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The Wrap: Winnipeg Transit woes, Flair Airlines and a local Goldeye

Good evening. Here’s a look at what our newsroom has been working on today:

The union representing city bus drivers says Winnipeg Transit is not doing enough to support drivers who deal with violence and threats on the job. Free Press reporters speak to drivers, a former Winnipeg police chief, and transit advocates about the state of our public transit system.

The Bank of Canada raised its key interest rate target by a quarter of a percentage point to five per cent today, the highest it’s been since 2001.

In April 2021, crushed by pandemic restrictions, Flair Airlines was only flying one plane. It’s now up to 21, and CEO Stephen Jones was in Winnipeg today to toot the ultra-low-cost airline’s horn. Business reporter Martin Cash talks to Jones and also to an expert who believes the ultra-low-cost business model may run into turbulence.

And: Marc-André Habeck is the only Winnipegger playing on the Goldeyes this season — and he’s on a roll for his hometown club. Sports intern Donald Stewart sat down with the local fish about his roundabout route to Shaw Park and what it’s like to play where home base is home.

 

'I had to deal with everything myself'

Joyanne Pursaga:

On-the-job threats, lack of support, lasting damage

Mental health languishes as Winnipeg Transit rolls toward grim year of violence: bus drivers Read More

 

Tyler Searle:

De-escalation techniques key to incoming transit security: ex chief

The president of a local law enforcement academy says Winnipeg Transit’s incoming security unit will face significant challenges as officers learn to operate safely within the confined, moving space o... Read More

 

Malak Abas:

Winnipeg top three in residential bus stop accessibility

Winnipeg is — or should be — one of the easiest places to catch a bus in the country, according to new Statistics Canada data. Read More

 
 
 

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'These decisions are difficult'

Nojoud Al Mallees, The Canadian Press:

Bank of Canada raises rates as inflation persists

OTTAWA - The Bank of Canada raised interest rates again on Wednesday, hitting the economy with even higher borrowing costs as new projections suggest it will take longer for inflation t... Read More

 

Tara Deschamps, The Canadian Press:

Interest rate hikes weigh on summer cottage market

TORONTO - When the warm weather hits, Arthur Parks usually sees up to 10 referrals from Toronto real estate agents with clients feeling the allure of lakeside living as the summer heats... Read More

 

The Canadian Press:

Debt, savings fears up amid higher rates and costs

CALGARY - More than half of Canadians say they are $200 away or less from not being able to pay all of their bills at the end of the month, a report by insolvency firm MNP Ltd. said, as... Read More

 
 

'The best way to avoid complaints is to run an efficient airline'

Martin Cash:

Flair Airlines CEO says carrier back on a growth trajectory

‘Our focus is on doing one thing and doing it well, and that’s low-cost leisure travel’ Read More

 
 

'Okay, this kid can throw'

Donald Stewart:

Hometown hurler living the baseball dream

Marc-André Habeck throwing bullets for the Goldeyes Read More

 
 
 

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Three Savour Manitoba magazine covers promoting a food, drink, and lifestyle publication.
 

Local

Carol Sanders: Rail line bypass plan would make Winnipeg ‘major transportation hub’: Axworthy
Chris Kitching: Kinder, gentler drug crackdown finds support, tempered expectations in Main Street area
Malak Abas: Long-awaited supervised drug consumption site opens quietly after months of loud opposition
Free Press staff: Suspension upheld for teen hockey player involved in hazing
Photos by John Woods and Robert Lee: In pictures: Folklorama 2026
Zoe Pierce: Missing pet tortoise found at Oak Hammock Marsh
Morgan Modjeski: Mom grieves loss of daughter, 4, on Long Plain First Nation
Joyanne Pursaga: Governments pledge ‘storefront success’ with downtown grants
Maggie Macintosh: Fun drop-in last chance to mentor grads of inner-city school with excellent track record
Josiah Neufeld: Quaker movement fuelled by a fierce sense of social justice
 

Opinion

Niigaan Sinclair: A measure of hope a decade after senseless death, injustice
Jason M. Sutherland: Gridlock by design: no excuses for bed backlog
Free Press: Letters, Aug. 12
Tom Brodbeck: Poilievre’s simplistic bluster a desperate bid for attention in a serious moment for nation
Gwynne Dyer: AI bio-weapons loom
Melissa Martin: Quiet opening fitting for controversial site
Free Press: The circle of life — garden-sized
Free Press: Letters, Aug. 10
Editorial: Signs the Carney approach is working
David McLaughlin: Israel: the new political divide?
 

