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Polar bear’s death ‘puzzling’: The death of a polar bear last month at the Assiniboine Park Zoo was likely the result of trauma. Dr. Chris Enright, the zoo’s head veterinarian, told the Free Press it doesn’t appear swollen tissues in three-year-old Eli’s throat and neck were caused by an allergic reaction. Enright said he believes the bear must have been involved in some sort of mishap. “It’s a little puzzling,” he said. “Theories, that’s kind of all we have at this point.” Ashley Prest reports. READ MORE
Your forecast: It will be sunny today with a mix of sun and cloud in the late morning, a high of 26 C and wind from the north at 30 km/h in the early afternoon.
In case you missed it
Omnitrax HandoutGovernment meddling and extreme weather absolved any obligation to repair the rail line to Churchill, Omnitrax says.
Pushing back against pressure: Omnitrax says government meddling and extreme weather have absolved the company of any obligation to repair the Hudson Bay Railway, part of which was shut down in May after flood damage. The company’s statement Monday will likely further frustrate residents of Churchill, whose community has been cut off from land access. Dylan Robertson reports. READ MORE
‘Long, hard fight’ looms: A recent ruling on class-action lawsuits representing victims of the ’60s Scoop might exclude some Indigenous children who were living off-reserve at the time. Manitoba’s Court of Appeal said it’s “regrettable” the proposed lawsuit may exclude some survivors, adding they could file their own individual claims in court. Katie May reports. READ MORE
Snapshot of services: A report prepared for city hall’s budget deliberations for 2018 shows Winnipeggers have a positive perception of most services, particularly the response of firefighters. The condition of the city’s major streets had one of the lowest satisfaction ratings. Aldo Santin reports. READ MORE
Up next
MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSKory Stagg, co-chair of the soccer venue committee for the Canada Summer Games, was pleased when it rained briefly Monday, cooling things down.
Hot competition: Manitoba’s women’s beach volleyball team is playing twice today at the Canada Summer Games, while the men’s team has one evening match. The men’s and women’s basketball teams both play quarter-final matches. Meanwhile, Melissa Martin reports on how the first three days of competition lived up to the games’ billing as “the hottest summer in half a century.” READ MORE
Around the water cooler
BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILESThe $5 billion Bipole III project will come into service in July of 2018.
Hydro hike: Hydro rates are going up, but by less than half of the increase the Crown corporation sought. The 3.36 per cent hike ordered by the Public Utilities Board takes effect today. The PUB denied Manitoba Hydro’s request for a 7.9 per cent increase and ordered the extra revenues must be saved in a deferral account established to cushion future rate hikes. Larry Kusch and Jane Gerster report. READ MORE
Trending now
#ElderlyBands: There’s retro, and then there’s retro. What are your favourite bands up to in their latter days? Spin some tunes from Depends Mode, The Vintage People, Blink I’m 82, Rage Against the Newfangled Contraption, or Boyz To Menopause.
On this date
On Aug. 1, 1990: Francophones in Manitoba who had hoped for a French-speaking judge to be named as Manitoba’s chief justice were disappointed in the choice of Richard Scott, selected by then prime minister Brian Mulroney for the position. A report critical of development plans for Oak Hammock Marsh was not expected to jeopardize federal funding for the project. Opposition spokesmen called on premier Gary Filmon to do more to spur job growth. READ MORE
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