News briefs for Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Strumbellas, Billy Talent to headline Burt Block Parties

10:02 AM

Canadian folk-rock outfit The Strumbellas and punk group Billy Talent will hit the streets in Winnipeg this summer during the annual Burt Block Parties.

The first round of artists for the two-weekend August concert series, which takes place outside the Burton Cummings Theatre between Smith Street and Notre Dame Avenue, was announced Tuesday.

On Aug. 11, the headlining Strumbellas will be joined by bands Stars and Novillero. On Aug. 12, Comeback Kid and The Flatliners will open for Billy Talent.

The lineup for the Aug. 18 and 19 concerts will be released in the coming weeks. Tickets for the first set of shows go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m. on Ticketmaster. Limited VIP tickets are available and will provide access to a special viewing platform, private bar and the venue’s indoor washrooms.

Einarson loses to Switzerland, drops to 4-2 at World Women’s Curling Championship

11:28 AM

Switzerland’s Silvana Tirinzoni continues to have Kerri Einarson’s number.

The reigning three-time world champions beat Einarson and Team Canada 7-6 at the World Women’s Curling Championship in Sandviken, Sweden in Tuesday afternoon’s draw.

Tirinzoni sits on top of the 13-team event with a perfect 6-0 record. Einarson, who plays winless New Zealand at 1 p.m. CT today, drops to 4-2 and is now in a four-way tie for second place with Italy, Norway, and Korea.

The 12-game round robin concludes Friday. The playoff round, featuring the top six teams, begins Saturday. The two teams with the best records receive byes to the semis (10 a.m. CT) while the other four play the first round (4 a.m. CT).

Man robbed with bear spray on Portage Avenue: police

12:21 PM

Winnipeg police arrested a man accused of robbing another with bear spray after asking for a cigarette on a downtown street Monday evening.

The victim, a 60-year-old man, had been walking down the 300 block of Portage Avenue around 6:30 p.m. when a man asked for a cigarette, before allegedly assaulting him and stealing his cell phone. The two struggled and the victim got his phone back, but the suspect sprayed him with the pepper spray before running.

The victim waved down police cadets, who gave the suspect’s description to officers over radio, police said. Officers spotted a suspect on the nearby 300 block of Ellice Avenue and chased him, before he sprayed the bear deterrent at them.

Officers used a Taser electroshock weapon on him and took him into custody, police said.  An 18-year-old man faces charges of robbery, assault peace officer with a weapon and possession of a weapon. He was released on an undertaking.

Woman robbed, punched on Pritchard Avenue

12:24 PM

A woman in her 20s was assaulted and robbed while walking on Pritchard Avenue Sunday evening, Winnipeg police say.

Officers were called to the 400 block of the North End street at about 8:15 p.m., where they found the victim. She told officers a male she didn’t know confronted her demanding cash.

He had a machete and bear spray in his waistband, police said, so she handed over her cash. The suspect then punched her in the face, causing a slight injury, before running into a nearby home, according to police.

Officers found the suspect inside the home and arrested him. A 16-year-old boy was charged with robbery and two counts of failing to comply with a release order. He was detained.

Powerview RCMP charge man in slaying in Sagkeeng First Nation

1:22 PM

Powerview RCMP charged a man accused in the homicide of another man in Sagkeeng First Nation last Thursday.

Mounties were called to an assault at a home on Tipi Road in the First Nation at about 3:45 p.m. on March 16, where they found a 42-year-old man dead.

A 38-year-old man was arrested at the scene. RCMP said Tuesday they charged the man, Matthew Schacht, the following day with second-degree murder.

He was remanded into custody. The victim’s name hasn’t been released.

Louise Bridge to close for maintenance Wednesday

2:48 PM

The southbound lanes on the Louise Bridge will close Wednesday, as the structure undergoes scheduled maintenance.

Motorists traveling on the bridge, which connects the Point Douglas and Elmwood neighbourhoods, should be aware of potential delays, the City of Winnipeg said in a release Tuesday.

The southbound lanes will close at 9 a.m. and will reopen by noon.

People traveling downtown from westbound Nairn Avenue or from southbound Stadacona Street should use Midwinter Avenue to the Disraeli Bridge as an alternative route during the closure, the city said.

Pedestrians will still be able to cross using the east sidewalk.

Girl, 17, charged with manslaughter in woman’s death

4:13 PM

A 17-year-old girl has been charged with manslaughter in the death of an 18-year-old woman in northern Manitoba.

RCMP said the woman was pronounced dead after she was transported from a home in Gods River to a nursing station at about 8:30 p.m. Sunday.

The homicide victim and the suspect knew each other, according to police.