John K. Samson refuses to be quiet about library measures

Mayor flip-flops on cutting tree-planting budget after intense criticism

Public opposition has prompted Mayor Scott Gillingham to change his mind about chopping $1.2 million from the city’s tree-planting program.

Homeless face even more peril in high heat after drug use crackdown, advocates say

Advocates say the recent police crackdown on open drug use on Winnipeg streets has driven members of the homeless community into the shadows and will put them at risk during the heatwave this week.

“That was a really ugly week and a half in the city’s history. The results have been devastating,” said Kate Sjoberg, executive director of Resource Assistance for Youth, who has been highly critical of the 10-day drug sweep in which more than 100 people were detained for drug use or trafficking.

She said the crackdown has made it harder for some homeless people to receive help because they’ve moved to less visible areas to avoid police.

Environment Canada issued a special weather statement for southern Manitoba that warns of intense heat that will last into next week. It’s expected to reach up to 45 degrees Celsius on Sunday, when the humidity is factored in.

Around the NSL: Wild’s new bench boss; Badu hat trick; Maroons still mighty

It was inevitable the Calgary Wild were going to replace Sinead McSharry. The club announced the hiring of Aussie Leah Blayney as head coach the day after dropping Sunday’s game 3-1 to Ottawa, with McSharry returning to her original role of assistant coach with the club.

In fairness to the Wild here, though, to only lose 3-1 to the Rapid — which has launched itself into team-to-beat status this season — in enemy territory isn’t that bad. Yes, a loss is a loss, but this time it wasn’t for lack of effort. Calgary came out of halftime with energy and Meggie Dougherty Howard cut Ottawa’s lead in half in the 65th minute. And the Rapid’s cushion was only padded two minutes into stoppage time by Jazmine Wilkinson.

It’s understandable something had to change, but with the regular season nearing its halfway mark, is this bench-boss changeup too little, too late?

Northern Super League superfans should find out Saturday when the club hosts the Vancouver Rise (6 p.m. CT, TSN+). But before we get to Week 12, here’s other storylines from Week 11.

Carney’s pick for Manitoba senator called a curious choice

Manitoba’s newest representative in the Senate only moved to the province in 2019.

Unlike former Manitoba Senate candidates, Geeta Tucker hasn’t known this province for very long — and that’s raised the eyebrows of some experienced politicians and academics.

Retired Manitoba senator Don Plett said he hadn’t heard of Tucker until this week. The Conservative said he has nothing against her personally, but he questioned whether she knows Manitoba well enough to represent its interests in the chamber of sober second thought.

“I think it is imperative that you have strong roots to the region you’re representing,” Plett said Wednesday.

Winnipeg-based Telpay acquires Toronto startup Notch Financial

Winnipeg payments company Telpay Inc. has acquired Notch Financial, a Toronto-based business that creates accounts receivable automation software.

The acquisition strengthens Telpay’s ability to help Canadian businesses manage the complete flow of money by adding modern invoicing, payment collection and ordering capabilities to its platform, according to a news release.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Mark Loewen, Telpay’s president, described it as “the first strategic, large-scale acquisition” in the company’s 41-year history.