During his first visit to Winona since taking office in January, Gov. Tim Walz spoke before a small crowd of city officials, community leaders and local business owners Tuesday about his proposed biennial budget. During the stop, he stressed the importance of local government aid to ensuring the safety and quality of life Minnesotans have come to expect. 

Wednesday, reporters Maddy Heim and Tobias Mann broke down the governors visit and what it could mean for Winonans. However, it remains unclear whether Walz will be able to garner the necessary support in the Minnesota Senate to make his vision a reality.

After pulling two proposals to put apartments in the former Madison Elementary school, real estate developer Andrew Brenner, who purchased the building from Winona Area Public Schools in December, says he wants to turn the former school in to a child care facility. In this episode of Inside Winona reporters Tobias Mann and Maddy Heim dig into Brenner's new plan.

This week, the island city will be at the center of two high profile court cases scheduled to begin oral arguments before the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Tuesday, Ricky Darnell Waiters, who is currently serving out a life sentence for the murder of one and injury of another outside a West End bar in 2016, will appeal his conviction, while on Wednesday, Winona County’s controversial frac sand ban will once again be put to the test.

But in a somewhat unique twist, neither of these hearings will take place in a courthouse. Instead Waiters' appeal will be heard by approximately 600 students at Humboldt High School in St. Paul, while the frac sand case will be held at the University of Minnesota Law School. 

To learn more about these cases at WinonaDailyNews.com

In early April the Winona Daily News will be unveiling a new podcast, "Inside Winona."

If you're looking for the inside track on Winona's latest educational enigmas, county conundrums or criminal cases, Inside Winona is for you. 

Inside Winona combines the best aspects of our previous two podcasts — Winona 1-on-1 and What's Up Winona — to give you the inside scoop from the people who know it best.

You can count on us to shine a light on the Winona school board, city council and county board, while taking you backstage at Mid West Music Fest, Boats and Bluegrass and the Great River Shakespeare Festival. From the courthouse to court side,  Inside Winona will keep you on the up and up on what's going down in the Island City. 

You can find Inside Winona online at winonadailynews.com or wherever you get your podcasts.