Knopp Valley woman accused of knife threat
WINONA, Minn. — A Winona woman apparently became so angry at being told by a neighbor in the next-door apartment to quiet down that she went at him with a knife and threatened him with a vasectomy on the spot. The neighbor retreated, still bodily intact, and called police. Police arrived, heard the man’s account, and arrested Auzra Deneen Green, age 59. This was about 5:50 p.m. in the 1150 block of Pleasant Hill Drive in Knopp Valley. The man told police that Green was being loud, so he banged on his wall to get her attention. They met in the hallway. The confrontation escalated. Green went back in her unit, he said, and came and back with a 6-1/2 nch kitchen knife. He quoted her:
“I’m going to cut you up.” “I’ll cut your balls off if you don’t shut the fuck up.” “If you stay there I’m going to stab you.”
That, the man said, was when he turned, shut his door, and called 911.
Green. Charges: Violent threats, assault with deadly weapon.
Cops: Meth, fentanyl in driver’s purse
WINONA, Minn. – Police found two zip-bags containing white powders in the purse of a Winona woman who had been stopped for driving with a cancelled driving permit. Rebecca Mae Dewitte, age 50, was charged with possessing illegal drugs after the powders tested positive for meth and fentanyl, 0.8 grams in one bag and 1.7 grams in the other. The stop was about 12:45 p.m. near Huff and Wabasha streets.
Dewitte. Search yields 2.8 grams illicit drugs.
Fareway to customers: Please support foodbanks
JOHNSTOWN, Iowa — The 137-store Fareway grocery chain announced a “Lead with Love” initiative to encourage customers to support food banks. The announcement said the stores would:
> Deliver pre-bagged SNAP-eligible food items purchased by customers to nearby foodbanks.
> Forward individual food items by customers to foodbanks of their choice.
> Accept cash donations from customer for food banks.
Fareway has Minnesota stores in Byron, Fairmont, Faribault, Luverne, Owatonna, Stewartville and Worthington. The program is in effect beginning Saturday, when federal SNAP nutrition grants end for needy people. The program runs through November.
Earlier: Trump at odds with self on SNAP court orders
Earlier: Hy-Vee addresses expected food crisis
Trump at odds with self on SNAP court orders
WASHINGTON — Hours after two court rulings to give up his threat to end SNAP grocery aid to 42 million Americans, President Trump said he didn’t know how to comply. Trump said his attorneys were reviewing the court orders. It was a mixed message. On one hand, Trump said it would be “my honor to provide the funding” — a contradiction to originally having threatened further SNAP assistance. Trump also contradicted himself by claiming his hands were tired about SNAP funding. Last week, Trump noted, he used contingency funds to restore military salaries that also were caught in his budget feud with Congress.
Winona foodbank on standby to fill void
Dismal and drizzly. At the Second Street foodbank operated by Winona Volunteer Services on the day that the federal SNAP program went dark. Assistance through SNAP ended for children, seniors, medically challenged and otherwise needy people nationwide. Without SNAP grants to buy at grocery stores, recipients were expected to turn to foodbanks. Image: Steve Lunde
Author-crusader at WSU: A tuberculosis message
WINONA, Minn. — Indianapolis-based author John Green, whose idiosyncratic works have found a following, now 50 million in sales, will speak Thursday at Winona State University. His current work, “Everything Is Tuberculosis,” crusades for global awareness. He notes 1.5 million deaths a year. The disease, he says, has been misrepresented and demonized. His message: TB deserves a cure. The book has been reviewed as “a timely and highly readable call to action.” The Winona State event: 7 p.m. in Somsen auditorium. Tickets: By reservation at $25. Green’s break-out book, “The Fault in Our Stars,” in 2012, has been translated into 55 languages. His YouTube channel “Crash Course,” has 10.7 million subscribers.
Green. His academic background an intriguing mix that includes theology.
