To place an obituary, please include the information from the obituary checklist below in an email to obits@pioneerpress. com. There is no option to place them through our website at this time. Feel free to contact our obituary desk at 651-228-5263 with any questions. General Information: Your full name, Address (City, State, Zip Code), Phone number, And an alternate phone number (if any) Obituary Specification: Name of Deceased, Obituary Text, A photo in a JPEG or PDF file is preferable, TIF and other files are accepted, we will contact you if there are any issues with the photo. Ad Run dates There is a discount for running more than one day, but this must be scheduled on the first run date to apply. If a photo is used, it must be used for both days for the discount to apply, contact us for more information. Policies: Verification of Death: In order to publish obituaries a name and phone number of funeral home/cremation society is required. We must contact the funeral home/cremation society handling the arrangements during their business hours to verify the death. If the body of the deceased has been donated to the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program, or a similar program, their phone number is required for verification. Please allow enough time to contact them especially during their limited weekend hours. A death certificate is also acceptable for this purpose but only one of these two options are necessary. Guestbook and Outside Websites: We are not allowed to reference other media sources with a guestbook or an obituary placed elsewhere when placing an obituary in print and online. We may place a website for a funeral home or a family email for contact instead; contact us with any questions regarding this matter. Obituary Process: Once your submission is completed, we will fax or email a proof for review prior to publication in the newspaper. This proof includes price and days the notice is scheduled to appear. Please review the proof carefully. We must be notified of errors or changes before the notice appears in the Pioneer Press based on each day’s deadlines. After publication, we will not be responsible for errors that may occur after final proofing. Online: Changes to an online obituary can be handled through the obituary desk. Call us with further questions. Payment Procedure: Pre-payment is required for all obituary notices prior to publication by the deadline specified below in our deadline schedule. Please call 651-228-5263 with your payment information after you have received the proof and approved its contents. Credit Card: Payment accepted by phone only due to PCI (Payment Card Industry) regulations EFT: Check by phone. Please provide your routing number and account number. Rates: The minimum charge is $162 for the first 12 lines. Every line after the first 12 is $12. If the ad is under 12 lines it will be charged the minimum rate of $162. Obituaries including more than 40 lines will receive a 7. 5% discount per line. On a second run date, receive a 20% discount off both the first and second placement. Place three obituaries and the third placement will be free of charge. Each photo published is $125 per day. For example: 2 photos in the paper on 2 days would be 4 photo charges at $500. Deadlines: Please follow deadline times to ensure your obituary is published on the day requested. Hours Deadline (no exceptions) Ad Photos MEMORIAM (NON-OBITUARY) REQUEST Unlike an obituary, Memoriam submissions are remembrances of a loved one who has passed. The rates for a memoriam differ from obituaries. Please call or email us for more memoriam information Please call 651-228-5280 for more information. HOURS: Monday Friday 8: 00AM 5: 00PM (CLOSED WEEKENDS and HOLIDAYS) Please submit your memoriam ad to memoriams@pioneerpress. com or call 651-228-5280. By PHILIP MARCELO, Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) Portland Trail Blazers coach and basketball Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges he profited from rigged poker games involving several Mafia figures and at least one other former NBA player. The five-time All Star, who won a championship with the Detroit Pistons, was arraigned in a federal court in New York City on money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy charges, both of which carry a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison. Some of Billups’ co-defendants are also charged with running an illegal gambling business and engaging in an extortion conspiracy. Chris Heywood, his attorney, has said Billups is a “man of integrity” and denies the charges. “To believe that Chauncey Billups did what the federal government is accusing him of is to believe that he would risk his Hall of Fame legacy, his reputation and his freedom. He would not jeopardize those things for anything, let alone a card game,” Heywood said after Billups appeared in federal court in Portland, Oregon, when prosecutors first announced the indictment on Oct. 23. Billups wore a dark gray suit during the brief arraignment and spoke only to answer the judge’s yes or no questions. He has been free on bond since his initial court appearance in Oregon. Billups was arguably the most prominent name among more than 30 charged in last month’s sprawling federal takedown of illegal gambling operations linked to professional sports. The other defendants were also expected to appear in the Brooklyn court for Monday’s proceedings, in which the judge, prosecutors and defense lawyers will likely discuss next steps in the case. Prosecutors say the 49-year-old Denver native, who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame last year, was involved in a scheme to rig Mafia-backed illegal poker games in Manhattan, Las Vegas, Miami and the Hamptons. Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones was also nabbed in that alleged scheme, which prosecutors say utilized a range of sophisticated technology that allowed the gambling to be rigged, such as altered card-shuffling machines, hidden cameras in poker chip trays, special sunglasses and even X-ray equipment built into the table to read cards. Jones was also charged along with Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier in a separate scheme at the same time that allowed gamblers to exploit insider information about players to win bets on NBA games. Prosecutors say the poker scheme Billups was involved in defrauded victims of an estimated $7 million starting in at least 2019. They say he served as a celebrity “face card” that could draw wealthy, unsuspecting players to the games. Prosecutors said during one game, the scheme’s organizers exchanged messages saying one of the victims “acted like he wanted Chauncey to have his money” because he was “star struck.” Prosecutors say Billups, who earned about $106 million from his playing days, received a portion of the ill-gotten gains. After one rigged game in October 2020, for example, they say he was directly wired $50,000. The scheme organizers also had to share a portion of their proceeds with the Gambino, Genovese and Bonanno mob families for operating within the illegal poker games run by the New York criminal enterprises, prosecutors said. Mafia members, in turn, helped commit violent acts, including assault, extortion and robbery, to ensure repayment of debts and the continued success of the operation, they said. Billups was selected as the third overall pick in the 1997 draft by the Boston Celtics after starring in college for the Colorado Buffaloes. He played 17 years in the NBA, with stints with the Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks and Los Angeles Clippers. But he is perhaps most beloved in the Motor City, where he earned the nickname “Mr. Big Shot” for his knack of making clutch shots. Billups was named the NBA Finals MVP during the Pistons’ title run in 2004 and had his No. 1 jersey retired by the team. After retiring in 2014, Billups embarked on a career as a TV analyst before pivoting to coaching. He was hired as Portland’s coach in 2021 and signed a multiyear extension with the Trail Blazers earlier this year after the team missed out on the playoffs for the fourth straight season in 2024. Billups previously served as an assistant coach on the Los Angeles Clippers. After his arrest, he was placed on unpaid leave and the Trail Blazers named assistant coach and former NBA player Tiago Splitter as interim coach.
https://www.twincities.com/2025/11/24/chauncey-billups-pleads-poker-games/

