Researchers put hail under microscope, take stock of June 9 storm

Jack Hamilton, a researcher with the Canadian Severe Storms Laboratory, and his team have been gathering evidence and data from the June 9 storm that brought record rainfall to Winnipeg and surrounding communities

Bomber comeback falls short

It was the king of start that had fans in the stands facepalming.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers initially looked nothing like a group that had an extra week to prepare for Thursday night’s showdown at home with the Edmonton Elks.

Two fumbles, two missed field goals and more struggles on defence put the Blue and Gold in a 17-0 hole midway through the second quarter.

And while the second half was far from perfect, the Bombers showed signs of life — especially on defence — and miraculously grabbed an 18-17 lead with 8:34 remaining in the contest after running back Brady Oliveira dragged a defender to the front pilon of the end zone on a 14-yard catch and run.

Growing number of Manitoba youths are addicted to vaping

A few minutes after the final classes of the day end at Grant Park High School on a recent afternoon, students stream out of the building, headed in myriad directions.

At the railing outside the front doors, several teens stop to vape.

Classmates and teachers walk past without a second glance. Behaviour that once might have raised eyebrows now barely registers.

For many Manitoba teens, vaping — using a battery-powered device to heat flavoured “juice,” most often containing highly addictive nicotine, into an inhalable vapour — is a habit deeply woven into their daily lives.

Province’s security enhancement fund allocated to targeted cultural centres, places of worship, justice minister says

A $1-million security enhancement fund for places of worship and cultural centres announced in January has been fully allocated but the funds have not yet flowed, Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said this week.

Golf course maintenance as much art as science for dedicated team

At a golf course, grass is more than just ground cover; it’s a precisely engineered, living patchwork.

Sea Bears forward back in business for pivotal road clash against Bandits

Emmanuel Akot gains a piece of gratitude anytime he loses the game he loves.

Being sidelined by an injury — something the Winnipeg Sea Bears forward has experienced in his career more than he’d like to admit — is never easy, and the road back can be arduous at best, but the renewed appreciation on the court that ensues never gets old.

Akot, who has been on the shelf the last few weeks with an ankle sprain he suffered in Ottawa on June 4, felt that sense of graciousness on Thursday as the Sea Bears held their last practice session of the week.

“I’ve missed time before, so I understand how bad it can be not playing the game you love. So, anytime I can play the game I love, I’m always happy,” said Akot, who will return to the lineup for a critical road matchup against the Vancouver Bandits at the Langley Events Centre on Saturday (8 p.m. CT).

NHL draft swap watch continues

Go ahead and call it the calm before the storm.

As the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft is set to arrive on Friday night, the Winnipeg Jets have the potential to be the talk of the town, given the trade rumours surrounding goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.

But keep in mind, this is the time of year when misdirection is commonplace.

Hellebuyck may or may not be on the move this weekend, and it’s important to remember that the three-time Vezina Trophy winner is under contact for the next five seasons at a reasonable average annual value of US$8.5 million.

Mayor calls Portage and Main reopening a success

Mayor Scott Gillingham has hailed the reopening of Portage Avenue and Main Street as a success, nearly a year after the downtown intersection became accessible to pedestrians again.

The future of the circular concourse beneath the intersection is still up in the air, while city staff conduct a cost-benefit analysis and consult building owners at Portage and Main’s corners.

“I’m glad we made the decision to reopen Portage and Main. It’s working well, it looks great,” Gillingham said. “So many people that were opposed to it told me now they’ve changed their mind.”

Saturday marks one year since the intersection reopened to foot traffic. Portage and Main was closed to pedestrians since 1979 as part of a commercial development deal.

New e-bike patrols will make officers more visible, get them to some places quicker, WPS says

Winnipeg Police Service officers will now patrol the city on electrically assisted bicycles in a new program meant to get police out of their cruiser cars and onto the street.

The service has trained 25 officers to use 16 newly acquired e-bikes to patrol neighbourhoods, pathways, parks, riverbanks and outdoor events each year from May through October.

Foot patrol and community support officers will use the bikes at their discretion, including on regular calls for service.

“Having somebody on a bike, it allows the community to approach them, have conversations with them… in a way that’s different than having somebody in the car,” said Insp. Jennifer McKinnon, who recently took over as commander of the service’s downtown division, while standing near Waterfront Drive in the Exchange District on Thursday.

City’s greenhouse emissions rise, councillor says net-zero still within reach

City of Winnipeg operations created more greenhouse gases in 2025 than they did one year earlier, despite its target to hit net-zero emissions by 2050.

Last year, city operations caused 324,638 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions — 1.6 per cent or 5,159 tonnes, more than what was emitted in 2024.

Vehicles, buildings and waste from landfills were the highest emitters, says an annual report on Winnipeg’s climate action plan that’s set to be presented to council’s water, waste and environment committee next week.

“While the city continues to advance actions across governance, policy, transportation, waste, and resilience, corporate (greenhouse gas) levels will need to decline faster to meet the city’s targets,” writes Becky Raddatz, manager of the city’s office of sustainability, in the report.