Good morning!
A pounding blue wave: The numbers don’t lie. The Progressive Conservatives ran roughshod over their opponents in Tuesday’s provincial election and will form a majority government, with Brian Pallister at the helm. The Tories prevailed in 40 Manitoba ridings, the New Democrats won 14 and the Liberals captured three. The scale of the victory Pallister, 61, led his party to is unheard of in Manitoba politics. Not only is it the largest seat count ever but possibly the highest share of the popular vote ever. Greg Selinger, the outgoing premier, announced he’ll step down as NDP boss, while Liberal Leader Rana Bokhari, who lost her own seat in Fort Rouge, was unclear about her political future during a quick scrum reporters after her defeat. READ MORE
Your forecast: We’re in for a cloudy Wednesday morning with a 30 per cent chance of rain, but the mid-afternoon temperature could hit 20 C. There is a risk of a thunderstorm this evening, and the low tonight is 1 C. On Thursday, expect a mostly sunny day and a high of 10 C, while Friday will be partly sunny and just 5 C. Environment Canada is calling for a gloomy weekend, with a 60 per cent chance of rain both Saturday and Sunday.
In case you missed it
DAVE DARICHUK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSThe Portage Terriers hoist the Turnbull Cup for the second year in a row after defeating the Steinbach Pistons 5-1 to win the MJHL championship series four games to one.
Terriers retain MJHL crown: The Portage Terriers cruised to a 5-1 victory over the Steinbach Pistons on Tuesday night to capture their second straight Manitoba Junior Hockey League title. The Terriers won the best-of-seven league final four games to one to retain the Turnbull Cup as the best Junior A squad in the province. But the team is gunning for a second straight Canadian title, too, and the road to the RBC Cup continues. READ MORE
Girl drowns near Portage: The Woodland Hutterite Colony is grieving the loss of an 11-year-old girl, presumed drowned in a spillway in the small community northeast of Portage la Prairie. Jodi Hofer and another girl were trying to cross a bridge that was partially submerged when she was somehow swept into the frigid water late Tuesday afternoon. A member of the colony said by 9:30 p.m. the girl’s body had not been recovered. READ MORE
Accused killer files appeal: Schuyler Vanwissen claims he’s been wrongfully convicted of raping and killing Gina Swanson, a single mother who lived down the street from his parents’ home. Vanwissen, 31, filed an appeal Tuesday of his first-degree murder conviction, along with the automatic life sentence he received with no chance of parole for at least 25 years. No date for the hearing has been set. Defence lawyer Martin Glazer cited 24 grounds for appeal, including numerous alleged errors made by Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Rick Saull. READ MORE
Up next
John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press filesHealth Sciences Centre
Gift for HSC Foundation: A large contribution to the Health Sciences Centre Foundation’s $25-million Centre for Surgical Innovation is coming in today. A press conference is set for 2 p.m., featuring representatives from the Asper Foundation, along with HSC Foundation president and CEO Jonathon Lyon and members of the foundation board of directors.
Viewing the night sky: It’s astronomy night at the Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre. Learn which telescope is best suited for your needs from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. tonight, with an indoor presentation by Royal Astronomical Society of Canada member Gerry Smerchanski followed by an outdoor, hands-on observation session from the rooftop where several telescopes will be available.
Around the water cooler
PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILESPeople will gather at the legislative grounds today to rally for the legalization of marijuana.
Pardon pot possessors: A prominent Canadian think-tank figures the federal Liberal government should consider pardoning people convicted of marijuana possession, while dropping any outstanding pot charges. In a newly released policy paper, the C.D. Howe Institute makes the recommendations to the Trudeau government as a way to free up resources for the legalization of the drug. It also recommends the feds focus on achieving public-health goals and avoiding a black market in marijuana. READ MORE
Homolka living near Montreal: Reports that convicted killer Karla Homolka has resurfaced southwest of Montreal are creating a buzz in the town of Chateauguay. She is living in the community and some of her three children are attending a local school, some media outlets reported Tuesday. Neither the school board nor local police confirmed the reports, citing privacy laws, although the principal at Centennial Park Elementary School sent home a letter reassuring parents their children are safe. READ MORE
Trending now
#TerribleHashtagIdeas: How meta that this is trending, no? Yet these are so terrible they’re great: “When My Cat Threw Up,” “Funniest thing said at a mime convention,” “My social security number is” and “Jesus vs Aliens.”
#MakeTvShowsEvil: Who wouldn’t want to chill out — and be chilled by — such series as “Mystery Science Theater 3000 Dead in Cruise Ship Disaster,” “Little Faust on the Prairie,” or “Cthulu’s Line is It, Anyway?”
On this date
On April 20, 1925: The Manitoba Free Press reported that a Baptist missionary in Weatherford, Texas went missing after a woman horsewhipped him in the town pbulic square. in Chicago, police arrested a man who was suspected of being the ‘scientific bandit,’ responisble for stealing $500,000; the suspect was apprehended at the library, apparently studying the means of temporarily blinding bank employees. A woman who was attacked by dogs in Chesterfield Inlet, along the northwest side of Hudson Bay, died of her injuries.
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