To place an obituary, please include the information from the obituary checklist below in an email to obits@pioneerpress. com. There is no option to place them through our website at this time. Feel free to contact our obituary desk at 651-228-5263 with any questions. General Information: Your full name, Address (City, State, Zip Code), Phone number, And an alternate phone number (if any) Obituary Specification: Name of Deceased, Obituary Text, A photo in a JPEG or PDF file is preferable, TIF and other files are accepted, we will contact you if there are any issues with the photo. Ad Run dates There is a discount for running more than one day, but this must be scheduled on the first run date to apply. If a photo is used, it must be used for both days for the discount to apply, contact us for more information. Policies: Verification of Death: In order to publish obituaries a name and phone number of funeral home/cremation society is required. We must contact the funeral home/cremation society handling the arrangements during their business hours to verify the death. If the body of the deceased has been donated to the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program, or a similar program, their phone number is required for verification. Please allow enough time to contact them especially during their limited weekend hours. A death certificate is also acceptable for this purpose but only one of these two options are necessary. Guestbook and Outside Websites: We are not allowed to reference other media sources with a guestbook or an obituary placed elsewhere when placing an obituary in print and online. We may place a website for a funeral home or a family email for contact instead; contact us with any questions regarding this matter. Obituary Process: Once your submission is completed, we will fax or email a proof for review prior to publication in the newspaper. This proof includes price and days the notice is scheduled to appear. Please review the proof carefully. We must be notified of errors or changes before the notice appears in the Pioneer Press based on each day’s deadlines. After publication, we will not be responsible for errors that may occur after final proofing. Online: Changes to an online obituary can be handled through the obituary desk. Call us with further questions. Payment Procedure: Pre-payment is required for all obituary notices prior to publication by the deadline specified below in our deadline schedule. Please call 651-228-5263 with your payment information after you have received the proof and approved its contents. Credit Card: Payment accepted by phone only due to PCI (Payment Card Industry) regulations EFT: Check by phone. Please provide your routing number and account number. Rates: The minimum charge is $162 for the first 12 lines. Every line after the first 12 is $12. If the ad is under 12 lines it will be charged the minimum rate of $162. Obituaries including more than 40 lines will receive a 7. 5% discount per line. On a second run date, receive a 20% discount off both the first and second placement. Place three obituaries and the third placement will be free of charge. Each photo published is $125 per day. For example: 2 photos in the paper on 2 days would be 4 photo charges at $500. Deadlines: Please follow deadline times to ensure your obituary is published on the day requested. Hours Deadline (no exceptions) Ad Photos MEMORIAM (NON-OBITUARY) REQUEST Unlike an obituary, Memoriam submissions are remembrances of a loved one who has passed. The rates for a memoriam differ from obituaries. Please call or email us for more memoriam information Please call 651-228-5280 for more information. HOURS: Monday Friday 8: 00AM 5: 00PM (CLOSED WEEKENDS and HOLIDAYS) Please submit your memoriam ad to memoriams@pioneerpress. com or call 651-228-5280. By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER and JOSH BOAK WASHINGTON (AP) For the second time in two days, President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he would like to appoint Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to chair the Federal Reserve. Yet Bessent keeps saying he doesn’t want the job, Trump added, in comments to the U. S.-Saudi Investment Forum. “We’re thinking about him for the Fed, but he wants no part of it, he likes being secretary of the Treasury,” Trump said. “I think we’ll leave him so let’s cross your name off right, officially, right?” Trump has been sharply critical of the current Fed chair, Jerome Powell, whose term ends in May, for not cutting interest rates quickly enough. Trump’s pick as a replacement will almost certainly push for rapid interest rate cuts and likely institute wide-ranging changes in how the Fed operates. Bessent earlier this year published extensive criticisms of the Fed’s groundbreaking efforts to shore up financial markets and the economy after the 2008-2009 Great Recession and during the pandemic. Bessent is heading up the Trump administration’s search for a new Fed chair. Yet despite his protestations, he is also widely seen as a leading potential replacement for Powell. “He’s a top-tier candidate right now,” Stephen Moore, a senior economic adviser to Trump in his first term, said. Trump “wants to shake things up, so I think he wants an outsider.” Two of the five candidates Bessent has named are current Fed officials: Governors Christopher Waller and Michelle Bowman. The other three would fit the outsider criteria: Kevin Hassett, currently a top White House economic official; Kevin Warsh, a former Fed governor who has been highly critical of the Fed; and Rick Rieder, a senior managing director at asset manager BlackRock. Late Tuesday, in an interview By mid-December, “the president will meet the final three candidates and hopefully have an answer before Christmas,” Bessent said. Associated Press Writer Fatima Hussein contributed to this report.
https://www.twincities.com/2025/11/19/federal-reserve-bessent/

