One the night table: Scott Russell

Plasma clinic pauses operations in Canada amid ‘unfounded attention’

A plasma collection company is pausing operations in Canada due to “unfounded attention” after two people died following donations at Winnipeg clinics.

Grifols said in a statement Thursday it has “proactively and voluntarily decided to pause plasma collection activities at all its plasma donation centres in Canada,” citing “unfounded attention that has been focused on compensated plasma collection.”

A Health Canada investigation highlighted several concerns with the for-profit operator, which resulted in a notice of a non-compliance rating issued for a clinic in Winnipeg, located at 693 Taylor Ave.

A spokesperson for Health Minister Marjorie Michel said the safety of Canadians must always come first.

‘Much more to do’ to meet demand for licensed child care: education minister

An Elmwood child-care facility with 1,000 kids on its wait list served as the backdrop for a government news conference touting recent steps taken to meet overwhelming demand for licensed spaces in Manitoba.

“Much accomplished, much more to do — but we’re on the right track,” Education Minister Tracy Schmidt told reporters during a morning event at the Munroe Early Childhood Education Centre on Thursday.

The centre, which operates two preschool sites in northeast Winnipeg, recently underwent renovations to accommodate 48 more children at its Thames Avenue location.

Those additions are among 1,075 funded spaces that have opened across Manitoba since late last year.

Blue Bombers return with Collaros at the controls

There are worse places the Winnipeg Blue Bombers could be than 4-4.

But if they want to stay at or above .500, they can’t play anything like they have in their previous two outings, in which they’ve been outscored 87-49. Their latest setback was a 35-19 loss to the B.C. Lions on July 30.

“Everybody wants to win every single game in our locker room so I think we can empathize with people’s frustration,” said quarterback Zach Collaros after Thursday’s walkthrough at Princess Auto Stadium.

The Bombers have a glorious opportunity to get back on track when they host the lowly, winless Ottawa Redblacks (0-8) for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff on Friday night. The Redblacks dropped a 42-20 road result against the Saskatchewan Roughriders last week.

The scoop on lawn bowling

If you’ve ever wondered what bowls — better known as lawn bowling — is all about, the Free Press has the scoop on it.

First off, to get you in the right headspace it’s important to not compare bowls to alley bowling. Although there is a ball that is rolled, there are no pins at the end to knock down. Bowls is better compared to curling and bocce ball.

The game is played on a turf known as a rink. The rink can be made of grass — a bowling green — or carpet.

Both types of rinks have advantages and disadvantages, with players usually having a preference. With grass turf, bowlers need more force while rolling the ball to make it through the thicker terrain, while carpet is a smooth surface and requires a lighter touch.

‘Disrespectful’: residents frustrated after Wyatt arrives hour late to committee meeting

Several Winnipeggers attending a city development hearing on Thursday expressed frustration that one councillor arrived about an hour late, delaying the matter from being heard.

Coun. Russ Wyatt, who continues to attend city hall while facing criminal charges, began participating in the 9:30 a.m. East Kildonan-Transcona community committee meeting at 10:35 a.m.

A resident who hoped to speak at the meeting about a development plan in south Transcona noted the tardiness led the committee to bump the topic down on its agenda, while dozens waited to speak on it.

Christina Pyra eventually opted to leave city hall instead of waiting for her turn to make a presentation, to avoid missing a work commitment.

Three security guards charged with assault after Sea Bears star injured outside nightclub

Three security guards are facing assault charges, accused of injuring a Winnipeg Sea Bears player at a nightclub earlier this month.