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Free Press Head Start for April 20, 2026

Good morning.

A Manitoba woman who suffered burns to 35 per cent of her body after she was trapped in a motorhome her partner was found guilty of setting ablaze told a court Friday she caused the fire and took aim at police and justice officials who had previously ordered that the two stay apart. Dean Pritchard reports.

A Manitoba lawmaker’s pledge to back a convicted sex offender’s bail with his seven-figure savings has ignited a political firestorm, with senior government ministers openly attacking the leader of the opposition and condemning the Progressive Conservative party’s defence of one of its veteran elected officials. Jeff Hamilton reports.

The community is mourning a Ukrainian refugee who was found dead Saturday night, nearly three months after he was last seen. Katie May has more here.

— David Fuller

 

 

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Your forecast

Cloudy, clearing early this afternoon. Wind from the south 40 km/h gusting to 60 becoming west 20 gusting to 40 this afternoon. High 15 C, wind chill -9 this morning. UV index 4 or moderate.

What’s happening today

😂 The Winnipeg Comedy Festival kicks off today at various venues and runs until April 26. Tickets are available online. Conrad Sweatman has a preview here.

In the 25th year of the Winnipeg Comedy Festival and his sixth as artistic director, Dean Jenkinson is proud to put Canadian comics in front of a national audience. (Ruth Bonneville / Free Press files)

In the 25th year of the Winnipeg Comedy Festival and his sixth as artistic director, Dean Jenkinson is proud to put Canadian comics in front of a national audience. (Ruth Bonneville / Free Press files)

Today’s must-read

No one is at rest in Peguis First Nation Sunday morning.

The entire community seems to be moving in tandem to get as many sandbags filled as possible while they wait — and worry — about impending flooding.

Across from the Peguis Multiplex Centre, 24-year-old Tatum Wahpoosywan is part of a team shovelling sand into sandbags, tossing them onto the flatbeds of trucks travelling around the community and back. Someone has put on music, Blackstreet’s “No Diggity” on a small Bluetooth speaker, and coffee in Styrofoam cups is being passed around.

Peguis First Nation, along with volunteers and aid organizations outside of the community, have been working around the clock since last week to try to mitigate rising water from the Fisher River, after the Interlake community was warned water levels are forecast to be similar to the last severe flood in 2022. Malak Abas has the story.

People move sandbags to create a wall around a home on Peguis First Nation Sunday (John Woods / Free Press)

People move sandbags to create a wall around a home on Peguis First Nation Sunday (John Woods / Free Press)

On the bright side

A North End warehouse has been converted into a multi-purpose design studio where students can sew ribbon skirts, print 3D models and launch businesses.

The Winnipeg School Division celebrated the grand opening of its Waabishkaa-Makwa Lab last week.

The first-of-its-kind “cultural learning lab” embeds Indigenous teachings into project-based learning activities.

For more than a decade, the 4,500-square-foot space inside R.B. Russell Vocational School had been collecting dust and housing broken equipment.

“This is part of truth and reconciliation — Indigenous and non-Indigenous people sharing their gifts and creating together,” said Elaine Mayham, a knowledge keeper in the inner-city division. Maggie Macintosh has more here.

Marney Stapley (left), co-ordinator of the new Waabishkaa-Makwa Lab, and WSD knowledge keeper Elaine Mayham at R.B. Russell Vocational School. (Ruth Bonneville /a Free press)

Marney Stapley (left), co-ordinator of the new Waabishkaa-Makwa Lab, and WSD knowledge keeper Elaine Mayham at R.B. Russell Vocational School. (Ruth Bonneville /a Free press)

On this date

On April 20, 1922: The Manitoba Free Press reported in Ottawa, a Liberal MP called for legislation that would prohibit the adoption of daylight saving time throughout Canada. The justice minister argued the reconstitution of the Canadian Wheat Board as compulsory was beyond the powers of the federal governement. In Genoa, Switzerland, agreements were forecast to affect geopolitics for the coming century, with Britain and other allies from the Great War on one side and Germany, backed by Russia, on the other.

Today’s front page

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

 
 

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Top news

Aamer Madhani, Munir Ahmed And Russ Bynum, The Associated Press:

Trump offers mixed messages about path ahead for US war against Iran

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump offered mixed messages on Monday about the path ahead for the U.S. war against Iran, declaring that he was in no rush to end the conflict while also e... Read More

 

Morgan Modjeski:

Rural communities team up to court doctors

A close call that would have seen the Russell emergency department temporarily close has leaders in the area joining forces to entice more doctors to practise in the town. “At this point in time, i... Read More

 

Dan Lett:

Former chief psychiatrist legally challenges Manitoba’s detox detention laws

‘Seclusion is a very last resort,’ Dr. Jim Simm says Read More

 

Morgan Modjeski:

Cannabis vapes causing fires at Brady landfill

City launches trial on collection of vapes at 4R depots Read More

 
 
 

New in Sports

Taylor Allen:

‘I can tell that this is a sports town’: UFC Fight Night takes over Canada Life Centre

The Canada Life Centre erupted as Mike Malott rained down a flurry of punches on Gilbert Burns to finish the main event of UFC Fight Night Winnipeg in style. Read More

 

Mike McIntyre:

Moose gear up for road to Calder Cup

Winnipeg set to host best-of-three play-in series this week vs. Milwaukee Read More

 

Ken Wiebe:

‘We know what we have in here’

Jets’ Lowry, Perfetti determined for team to come back stronger next season Read More

 
 

New in Arts and Entertainment

Jen Zoratti:

To the rescue

Real-life partners join forces to save dogs in new docuseries Read More

 

David Sanderson:

Politicos’ picks

Our locally elected leaders single out their top listens Read More

 
 

New in Business

Aaron Epp:

Adding clarity to wastewater solutions

Manitoba company Nexom puts East St. Paul treatment technology demonstration facility in international spotlight Read More

 

Craig Lord, The Canadian Press:

Inflation jumps on Iran war shock but few signs yet of spreading price hikes

OTTAWA - Statistics Canada reported a jump in the headline inflation rate for March but economists parsing the latest data argue there are few signs so far that the price shock from the Iran war is sp... Read More

 
 

Fresh opinions

Editorial:

A half-baked idea for affordability

Premier Wab Kinew’s plan to remove the provincial sales tax from prepared meals, salads, snacks, candy and soft drinks sold at grocery stores is, by most reasonable measurements, a half-baked idea. Read More

 

Erna Buffie:

In praise of the deliberately slower lane

Before I begin this story, I should first confess that I once suffered from a serious affliction — that nasty urban disease known as road rage. Read More

 

Laura Cameron:

Energy security, not more gas tax cuts

In the wake of U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, oil and gas prices have surged, triggering what’s widely expected to be the worst energy crisis on record. Amid ongoing affordability challenges, governments are reaching for policy tools to soften the blow for consumers. Read More

 
 

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