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Free Press Head Start for April 8, 2026

Good morning.

The daughter of an 85-year-old who died after she was allegedly neglected and abused at a Winnipeg long-term care home is suing the facility’s current and former operators. Erik Pindera has the story.

A Winnipeg man has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for his part in a fatal kidnapping plot targeting a rival drug dealer. Dean Pritchard reports.

Jonathan Toews is the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy nominee for the Winnipeg chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association. The award is handed out annually to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. Ken Wiebe has more here.

— David Fuller

 

 

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Savour Manitoba Spring issue cover featuring colourful mixed drinks on a table.
 

Your forecast

Snow at times heavy ending this morning then mainly cloudy, with a 60 per cent chance of light snow or rain late this afternoon. Risk of freezing rain early this morning. Snowfall amount 5 cm. Wind southeast 30 km/h gusting to 50 becoming light this morning. High plus 2. UV index 4 or moderate.


Schools in some divisions may be closed today, or are experiencing delays in school bus service, or are advising caution for drivers dropping off students because of snowy conditions. See this map of school divisions in Manitoba and click on the division to see any announcements or warnings.

What’s happening today

💃🏼 Experience one of the most iconic movies of the 1980s in a whole new way with Dirty Dancing in Concert at the Burton Cummings Theatre, 364 Smith St., tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $41 to $122

Patrick Swayze as Johnny Castle and Jennifer Grey as Baby Houseman in 'Dirty Dancing.' (The Associated Press / Lionsgate Home Entertainment)

Patrick Swayze as Johnny Castle and Jennifer Grey as Baby Houseman in ‘Dirty Dancing.’ (The Associated Press / Lionsgate Home Entertainment)

📖 Philipp Schott launches Three Bengal Kittens tonight at 7 p.m. at McNally Robinson Booksellers’ Grant Park location, where he’ll be joined in conversation by RRC Polytech journalism instructor (and Free Press book reviewer) Joanne Kelly.

Today’s must-read

More than a century after its lake became the source of Winnipeg’s drinking water, Shoal Lake 40 First Nation is leading a major housing development in the city, backed by more than $51 million in government funding.

The federal government announced the combined funding Tuesday to build 150 apartment units at 2675 Portage Ave. in the city’s St. James neighbourhood. The development will include one-, two- and three-bedroom units.

Shoal Lake 40 Chief Herb Greene said the project carries historical significance.

“This development is about three things: history, teamwork, and the future,” Greene said during a sod-turning ceremony Tuesday. He noted for more than 100 years, Winnipeg was in dire need of a reliable source of clean drinking water. Scott Billeck has the story.

'This development is about three things: history, teamwork, and the future,' Shoal Lake 40 Chief Herb Greene said during Tuesday's sod-turning ceremony. (Mike Deal / Free Press)

‘This development is about three things: history, teamwork, and the future,’ Shoal Lake 40 Chief Herb Greene said during Tuesday’s sod-turning ceremony. (Mike Deal / Free Press)

On the bright side

Veteran Winnipeg broadcaster Scott Oake had hoped to keep his retirement to himself until sometime this summer, then casually let it slip he wouldn’t be returning in the fall for another season on Hockey Night in Canada.

His bosses at Sportsnet had other ideas, wanting Oake to be celebrated — even if briefly — for the legend he is. And so, on Saturday night in Edmonton, Oake wrapped up his popular After Hours segment by telling viewers from coast-to-coast-to-coast the clock was rapidly running out on his career.

Hockey Night in Canada broadcaster Scott Oake will welcome Winnipeg’s Ryan Reaves of the San Jose Sharks in his final After Hours segment on Saturday. (Jeff McIntosh / The Canadian Press files)

Hockey Night in Canada broadcaster Scott Oake will welcome Winnipeg’s Ryan Reaves of the San Jose Sharks in his final After Hours segment on Saturday. (Jeff McIntosh / The Canadian Press files)

Oake had suggested a simple drum roll sound effect before his on-air announcement. Instead, the network rolled out a full-blown marching band, adding plenty of pomp and circumstance.

