Hot-air balloon bumps line, causing brief power outage during Albuquerque balloon fiesta

Manitoba Federation of Labour calls for independent review of Workers Compensation Board

A major labour association is calling for an independent Workers Compensation Board review as Manitoba leads the country in workplace injury rates.

Last year, 2.5 employees in every 100 reported a workplace injury serious enough to take time off, WCB tracking shows. The number is higher than any other province — just as it has been for the past three years, according to the Manitoba Federation of Labour.

(In 2025, the next highest time loss injury rate was in British Columbia: 2.04 people for every 100.)

“Our prevention work in Manitoba is failing Manitobans,” said Kevin Rebeck, president of the Manitoba Federation of Labour. “We need an independent review to help shine a light on, ‘What is happening on the prevention front of WCB?’”

Indigenous leaders meet with Governor General during first official visit to Manitoba

Three Indigenous leaders were encouraged after discussing reconciliation and the need to confront residential school denialism with Gov. Gen. Louise Arbour, while she began her first official visit to Manitoba Wednesday.

What’s Up: Usama Siddiquee, Cory Doctorow and Petunia and the Vipers

Usama SiddiqueeWest End Cultural Centre, 586 Ellice Ave.Tonight, 8 p.m.Tickets are $46.75 at wecc.caUsama Siddiquee is everywhere right now.

The Bengali-American standup comedian/writer/actor was recently the runner-up on Kevin Hart’s Funny AF, a standup comedy competition reality series that debuted on Netflix earlier this year, where his high-energy delivery quickly established him as a fan favourite. He’s also in Best of the Best, the Netflix dance comedy that arrived on the streamer last month starring Priyanka Kedia, Hasan Minhaj and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan.

But Siddiquee’s no stranger to the small screen as an actor, appearing in Inventing Anna, And Just Like That…, Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens and Better Things.

He probably won’t play in such an intimate room as the WECC for long, so say you saw him when. Doors are at 7 p.m., and this show is all ages.

Sex offender who changed name sent back to prison

The father of a boy repeatedly abused by convicted sex predator Ryan Knight said he believes his son would have been kept safe had there been a law in place preventing sex offenders from legally changing their name.

Police seize cocaine valued at $1.5M, about $750K in cash in raid on St. Vital house

A St. Vital homeowner and her husband were going about their business during an afternoon last month when police officers in tactical gear suddenly appeared, walking across their front lawn.

The target was a few doors down: a maroon bi-level home on a quiet stretch of Satinwood Place, within earshot of children playing outside at a nearby school.

The homeowner, who asked not to be named to protect their privacy, said the police presence caught the couple by surprise in the Southglen neighbourhood, where they weren’t accustomed to seeing that kind of activity.

“We never heard the (police) cars pull up, but there were cars blocking the entrance to the street from both sides,” said the neighbour. “They had a shield, a battering ram — everything. Just not used to seeing that.”

Alberta’s gopher museum closed until further notice as owners find new facility

A quirky Alberta roadside attraction that has delighted travellers for decades with its stuffed rodents in tiny costumes is closed until further notice. 

The World Famous Gopher Hole Museum, located in Torrington, a hamlet about 120 kilometres north of Calgary, made the announcement online earlier this week.

Laural Kurta, museum director, said she was forced to close the doors because the two historical buildings that house the exhibits need to be replaced. 

"We have done every patch repair, staple, spackle, everything we could possibly do, and it is just at its end," Kurta said in an interview Tuesday.