To place an obituary, please include the information from the obituary checklist below in an email to obits@pioneerpress. com. There is no option to place them through our website at this time. Feel free to contact our obituary desk at 651-228-5263 with any questions. General Information: Your full name, Address (City, State, Zip Code), Phone number, And an alternate phone number (if any) Obituary Specification: Name of Deceased, Obituary Text, A photo in a JPEG or PDF file is preferable, TIF and other files are accepted, we will contact you if there are any issues with the photo. Ad Run dates There is a discount for running more than one day, but this must be scheduled on the first run date to apply. If a photo is used, it must be used for both days for the discount to apply, contact us for more information. Policies: Verification of Death: In order to publish obituaries a name and phone number of funeral home/cremation society is required. We must contact the funeral home/cremation society handling the arrangements during their business hours to verify the death. If the body of the deceased has been donated to the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program, or a similar program, their phone number is required for verification. Please allow enough time to contact them especially during their limited weekend hours. A death certificate is also acceptable for this purpose but only one of these two options are necessary. Guestbook and Outside Websites: We are not allowed to reference other media sources with a guestbook or an obituary placed elsewhere when placing an obituary in print and online. We may place a website for a funeral home or a family email for contact instead; contact us with any questions regarding this matter. Obituary Process: Once your submission is completed, we will fax or email a proof for review prior to publication in the newspaper. This proof includes price and days the notice is scheduled to appear. Please review the proof carefully. We must be notified of errors or changes before the notice appears in the Pioneer Press based on each day’s deadlines. After publication, we will not be responsible for errors that may occur after final proofing. Online: Changes to an online obituary can be handled through the obituary desk. Call us with further questions. Payment Procedure: Pre-payment is required for all obituary notices prior to publication by the deadline specified below in our deadline schedule. Please call 651-228-5263 with your payment information after you have received the proof and approved its contents. Credit Card: Payment accepted by phone only due to PCI (Payment Card Industry) regulations EFT: Check by phone. Please provide your routing number and account number. Rates: The minimum charge is $162 for the first 12 lines. Every line after the first 12 is $12. If the ad is under 12 lines it will be charged the minimum rate of $162. Obituaries including more than 40 lines will receive a 7. 5% discount per line. On a second run date, receive a 20% discount off both the first and second placement. Place three obituaries and the third placement will be free of charge. Each photo published is $125 per day. For example: 2 photos in the paper on 2 days would be 4 photo charges at $500. Deadlines: Please follow deadline times to ensure your obituary is published on the day requested. Hours Deadline (no exceptions) Ad Photos MEMORIAM (NON-OBITUARY) REQUEST Unlike an obituary, Memoriam submissions are remembrances of a loved one who has passed. The rates for a memoriam differ from obituaries. Please call or email us for more memoriam information Please call 651-228-5280 for more information. HOURS: Monday Friday 8: 00AM 5: 00PM (CLOSED WEEKENDS and HOLIDAYS) Please submit your memoriam ad to memoriams@pioneerpress release, state Sen. Matt Klein. DFL-Mendota Heights, promised to “monitor developments, assess legislative oversight needs, and seek input from consumers, providers, and agencies across the state to fight for consumer choice, patient access, and quality of care in our healthcare system.” Klein is chair of the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee. “I am deeply concerned about the long-term implications of shrinking consumer choice, particularly as Minnesota braces for unprecedented instability within both the provider and payer landscape,” Klein’s release says. MNsure, the state’s health insurance marketplace, said in its own release that UCare members’ plans through the exchange will not change in coverage or cost for plan year 2026. “MNsure is working closely with both UCare and Medica to ensure a smooth transition and uninterrupted coverage for Minnesotans,” the state agency said.
https://www.twincities.com/2025/11/17/medica-to-acquire-300000-ucare-health-insurance-accounts-in-minnesota-wisconsin/

