ATV driver off road, grogged out, cited
UTICA, Minn. – Deputies found a four-wheeler off the road southeast of Utica with the driver appearing either asleep or passed out. Thomas Alvin Mueller, 66, of Utica, was charged with driving under the influence. This was about 7:35 p.m. near the County Road 33 crossroads with Sand Hill Road. Temperatures were in the upper 20s.
Mueller. Out for an evening ride.
How they voted: For U.S. House speaker / 4 5 6
WASHINGTON – On a sixth vote the U.S. House failed again to elect a speaker to lead the 435-member legislative body. Majority Republicans remained split between supporters of Kevin McCarthy of California and party rebels. Democrats remained unified but, being a minority, couldn’t prevail. The Minnesota and Wisconsin delegations remained divided along party lines.
Earlier: How they voted: For U.S. House speaker / 1
Missing: $1,400 cash stashed in bedroom
WINONA, Minn. – A theft of $1,400 cash was reported by a man living in the 1400 block of South Baker Street. The theft occurred over the holidays when visitors were in and out, the man said. The money was in an upstairs bedroom, he said. Police questioned one visitor whom the man suspected but that person denied taking the money.
Vehicle into ditch near Mabel; driver hurt
MABEL, Minn. – An Iowa driver was hurt when his vehicle slid on ice into a mailbox and down a ditch. Ayden Brandon Underbakke, 16, of Decorah, was taken 23 miles to a Decorah hospital with injuries that appeared non-life threatening. The accident was about 6 p.m. two west of Mabel. Undebakke was driving 2007 Toyota Highlander.
$3 million bail in Rochester murder case
ROCHESTER, Minn. –A judge set bail at $3 million for the man accused of killing an Eyota woman and dumping her body in a snow bank many miles away. At this point Mustafa Bush, 39, should be considered a threat to public safety, said Judge Joseph Bueltel, of Steele County, who was in circuit duty in Rochester. Prosecutors had wanted bail at $10 million.
Earlier: Ex-con booked in Eyota woman’s death
R.I.P.: Esther Styba
WINONA, Minn. – Esther Arlene (Llewellyn) Styba, of Winona, who worked at Boland’s Manufacturing, the Williams Hotel, the W.T. Grant dime store, and 22 years at Northwestern Bell, died at age 94. She also served many years as the secretary of the local CWA union. She was born in Houston, Minnesota. She descrbed herself as “an adventurer not afraid of anything.” At age 16 she boarded a bus to California to attend school and live with her older sisters who worked in the war industry. Later her mom persuaded to return to Winona to finish high school.
Details: Fawcett-Junker Funeral Home
1929-2022
Snow, ice blamed for Pine Island wreck
PINE ISLAND, Minn. – A Mazeppa man was hurt albeit not seriously when his car went out of control on snow-covered and ice-covered U.S. Highway 52. Maccoy Francis Huepenbecker, 23, was taken 20 miles to a Rochester hospital. The vehicle, a 2020 Ford EcoSport, stuck a guardrail. This was about 8:10 a.m. three miles north of Pine Island. Huepenbeck was southbound toward Rochester.
Emergency, fire crews make 47 calls
WINONA, Minn. – The Fire Department reported 34 emergency medical calls plus 13 fire calls in recent days:
> Tuesday, January 3: 3 medical calls plus 3 fire calls.
> Monday, January 2: 3 medical calls plus 1 fire call.
> Sunday, January 1: 3 medical calls plus 3 fire calls.
> Saturday, December 31: 6 medical calls plus no fire calls.
> Friday, December 30: 6 medical calls plus 2 fire calls.
> Thursday, December 29: 11 medical calls plus 2 fire calls.
> Wednesday, December 28: 3 medical calls plus 2 fire calls.
