Good morning!
Refugee is elite wrestling coach: Mohammed Alhammoud-Aldrar arrived in Winnipeg as a refugee only months ago and, while he doesn’t speak much English, he speaks wrestling. A former Syrian national wrestling team coach, he visited the University of Winnipeg on Thursday to show some moves on the mats. Jason Bell reports. READ MORE
Your forecast: While last weekend was slushy and sloppy, this weekend will be cold and crisp. Today will be a high of -9 C, with a mix of sun and cloud. Saturday will be a high of -6, and Sunday’s high will be -7.
In case you missed it
WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSPremier Brian Pallister (right) arrives at Welcome Place Thursday.
New aid for asylum seekers: Premier Brian Pallister on Thursday pledged additional support for refugee claimants, including paralegal services, safe transportation to Winnipeg from the U.S. border and 14 new emergency housing units. Larry Kusch reports. READ MORE
Pedestrian gets revenge: A Winnipeg pedestrian was bumped by a Mercedes-Benz, and kicked the car in irritation. The driver got out and attacked the pedestrian with an aluminum baseball bat. The pedestrian overpowered the driver and stole his Mercedes. Two days later, police stopped the Mercedes, which was still being driven by the pedestrian who had been bumped. Katie May reports. READ MORE
Up next
WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS’As a community, we have to do a better job of trying to protect our citizens,’ Mayor Brian Bowman said after meeting with several families dealing with loved ones suffering from drug-related issues.
It’s not easy being mayor: Mayor Brian Bowman will address more than 1,000 people in his State of the City address at a Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce lunch today. It’s been an challenging year for the mayor, feuding with developers over proposed growth fees, disagreeing with city administration on the opening of the Portage and Main intersection and curbside pickup of organic waste, and looking at the possibility of simultaneous tax hikes and service cuts.
Travelling south to Winnipeg: A high-energy band from Iqaluit, Nunavut, The Jerry Cans, plays the West End Cultural Centre tonight with a unique mix of Inuktitut alt-country, throat singing, reggae and plenty of dancing. The fun starts at 8 p.m.
Around the water cooler
GENE J. PUSKAR / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILESIs Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck: overall consistency hasn’t been there.
Grading the Jets: Columnist Scott Campbell rips through the Jets lineup and he’s naming names. He says players who didn’t meet expectations include Dustin Byfuglien, Connor Hellebuyck, Bryan Little and Mathieu Perreault. READ MORE
Snowbulances: RCMP in northern Manitoba have a new way to transport patients and prisoners from the wilderness. Pods run on four wheels that can be converted to skis, and are pulled behind snowmobiles or ATVs — sort of a larger version of a child carrier hitched to a bicycle. Bill Redekop reports. READ MORE
Trending now
#HTGAWM: TV series How To Get Away With Murder has Twitter buzzing this morning after a huge plot twist in Thursday night’s episode. We’re dying to tell you, but we won’t spoil it.
On this date
On Feb. 24, 1954: The Winnipeg Free Press reported that India might increase its defence spending. In Manitoba, truckers opposed a bid by Canadian Pacific Express for a trucking licence from Winnipeg to Arborg, saying it would lead to a future monopoly and unfair competition. Canada’s hangman was rumoured to be summoned to describe the details of his work to a joint parliamentary committee on capital punishment. READ MORE
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