To place an obituary, please include the information from the obituary checklist below in an email to obits@pioneerpress. com. There is no option to place them through our website at this time. Feel free to contact our obituary desk at 651-228-5263 with any questions. General Information: Your full name, Address (City, State, Zip Code), Phone number, And an alternate phone number (if any) Obituary Specification: Name of Deceased, Obituary Text, A photo in a JPEG or PDF file is preferable, TIF and other files are accepted, we will contact you if there are any issues with the photo. Ad Run dates There is a discount for running more than one day, but this must be scheduled on the first run date to apply. If a photo is used, it must be used for both days for the discount to apply, contact us for more information. Policies: Verification of Death: In order to publish obituaries a name and phone number of funeral home/cremation society is required. We must contact the funeral home/cremation society handling the arrangements during their business hours to verify the death. If the body of the deceased has been donated to the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program, or a similar program, their phone number is required for verification. Please allow enough time to contact them especially during their limited weekend hours. A death certificate is also acceptable for this purpose but only one of these two options are necessary. Guestbook and Outside Websites: We are not allowed to reference other media sources with a guestbook or an obituary placed elsewhere when placing an obituary in print and online. We may place a website for a funeral home or a family email for contact instead; contact us with any questions regarding this matter. Obituary Process: Once your submission is completed, we will fax or email a proof for review prior to publication in the newspaper. This proof includes price and days the notice is scheduled to appear. Please review the proof carefully. We must be notified of errors or changes before the notice appears in the Pioneer Press based on each day’s deadlines. After publication, we will not be responsible for errors that may occur after final proofing. Online: Changes to an online obituary can be handled through the obituary desk. Call us with further questions. Payment Procedure: Pre-payment is required for all obituary notices prior to publication by the deadline specified below in our deadline schedule. Please call 651-228-5263 with your payment information after you have received the proof and approved its contents. Credit Card: Payment accepted by phone only due to PCI (Payment Card Industry) regulations EFT: Check by phone. Please provide your routing number and account number. Rates: The minimum charge is $162 for the first 12 lines. Every line after the first 12 is $12. If the ad is under 12 lines it will be charged the minimum rate of $162. Obituaries including more than 40 lines will receive a 7. 5% discount per line. On a second run date, receive a 20% discount off both the first and second placement. Place three obituaries and the third placement will be free of charge. Each photo published is $125 per day. For example: 2 photos in the paper on 2 days would be 4 photo charges at $500. Deadlines: Please follow deadline times to ensure your obituary is published on the day requested. Hours Deadline (no exceptions) Ad Photos MEMORIAM (NON-OBITUARY) REQUEST Unlike an obituary, Memoriam submissions are remembrances of a loved one who has passed. The rates for a memoriam differ from obituaries. Please call or email us for more memoriam information Please call 651-228-5280 for more information. HOURS: Monday Friday 8: 00AM 5: 00PM (CLOSED WEEKENDS and HOLIDAYS).
https://www.twincities.com/2025/11/17/male-subject-dead-deputy-injured-in-north-central-minnesota-gunfight/

**How to Place an Obituary in the Pioneer Press**

To place an obituary in the Pioneer Press, please review and follow the steps and information outlined below. At this time, obituaries cannot be placed through our website. For assistance, contact our obituary desk at 651-228-5263.

