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Men’s amateur tees off in tight race

It’s a crowded leaderboard after the opening round of the 115th edition of the Golf Manitoba men’s amateur championship.

Rory Neill of Glendale and Jordan Walford of Whitewater Golf Club near Thunder Bay are tied for the lead after carding matching three-under par 69s at St. Boniface Golf Club on Monday.

Neill, who recently completed his sophomore season with the University of Manitoba Bisons men’s golf team, managed six birdies, three bogeys and 9 pars, while Walford had five birdies, two bogeys and 11 pars to sit atop the leaderboard of the 54-hole event which wraps up on Wednesday.

“It was not the easiest of days out there. Windy and quite hot,” Neill told Golf Manitoba after his round. “But I kept the course in front of me and did a good job of not hitting any punch outs or anything — and I was able to roll in some birdies.”

Manitoba workplaces becoming increasingly violent

A middle school student file documenting more than 40 violent outbursts in a single year.

A gun kept under the pillow of a home-care patient who has dementia.

A drug-fuelled rage during which a man suffering from a contagious disease spat on and wrapped his hands around the throat of a first responder.

These are among the hazards that front-line employees in health care, education and other public sector positions are navigating when they clock in for a shift.

Carney trumps Trump with Gordie Howe bridge deal

The dispute over the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge was always and only going to end when U.S. President Donald Trump could declare he had got the better deal.

Even when he didn’t.

Trump gleefully posted on social media Saturday that after refusing to allow the completed bridge between Windsor and Detroit to open in late June, he got a “MUCH BETTER DEAL” from Prime Minister Mark Carney. Political opponents and a handful of opinion writers rushed to shake their heads at how Carney was used and abused by the big fella in Washington.

It’s not surprising that Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre would do an end-zone dance as he lamented Carney’s “terrible deal; the leader of the official opposition’s default setting is “condemn.”

Look who’s coming back: a sneak peek at fringe faves

It’s all in the game at this year’s Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival. Though the majority of the indie performances at this year’s fest don’t have to do with video games, the “Play Hard” theme will surely yield dozens of critical hits for veterans and newbs alike.

Three girls hospitalized after two collisions in Brandon — on same street

Brandon police are ramping up traffic enforcement at intersections after three youth were hit and seriously injured by vehicles in three days on the same street last week.

A 16-year-old girl was walking at a crosswalk on Richmond Avenue near Shoppers Mall on July 7 when she was hit by an SUV.

Her mother, Krista McPherson, said her daughter was hospitalized in Winnipeg with nine broken ribs, a pelvis break, and other injuries. In a social media post Monday, she said her daughter remained in hospital but was set to be discharged in the coming days.

A 38-year-old woman was taken in for questioning by the Brandon Police Service, but no arrests have been made.

Folk fest donates leftover food to Siloam Mission

Thousands of meals will be served at Siloam Mission this week thanks to a massive food donation from the Winnipeg Folk Festival.

More than 4,200 pounds — about two tonnes — of surplus food from the four-day festival that wrapped up Sunday was delivered to the mission on Monday.

The donation, consisting of prepared food, protein, dairy and fresh produce, is expected to provide enough ingredients to prepare about 6,000 meals for people experiencing homelessness and poverty.

“We are part of the Winnipeg community and when we can give back, we do,” said folk festival executive director Valerie Shantz.