“You know, I’ve been joking with people that I actually retired two years ago,” Oake said. “I just never told anyone.”

Oake isn’t quite done after this weekend. He plans to work at least one round of the Stanley Cup playoffs and would love to see the Jets claim the final wild-card spot so he can have one last hurrah at home. Mike McIntyre has more here.

On this date

Our newspaper archives service is currently unavailable. The “On this date” feature will return when past years’ papers are accessible again.

Today’s front page

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

 
 

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Savour Manitoba Spring issue cover featuring colourful mixed drinks on a table.
 

Top news

Bassem Mroue, Jon Gambrell, Samy Magdy And Sam Metz, The Associated Press:

Ceasefire is threatened as Israel expands Lebanon strikes and Iran closes strait again

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — A ceasefire deal to pause the war in Iran appeared to hang by a thread Wednesday after the Islamic Republic closed the Strait of Hormuz again in response to Israeli attack... Read More

 

The Canadian Press:

Carney praises Hansen, calls hearing French from space a point of pride

LONGUEUIL - Prime Minister Mark Carney praised astronaut Jeremy Hansen during a call with the Artemis II crew on Wednesday, saying he was proud to see a Canadian in space and to hear French spoken. ... Read More

 

Nicole Buffie:

Winkler woman who survived Dominican bus crash fights for compensation

Forty-four-year-old feels lucky after near-death experience Read More

 

Tyler Searle:

U.K. authority cites fugitive former U of M law dean’s Manitoba disbarment in similar ruling

The disgraced former law dean of the University of Manitoba has been prohibited from practising law in the United Kingdom, marking the second time he has been disbarred, as a Canada-wide warrant remai... Read More

 

Kevin Rollason:

Teacher disparaged school division, staff and students online, lawsuit alleges

A northern school division suing a former teacher wants a judge to order the removal of her “defamatory and injurious” comments on social media about students, staff and the division itself. Read More

 
 
 

New in Sports

Taylor Allen:

Dunstone satisfied with silver

‘Nothing to hang our heads about’ in loss to Sweden Read More

 
 

New in Arts and Entertainment

Ben Waldman:

Spoonfuls of sugar

Nia Vardalos’s stage adaptation finds the beauty in book of advice columns Read More

 

AV Kitching:

Home gardeners have new way to share bumper crops

Planning a prolific pumpkin patch? A new free online resource lets Winnipeggers list vegetables they’re planning to grow this summer that they will either sell, barter or give away in the fall. Read More

 

Ben Waldman:

Laser scheme

Projection device guides playful excursion of discovery Read More

 

Andrew Dalton, The Associated Press:

‘Ketamine Queen’ gets 15 years in prison for selling Matthew Perry the drugs that killed him

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday handed down a sentence of 15 years in prison to a woman who pleaded guilty to selling actor Matthew Perry the ketamine that killed him in 2023.... Read More

 
 

New in Business

Gabrielle Piché:

Province greenlights loans to pair of local AI, biotechnology firms

A couple threads connect an insurance-focused artificial intelligence company and a Type 2 diabetes research firm. Read More

 

Lauren Krugel, The Canadian Press:

Deloitte sees Canada’s oilpatch as ripe for deals once turmoil blows over

CALGARY - It might be a busy market for mergers and acquisitions in Canada's oilpatch later this year, provided the geopolitical mayhem eases enough for buyers and sellers to find common grou... Read More

 
 

Fresh opinions

Editorial:

Donald Trump is a danger to the world

There is no other way to say this: it is becoming clear that Donald J. Trump, the president of the United States of America, is unhinged. Read More

 

Tom Brodbeck:

Tough to make repairs when you don’t know what’s wrong, what parts are needed

It’s getting harder to pretend Manitoba’s health-care capacity crisis is some kind of mystery. Read More

 

Pam Frampton:

Karoline Leavitt puts the ‘pro’ in propaganda

It’s not often a press secretary is so rabidly enthusiastic about their mission that they develop their own following, but then Karoline Leavitt is exceptional. Read More

 
 

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