Your forecast
Cloudy, becoming a mix of sun and cloud this afternoon. Fog patches dissipating this morning. High 24 C. Humidex 31. UV index 5 or moderate.
Officials say a deepening drought in Central and Atlantic Canada is creating water supply issues and underlining concerns about crop conditions and wildfires.
The latest national outlook shows large pockets of extreme drought have appeared across Atlantic Canada, with moderate to severe drought also showing up in Ontario and Quebec as of the end of August.
The drought monitor indicates conditions generally improved in Western Canada, while British Columbia saw a mix of improvements in the north and worsening drought in the central region. The Canadian Press has more here.

A wheat crop near Cremona, Alta., in 2022 (Jeff McIntosh / The Canadian Press files)
What’s happening today
After back-to-back losses against their arch-nemesis, things don’t get any easier for Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The 6-6 Bombers are in Hamilton to take on the best the East Division has to offer in a date with the 7-5 Tiger-Cats in what will be the first meeting between the two sides this season. Taylor Allen has the story.

Chris Streveler will be the man under centre for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers when they take on the (Nic Adam / Free Press files)
Today’s must-read
Staff at Winnipeg’s Women’s Health Clinic say they were put at risk when their former executive director left doors unlocked and allowed unsupervised, drug-using individuals — some armed — into private health-care spaces, a situation serious enough to draw provincial intervention.
Workplace Safety and Health received a complaint from a staff member in March 2023 and conducted an investigation that included a site visit. The Labour Department issued an “improvement order” listing 10 areas — including issues of violence and harassment — that the clinic needed to address to improve working conditions, a provincial spokesperson confirmed. Scott Billeck and Malak Abas have the story.

Since its founding in 1981, Winnipeg’s Women’s Health Clinic has been a leader in expanding access to abortion and birth control, mental-health supports, pregnancy counselling and birth options outside of hospital settings. (Mike Deal / Free Press)
On the bright side
A regulator has approved a world-first vaccine to protect koalas from chlamydia infections, which are causing infertility and death in the iconic native species that is listed as endangered in parts of Australia.
The single-dose vaccine was developed by the University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland state after more than a decade of research led by professor of microbiology Peter Timms. The Associated Press has more here.

A koala being treated for chlamydia by senior Veterinarian Dr Julian Grosmaire at the Endeavour Veterinary Ecology at Toorbul, north of Brisbane, Australia. (Darren England/AAP Image via The Associated Press)
On this date
On Sept. 12, 1967: The Winnipeg Free Press reported in Halifax, new national leader of the Progressive Conservative party, Robert Stanfield, would meet with members of his cabinet to decide when he would resign as premier of Nova Scotia; he would also meet with the MP for Colchester-Hants, who offered up his seat so Stanfield could contest it in a byelection. Quebec was preparing to exert legislative pressure if necessary on business firms to adopt French as the working language on the province. 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.

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