 6 at Trempealeau. The parking lot is jammed. Afternoon highs reached lows 80 around the region, a record for March 21. Image: Steve Lunde
A grim roster from southwest Minesota collision
JACKSON, Minn. — In an update to a five-fatality collision between Jackson and the Iowa border, the State Patrol listed the victims:
Killed:
> Martin Nickolas Hanson, 67, of Springfield, driver of the 2016 GMC Terrain SUV, who died apparently on impact.
> Kelly Christine Hargus, 49, of Jackson, a passenger in the Ford Transit van, who was taken to the Windom hospital.
> Kathleen Ann Johnson, 73, of Jackson, in the van, taken the Windom hospital.
> Richard Warren Johnson, 73, of Jackson, in the van, taken the Windom hospital.
> Lindsey Kay Rossow, 47, of Lakefield, in the van, taken to a hospital.
With serious injuries:
> Kassandra Lynn Ambrose, 44, of Jackson, in the van, to Redwood Falls hospital
> Nolan Eric Ambrose, 19, of Jackson, in the van, to the Redwood Falls hospital.
> Eric Charles Rossow, 54, of Lakefield, in the van, airlifted to a Sioux Falls hospital.
With less serious injuries:
> Matthew Arthur Schultz, 42, of Lakefield, driver of the van, to the Windom hospital.
> Andria Elizabeth Benson, 20, of Jackson, in the van, to the Windom hospital.
> Kristin Kathleen Hanson, 44, of Jackson, in the van, to the Redwood Falls hospital.
> Eric Rossow, 20, of Jackson, in the van, to the Windom hospital.
> Karlee Kristine Rossow, 23, of Lakefield, in the van, to the Windom hospital.
Community profiles
Jackson: Population 1,300. County seat of Jackson County.
Lakefield: Population 1,700. In Jackson County.
Redwood Falls: Population 5,100. County seat of Redwood County.
Springfeld: Population 2,000. In Brown County. Near New Ulm.
Windom: Population 5,800. County seat of Cottonwood County.
Sioux Falls: 90 miles away in South Dakota. Population: 209,000.
Hospitals
Sioux Falls: Sanford Medical Center. 45 beds. Level 1 trauma center.
Redwood Falls: Redwood Area hospital. 31 beds. Level 4 trauma center.
Windom: Windom Area Health. 25 beds. Level 4 trauma center.
Bravely northward toward iced-over Lake Pepin
Two dams and locks ahead before reaching Lake Pepin ,an Ingram towboat pushes six barges past Dick’s Marina inlet on Winona’s Latsch Island. The lake’s navigation channel still had a formidable14 inches of blue ice and four inches of white ice at places in official borings three days earlier. The shipper’s optimistic calculation was that a 70-degree day on Saturday would soften the ice pack quickly — quick enough for steel-hulled barges to plow through. Image: Steve Lunde
Biker killed when leaves road, hits tree
MODENA, Wis — An Eau Claire motorcyclist e died when he crashed into a tree in northern Buffalo County. Bystanders attempted life-saving measures. Andrew Mellor, age 73, was dead when an emergency crew arrived. The accident was southwest of Mondovi about 4:25 p.m. on Highway 37 at County Road J. This was near the hamlet of Modena.
Cardinal attacks own reflection in window
Expert explanation. Ornithologists say cardinals, females and males, are exceptionally territorial. They see a reflection of themselves as an intruder and attack. This behavior is pronounced in breeding times.
Territorial thrusting. For days a female cardinal, nesting in a birch tree on a Garvin Brook tributary, has slammed into a residential window a few feet away. Over and over she makes dozens of heavy forays, hundreds even, at the glass. Image: Steve Lunde
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