James Patterson donates $1.25 million to classroom libraries

James Patterson donates $1.25 million to classroom libraries

NEW YORK - James Patterson's latest gift for literacy is a $1.25 million pledge to classroom libraries.

On Tuesday, the bestselling author announced the fifth installment for his Patterson Partnership, formed in co-ordination with Scholastic Book Club. Patterson is giving $250 each to 4,000 teachers around the country to help purchase books. He is also distributing $500 each to 500 teachers with three years or less experience. Scholastic will match Patterson with gifts of 250 and 500 bonus points for its book club.

Teachers can apply for grants through www.scholastic.com/pattersonpartnership . The deadline is July 31.

In recent years, Patterson has donated millions to schools, independent booksellers and literacy programs. Patterson said in a statement Tuesday that illiteracy was a "daunting issue" and giving kids access to books was "an excellent place to start."

An eroding Winnipeg neighbourhood looks to new foundations

The lot Jesse Bettcher lives on in Winnipeg's North End used to be a pile of burnt rubble. Same with the one next door. And the one across the street. But he's now the proud owner of a two-storey house with blue-grey siding and white trim.

Visitors from across Canada make Somerset restaurant’s social media challenge a success

There may not be another restaurant in Manitoba that can say it has welcomed visitors from as many communities across the province and beyond as the Somerset Food Bar & Lounge has this summer.

In just over a two week span, visitors from more than 100 towns have come out to the family-owned restaurant tucked away in Somerset, a community of roughly 450 people in the Pembina Valley 130 kilometres southwest of Winnipeg.

It started as a challenge, “60 Towns in 60 Days,” where the restaurant wanted to document how many different places they could reach, as it often sees people travelling across Canada stop at the restaurant. The goal was also to encourage people to make a drive they normally wouldn’t.

“The more we started sharing, the more people really started getting behind it, and it turned into this really big thing fairly quickly,” said Jay Friesen, restaurant manager.

Pilot project targets defence contract tracking

As Manitoba businesses cast eyes on national defence contracts, a local firm is piloting technology to ease regulatory headaches.

Mode40 announced its project — and a $2.6 million injection from the feds — earlier this month.

Defence contracts require stringent tracking of parts manufacturing and data may come from hundreds of different systems, said Cameron Bergen, Mode40’s chief executive.

There are raw material conversions, inspections and standards to track. Parts might go to several plants before landing in a finished product.

Report draws link between missing Indigenous women and trafficking across Canada

A new analysis of online sex advertisements featuring Indigenous women has identified cross-country corridors that are highly indicative of sex trafficking, while revealing insight into how women and girls are exploited in Winnipeg.

Manitoba Hydro’s energy plan set to be scrutinized

Manitoba Hydro is set to face questions and concerns over its plan for the province’s future energy needs, which includes proposed natural gas-powered turbines in Brandon and Indigenous-owned wind farms.

The Public Utilities Board, an arm’s-length regulator, will begin six weeks of hearings Monday into the 10-year blueprint and potential ways to satisfy electricity demand, while Hydro grapples with a projected energy shortfall, debt of $25 billion and aging infrastructure.

“The development plan reflects the best available information and analysis of how Manitoba Hydro can meet growing energy demand, while balancing factors we know are important to our customers, including cost, reliability and the environment,” Peter Chura, a spokesman for the Crown corporation, told the Free Press.

“We are confident in our analysis and that we’ve appropriately balanced reliability, affordability, safety and risk.”