—

### Submission Instructions

To submit an obituary, email the following information to: **obits@pioneerpress.com**

#### General Information (for internal use only)
– Your full name
– Address (City, State, Zip Code)
– Phone number
– Alternate phone number (if available)

#### Obituary Specification
– Name of deceased
– Full obituary text
– Photo (preferable file types: JPEG or PDF. TIF and other file types are also accepted. We will contact you if there are any issues with your photo.)
– Preferred ad run dates

**Discounts:**
If running for more than one day, a discount applies, but the schedule must be arranged at the time of the first run. Photo use must remain consistent for multiple days to receive the discount. Please contact us for further details.

—

### Policies

#### Verification of Death
– The name and phone number of the funeral home or cremation society handling the arrangements is required for verification.
– If the deceased’s body has been donated to the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program or similar, their contact number is required.
– Alternatively, a death certificate is acceptable for verification; only one method of verification is needed.
– Please allow ample time for verification, especially on weekends and holidays due to limited business hours.

#### Guestbooks and External Websites
– We cannot reference outside guestbooks or obituaries when placing a notice in print or online.
– A website for the funeral home or a family contact email may be included. Contact us with questions.

—

### Obituary Process

1. Upon submission, we will send you a proof via fax or email for your review before publication.
2. This proof will include the cost and the scheduled publication dates.
3. Please review the proof carefully. Notify us of any changes or errors before the scheduled publication deadline.
4. We are not responsible for errors reported after final proofing or after the obituary has been published.

#### Online Obituary Changes
For changes to the online obituary, please contact the obituary desk at the number listed above.

—

### Payment Procedure

– Pre-payment is required for all obituary notices before publication.
– After you have approved the proof, call 651-228-5263 with your payment information.
– **Credit Card:** Payment accepted by phone only due to PCI regulations.
– **EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer):** Check by phone. Provide your bank routing number and account number.

—

### Rates (Effective June 2024)

– **Minimum charge:** $162 for the first 12 lines.
– Each additional line (after 12): $12 per line.
– Notices under 12 lines are charged the minimum $162.
– **Obituaries over 40 lines:** Receive a 7.5% discount per line.
– **Second run:** 20% discount off both the first and second placements (must be scheduled together).
– **Three placements:** The third placement is free of charge.
– **Photos:** $125 per photo per day (e.g., 2 photos over 2 days = 4 photo charges = $500).

—

### Deadlines & Hours

**Business Hours:**
Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Closed weekends and holidays)

*Please adhere strictly to deadlines to ensure publication on your requested day. contact our staff for details regarding daily submission deadlines, including ad, photo, and proof deadlines.*

—

### In Memoriam Notices

Memoriam submissions are tributes to loved ones and differ from standard obituaries. Rates for in memoriam submissions also differ.

For more information, please contact us at **651-228-5280** or email for assistance.

—

If you have additional questions at any point, don’t hesitate to call our obituary desk at **651-228-5263**. Thank you for trusting the Pioneer Press with your loved one’s obituary notice.
https://www.twincities.com/2025/11/15/state-football-roundup-blocked-kick-powers-waseca-to-class-3a-prep-bowl/

To Place an Obituary with the Pioneer Press

If you would like to submit an obituary, please follow the instructions below. Currently, there is no option to place obituaries through our website – all submissions must be emailed.

**How to Submit**
Email the required information to obits@pioneerpress.com. For any questions, contact our obituary desk at 651-228-5263.

**Obituary Checklist**

**General Information:**
– Your full name
– Address (City, State, Zip Code)
– Phone number
– An alternate phone number (if any)

**Obituary Specification:**
– Name of deceased
– Obituary text
– A photo (JPEG or PDF file preferable; TIF and other formats accepted). We will contact you if there are issues with the photo.
– Requested ad run dates (Discounts available for multi-day runs. Photo must be used both days for the discount.)

**Policies**
– **Verification of Death:** A name and phone number of the funeral home/cremation society handling arrangements is required. We must contact them during business hours to verify. If the deceased donated their body to the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program or similar institution, provide their phone number for verification. Alternatively, a death certificate is acceptable.
– **Guestbook and Outside Websites:** We cannot reference other media guestbooks or online obituaries. Funeral home websites or family emails for contact may be included instead.
– **Obituary Process:** After submission, we’ll email or fax a proof for review, including price and run dates. Carefully review and notify us of any errors before publication. We cannot accept responsibility for errors after final proofing.
– **Online Changes:** Contact our obituary desk to request changes to online obituaries.

**Payment Procedure**
Pre-payment is required prior to publication. After approving your proof, call 651-228-5263 with your payment information.

