A new $250,000 prize aims to spotlight those bringing American history to life

A new $250,000 prize aims to spotlight those bringing American history to life

NEW YORK (AP) — As the country's 250th anniversary approaches, The New York Historical has launched a $250,000 prize for those who have helped the public better understand the past. The David M. Rubenstein Prize for the Advancement of American History is named for and endowed by the philanthropist, financier and Baltimore Orioles owner.

Historians are eligible for the award but also anyone from teachers and filmmakers, to podcasters and leaders of a cultural organization.

“The Rubenstein Prize will pay tribute to those who strive to tell an accurate and engaging national story, helping Americans understand who came before them and fostering a deeper appreciation for the responsibilities of citizenship,” Rubenstein said in a statement released Monday. “By studying history, we are better able to see what worked and how to avoid the mistakes of the past.”

The inaugural judges panel will include Pulitzer Prize winners Annette Gordon-Reed, Jon Meacham and Beverly Gage. The winner will be announced in the fall.

Ladies and gentlemen of voting age, please turn your attention to the centre ring…

If there’s one thing that we in the news business wish for any election, it’s that the campaign is competitive and voters have multiple, viable options when it comes time to cast their ballots.

That is certainly what I wished for in this year’s Winnipeg mayoral election: a ballot with two or more competent candidates — including incumbent Scott Gillingham — that offered contrasting visions for the future of the city.

Unfortunately, this time we didn’t get competent or viable. Instead, we got a clown show stuffed with candidates for mayor who have demonstrated a stunning capacity for self-inflicted wounds.

It all started when mayoral candidates Kevin Klein and Mike Vogiatzakis both alleged they had been asked by each other’s campaign to step down to give the remaining candidate a better shot at defeating Gillingham.

New beds fill gaps, won’t fix health-care woes

The NDP government is finally putting more money into one of the most important solutions to Manitoba’s emergency-room crisis: getting patients who no longer require acute-care treatment out of hospitals and into more appropriate care.

The province is adding 103 new community-based spaces in Winnipeg for patients who no longer need to be in hospital but still need somewhere safe to go.

That’s a good investment. It’s also an acknowledgement of a problem that has been clogging Manitoba’s hospitals for years.

About 600 patients are occupying hospital beds on an average day even though they no longer require acute care treatment. They are waiting for personal-care-home beds, housing, home supports, mental-health services or other community-based options.

Whistleblower pharmacist fined for misconduct after complaint

A Manitoba pharmacist who made complaints against a colleague that led to sanctions against him has now also been fined due to her own conduct.

What’s Up: Usama Siddiquee, Cory Doctorow and Petunia and the Vipers

Usama SiddiqueeWest End Cultural Centre, 586 Ellice Ave.Tonight, 8 p.m.Tickets are $46.75 at wecc.caUsama Siddiquee is everywhere right now.

The Bengali-American standup comedian/writer/actor was recently the runner-up on Kevin Hart’s Funny AF, a standup comedy competition reality series that debuted on Netflix earlier this year, where his high-energy delivery quickly established him as a fan favourite. He’s also in Best of the Best, the Netflix dance comedy that arrived on the streamer last month starring Priyanka Kedia, Hasan Minhaj and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan.

But Siddiquee’s no stranger to the small screen as an actor, appearing in Inventing Anna, And Just Like That…, Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens and Better Things.

He probably won’t play in such an intimate room as the WECC for long, so say you saw him when. Doors are at 7 p.m., and this show is all ages.

Province to fund livestock cop to cut down on theft

BRANDON — The Manitoba government will fund a new RCMP position dedicated to investigating livestock theft.

The province made the announcement Thursday.

Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn said the investigative role will fill a pressing need.

“Personally speaking, I think this has been a long time waiting for this to come to reality,” the Dauphin MLA said Wednesday. “We are doing a great thing for the industry.”