Fatally shot teen was in wrong place at wrong time, court told

A Winnipeg teen killed after he was caught in the path of street gangsters bent on shooting up a North End drug house was in the wrong place at the wrong time, his grieving grandmother told a Winnipeg court Wednesday.

“We never imagined (he) would be near there,” the woman said. “Unfortunately, he got out of a cab in front of a house at the wrong time,” she said. “If he had not been there at that exact time, he would still be alive.”

The 16-year-old victim was shot dead on Oct. 5 last year, after crossing paths with three teens in the 500 block of Boyd Avenue.

A now-16-year-old accused has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the slaying. Prosecutors are seeking a sentence of three years custody and community supervision.

Premier stands by Fontaine amid calls for her resignation by PCs, protesters

Premier Wab Kinew defended his embattled families minister Wednesday, declaring Nahanni Fontaine a strong leader who is the victim of gender-based violence and racism following a fire at her constituency office over the weekend.

Speaker reminds MLAs to keep it classy in lengthy address

The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba kicked off the fall session Wednesday by issuing a stern warning to MLAs.

Tom Lindsey, a third-term MLA, warned colleagues of all political stripes to behave themselves or be thrown out, in a lengthy address when the proceedings began around 1:30 p.m.

Lindsey told the chamber he spent the summer break thinking about the poor state of decorum — in particular, angry and loud personal insults that have been shouted across the floor over the last two years — in the legislature.

“There is no other workplace in this province where such behaviour among colleagues would be acceptable, and it should not be acceptable here,” he said.

British police say deadly rampage at UK synagogue was a terrorist attack

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — An assailant drove a car into people outside a synagogue Thursday in northern England and then began stabbing them, killing two and seriously wounding three in a terrorist attack on the holiest day of the Jewish year, police said.

Officers shot and killed the suspect, Greater Manchester Police said, though it took authorities some time to confirm he was dead because of concerns he had an explosive on him.

The Metropolitan Police in London, who lead counter-terror policing operations, declared the assault a terrorist attack.

Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said two other suspects were arrested, though he provided no further information on the arrests.

Public works report calls for council’s green light on Kenaston megaproject

Initial steps could be taken next year on a massive project to widen Kenaston Boulevard, replace the St. James bridges and upgrade the area’s sewer system.

Dauphin judge dismisses court action by trustee

BRANDON — A Dauphin judge has dismissed a court action by a Mountain View School Division trustee against several of his colleagues after they voted to pause the return to students singing God Save the King daily.

The Public Schools Act requires students to sing the first verse of the royal anthem in all kindergarten to Grade 12 schools, but the regulation has not been enforced in more than 25 years.

In January, the school division’s board of trustees passed a resolution that school administrators and staff would not be required to enforce the regulation until completing specific steps, which included reviewing letters of concern and consulting with education officials.

Ethelbert-based trustee Paul Coffey, one of the nine Mountain View trustees, filed an affidavit in Dauphin’s Court of King’s Bench in which he stated the “law is not optional.”

Police warn of rise in ‘distraction thefts’

Winnipeg police warned Wednesday of an increase in “alarming” distraction thefts — mirroring trends in other Canadian cities — after victims, including seniors, were targeted at or near their homes.

The thefts are becoming increasingly aggressive and physical, said police, who believe the thieves responsible for at least three recent incidents preyed on seniors who were not fluent in English in order to steal expensive gold jewelry.

“These individuals are very, very good at what they do, not only in the distraction techniques they are using, but even identifying the quality of the jewelry their victims are wearing,” Const. Claude Chancy said.

“These individuals prey on the kindness of their victims. They’re very approachable, they seem very friendly. It’s almost happened like a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

Partnership working on shipping Manitoba-mined potash to global markets through Port of Churchill

Potash mined in Manitoba is one step closer to being shipped around the world through the Port of Churchill.

Liberals roll out new Defence Investment Agency to speed up military purchasing

OTTAWA - Ottawa is launching a new federal procurement agency designed to overhaul and centralize military equipment purchasing.

Secretary of State for Defence Procurement Stephen Fuhr, who will oversee the new Defence Investment Agency, told The Canadian Press the agency will deliver equipment to the Canadian Armed Forces at a faster pace that meets its needs.

"We cannot be trapped outside the technology cycle with procurement. If we deliver stuff late, then it's irrelevant and we don't want to be there," he said.

"So … we're going to move at the speed of relevance to meet the moment."

Obituary: PTE artistic director Kim McCaw drew from Manitoba mosaic

Kim McCaw, who as artistic director of Prairie Theatre Exchange from 1983 to 1992 helped establish the company’s regional voice, died in Edmonton on Sept. 25 after a brief illness.