– **Credit Card:** Payment accepted by phone only (PCI regulations).
– **EFT/Check by Phone:** Provide your routing and account number.

**Rates**
– Minimum charge: $162 for the first 12 lines. Each additional line: $12.
– Obituaries over 40 lines: 7.5% discount per line.
– Two run dates: 20% off both days (must be scheduled on the first run; photo must be used both days).
– Three obituaries: third placement is free.
– Each photo: $125 per day (e.g., 2 photos over 2 days = $500).

**Deadlines**
Please adhere to posted deadlines to ensure publication on your requested day.

—

**Memoriam Submissions**

A memoriam honors and remembers a loved one but differs from an obituary in rate structure. For memoriam information, call 651-228-5280 or email memoriams@pioneerpress.com.

**Hours:** Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Closed weekends and holidays.

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Minnesota Women’s Basketball Opens Season with Dominant Win

The Minnesota women’s basketball team picked up right where they left off to close the 2024-25 season, powering past the North Dakota Fighting Hawks 91-47 in their home opener Tuesday night.

“We played really, really hard defensively,” said head coach Dawn Plitzuweit. “They were disruptive and fun to watch. Offensively we didn’t hit as many shots as we wanted, but our offensive rebounding was outstanding. The energy really propelled us, and I thought it was a great way to open the season.”

The Gophers enter this season with high expectations after going 25-11 last year. They went 8-10 in the Big Ten but dominated non-conference opponents, finishing 17-1.

While Big Ten play remains a month away, roster changes have forced the team to adapt. Last week, forward Mallory Heyer announced her departure for personal reasons, entering the transfer portal. Her absence was felt, but several Gophers stepped up in the opener.

Senior guard Amaya Battle led the team with 10 defensive rebounds, filling Heyer’s place admirably. Freshman guard Makena Christian, the reigning Wisconsin Player of the Year, made a splash in her collegiate debut. She scored a team-high 23 points, sinking 50% of her three-point attempts and electrifying 3,300 fans at Williams Arena.

“I thought she handled her first home contest really well,” said Coach Plitzuweit. “She’s calm and steady, and did great things on both ends.”

Christian added, “I was excited to play with my teammates. The energy was really cool in the Barn.”

Center Sophie Hart praised Battle: “Big shoutout to Amaya. Ten defensive rebounds – oh my gosh. She’s stepped up, not just tonight but even in practice. It was a team effort.”

Hart also contributed 16 points and seven rebounds, while graduate forward Finau Tonga finished with 14 points and seven rebounds.

The Gophers return to action at 7 p.m. on Friday against Manhattan at Williams Arena.

—

For obituary, memoriam, or sports inquiries, please refer to the dedicated contact details above.
https://www.twincities.com/2025/11/04/womens-basketball-gophers-open-with-rout-of-north-dakota/

To place an obituary, please send an email to obits@pioneerpress.com including the following information, as there is currently no option to place obituaries through our website. For any questions, feel free to contact our obituary desk at 651-228-5263.

**General Information:**
– Your full name
– Address (City, State, Zip Code)
– Phone number
– Alternate phone number (if any)

**Obituary Specifications:**
– Name of Deceased
– Obituary Text
– A photo in JPEG or PDF format is preferable; TIF and other file types are accepted. We will contact you if there are any issues with the photo.
– Ad Run Dates

There is a discount for running the obituary more than one day, but this must be arranged on the first run date. If a photo is included, it must be used for all days to qualify for the discount. Please contact us for more information.

**Policies:**

*Verification of Death:*
To publish obituaries, we require the name and phone number of the funeral home or cremation society handling the arrangements. We must contact them during business hours to verify the death. If the deceased’s body was donated to the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program or a similar program, their phone number must be provided for verification.

A death certificate is also acceptable for this purpose. Only one of these verification options is necessary. Please allow enough time for us to complete verification, especially during limited weekend hours.

*Guestbook and Outside Websites:*
We are not permitted to reference other media sources, guestbooks, or obituaries placed elsewhere when publishing in print and online. However, we may include a funeral home website or family email contact. Contact us with any questions regarding this policy.

**Obituary Process:**
Once your submission is complete, we will fax or email a proof for your review before publication. This proof will include pricing and the scheduled publication days. Please review carefully and notify us of any corrections before publication based on deadlines. We cannot be responsible for errors after final proof approval.

For changes to online obituaries after publication, please contact the obituary desk.

**Payment Procedure:**
Pre-payment is required before publication by the stated deadlines. After approving the proof, call 651-228-5263 to provide payment information.

*Accepted payment methods:*
– Credit Card: Payment accepted by phone only due to PCI regulations.
– EFT: Provide routing and account numbers by phone.