R.I.P.: Jasmine Brown
WINONA, Minn. – The family of Jasmine Katherine Brown, 27, of Winona, who died in car wreck in October, has scheduled a memorial service in April. She was in training to provide physical, emotional and educational support before, during and after childbirth. She had worked at Lake Winona Manor, Winona Developmental Achievement Center and the Legacies mental health facility. Earlier she was at McDonald’s, KFC and Walmart. She was a Winona High School graduate and a member the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. In online gaming she went by “Purple Panda Bear.”
Details: Hoff Funeral Home
1998-2025
Breath test confirms driver’s dubious state
WINONA, Minn. — The officer asked to see a woman’s driver’s license, then saw more: Her words were slurred and her eyes bloodshot and watery. Asked to step outside her vehicle, she stumbled through field sobriety tests. Arrested for impaired driving was Catherine Grupee, age 18, of Albertville, which is northwest of Minneapolis on Interstate 94. Her blood-alcohol, at 0.09%, was one point more intense than allowed. The stop was about 12:30 a.m. near Sarnia and Huff streets. Why the stop? Grupee was driving without headlights.
Third cop in George Floyd slaying leaving prison
LEXINGTON, Ky. — One of the Minneapolis police officers convicted in the 2020 murder of George Floyd, which incited protests over police racism nationwide, is being prepared for release Monday from the Lexington federal prison. Tou Thao, age 39, has served 5-1/2 years. He will be on supervised release until June 2027. Thao went to prison for blocking bystanders from assisting Floyd, a black man, as he was being choked to death by another officer. Thao has not announced his plans. He had been on the Minneapolis police force eight years and earlier a security guard and a fast-food shift boss. It’s doubtful he can salvage a police career. After Floyd’s murder it came out that Thao had been cited eight times by his training officer as dishonest and inclined to shortcuts. As an officer there were six police conduct complaints filed against him. Other officers convicted in Floyd’s death:
> Derek Chauvin. Serving 40 years in a federal prison Texas.
> Alexander Kueng. Discharged from a federal prison in Ohio in January.
> Thomas Lane. Discharged from a federal prison in Colorado in August 2024.
Cops: Marijuana a factor in impaired driving
WINONA, Minn. — Police found open packages of marijuana in a Winona man’s car during a traffic stop. Even though Divontay Pinkerton. age 32, refused to provide blood or urine samples for drug testing, he was charged with suspected driving while intoxicated, driving with open marijuana, and refusing to be tested. The stop was about midnight south of Winona near Homer Road and County Road 17. The arresting deputy said Pinkerton was stopped for crossing the center line.
College scores
Hockey (men): Saint Mary’s 5, Lake Forest 5
Hockey (women): Concordia of Wisconsin 3, Saint Mary’s 1
Soccer (women): Winona State 3, Southwest Minnesota State 0
Volleyball (women): Winona State 3, Jamestown 0
Volleyball (women): St. Olaf 3, Saint Mary’s 1
Minnesota prep
Football: Pine Island Panthers 34, Winona Cotter Ramblers 0
Football: Harmony Fillmore Central Falcons 34, Lewiston-Altura Cardinals 21
Football: Rochester Mayo Spartans 17, Northfield Raiders 7
Football: Caledonia Warriors 19, Rochester Lourdes Eagles 3
Football: Mabel-Canton Cougars 16, Spring Grove Lions 0
Wisconsin prep
Car-deer crash near Viola injures driver
VIOLA, Minn. — A Rochester driver was injured in a collision with a deer as he was heading south on State Highway 42 toward Eyota. Heriberto Cristiano Francisco, 24, was taken 14 miles to a Rochester hospital. His condition was described by Wabasha County deputies as non-life threatening. This was about 5:50 p.m. Francisco was driving a 2020 Ford Ecosport subcompact.
Second U.S. judge slams Trump food denial
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A federal judge in Rhode Island ordered the Trump administration to use contingency funds to keep SNAP nutritional aid available for needy people. Chief Judge John McConnell Jr. said Trump’s anti-SNAP decision, due to start Saturday, would harm not only poor people who otherwise can’t afford groceries but also would harm local economies. The SNAP program, formerly known as food stamps, helps one in eight U.S. residents with grocery grants that average $185 a month. Judge McConnell ordered Trump to use contingency emergency funds for SNAP. Trump has lied that he has no access to such back-up funds. Ending SNAP funding has been a Trump’ weapon to force Congress to approve his federal budget, which also would cut back healthcare, including Medicare, in order to expand tax breaks for corporations and wealthy people.
