WINONA, Minn. — A Winona man was arrested after a child custody exchange involving a 2-year-old girl went bad. Daniel Allen Liston, age 43, was charged with domestic abuse and violating a court order to stay away from the child’s mother. This happened starting about 7:50 p.m. in the 1700 block of Wabasha Street on the Far West End. Police reviewed surveillance video and reported this sequence at the arranged child exchange:

> Liston drove his pickip truck close alongside the mother’s car. Words were exchanged through open windows.

> A minute later the mother drove ahead and parked. Liston pulled in behind her.

> The mother climbed out of her car and gathered the toddler from Liston’s back seat.

> As the mother was returning to her car with the toddler, Liston threw open his door and almost slammed into them.

> Liston got out of his pickup and stuck woman in the face with a backhand.

> The woman proceeded to her car with the child.

> Liston climbed back into his pickup and reversed out of camera view.

> A half hour later, police located Liston’s pickup on U.S. Highway 14 near Knopp Valley and made the arrest.

PINE ISLAND, Minn. — A driver whose midsize sedan smashed into a parked police cruiser Saturday wa iin critical condition at a Rochester hospital. Injuries to Andrew Anthony Vruno, age 31, of Rochester were listed life-threatening. Vruno was the only occupant in the Nissan Altima. The State Patrol said alcohol probably factor in the crash.

Earlier: Deputy hurt when car hits his parked cruiser

WINONA, Minn. — The documentary “Melania,” over which First Lady Melania Trump had editorial control, drew only miniscule audiences at Winona’s only movie house and was quickly taken down. There also were yawns at premieres nationwide and in Britain. The 114-minute documentary tracked the personal experiences of Melania Trump in the 20 days before her husband’s 2025 inauguration as president. Her purpose, she said, was to show her “journey from private citizen to first lady.” Reviews were bad. The “Rotten Tomatoes” aggregator of reviews nationally found only 11% favorable. The site Megacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 5 out of 100 based on 18 critics. In summary: “An overwhelming dislike.” The AMC chain’s largest theater, in Boston, reported that only one ticket was sold over three showtimes. A review of 1,400 showings in 34 U.S. theaters showed that only two screenings sold out. The movie’s release coincided wih polls showing Melania Trump at minus-16 among recent first ladies — next to the bottom.

Among hateful innuendos. With Hitler-esque shades appearing online, mostly anonymous. Other about her name appearing in Epstein pedophile investigation files.

Fluffed up. Trying to stay as dry and warm in snow-laden crab apple branches near Farmers Park in central Winona County. Image: Steve Lunde

Earlier: Our first robin of spring

WINONA, Minn. –— Firefighters made it through snow-packed streets to an electtical fire in a house on the Near West Side. The lone occupant had evacuated safely on his own. On arrival, firefighters found light smoke coming from the structure. Off-duty personnel were called in. The fire was in the walls and attic and was quickly extinguished. This was about 3:50 p.m. in the 650 block of Harriet Street. Firefighters said the structure was in poor condition, which caused additional damage.

An upside. City snowplow crews had cleared streets in the neighborhood, which gave

WINONA, Minn. — Big Box retailers, normally buzzing like beehives with Sunday shoppers, were eerily quietly. The usual customer volume virtually vanished with peole stayed off road and streets as snow from a mid-March storm piled up. Employees stayed home too. Church services were cancelled across southern Minnesota and adjoining Wisconsin and Iowa. The snow and severe winds let up at mid-afternoon. But anticipating a second wave, many school districts cancelled classes for Monday. The Minnesota Transportation Department’s snowplows crews found keeping up too difficulty keeping and were remaining off the roads. The State Patrol issued a do-not-drive advisory for 11 counties for its District 6:

Earlier: Winter parking rules expire just as big snow arrives

WINONA, Minn.  — Police took a call about a Polaris four-wheeler with a plow being stolen on the East End. The caller, up early to clear snow, said the 2011 vehicle went missing overnight. The value: $3,500. This was in the 1250 block of Sugar Loaf Road.

WINONA, Minn — The chief executive at the 49-bed Winona Health hospital, Rachelle Schultz, painted a bleak future for small and rural healthcare if Congress goes ahead with proposed Medicaid reforms. Although Schultz didn’t mention President Trump by name, it is his proposal that would shift Medicaid funds to finance tax advantages he’s promised rich people. Schultz is worried. About Winona Schultz was specific:

> 20% of Winona Health revenue is from Medicaid, which although less than costs it nonetheless is some revenue.

> Winona County, poulation 51,000, has 8,000 people enrolled in Medicaid. Nearly half are children, parents of those children, low-income working families, elders, veterans, and folks with disabilities.

> 80% of the babies born at Winona Health are to moms on Medicaid.

> 70% of the residents in the Winona Health nursing home are on Medicaid.

“My organization has a negative operating margin — and we are burning down our cash,” Schultz said. “While we have made post-CoVid progress year over year to reduce these losses, we now face the new Medicaid cuts with nowhere to absorb them.” In 2024, This not only a pending Winona crisis, she said: Medical assistance covered 1.3 million Minnesotans — 22% of our entire state population. “We know these people as our neighbors, coworkers, and patients. They are children, people with disabilities, elders, veterans, low-income working families. These are people for whom Medicaid provides a level of safety.” Minnesota, she noted, has built one of the lowest uninsured rates in the country — 3.8%, an historic low,” she said. “All of that progress is at risk.” She said. She quoted state government data:

> 140,000 Minnesotans are projected to lose health coverage.

> $1.4 billion may be lost in federal Medicaid funding over the next four years.

> $385 million is projected as the uncompensated care by hospitals by 2027.

