Rug pulled from under you on med insurance?
WINONA, Minn. — The major local healthcare provider, Winona Health, has set up a hotline to counsel people on how to stay in the hospital-clinic’s network for insurance coverage. This came after two carriers, Quartz and UCare, announced they were halting coverage in Winona and other targeted areas that they deemed unprofitable. “Many people assume a plan change means they have to switch healthcare systems, but that’s not the case,” said Amanda Ciszak, Winona Health’s primary care clinics executive: “Our team and our community partners are here to help you understand your options so you can keep the care and providers you know.” Ciszak said many Medicare Advantage options remain that include Winona Health as an in-network provider. Patients will need to select a new plan and they are encouraged to review their plan choices, she said: “The goal not only is to inform patients but to help them continue care with their trusted providers.”
Earlier: Insurers drop Winona medical coverage
Personal assistance: Winona Health (507) 474.3325
Riverview Flats: Topped out, cladding to come
Winter-ready. Windows are in place just in time for interior carpentry and detailing. The 43-unit apartment structure is at the railroad tracks inside the kink of Huff Street into Riverview Drive. Image: Steve Lunde
Democrats take aim at Demuth bid to oust Walz
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The state Democratic chair, Richard Carlbom, called a leading GOP candidates for governor a Trump think-alike. Carlbom said that Lisa Demuth is out of step with Minnesotan values. “She’s the corporate candidate in this race,” Carlbom said. “If Lisa Demuth and the billionaires win, Minnesotans lose.” Carlbom encouraged voters to look at Demuth’s record as House speaker: “She’s shown Minnesota exactly what she’ll prioritize. She’ll cut taxes for massive corporations while cutting funding for schools and seniors. She’ll protect tax loopholes for her donors while opposing relief for workers and middle-class families.”
All-clear at Melrose school after threat
MELROSE, Wis — Online threats were posted against the Melrose-Mindoro school overnight. A canvass found no evidence of entry to the school nor any explosive or incendiary devices, said Nick Gray, chief deputy sheriff for Jackson County. Parents were notified a about 8:30 a.m. that there was no danger. The school, 4-1/2 miles south of Melrose, has 730 students from pre-kindergarten through h 12th grade.
An ignominious end to a West End joyride
WINONA, Minn. — Police stopped a car jammed with young people after a complaint about boisterous and obnoxious driving with a bunch of kids. This was about 11:30 p.m. in the normally tranquil Kerry Drive residential neighborhood on the Far West End. Police located the car a dozen blocks away at Pelzer and Fourth streets. At the wheel was a 15-year old boy, too young to drive legally. Jammed inside were a 12-year-old boy, an 8-year-old girl, a 21-year-old man, and a 20-year-old man. The driver, at 15 too young to drive legally, was cited for driving without a license and a curfew violation.
College scores
Soccer (women): St. Olaf 1, Saint Mary’s 0
A November sunset on the ridge
On interstate 90. As seen just west of the Houston exit. Image: Andy Frank
Insurers drop Winona medical coverage
WINONA, Minn. — Two major regional healthcare insurance carriers, Ucare and Quartz, aren’t renewing coverage in Winona and some neighboring counties. Policy-holders have been informed their coverage will cease in January. This leaves Winonans and others on their own to find replacement coverage. U-Care and Quartz explained their retreat from areas where claims exceeded their corporate expectations. Also cited were rising prescription costs and uncertainties created by President Trump’s draconian cuts in Medicare to cover expenses of seniors, children and impoverished people.
Insurer profiles
Dropping coverage in targeted areas including Winona County:
> Quartz. Headquarters in LaCrosse and Madison. Owned by Advocate Aurora Health of Milwaukee and Chicago, Gundersen Health of La Crosse, UnityPoint Health of Des Monses, and UW Health of Madison. The company focuses on the Medicare and Medicaid sector, as well as commercial plans.
> UCare. Headquarters in Minneapolis. A. non-profit company. Originally created by the University of Minnesota. Helps with deductibles for Medicare-eligible individuals and families on the state’s Health Care Exchange. Also for individuals enrolled in Minnesota Health Care programs like MinnesotaCare and Medical Assistance.
