City moves ahead on time limit for school zone drop-offs

A call to consider a one-minute time limit for drop-offs and pickups at elementary schools is moving forward, despite one councillor’s concern the city might lack the power to impose it.

Coun. Markus Chambers is calling for city staff members to develop a standardized “stop, drop and go” program that mandates a designated drop-off and pickup area at each school, along with the strict time limit. The designated areas should include clear signs noting rules and penalties for those who don’t comply, and the city should collaborate with police and the Winnipeg Parking Authority to increase enforcement, Chambers said.

The St. Norbert-Seine River councillor said he believes the changes would reduce congestion and make the process safer.

“(It’s) creating a safety zone where parents can drop off their kids and pick them up at the end of the day in a safe and efficient way,” Chambers told members of the Riel community committee Wednesday.

Mostyn Park quiet a month after homeless encampment vacated, cleaned up

It has been nearly one month since Mostyn Park — once home to a sprawling encampment marked by colourful tents, tarps and piles of garbage — was remediated by the city. Residents were cleared out and housed, and the belongings and debris they left behind were removed.

Honeymoon ‘completely tainted’ after baggage fiasco

A Winnipeg man who flew to Mexico for his honeymoon on a WestJet flight says he has spent four days without his luggage — with no response from the airline.

Roger Ward travelled direct from Winnipeg to Puerto Vallarta on Jan. 3 with his wife, Illya Stasica Fogg. Hers was the only luggage to arrive at the baggage carousel.

Ward told the Free Press Wednesday he had yet to receive a response from WestJet despite repeated messages to the airline.

“By my count, about 40 or so additional people on our flight are also without luggage, including a family of five with young children who told us they received none of their bags,” Ward said.

Sheegl pays city court-ordered $1.15M for police headquarters bribe

The City of Winnipeg has received its first round of long-awaited court-ordered payments linked to the Winnipeg Police Service headquarters project and expects millions more to follow.

Politicians, Indigenous leaders tour devastation in Pimicikamak after power outage

A days-long power outage continues to wreak havoc on a northern Manitoba First Nation, as hundreds of homes are surveyed for damage and leaders visit the community to see the destruction first-hand.

Unlivable conditions after outage leave emotional Pimicikamak resident uncertain about future

Eva Muswagon’s eyes fill with tears when she talks about the emotional strain and uncertainty her family has endured in the 11 days since Pimicikamak Cree Nation suffered a power outage.

U of M contest gives high schoolers keys to Manitoba Museum

LOCAL business leaders are getting free advice from gen Z consumers as part of a now-annual outreach program run out of the University of Manitoba.

The Asper School of Business hosted its third high school case competition prior to the winter break.

This year’s contest, its largest yet, invited 80 students from 13 public and private schools to brainstorm hypothetical solutions for the Manitoba Museum.

The teens were tasked with creating their own consulting firms and coming up with plans to help the popular field trip destination stay out of the red.

Winnipeg teen gets 18 months probation for Walmart heist

A 15-year-old girl arrested following a daytime armed robbery at a Winnipeg Walmart is free again in the community, despite a judge’s blunt assessment she had given social workers and justice officials little reason to trust her.

“I think she is fooling us, she is fooling us all, obviously,” provincial court judge Heather Pullan said before sentencing her last week to 18 months supervised probation.

The girl was one of four teens, including her younger sister, arrested Sept. 3 following a shoplifting incident at the Unicity Walmart, during which a 13-year-old male co-accused fired at a security officer with a CO2-propelled airgun.

The security officer was not injured and the four youths were quickly arrested by police officers in the area at the time.

Minneapolis protesters vent their outrage after an ICE officer kills a woman

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minneapolis was on edge Thursday following the fatal shooting of a woman by a federal officer taking part in the Trump administration’s latest immigration crackdown, with protesters venting their outrage, the governor demanding that the state take part in the investigation and schools canceling classes as a precaution.

State and local officials demanded that the immigration agents leave Minnesota after the unidentified Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot 37-year-old mother of three Renee Good in the head on Wednesday. But Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said agents won't be going anywhere.

The Department of Homeland Security has deployed more than 2,000 officers to the area in what it says is its largest immigration enforcement operation ever. Noem said more than 1,500 people have already been arrested.

Dozens of protesters gathered Thursday outside of a federal building on the edge of Minneapolis that is serving as a major base for the immigration crackdown. They shouted “No More ICE,” “Go Home Nazis,” and other slogans as Border Patrol officers pushed them back from the gate, doused them with pepper spray and fired tear gas.

Botanical PaperWorks changes hands, keeps environmental ‘heartbeat’

The new year has brought new ownership to a Winnipeg company known for making seed paper that grows when planted.

Dedicated volunteers Kelly and Sandy Taylor receive prestigious Archery Manitoba award

Kelly and Sandy Taylor called it one of the greatest feats of their lives.

Bringing the largest event on the World Archery calendar to Winnipeg wasn’t easy, though.

Director roars about making film during Winnipeg winter

To fans of Guy Maddin’s 2007 film My Winnipeg, the opening tune heard in Johnny Ma’s comedy-drama The Mother and the Bear – the ’50s-era promotional anthem Wonderful Winnipeg – will ring familiar. (“It’s no Eden that you would see, but it’s home sweet home to me.”)