Separate orders
The court decisions against Trump in Rhode Island federal court was a response to a lawsuit filed by eight cities and nonprofit and business groups. It was separate from a federal judge’s decision next door in Massachusetts in a case tjat was brought by 23 state attorneys general. The judges:
> Indira Talwani in Massachusetts, an Obama appointee.
> John McConnell Jr. in Rhode Island, an Obama appointee.
Judge to Trump on stopping food aid: You can’t
BOSTON — A federal judge gave President Trump Trump until Monday to restore SNAP food benefits to 42 million low-income people. The benefits expiree Saturday as part of Trump’s showdown with Congress to have his own way on federal budget priorities. Judge Indira Talwani acknowledged her order will leave millions of people without SNAP benefits through the weekend. There should be no irreparable harm, she said. The judge’s order was in response to a lawsuit by 23 state attorneys general, including Keith Ellison of Minnesota. Ellison called Trump cruel for cancelling nutrition assistance.
Earlier: Winona County food security exceeds 6%
Earlier: Ellison: Trump “cruel” for shelving food aid
Hy-Vee addresses expected food crisis
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Anticipating a food crisis with the Trump shutdown of the SNAP nutrition program, the Hy-Vee grocery chain is offering free meals for children 12 and under. The Iowa-based chain has 43 locations in Minnesota,10 in Wisconsin and 520 elsewhere. The free meals start Monday at stores with kitchens. Avaiaboen4 to 7 p.m.:
> Monday: Baked potato, pulled pork.
> Tuesday: Spaghetti with meat sauce, salad, garlic bread
> Wednesday: Chicken and noodles. mashed potatoes
> Thursday: Chili, cinnamon roll
> Friday: Sesame or orange chicken rice bowl at locations with Chinese food service, elsewhere two chicken tenders. mashed potatoes, corn.
The meals as available to others for $3. Starting Friday, stores will also have food bank donation bundles that customers can purchase for $5 or $10. The bags will include canned meats and vegetables, pasta sauce and cereal. Store will deliver the bags to local food pantry. Hy-Vee also has donated $100,000 to local foodbanks. In addition there has been $25,000 to DoorDash to waive delivery fees for SNAP recipients.
Earlier: Winona County food insecurity exceeds 6%
Earlier: Ellison: Trump “cruel” for shelving food aid
Earlier: Walz assigns $4 million for foodbank crisis
Burrs and all, Holly’s back from a chase
Back from the bramble. The golden retriever Holly is home full of burrs after chasing a deer up Burns Valley. It took a lot of brushing and help from a groomer to restore her to normal. You may want to wish Holly a happy eighth birthday. She was born on Halloween, a holiday, and brought home on Christmas Eve, a holiday. Hence her name “Holly.” Image: Kevin O’Reilly
Minnesota prep
Volleyball (girls): Caledonia Warriors 3, Winona Cotter Ramblers 0
Volleyball (girls): Chatfield Gophers 3, Pine Island Panthers 0
Volleyball (girls): Harmony Fillmore Central Falcons 3, Alden-Conger Knights 0
Winona County food insecurity exceeds 6%
WINONA, Minn. — Television station KTTC calculated that 6.1% of Winona County’s 50,0000 people rely on the federal SNAP nutrition assistance program for groceries. The program runs out of money Saturday due to President Trump’s impasse with Congress over a federal budget. KTTC’s report for southeast Minnesota, with numbers rounded:
> Olmsted County (Rochester county seat): 12,900 recipients (8% of population)
> Dodge, Steele and Waseca alliance: 5,600 (7%)
> Mower (Austin): 4,100 (10%)
> Freeborn (Albert Lea): 3,400 (11%)
> Winona (Winona): 3,100 (6%)
> Goodhue (Red Wing): 2,400 (8%)
> Fillmore (Preston): 1,100 (5%)
> Wabasha (Wabasha): 1,100 (5%)
> Houston (Caledonia): 860 (5%)
Earlier: Ellison: Trump “cruel” for shelving food aid
Earlier: Walz assigns $4 million for foodbank crisis
Winona teacher lauded for innovation
A “say cheese” moment. Brittney Steine, who also coaches gymnastics, hoists a smart phone for a selfie with some of her middle school athletes at the announcement of her award. And the band the band played on.