Earlier: Pending Minnesota loss if Obamacare goes away
Earlier:Mayo drops Owatonna birthing services
Earier: Mayo to eliminate six rural clinics
Earlier: Hortman frets over Medicare under Trump
Earlier: State budget chief dire about Trump budget slashing
Earlier: How they voted: On Medicaid cuts / 1
Trump to needy: How about half a loaf
WASHNGTON — Under public opinion and court pressure, President Trump agreed to resume federal nutritional aid to 42 million needy people – but only by half. The Trump decision means the usual monthly SNAP grant of $185 will be only $82 for the month. Ironically Thanksgiving 2025 falls on the fourth Thursday in November. With his “half-loaf” tactic, Trump will continue to hold millions of needy people as leverage in his stand-off with Congress over his proposed help-the-rich federal budget. Unclear is whether the Trump’s “half loaf” will satisfy federal judges who ordered him to restore SNAP benefits. Also unclear are details of the mechanisms inside the Trump Administration that unsettled, indeed panicked SNAP recipients. There were political analysts who surmised that Trump’s agriculture secretary, Brooke Rollins, may have acted against SNAP without consulting or at least not briefing fully. The deduction is that Rollins figured that Trump would be pleased. It is the U.S. Department Agriculture that administers the SNAP program. Rollins’ credentials for running USDA have been suspect since Trump appointed her in January. Although she majored in agriculture in college, her career has been ideological not agricultural. Oh, yes, don’t forget she was active in her high school Future Farmers club. Her career has been in right-wing politics, mostly behind the scenes. She was at the Federalist Society to help write the Project 2025 blueprint for Trump to remake government and expand presidential powers. Critics say Trump chose Rollins for her personal loyalty to him, not for being an expert in the intricacies of farm issues or USDA practices or for any managerial competence — a similar criticism of other Trump cabinet members.
Earlier: Wisconsin into “emergency” on hunger issue
Earlier: Nutrition crisis
Rollins. Trump’s cabinet member for agriculture. Age 53.
Verbatim
Rollins. Never a friend of the SNAP, Rollins has claimed te program is fraught with corruption by state-level agencies that are negligent in administering federal. grants. As recently as last week, Rollins said her investigators had found SNAP “fraud and abuse,” which she said led to “dozens of arrests” and “people going to jail.” She offered neither numbers nor evidence of widespread problems but seemed obsessed that immigrants were being fed. “The silver lining in all this,” she said, “is we’re having a conversation on SNAP. She is inclined to the tired “welfare queen” mantra of Republicans from the last century. A few months ago she demanded that state governments turn over their lists of SNAP recipents. Most states refused, seeing the demand as a witch hunt to instill shame and fear among SNAP recipients.
New mega-award over wayward priests
ROCHESTER, Minn. – A jury awarded $4.8 million to a man on claim that he was abused sexually in the 1970s by Father Joseph Cashman. At the time Cashman was principal of Lourdes High School in Rochester. The man’s name has been shielded in court documents. His claim was against the Winona-Rochester Catholic Diocese, which operated the school and still does. Cashman died in 2018. The Diocese did not challenge the allegation, which left only the amount the award for the Olmstead County jury to decide. The abuses were during the boy’s freshman and sophomore years. There was a similar $4 million-plus award, involving another priest, in Winona County court last month.
Earlier: Church may seek to pare abuse pay-out
Earlier:Jury to Diocese: Pay $4.5 million for priest’s abuse
Western Tech president plans retirement
LACROSSE, Wis. — The president of Western Technical College for eight years, Roger Stanford, is retiring in August. He cited family and personal reasons. He is 59. Before being Western’s president, Stanford was the college’s chief academic officer. He started at Western in 1992. He said he was leaving at a strong moment for the 3,900-student college. During Stanford’s tenure, the Wanek Center of Innovation was built. Stanford also standardized academic terms to seven weeks to help students move quicker through the curriculum.
Stanford. At Western 33 years.
Fall Brilliance Report Number 7
Doesn’t get much browner. Autumn is past its peak almost all over. Sad to say, this is our final weekly update. Image: Minnesota Natural Resources Department
Winona home sales in October 2025
WINONA, Minn. – Among residential property sales logged by Bob Bambenek, county recorder, in October:
830 North Prairie Island Road: Eddy to Tunniclfff, $1.2 million.
265 West Broadway: Miller to Goergen, $650,000.
23677 County Road 23: Hassinger to Peach, $499,000.
39123 K-C Drive: Connolly to Haffner, $410,000.
700 Main Street: Johnson Estate to Cloeter/Harvey, $400,000.
33766 County Road 12: Conway to Johnson $365,000.
338 Pleasant Hill Drive: Herold to True-Williams, $360,000.
367 East King Street: Merchlewitz to Adams/Barrett, $359,000.
611 Clarks Lane: Conway to Sandhofer/Krolick, $359,000.
22028 Pleasant Ridge Road: Ricciotti to Stark, $345,000.
108 Jay Bee Drive: Stoos and others to Hamiel, $$325,000.
1670 West Broadway: Haug to Hassinger, $324,000.
Earlier: Winona home sales in September 2025
Winona County home sales in October 2025
WINONA, Minn. – Among residential property sales outside Winona logged by Bob Bambenek, county recorder, in October:
Altura: 1185 Fairway Drive: Schulz Estate to Snyder, $400,000.
Dresbach: 46770 Waas Valley Drive: Williams to Koopman, $610,000.
Houston: 35865 County Road 12: Blumentritt to Bentley, $485,000.
Lewiston: 32004 Hemmingway Road: Bestul Estate to Rieke
St. Charles: 26369 Cherokee Road: Dunn to Bennett, $899,000.
St. Charles: 918 St. Charles Avenue: Vaughn/Hanson to Bailey. $395,000.
St. Charles: 320 Northern Hills Trail: Martin to Smith, $390,00.
Winona County commercial sales: October 2025
WINONA, Minn. – No commercial property sales in Winona County logged by Bob Bambenek, county recorder, in October.
Swinging under canopy, you’ll know having arrived
Riverfront Winona hotel. Grand opening nearing for the 70-guest room hotel at the stub of Center Stret at the Levee. The project includes apartments, a pool, sauna, and a bar called called latitudes. Overnight fare: $219 for king or double queens with kitchenette and balcony. Image: Steve Lunde
Inside peeks. Elbow room aplenty. Luxury apartments have their own elevator entrance.
College scores
Football: Rochester Community 30, Central Lakes-Brainerd 10
Soccer (women): Winona State 2, Sioux Falls 0
Tennis (men): UW-LaCrosse 7, Lawrence 0
GOP leader challenges Walz for governorship
COLD SORING, Minn. — The highest-ranking Republican in Minnesota government, House Speaker Lisa Demuth is taking on incumbent Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat, who is seeking a third term. Demuth made her announcement in a campaign video. She declared she would make Minnesota a place where families and businesses can thrive. Demuth has been in the Minnesota House since 2019. She is from Cold Spring, population, 4,100, which is 18 miles southwest of St. Cloud. In 2023 became the GOP House minority leader. In 2025 she took over as House speaker in a power-sharing arrangement in the evenly split House. Demuth’s candidacy shakes up the field of Republicans who earlier announced for the GOP nomination against Walz:
> Scott Jensen, a Chaska physician and anti-vaxer who lost to Walz in 2022.
> Brad Kohler, a retired martial arts expert and professional wrestler. From the south Minneapolis suburb of Bloomington
> Phillip Parrish, a church and school administrator in Kenyon.
> Kendall Qualls, A former healthcare industry executive. Lives in the west Minneapolis exurb of Medina.
> Kristin Robbin, a state legislator from the northwest Minneapolis suburb of Maple Grove.
On the main question facing all Republican candidates in the 2026 election — their view on the Trump presidency — Demuth demurred: “He is delivering on what he said he would do.” Pressed further by one interviewer, Demuth said: “One of the best things that I actually see is the fact that he has secured our borders, which, with Minnesota having a northern border, is making our communities and our states safer.” Would she value Trump’s endorsement of candidacy? “Yes.”
Demuth. Four-term state legislator. Earlier on the Cold Spring-Rockville School Board. She is a real estate agent and co-owns commercial property. Holds degrees in business from Southwest Minnesota State and St. Thomas. Age: 58.
Electoral record
2018: Demuth won House District 13-A with 61%.
2020: Won with 71%.
2022: Won with 74%.
2024: Won with 75%
Verbatim
Demuth, summing up her platform in a KEYC interview: “As governor I will work to finding reductions in our state budget, getting rid of fraud that we have seen under Governor Walz explode. I would make sure that we were eliminating fraud from the start — as opposed to just finally starting to prosecute some cases. I would make sure that our roads and our bridges are strong across the state, that people, regardless of where they are from — the northern part of our state to the southern part and each one of our borders on either side — that we would be able to succeed in our lives. Our kids in Minnesota deserve to have an excellent education, and only half of them can read at grade level, and Governor Walz was a teacher. That is unconscionable. I would make sure that our kids could succeed, that schools could provide the basics that kids need, and that businesses aren’t going to be burdened with mandates that make it difficult to even stay in business here in the state.”