Earlier: Emergency, fire crews make 55 ca1ls
Ice storm diverts Minnesota band’s two flights
MINNEAPOLIS – Two planes in the air with the Rosemount High School marching band were diverted from the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport because of icy runways. The planes landed safely at Eau Claire and Des Moines. MSP had been closed at 7 p.m., after another plane slid off a taxiway. As soon as MSP reopened, the Rosemount planes and dozens of other diverted flights continued on.
Flying home. The 250-member Marching Irish from Rosemount High School had performed in the Tournament of Roses parade in Pasadena.
College scores
Hockey (men): Saint Mary’s 6, Lawrence 3
Minnesota prep
Basketball (boys): Winona Winhawks and Owatonna Huskies, postponed
Basketball (girls): Winona Winhawks and Owatonna Huskies, postponed
Basketball (girls): St. Charles Saints and Blooming Prairie Amazing Bloomers, postponed
Hockey (boys): Winona Winhawks and Onalaska Hilltoppers, postponed
Wisconsin prep
Mexico flight slides off icy MSP taxiway
MINNEAPOLIS – A Delta airplane loaded with vacationers from Mexico slid off an icy taxiway at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport. On board were 147 passengers. No injuries were reported. The twin-engine A320 had just touched down and was maneuvering to the terminal. The nose gear went 30 feet off the pavement and sank into snow. This was about 6:40 p.m. The 1,800-mile flight originated in Cabo San Lucas.
How they voted: For U.S. House speaker / 3
WASHINGTON – The leader of Republicans in the U.S. House, Kevin McCarthy of California, failed a third time in the same day to corral a majority of his own party members in his bid for the House leadership. House Domocrats, who are outnumbered by Republicans, wee unified behind New York member Hakeem Jeffries, but they too were unable to amass the necessary 234 votes. There was no change in how Minnesota and Wisconsin delegations divided from the the earlier two votes..
Jack-knife blocks highway east of Lewiston
LEWISTON, Minn. – A semi-truck jack-knifed and blocked U.S. 14 on the way down the narrow No Name Creek Coulee to the Arches. The accident was on a two-lane icy gentle curve. The route, the major thoroughfare between Winona and Rochester, re-opened about 3 p.m.
How they voted: For U.S. House speaker / 2
WASHINGTON – A unified Democratic bloc in the U.S. House kept together, denying the Republican leader Kevin McCarthy of California the House speakership he had sought. To be elected required 234 votes. There was no change in how Minnesota and Wisconsin delegations divided in the first vote an hour earlier.
Minnesota DFL look to enact reproductive reforms
ST. PAUL, Minn. – the Democratic legislative leadership unveiled its priorities for the 2023 session, led by “reproductive freedom.” House Speaker Melissa Hortman, D-Brooklyn Park. called the priorities “what Minnesotans expect and deserve.” Hortman said the former Republican Senate majority blocked movement on critical issues. “Now,” she said, “with unified DFL control of state government, we have an opportunity to work quickly to improve people’s lives.”
Hortman. Lays out blueprint for 2023.
Democratic priorities
Announced at news conference:
> Reproductive freedom. Put into state law the fundamental right to make reproductive health care decisions without interference from politicians.
> Paid family leave and earned sick time. Ensure that no Minnesotan is forced to choose between earning a paycheck and caring for a family member or themselves.
> Climate and clean energy. Tackle the climate crisis and create good jobs by transitioning to 100% safe, clean, carbon-free sources of energy by 2040.
> Prescription drugs. Prohibit big pharmaceutical companies from price gouging for life-saving medication like insulin, asthma inhalers, and EpiPens.
> Eary care fand learning. Help families pay for childcare so parents can pursue employment or education, and make sure children are well cared for and prepared to enter school.
> Public safety. Give law enforcement and communities the resources they need for safety, expedite criminal investigations, and prevent gun violence.
> Education. Close funding shortfalls, expand access to mental health services, and eliminate student food insecurity.
> Housing. Grow homeownership and reduce the cost of housing for Minnesotans who rely on the private rental market.
> Worker protections. Ensure workers are safe on the job and receive the wages and benefits they deserve and need to support themselves and their families.