**Rates:**
– Minimum charge: $162 for the first 12 lines.
– Each additional line (after 12) costs $12.
– Ads under 12 lines will be charged the minimum rate of $162.
– Obituaries over 40 lines receive a 7.5% discount per additional line.
– A 20% discount applies to both placements on a second run date.
– Place three obituaries and the third is free of charge.
– Each photo published is $125 per day. For example, two photos over two days equals four photo charges totaling $500.

**Deadlines:**
Please adhere to the following hours and deadlines to ensure publication on the requested day.

*Hours Deadline (no exceptions) for Ad Photos:*
Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Closed weekends and holidays)

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**MEMORIAM (Non-Obituary) Requests:**
Memoriam submissions are remembrances of loved ones and have different rates than obituaries. For more information, please contact us at 651-228-5280 or submit your memoriam ad to memoriams@pioneerpress.com.

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**St. Paul School Levy Referendum Update**

St. Paul voters went to the polls on Tuesday to decide on a school levy referendum proposing an increase in property taxes to fund St. Paul Public Schools for the next ten years. Early Tuesday night results were not yet available.

The referendum seeks to increase the district’s general education revenue by $1,073 per pupil annually for ten years, starting with taxes payable in 2026. This amount will be adjusted annually for inflation.

The ballot language reads:
“The board of Independent School District No. 625 (Saint Paul), Minnesota has proposed to increase the School District’s general education revenue by $1,073 per pupil, subject to an annual increase at the rate of inflation. The proposed new referendum revenue authorization would be first levied in 2025 for taxes payable in 2026 and applicable for ten (10) years unless otherwise revoked or reduced as provided by law.”

Voters previously approved a similar levy in 2018, which provided $1,180 per student, or $18.6 million per year plus inflation, for 10 years. The current proposal would add to the existing levy rather than replace it.

According to Tom Sager, the district’s executive chief of financial services, under state law, the school board may renew the 2018 levy as it expires without returning to voters.

If approved, the average St. Paul homeowner with a median-value home will see a $309 annual increase in property taxes, equivalent to about $26 per month. However, the total property tax impact for next year won’t be finalized until December, when city, county, and school district levies are set.

Neighborhood tax impacts vary. Homeowners in St. Anthony Park, Battle Creek, Sunray, Highwood, and downtown St. Paul may experience the smallest percentage increases, though still several hundred dollars. In contrast, neighborhoods such as the North End, Payne-Phalen, Thomas-Dale/Frogtown, and the West Side may face the highest percentage increases.

Without this additional funding, district officials anticipate budget cuts of at least $37 million for the 2026-27 school year. The new levy is expected to generate approximately $37.2 million annually.

The district has actively promoted the referendum, spending $59,977 on informational materials as of October 29. Including the required mailed notice, total expenses for publicizing the referendum amount to $108,257.
https://www.twincities.com/2025/11/04/voters-will-decide-on-st-paul-public-schools-levy-referendum-tuesday/

To place an obituary with the Pioneer Press, please follow the instructions below. Note that obituaries cannot be submitted through the website and must be sent via email.

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**How to Submit an Obituary**

Please email the obituary information to: **obits@pioneerpress.com**

If you have any questions, feel free to call the obituary desk at **651-228-5263**.

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### General Information to Include:

– Your full name
– Your address (City, State, Zip Code)
– Your phone number
– An alternate phone number (if available)

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### Obituary Specifications:

– Name of the deceased
– Obituary text
– A photo (JPEG or PDF preferred; TIF and other formats accepted)
– You will be contacted if there are any issues with the photo file.
– Ad run dates
– Discounts are available for multiple-day runs.
– To qualify, you must schedule all run dates on the first run date.
– If a photo is used, it must appear on all days to receive the discount.
– Contact us for more information about discounts.

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### Policies:

**Verification of Death:**
To publish an obituary, we require the name and phone number of the funeral home or cremation society handling the arrangements. We must verify the death by contacting them during business hours.

If the deceased’s body was donated to the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program or a similar program, please provide their phone number for verification.

Alternatively, a death certificate can be submitted for this purpose. Only one verification method is necessary.

Please allow enough time for verification, especially on weekends when hours may be limited.

**Guestbook and Outside Websites:**
We do not allow references to other media sources or guestbooks in the obituary placed in print or online. However, we may include a link to the funeral home’s website or a family email address for contact purposes. Please contact us if you have questions about this policy.

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### Obituary Process:

After submission, we will fax or email a proof of the obituary for your review. This proof includes pricing and scheduled publication dates.