Arts & Life

Conrad Sweatman: Winnipeg artist RYAN AD's ambitions growing as work reaches Paris
Ariel Gordon: Author of haunted-venue tale on unique joys of live theatre
Barbara Ortutay, The Associated Press: Google unveils latest Pixel phones with slimmer cameras and more AI features
Ben Sigurdson: Blues Brother bringing sci-fi debut this fall
Colleen Barry, The Associated Press: Extreme heat is reshaping Italy’s sparkling wine industry with early harvests and nighttime picking
Maureen Scurfield: Put in the work to find fulfilling relationship
Ben Waldman: Winnipeg pooches get time in spotlight in Rainbow Stage production of Legally Blonde
Georgia Nicols: Today’s horoscope
Ben Sigurdson: A new chapter: Renamed Winnipeg Book Festival takes to The Forks this fall
Maria Sherman, The Associated Press: Blues ‘enthusiast’ Morgan Freeman’s album covers 100 years of the genre
 

Sports

The Canadian Press: Panel: Acquitted 2018 WJC players breached Hockey Canada code of conduct
Greg Beacham, The Associated Press: A blockbuster $12.5B deal as Josh Kushner and Bob Iger agree to buy the Lakers, AP source says
Hannah Schoenbaum, The Associated Press: Britain’s Andy Green sets another speed record, this time in a hydrogen-powered car
The Associated Press: High school football player in Arkansas practices with a venomous snake in his helmet
David Brandt, The Associated Press: Former NFL QB Matt Hasselbeck part of latest CTE frontier – diagnosing brain disease in the living
John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press: Brett Bateman’s Major League Baseball career off to fast start with Toronto Blue Jays
Ken Wiebe: It’s been a winding journey to the pros for PWHL’s first Manitoban bench boss
Mike McIntyre: Fish ‘punch back’ to crush Canaries
Ian Harrison, The Associated Press: Blue Jays right-hander Trey Yesavage has knee surgery but could return this season, manager says
Joshua Frey-Sam: Get to know your Canadians in the CEBL Finals
 

Business

Aaron Epp: A mission to make hearing care easier to access
Christopher Reynolds, The Canadian Press: Air Canada shares jump after it sells 25% stake in Aeroplan for $2.5 billion
The Canadian Press: S&P/TSX composite index up in late-morning trading Wednesday, U.S. markets mixed
Gabrielle Piché: A Winnipeg home with a mountain view? You won’t find a real one, but AI-generated visual suggests otherwise
Free Press staff: Downtown records net zero business loss
Christopher Reynolds, The Canadian Press: Cargojet pilots notch major wage hike, as company stresses productivity gains
Daniel Johnson, The Canadian Press: TSX edges up and adds to record high while U.S. markets lose ground
Gabrielle Piché: Manitoba-made technology earns faith of investors across Canada
Aaron Epp: U of M medical student launching MediLuxe Scrubs Ltd.
Free Press staff: Steinbach Credit Union names interim CEO
 

Canada and World

Brenna Owen, The Canadian Press: Gunshots ring out at B.C. ostrich farm as cull moves ahead
Nojoud Al Mallees, The Canadian Press: Canada reports fastest population growth in history in third quarter of 2023
The Canadian Press: Canadian judokas Gauthier-Drapeau, Reyes win bronze at Tokyo Grand Slam
Sammy Hudes, The Canadian Press: Sweeping tariffs could be 3% hit to Canadian economy, even with carve-outs: report
Charlotte Kramon And Jeff Martin, The Associated Press: Shooter attacked CDC headquarters to protest COVID-19 vaccines
Matthew Scace, The Canadian Press: Canadian ice climbers bring thriving, nascent sport to world championship in Edmonton
The Canadian Press: Woman faces more charges in Taylor Swift ticket scam, 2nd person charged: police
Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press: Heightened security for Manitoba politicians appears to be a sign of the times
Giada Zampano And Sylvia Hui, The Associated Press: Thousands join pro-Palestinian rallies around the globe as Oct. 7 anniversary nears
The Canadian Press: Emir of Qatar to visit Ottawa on what will be his first official trip to Canada
 

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