> Infrastructure. Leverage federal funding to improve roads, bridges, transit, broadband internet access, water treatment facilities, and lead pipe replacement.
> Democracy. Improve access, increase participation, and close dark money campaign finance loopholes.
> Health care. Establish MinnesotaCare Buy-In coverage and expand access to high quality, affordable care.
How they voted: For U.S. House speaker / 1
WASHINGTON – A bloc of dissident Republicans kept their party leader, Kevin McCarthy of California, from becoming House speaker even though party has majority. To be elected required 234 votes.
Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York): 212
Angie Craig, D-Mn2 (south suburbs)
Betty McCollum, D-Mn4 (St. Paul)
Ilhan Omar, D-Mn5 (Minneapolis)
Dean Phillips, D-Mn3 (west suburbs)
—
Gwen Moore, D-Wi4 (Milwaukee)
Mark Pocan, D-Wi2 (Madison)
Kevin McCarthy (R-California): 203
Tom Emmer, R-Mn6 (north suburbs)
Brad Finstad, R-Mn1 (south)
Michelle Fischbach, R-Mn7 (rural west)
Pete Stauber, R-Mn 8 (Iron Range)
—
Scott Fitzgerald, R-Wi5 (Juneau)
Mike Gallagher, R-Wi8 (Green Bay)
Glen Grothman, R-Wi6 (Campbellsport)
Tom Tiffany, R-Wi7 (Hazelburst)
Bryan Steil, R-Wi1 (Janesville)
Derrick Van Orden, R-Wi3 (Prairie du Chien)
Others: 19
Motorists beware: Ice storm slickens roads
WINONA, Minn. –Six cars slid off icy county roads in separate incidents in the early morning. Deputies said there were no injuries.
More Arcadia school taxes? Not so fast
ARCADIA, Wis. – A survey of Arcadia School District voters found only lukewarm support for more taxes for school construction and remodeling. Only 29% answered tyat they probably or definitely would support a $39 million referendum. Among parents it was 41%, among school staff 52%. The survey found greater support for a three-year $1 million proposal for day-to-day operations.
Lottery revenue offsets property taxes
MADISON, WIs – Homeowners will save an average of $200-plus on their property taxes this year because of revenue from the Wisconsin state lottery, said Cindy Polzin, the lottery director. Polzin called 2022 “another very healthy year in the Wisconsin Lottery.” The property tax revenue offset fluctuates:
> 2021: $230.
> 2020: $160.
> 2019: $184.
Domestic violence: Wisconsin tests job help plan
MADISON, Wis. – The state Children and Families Department won a $400,000 federal grant to test new services for domestic violence survivors. The grant is for child-care to help battered single parents handle a job outside the home. The agency head, Emilie Amundson, said the demonstration grant will provide “a pathway to gain access to critical financial and parenting” to live independent, violence-free lives.
South Dakota expands tuition bargain
PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota colleges’ governing board has approved in-state tuition for Wisconsin and Illinois students. The decision was a bid to enrich South Dakota long term with a more college-educated workforce. Studies show that many SoDak graduates stay in the state. South Dakota tuition is a relative bargain at $260 per credit hour.
Minnesota reciprocity
South Dakota isn’t including Minnesota in tuition bargain for out-of-state college students. In 1978 that Minnesota and South Dakota cancelled a recipricity agreement to honor home state tuition rates for each other’s residents. In South Dakota’s new arrangement, a flat-out discount, are Colorado, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota and Wyoming.
Fort McCoy asked to explain huge repair bill
WASHINGTON – The Army wants more details about a request from Fort McCoy in Wisconsin for $145 million to repair barracks. The Wisconsin post, near Sparta, temporarily housed 12,600 refugees from the U.S. military evacuation from Afghanistan for seven months in 2021. The money, McCoy said, would restore facilities to pre-existing conditions.
College scores
Basketball (men): Saint Mary’s 102, Finlandia 68
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