Honor unexpected at Middle School assembly
WINONA, Minn. — A middle school teacher, Brittney Steine, has been named the 2025 Winona Education Association Teacher of the Year. The announcement was a surprise for Steine at a student assembly ostensibly to celebrate Halloween. As faculty, she’s young. Six years ago She started an alternative learning program called DEED — short for Discover, Explore, Engage, and Develop. The goal: To connect every student and family to the school community and “as part of something greater than themselves.” Steine arranges educational and confidence-building team trips. These incude visits to Oxbow Park, to the ropes course at Winona State University, to Eagle Bluff Learning Center, and to Whitewater State Park to collect samples from the river. She helps students learn soft skills, like practicing formally introducing themselves to school staff or making phone calls — yes, the teen-age horror of making a phone call and not just texting. Yes, she said, it’s good preparation for future job interviews. Steine recently won a $5,000 grant from the Foundation for Winona Area Public Schools middle school students to join a high school woodworking project to build a greenhouse to produce plants to be sold in a student-run store.
Steine. Winona Scbools 2025 Teacher of Year.
Local Democratic leadership backs Wilson
WINONA, Minn. — The only announced Democratic candidate for the Winona seat in State House, Dan Wilson, confirmed a provisional endorsement by unanimous vote by the party’s District 26 central committee. Wilson, a Wiscoy Valley farmer, called the endorsement “a crucial step” in his candidacy. Cornerstones of his campaign have been building more jousting and expanding childcare. The incumbent, Republican Aaron Repiniski, is in his first term.
Earlier: As House 26-A race narrows, Wilson lauds Hedin
Notable journalism
Brock Bergey (KTTC, October 30, 2025): “Data Show 1 in 14 at Risk of Food Insecurity in Southeast Minnesota”
Madison McVan (Minnesota Reformer, October 28, 2025): “Right-Wing Activists Accuse Republican Representative Ron Kresha of Pandemic Loan Fraud”
Christopher Snowbeck (Minnesota Star Tribune, October 27, 2025): “Minnesota Seniors Seeking Medicare Help Are Finding Long Waits”
Trump glows on China soybean deal: All talk?
WASHIGTON — President Trump returned from a whirlwind Asia trip and claimed he had negotiated with China to buy “massive amounts” of U.S. soybeans. There was concern in the U.S. agricultural industry, however, that Trump was full of hot air, overstating if not misrepresenting the facts. The President offered no substantiating data. Sources said the Chinese didn’t seal any deal. No treaty amendment was signed. Trump’s claims were intended to ease political pressure from American soybean growers who feel betrayed by his global trade war that killed sales of their 2025 crop to China. What about the lost sales? China already has retaliated for the Trump trade war by cancelling 2025 U.S. purchases and buying instead from Argentina and Brazil. Yes, Trump stated: “Our farmers will be very happy.” But the soonest that China could return as a U.S. soybean customer would be for the 2026 crop. U.S. grain elevators, meanwhile, are holding off purchases. Traders still offer only about $10 a bushel, roughly $2 short of what growers need to break even and far short of profitability.
LaCrosse bettering waste discharge standards
LACROSSE, Wis. – A 10-year $68 million project for a new LaCrosse wastewater treatment plant has been completed. Jared Greeno, superintendent, said the plant reduces the LaCrosse discharge of phosphorus into the Mississippi River well within compliance levels. The plant, Greeno said, also enhances anaerobic digestion and generates electricity by burning methane gas.
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