Stopped for no taillights, jailed as drunk
WINONA, Minn. – A Winona man who exhibited imbalance issues and other signs of intoxication was arrested and charged with drunken driving. Deputies said Curt Sarkiaho, age 68, blew a breath test that showed his blood at 0.08% alcohol, at the threshold for impairment under state law. The stop was about 1:22 a.m. at Franklin and Mark streets on the East Side. His taillights were out, the arresting deputy said.
Wisconsin into “emergency” on hunger issue
MADISON, Wis. — Governor Tony Evers declared a state of emergency for what he called “a period of abnormal economic disruption.” The governor expressed alarm at the federal government shutdown that began a month ago. Evers was especially concerned about the pending Trump suspension of SNAP, the nation’s largest food assistance program. Gouging is a possibility in any shortage, especially of essential goods, Evers said. His executive order declaring an emergency, the governor said, “will ensure our state agencies can do whatever they can within our power to help support kids, families, farmers, seniors, veterans, and so many others, including cracking down on price gouging on everyday things folks need.”
Earlier: Nutrition crisis
Grain arollin’ into Winona port elevators
Soybeans by the ton. After delaying sales for weeks, grain dealers have begun shipping soybeans. It’s at a loss. Prices have been in the $10 a bush range, about 20% below farmers’ break-even point, due to the Trump global trade war that lost the China market. Trucks are queueing to unload at three scales at the Winona fleeting harbor Image: Steve Lunde
Earlier: Trump glows on China soybean deal: All talk?
News summary at week’s end: November 1, 2025
NUTRITION CRISIS:
POLITICS: Internal GOP rift over Kresha fraud charge?
POLITICS: Local Democratic leadership backs Wilson
POLITICS: UW-Eau Claire on GOP’s ICE to-do: Yes but so?
SCHOOLS: Winona teacher lauded for innovation
CRIME:Third cop in George Floyd slaying leaving prison
CRIME: Knopp Valley woman accused of knife threat
RIVER: Tourist ferryboat now Lansing bridge alternative
ENVIRONMENT: LaCrosse bettering waste discharge standards
Tourist ferryboat now Lansing bridge alternative
LANSING, Iowa — Crews have completed beefing up ferryboat landings at Lansing and across the Mississippi River in Wisconsin. Starting Monday a 12-vehicle ferry service begins to carry traffic from the tottering and condemned 1930-vintage Black Hawk bridge. The ferry can handle 700 vehicles a day in 15-minute crossings. Bottlenecks are expected. The bridge typically had 2,00 daily crossings. The ferry, called the Pride of Cassville, was never designed as a ferry. Actually it’s a barge strapped alongside a tug for the seasonal tourist crossings at $20 a vehicle out of Cassville. Now it’s under contract for free passage for motorists who otherwise would be on Iowa Route 9 and Wisconsin Route 82 approaches over the river at Lansing. Most days the ferry is scheduled from 5:30 a.m. to 9:15 p.m. Service will be abbreviated on holidays Also, the ferry won’t run when the Black Hawk Bridge is dynamited, tentatively in mid-December.
Ferry path. A 10-minute trip under the Black Hawk bridge. The replacement for the aging bridge is expected to be operational in the spring of 2027.
Twelve-vehicle limit. No buses, no oversize motorhomes.
Pride of Cassville. Home port 60 miles downriver on Wisconsin side.
College scores
Hockey (men): Saint Mary’s 4, Lake Forest 2
Hockey (women): Saint Mary’s 1, Concordia of Wisconsin 0
Soccer (men): Gustavus Adolphus 3, Saint Mary’s 0
Soccer (women): Saint Mary’s 0, Gustavus Adolphus 0
Volleyball (women): Northern State of South Dakota 3, Winona State 0
Volleyball (women): Saint Mary’s 3, Bethel 2
Minnesota prep
Volleyball (girls): Stewartville Tigers 3, Northfield Raiders 1
Volleyball (girls): Harmony Fillmore Central Falcons 3, Kenyon-Wanamingo Knights 0
Volleyball (girls): Chatfield Gophers 3, Caledonia Warriors 1
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