“The magnitude of change coming under the proposed Medicaid puts my hospital, all rural hospitals, and effectively all Minnesota hospitals, in a precarious position.,” Schultz said.” Minnesota has been a leader in healthcare for a very long time. We are in uncharted waters right now.” She listed three provisions in the proposed cuts that will do most of the harm in Minnesota:

> Work requirements, effective on 2026: Expansion for adults must document 80 hours per month of work, volunteering, or school — and prove it  — before they even apply. At least 243,000 Minnesotans on Medical Assistance are subject to this requirement. Research shows 91% of folks on Medicaid already work, are caregivers, or have health limitations.

> Six-month eligibility re-checks, effective in 2027): This new frequency doubled must be done every six months. Paperwork would double. Chances increase   for someone being cancelled due a missed deadline or lost paperwork.

> Payment caps, phasing in through 2028: States would be required to cap their reimbursement rates to health are facilities at Medicare rates. In Minnesota this would be $1 billion per year, she said. It’s incorrect to view state funds as windalls or in some way addressing federal costs to run Medicaid, said Schultz: : “These are revenue streams that keep hospitals, especially rural hospitals, financially viable.”

MOORHEAD, Minn.  — A tour bus with stand-up comedian Bert Kreischer and his crew burst into flames just after a gig in neighboring Fargo. The bus had been disabled when two tires blew. This was about 11 p.m. A replacement bus picked up the cre.e The next morning they learned that their disabled bus erupted in flames just after they left. “Had we slept on that bus. we all would have been trapped in the back and we’d all be dead,” Kreischer said. “The only reason no one else was on that bus was because of the tire blowout.”  Kreischer had just performed at Scheeles Arena in Fargo and the night 270 miles away at Mayo Civic Center in Rochester, The crew on the doomed bus had just started a 370-mile overnight trip to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The show must go on, Kreischer said.

Burned-out hulk. The driver was alone at with the disabled bus, waiting for the bad tires to be replaced. when the bus exploded. He was unhurt.

Basketball (girls): Rochester Mayo Spartans 69, Maple Grove Crimson 60

Basketball (girls): Benilde-St. Magaret’s Red Knights 75, Stewartville Tigers 63

Basketball (boys): Hammond St. Croix Panthers 61, Galesville Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau Red Hawks 53

Basketball (girls): Stevens Point Pacelli Cardinals 70, Eleva-Strum Cardinals 40

PINE ISLAND, Minn. — A Goodhue County sheriff’s deputy was injured when a car smashed into his patrol vehicle parked on the shoulder. The deputy, Kainen Alexander Whitehead, 29, of Kenyon, was taken 16 miles to a Rochester hospital. His injuries appeared sustainable to first-responders. The accident was about 6:45 p.m. in the southbound lanes of U.S. Highway 52 near the Pine Island exit. Whitehead’s patrol vehicle was a 2025 Ford Explorer. The other driver’s name wasn’t released immediately, but he was known to be 31 years old and from Rochester. He was driving a 2010 Nissan Altima.

WINONA, Minn. — For five months Winona police have used their annual statutory authority to enforce alternate-side winter parking requirements. But under Municipal Ordinance 61.56, alternate-side parking ends March 15 — Sunday — the same day as a major snow storm is expected. The latest forecast:14 to 17 inches and possibly a blizzard. So what to do? Mike Biggerstaff, city streets supervisor, is asking citizens to abide voluntarily by the winter ordinance a few extra days so plow crew  can clear streets for emergency vehicles to get where they need to get.

Earlier: Ahead: Hyper-enforcement of parking regs

Earlier: Snow or not, Winona winter parking rules kick in

On stage. The Eau Claire-based acoustic band Woodland Spring.

Crowd first figured a fog machine was berserk

Baseball: Sioux Falls 6, Winona State 0

Baseball: Sioux Falls 6, Winona State 0 (doubleheader)

Basketball (women): UW-LaCosse 66, Southern Maine 45

Basketball (girls): Rochester Lourdes Eagles 71, Minnehaha RedHawks 40

Basketball (girls): Eleva-Strum Cardinals 70, Fall River Pirates 54

NORTH BEND, Wis. — Authorities had more questions than answers about the death of a Galesville man during a possible home burglary. Jackson County deputies had been called about a suspicious vehicle at rural house near North Bend, followed shortly by a 911 call that an unidentified person was in the home. When deputies arrived from Black River Falls. 20 miles away, they found Brian James Jaderston being subdued by bystanders. He was unresponsive and resuscitation attempts failed. Paramedics arrived and pronounced Jaderston dead. He was 48. People at the house said Jaderston didn’t have permission to be on the property or in the home. They believed he was intent on burglary. The investigation was continuing, said Sheriff Duane Waldera. Jaderston’s address was 30 miles away in the next county. He had a long court record involving burglary, drugs and habitual criminality. He was married wjth children, ages 8 and 5.

Jaderston. Criminal charges possible for his death.

Nature grows, surlyn doesn’t.  The tree has taken permanent possession of this wayward golf ball, although it looks like a curious woodpecker once tried to put a hole in it. This is at Brookside Church in West Burns Valley. Somebody practicing chipping way back when may still be wondering where the ball disappeared. Image: Kevin O’Reilly

Welcome to Winona. He must not have heard the forecast or he would have waited another week or so. Major snow accumuoation expected over the weekend . Image:  Kevin O’Reilly

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WINONA, Minn. —  First-responders were called to help a woman who fell in a front yard on the West Side and couldn’t get up. They got the woman up, realizing in the process that she was intoxicated. They took her to the hospital. This was about 1:30 p.m. in the 550 block of West Broadway. After she was cleated medially, Bobbi Lynn Frazier, age 43, of Winona, was takenc to jail. Police said she was under a court order to abstain from alcohol. Her blood tested as 0.17% alcohol, more than double the impairment threshold.