Good morning!
Damaging storm: What a night in Manitoba. The storm Wednesday night wreaked havoc on the southern half of the province, including a tornado at Long Plain First Nation, near Portage la Prairie, that forced dozens of families from their homes. Another possible tornado touched down in the Hartney area in southwestern Manitoba, while high winds in Winnipeg literally blew the roof off an apartment block in the Garden City area. The storm knocked trees down and caused power outages in a number of areas. Thankfully, there have been no reports of injuries as of early Thursday. READ MORE
Your forecast: The weather stabilizes today and Friday, even though hot temperatures and high humidity levels are expected. The high today is 30 C, while Friday’s temperature should hit 29 C. There’s nothing pretty about the weekend forecast, however, with showers expected both days and temperatures in the mid-20s. But Environment Canada’s long-range forecast shows clear skies and hot temperatures for the start of the last week of July.
In case you missed it
ZACHARY PRONG / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSProtestors were undaunted by the rain during the Black Lives Matter Vigil. July 20, 2016. One of the main themes of the Black Lives Matter Vigil was solidarity with African Americans killed by police in the United States.
Standing against racism: Shocking incidents of police violence against black men in the United States have clearly had an impact north of the border. On Wednesday night, hundreds of Winnipeggers came together for a ‘Black Lives Matter’ vigil on the steps of the Legislative Building. “Issues aren’t going to get any better if you keep silencing them,” said Alexa Potashnik of the organizing group Black Space. READ MORE
Pregnancies well hidden: The husband of a Winnipeg woman accused of hiding the remains of six infants in a storage locker testified Wednesday he didn’t know the contents of his wife’s rented storage unit or that she had possibly carried the six fetuses to term. Andrea Giesbrecht, 42, is charged with six counts of concealing a child’s body. The remains of five boys and one girl were found inside a McPhillips Street storage unit in October 2014. Her husband, Jeremy Giesbrecht, is expected to be back on the stand today. READ MORE
Up next
DAVID LIPNOWSKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSDavid Chartrand, president of the Manitoba Métis Federation, speaks during the opening of the 2016 Liberal Biennial Convention at RBC Convention Centre Thursday.
Métis land claims: Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada releases a ministerial report today on the Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF) Land Claim and Métis Section 35 rights. It’s expected the report will outline recommendations on how to proceed with reconciling the MMF land claims and how to continue negotiating Métis rights. MMF President David Chartrand is expected to talk to the media later today.
Bombers host Stampeders: Maybe tonight’s the night the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1-3) finally use home-field advantage to defeat the Calgary Stampeders (1-1-1). Since 2008, the Bombers have won just three out 18 contests with the Stampeders, including seven straight losses at home. Game time is 7:30 p.m. at Investors Group Field.
Fun times in Gimli, Morris: Two popular summer celebrations kick off tonight. The 16th annual Gimli Film Festival opens this evening in the Interlake community 90 kilometres north of Winnipeg, while the province’s only professional rodeo, the Manitoba Stampede and Exhibition, starts tonight in Morris, 50 kilometres south of the city.
Around the water cooler
Phil Hossack / Winnipeg Free Press filesRush hour traffic moves through Portage and Main.
Historic corner a conundrum: It seems younger Winnipeggers want a chance to walk across Portage and Main, but older citizens are content with the way things are now. A poll by Probe Research shows a clear age split on the issue — 68 per cent of people 55 and older are against reopening Portage and Main to pedestrians, while 61 per cent of people aged 18 to 34 are in favour. READ MORE
Ted talks: Former Republican U.S. presidential candidate Ted Cruz was booed at the party’s national convention in Cleveland Wednesday after he ended his speech to delegates without endorsing the chosen nominee, Donald Trump — or even saying he would vote for him. READ MORE
Flag bearer to be revealed: Canadians will find out today who will carry the Canadian flag during the opening ceremony at the Rio Olympics next month. Prime Minister Trudeau and the Canadian Olympic Committee will make the announcement in Ottawa. Triathlete Simon Whitfield carried the flag at the 2012 Olympics in London and kayaker Adam van Koeverden had the honour at the 2008 Games in Beijing.
Trending now
#CharlesKinsey: The name of a therapist who works at an assisted living facility is trending, after he was shot by North Miami police while he was trying to help an autistic patient who escaped from a group home on Monday. Kinsey, who is black, was unarmed and had his hands up when police shot him. READ MORE
#FilmsThatAreCheesy: Savour the goodness of classics such as “Brie Willy,” “Cheeses of Nazareth,” “East of Edam,” “Spirited A-whey” and “My Big Feta Greek Wedding.”
On this date
On July 21, 1953: The Winnipeg Free Press reported that heavy rains, which amounted to double the normal rainfall for the April – July period, had delayed harvests in Manitoba by two weeks. Heavy overnight rain turned the McPhillips Street underpass into a near-impassable pond, and drivers who attmepted to go through reported their breakes were “gone.” A three-year-old boy who went missing in the MacGregor area was found safe after more than 300 searchers comped the area all night looking for him. A specialist in epidemic diseases was coming to Winnipeg from Ottawa to consult with local doctors on the polio outbreak.
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