Dozens of Uber, Lyft drivers switched to cheaper insurance coverage: MPI probe

Ride-service drivers have been defrauding Manitoba Public Insurance by improperly insuring their vehicles as for personal use.

The public insurer and the City of Winnipeg, which regulates ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft, discovered the widespread fraud after MPI conducted a review in December last year.

“When a driver changes their coverage from ride-share insurance to a personal vehicle coverage and continues to operate as a ride-share driver, that is fraud, plain and simple,” said MPI chief executive officer Satvir Jatana at a news conference Thursday.

MPI’s review looked at a random sample of 408 ride-hailing vehicles and found 108 were operating without the proper vehicle-for-hire insurance coverage. In order to register with the city as a ride-service driver, a vehicle must have such insurance and proof must be provided to the ride-booking company.

Accused in Brandon sword attack pleads not guilty

BRANDON — A youth accused of severely injuring a student in a targeted sword attack at a Brandon high school detailed a “mass murder-suicide plan” months before the incident.

The plan mimicked a racially motivated school killing of three immigrants in Sweden.

The 17-year-old boy unexpectedly pleaded not guilty to nine charges on Tuesday during a scheduled pretrial hearing in Brandon’s Court of King’s Bench.

The teen, who can’t be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, is charged with three counts of attempted murder, aggravated assault, two counts of assault with a weapon, wearing a disguise with intent and two counts of possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose in relation to the June 10, 2025 attack at Ecole secondaire Neelin High School.

Dog feces vandalism shuts down food pantry

A few shelves set up beneath a West End community notice board were meant to offer a place where neighbours could leave food for anyone who needed it.

Get to know your Jet: Mario Ferraro

A one-on-one conversation with a Winnipeg Jet about the stuff you don't always hear in the media scrum

Ito in the house: Writer, translator takes new post as library’s writer-in-residence

It didn’t take Sally Ito long to settle into her new role as the Winnipeg Public Library’s latest writer-in-residence.

Zach is back

You can knock Zach Collaros down, but he’s going to get back up.

The starting quarterback for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers was a full participant at Thursday’s practice — a first since suffering a head injury in the Banjo Bowl.

The 38-year-old will be under centre when the Blue and Gold (7-8) host the Calgary Stampeders (8-8) on Saturday.

Considering his well-documented history of injuries above the shoulders, there’s been a lot of speculation on the outside about whether Collaros would — or should — return this season.

Manitoba, Alberta horses en route to Equestrian Canada event killed in B.C. highway crash

REVELSTOKE - Three horses being transported to an Equestrian Canada event in Langley, B.C., have been killed in a crash on Highway 1 in the British Columbia Interior.

Equestrian Canada said in a statement that four horses were being towed to the National Dressage and Para Dressage Championships.

The national federation said the horses were from Alberta and Manitoba and that the surviving animal was injured and is being treated by a veterinarian.

"Our equestrian community functions as a close-knit family, and a sudden loss of this magnitude is felt deeply by every rider, coach, groom and owner across the country," the organization said in the statement issued on Wednesday.

Province restores library program at youth jail after ‘miscommunication’

Manitoba Corrections has reversed its decision to cancel a pop-up library program at the Manitoba Youth Centre.

The monthly program had been operating since 2024 in partnership with the province before Manitoba Corrections informed the Manitoba Library Association last month it would be shut down.

Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said Wednesday there was “some miscommunication” about the use of the space at the Manitoba Youth Centre.

“When it comes to kids, we want to make sure they have great opportunities, books to read, teachers to teach them, which make a real difference in the path forward,” he said at an unrelated news conference.

Bloodvein standing firm, won’t move blockade

Indigenous leaders are accusing the province of violating treaty rights for asking a First Nations community to move its checkstop that was set up to keep drugs and alcohol out.

Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Kyra Wilson and Bloodvein River First Nation Chief Lisa Young say the province isn’t upholding its responsibilities under treaties signed between First Nations and the province, during a livestreamed press conference Wednesday.

“It’s really up to the discretion of the nations in which territory (hunters) are in, and the province needs to understand that as well,” Wilson said.

The province has said it sent a cease and desist letter to Bloodvein, located about 235 kilometres north of Winnipeg, about the checkstop, which has been in place since May 2025 to keep illicit substances out. The province is concerned it would restrict licensed hunters from legally hunting on the territory.

Province to fund livestock cop to cut down on theft

BRANDON — The Manitoba government will fund a new RCMP position dedicated to investigating livestock theft.

The province made the announcement Thursday.

Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn said the investigative role will fill a pressing need.

“Personally speaking, I think this has been a long time waiting for this to come to reality,” the Dauphin MLA said Wednesday. “We are doing a great thing for the industry.”