– Review the proof carefully.
– Notify us of any errors or changes before the obituary is published according to daily deadlines.
– We are not responsible for errors that occur after final proof approval.

For online obituary updates or changes, please contact the obituary desk.

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### Payment Procedure:

Pre-payment is required before publication. After you receive and approve the proof:

– Call the obituary desk at **651-228-5263** to provide payment information.

Payment methods accepted:
– **Credit Card:** Payment accepted by phone only (PCI compliance).
– **EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer):** Provide routing and account numbers by phone.
– **Cash:** Accepted in person at our front counter, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM.

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### Rates:

– Minimum charge: $162 for the first 10 lines.
– Each additional line after 10: $12.20 per line.
– Ads shorter than 10 lines are charged the $162 minimum.

For second run dates:
– $8.20 per line, starting from the first line on that day.

**Example:**
For a first run of 20 lines, the cost would be $164.

**Photo charges:**
– $125 per photo per day.
– Example: Two photos run on two days = 4 photo charges = $500.

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### Deadlines:

Please adhere to the following deadlines to ensure your obituary appears on the requested date:

| Type | Deadline (No Exceptions) | Hours |
|——————–|————————–|————————|
| Ad Photos | See deadline schedule | |
| Obituary Submissions | See deadline schedule | |

*For specific times, please contact the obituary desk.*

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### Memoriam (Non-Obituary) Requests:

Memoriam submissions commemorate a loved one but differ from obituaries in both format and rates.

For more information or to place a Memoriam, contact:
– Phone: **651-228-5280**
– Email: **memoriams@pioneerpress.com**

Office hours for inquiries and submissions: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Closed weekends and holidays).

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If you have any other questions or need additional assistance, please contact the obituary desk at 651-228-5263.

Thank you for choosing the Pioneer Press to honor your loved one.
https://www.twincities.com/2025/10/31/election-2026-redistricting-ohio/

Stillwater’s defense posted another clean sheet, and the Ponies’ top scorer did her thing Wednesday morning. That combination resulted in a 1-0 win over Eagan in a Class 3A girls soccer semifinal.

Rylee Lawrence scored for the Ponies, who will face defending champion Wayzata at 8 a.m. Friday back at U.S. Bank Stadium. Stillwater last won the title in 2021.

“If we keep doing what we’re doing, we’ll be OK for the final,” Ponies coach Mike Huber said.

Winning with defense has been a hallmark for Stillwater (18-1-1) this season. The Ponies have 14 shutouts, allowing just eight goals in 20 matches. Four of those came in back-to-back games against White Bear Lake and Woodbury to end the regular season.

Unable to consistently press, Eagan’s prime scoring chances were few and far between.

“We had to be locked in from the start, but the last 18 minutes we knew we needed to shut everybody down,” said defender Savannah Backberg, one of 17 Stillwater seniors.

Still, the Wildcats’ best scoring opportunity came with 12:57 left when a pass from Ana Oenning connected with Tess Triplett entering the box behind a couple defenders. However, Reese Elzen, the Stillwater goalkeeper and Wisconsin commit, raced out a few yards and made a sliding stop.

“With a big touch you’ve got to go out then. If she has the ball on her feet with little touches, you’ve got to hold your ground,” Elzen said. “When it’s big touch, that might be the only chance you get to come out and grab the ball.”

The game’s lone goal came in the 28th minute. Off an Eagan turnover, Stillwater’s Alayna Muths, a University of Illinois-Chicago commit, quickly sent a pass to Lawrence, a North Dakota commit who had a step behind a pair of Wildcats defenders. Her left-footed shot from 7 yards out went top corner on the far side for her team-best 17th goal of the season.

It was just the second goal allowed by Eagan in seven matches.

Stillwater had better scoring chances in the first half, but Abigail McGowan came up big each time, the latter a diving stop to thwart Lawrence. McGowan also stopped an Evelyn Huffer shot from about 15 yards out early in the second half to keep the Wildcats within one.

“It was one of those days where we didn’t put the ball in the net, but we’ll pick our heads up fast for tomorrow,” said Oenning, a St. Thomas commit.

Eagan (16-3-2), which tied East Ridge in the third-place game last year, gets Prior Lake in this year’s match Thursday.

Wayzata 2, Prior Lake 1

Gianna Ross scored with 10:11 left and Wayzata (16-0-2) netted the final two goals to beat Prior Lake 2-1. Ella O’Keefe also scored in the second half for the top-seeded Trojans. Fifth-seeded Prior Lake (14-6-1) got its goal from Teagan Jurek.
https://www.twincities.com/2025/10/29/girls-state-soccer-stillwater-girls-to-play-for-state-title/