Premier League to use semi-automated offside technology from next season

Letters, Sept. 8

I recently read Manitoba Hydro’s integrated resource plan (IRP) and the independent review by Daymark Energy. I’m no expert, but it seems clear that Hydro’s plan to add three new gas combustion turbines to the Brandon power station is going to cost Manitobans a lot more than we bargained for.

Enrolment up at alternative schools

Independent schools are preparing to welcome a record number of students as more families pay for faith-based instruction and secular alternatives.

The overwhelming majority of Manitoba children — 200,000 — are starting in the public school system this fall. Since 2000, the percentage of students enrolled elsewhere — in homeschools, funded and non-funded independent schools — has nearly doubled, to 12 per cent from seven per cent.

“If money was no object, we could fill dozens and dozens more classrooms with the demand for independent education,” said Andrew Micklefield, executive director of the Manitoba Federation of Independent Schools, who is a former Tory government house leader.

The King’s School, Dasmesh School, Springs Christian Academy, Beautiful Saviour Lutheran School, Steinbach Christian School and IQRA Islamic School have all either upscaled at some point over the last five years or are actively in the process of expanding their footprint.

Fanning takes aim at Canadian title on home course

Todd Fanning would love to make this a September to remember.

The decorated Manitoba golfer — who added a second straight provincial senior men’s championship to his impressive resumé earlier this summer — is now laser-focused on trying for a national title.

Fanning, 58, is one of the favourites as the Canadian senior men’s championship begins today at Niakwa Country Club, which just so happens to be his home course.

“Anyone who thinks they’re going to come out and see a bunch of old guys just whacking it around (is mistaken),” Fanning recently told the Free Press. “It’s going to be a heck of a week.”

Goldeyes face rival RedHawks in first round of playoffs

Now the real fun begins.

The Winnipeg Goldeyes have completed the marathon that is the American Association regular season, hitting the finish line Monday afternoon in Kansas City with a 5-1 loss. That leaves the Fish with a 54-46 record, good for second place in the West Division and tied for fourth-best in the 12-team league.

That’s a tidy turnaround from a year ago, when the Fish flopped with a 41-58 record to finish at the bottom of their division and 11th-overall.

Up next? The sprint that is the playoffs, with eight teams looking to reel in the 2026 championship by winning eight high-stakes games over the next three weeks.