Your forecast
Mainly cloudy with a 60 per cent chance of showers this afternoon and a risk of a thunderstorm. Wind becoming north 20 km/h late this afternoon. Local smoke. High 23. Humidex 26. UV index 8 or very high.
What’s happening today
The Winnipeg Goldeyes host the Kansas City Monarchs at 5:30 p.m. at Blue Cross Park.
The Winnipeg Folk Fest continues through the weekend at Birds Hill Provincial park. How did opening night go? Arts & Life reporter Eva Wasney has the recap.

The crowd listens to Allison Russell on the main stage as the sun sets at Folk Fest on Thursday. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Free Press)
Today’s must-read
Manitoba has declared a second provincewide state of emergency, as about 6,000 more evacuees fled their homes Thursday amid the worst wildfire season in at least 30 years.
The convention centre in downtown Winnipeg will become a shelter with enough space for 7,000 evacuees, following mandatory evacuations in Garden Hill Anisininew Nation — where residents were airlifted by the Canadian Armed Forces — and Snow Lake, and precautionary measures in case Thompson residents have to flee.
Chris Kitching has the story.

Wildfire evacuees prepare to board Canadian Armed Forces Hercules and commercial planes in Garden Hill First Nation Thursday. (Mathias Fiddler photo)
On the bright side
Winnipeg’s mayor received attention on a long-standing, popular game show this week.
On Tuesday, Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings raised an “answer” that noted Mayor Scott Gillingham by name. Joyanne Pursaga has the details.

A recent Jeopardy! episode name-dropped Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham.
On this date
On July 11, 1961: The Winnipeg Free Press reported Manitoba premier Duff Roblin said the ongoing drought in the province had created a calamity but not a disaster that would affect the economy of the entire province. In Ottawa, the Liberal majority in the Senate dared prime minister John Deifenbaker to make good on his threat to call an election on the constitutional issue of Senate power to amend the customs tariff legislation. Read the rest of this day’s paper here. Search our archives for more here.

Today’s front page
Get the full story: Read today’s e-edition of the Free Press.

|