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Free Press Head Start for May 11, 2026

Good morning.

More than 700 students will be able to hop between high schools for different courses and extracurriculars next year as part of a new inner-city initiative. Maggie Macintosh has the story.

A man who’s been behind bars since he abducted and killed a 13-year-old girl in The Pas in 1994 has been denied parole. Erik Pindera reports.

A Winnipeg police constable who repeatedly entered an apartment he had been assigned to guard until other officers returned with a search warrant is guilty of stupidity, but not a crime, his lawyer argued Friday. Dean Pritchard has more here.

— David Fuller

 

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Your forecast

A mix of sun and cloud. Becoming cloudy this afternoon with a 60 per cent chance of showers late this afternoon. Risk of a thunderstorm late this afternoon. Wind from the south at 20 km/h gusting to 50 increasing to 40 gusting to 60 near noon. High 17 C. UV index 6 or high.

Today’s must-read

The number of patients entering RAAM clinics in Manitoba has spiked as the drug crisis escalates, even as strained resources have kept the number from ballooning even further.

The number of visits to the clinics more than tripled from 2020 to 2025 — to 28,476 from 8,496. The number of RAAM clinics has also increased by one to seven.

There was a slight decrease in overall visits to the addictions treatment centres from 2024 to 2025. Provincewide, the number dropped to 28,476 from 28,523. Gabrielle Piché has the story.

The number of patients entering RAAM clinics in Manitoba more than tripled between 2020 and 2025 — from 8,496 to 28,476. (Mikaeal MacKenzie / Free Press files)

The number of patients entering RAAM clinics in Manitoba more than tripled between 2020 and 2025 — from 8,496 to 28,476. (Mikaeal MacKenzie / Free Press files)

On the bright side

Retired nurse Helen Cooper has spent the last 20-plus years volunteering at arts organizations and festivals throughout the city.

Her longest ongoing role is with the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival, where for more than two decades she took on various roles before becoming a team leader.

She’s helped out at Manitoba Theatre for Young People for 12 years, is a regular choir host during Manitoba Choral Society’s ChoralFest every autumn and recently started volunteering at Prairie Theatre Exchange, where she’s been the cashier at the café, scanned tickets and greeted theatregoers at the door, among other duties. AV Kitching has more here.

Volunteering has given Helen Cooper the opportunity to meet, socialize and contribute with like-minded people. (Ruth Bonneville / Free Press)

Volunteering has given Helen Cooper the opportunity to meet, socialize and contribute with like-minded people. (Ruth Bonneville / Free Press)

On this date

On May 11, 1925: The Manitoba Free Press reported a Transcona man died after being shot by his friend with a rifle; police believed the death to be accidental. Saskatchewan’s fifth legislature was dissolved and an election was called; premier Charles Dunning vowed to pursue a provincial electric power plan, as well as to partner with Manitoba to pursue the completion of the Hudson Bay railway line.

Today’s front page

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

 
 

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Three Savour Manitoba magazine covers promoting a food, drink, and lifestyle publication.
 

Top news

Chris Kitching:

Manitoban in Iran expresses fear for future

A Manitoban living in Iran fears generations will be lost amid a months-old war and deep uncertainty about what the future will bring, with or without its current regime. The Iranian-Canadian man, ... Read More

 

Maggie Macintosh:

Students compete to be ‘Reality Champion’

Middle school competitors deferred to their digital magnifying glass as they tried to determine whether King Charles was, in fact, pictured with a greasy plate of pepperoni pizza last month. Read More

 

Morgan Modjeski:

Animal control develops softer touch

‘Guns ablazing’ approach changes to education, support and resources Read More

 

John Longhurst:

Weston-area church seeking financial help to fix leaky roof

Building erected in 1906 needs $50,000 in repairs Read More

 
 
 

New in Sports

Taylor Allen:

Blue Bombers training camp begins with excitement

The first day of training camp can even riddle a franchise player with nerves. “It’s all anxiety, I’m not gonna lie,” admitted receiver Nic Demski after Sunday’s opening session in a chat with the ... Read More

 

Joshua Frey-Sam:

Homegrown guard gives Sea Bears spark in season opening win

All you had to do was listen to what Mason Kraus was saying. The 24-year-old homegrown guard, who was preparing for his second season in the Canadian Elite Basketball League, knew that he didn’t sh... Read More

 

The Associated Press:

Canadiens beat Sabres to take a 2-1 lead in the second-round Eastern Conference series

MONTREAL (AP) — Cole Caufield scored his second goal of the playoffs and added an assist as the Montreal Canadiens beat the Buffalo Sabres 6-2 in a dominant Game 3 on Sunday night to take a 2... Read More

 

Jim Timlick:

Beautiful game, beautiful life

Ralph Cantafio saw Winnipeg as tailor-made for soccer Read More

 
 

New in Arts and Entertainment

Ben Waldman:

Old for her age

'Kimberly Akimbo' takes on mortality with heart and humour Read More

 

Holly Harris:

Guest clarinetist part of dramatic end to wildly varied WSO season

The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra presented three distinct works in the key of passion Saturday night, as it wrapped up its Saturday Classics series with Mozart and Shostakovich. The 120-minute (incl... Read More

 

Ben Sigurdson:

Canadian scribe lands lucrative poetry prize

Governor-General’s Literary Award-winning poet Karen Solie, who was born in Saskatchewan and teaches in Scotland, has won the Windham-Campbell Prize in the poetry category — and the US$175,000 (around $239,000) that comes with the award. Read More

 
 

New in Business

Aaron Epp:

Prominence, opulence, exuberance

Venetian Nail Spa adds third link in local chain, preps for grand opening at CF Polo Park Read More

 

Joel Schlesinger:

Investment pros’ dos and don’ts

New book examines how world’s leading stock pickers may only be right half the time but still get exceptional returns over long run Read More

 

Stan Choe, The Associated Press:

Oil prices rise as the Iran war drags on, but US stocks inch to more records

NEW YORK (AP) — Oil prices rose Monday as the war with Iran threatens to drag on for longer, but the U.S. stock market nevertheless inched toward more records. The price for a barrel... Read More

 
 

Fresh opinions

Editorial:

Manitoba is leading, in some very bad ways

The alarming news that Manitoba has declared an emergency over skyrocketing rates of HIV infection provides more evidence that this province is suffering a profound breakdown in essential public health. Read More

 

Loraine MacKenzie Shepherd:

Bridging the chasm of hatred

News of increasing antisemitism, Islamophobia and transphobia is taking me back to another time when Canada was steeped in fear, hate and violence. Families and faith communities were divided. Read More

 

Tanya Palson:

Ahead of the curve: Manitoba’s workforce model

If you read past the headlines, the federal government’s spring economic update is doing something more consequential than announcing $6 billion in new skill trades spending. Read More

 
 

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