Province launches first Liquor Mart pop-up store next to new Costco

Manitoba has launched its first pop-up Liquor Mart — right next to Winnipeg’s newest Costco.

Shoppers drove by the converted construction trailer Thursday on their way to the opening of the new Costco, located on Portage Avenue West, just north of Highway 1.

The pop-up, covered in purple Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries signage, sits off Festival Drive in west Winnipeg.

“It is unique,” said Premier Wab Kinew, who paid a visit Thursday morning. “This is a really exciting opportunity for us to see if this kind of thing makes sense.”

Thirteen teacher complaints made in three months, misconduct report shows

THERE were 13 disclosures about teacher-related misconduct — with an “almost even” split between employer and public tipsters — during the first quarter of the year.

Four of the 13 initial cases flagged to Bobbi Taillefer, Manitoba’s commissioner of teacher professional conduct, were dismissed, according to a new 16-page report.

“Remember, it’s only certified teachers that are covered,” said Taillefer, whose office fields and investigates complaints.

“This is hypothetical — if a person made a complaint about a teacher that was uncertified and not covered by the legislation, then I would be required to let them know that this process does not cover that (teacher) and why.”

Quebec MDs angry about upcoming legislation kicking tires on Manitoba opportunities: Doctors Manitoba

Manitoba and its strong francophone community may benefit from legislation in Quebec that’s driving doctors there to consider practising in other provinces.

Man convicted in 2013 of killing two Indigenous women being released after serving two-thirds of sentence

A Winnipeg man convicted of killing two First Nations women more than a decade ago — with charges stayed in a third slaying — is expected to be released from prison Thursday.

The Latest: Longest government shutdown in US history ends after 43 days as Trump signs funding bill

President Donald Trump signed a government funding bill Wednesday night, ending a record 43-day shutdown that caused financial stress for federal workers who went without paychecks, stranded scores of travelers at airports and generated long lines at some food banks.

Before signing the legislation, Trump said the government should never shut down again, adding, “This is no way to run a country.”

Trump’s signature draws to a close the second government shutdown he’s overseen in the White House, one that magnified the partisan divisions in Washington as his administration took unprecedented unilateral actions -- including canceling projects and trying to fire federal workers -- to pressure Democrats into relenting on their demands.

The signing ceremony came just hours after the House passed the measure on a mostly party-line vote of 222-209. The Senate had already passed the measure Monday.

Winnipeg police officer who pleaded guilty to corruption charges called ‘sacrificial lamb’

Cancelling traffic tickets issued to officers’ friends and associates has been a pervasive practice throughout the Winnipeg Police Service for years, a retired officer says.

“There were bottles (of liquor) coming through (the traffic services division) all the time. It’s been common since the beginning of time… It’s all about who you know and what your history is,” said the recently retired cop, speaking to the Free Press on the condition of anonymity. Liquor was gifted as thanks for cancelled tickets.

The retiree made the comments in the wake of an officer’s admission of guilt in relation to a decade’s worth of corruption charges last week. Const. Elston Bostock, 48, pleaded guilty Friday to a slew of charges, including breach of trust and obstruction of justice, for incidents dating back to 2016. He’s also expected to plead guilty to drug-trafficking charges later this month.

Bostock admitted to having other officers toss out traffic tickets that had been given to friends or associates in exchange for liquor or gift cards on several occasions. On other occasions, his attempts were rebuffed by colleagues.

‘Pie in the sky’ development proposed for Charleswood property attracts criticism

The owner of a Charleswood property that used to host a popular holiday attraction wants to build housing, commercial buildings and a Nordic-style spa on the site — but would have to jump several hurdles to see the project through.

Paul Taylor’s late father, Bill Taylor, ran the Assiniboine Valley Railway, a miniature train and drive-thru Christmas light show that attracted thousands to the property, at 3001 Roblin Blvd., adjacent to Assiniboine Park, before it shut down in 2021.

Taylor said Wednesday he is working with Cibinel Architecture Ltd. and is in early talks with city planning staff to re-develop the propertythe first phase involves three one-storey commercial spaces, while later phases include a three-storey, 82-unit 55-plus residential building, and a spa.

“I’m picturing things like coffee shops, personal services… things that would mesh nicely with the residential and commercial uses that are already along Roblin, something that’s designed with intention (and) aesthetically complements the community,” Taylor said.

Stegall credits faith for getting him through grief of losing son

At a Salvation Army luncheon filled with laughter and nostalgia on Wednesday, it was Milt Stegall’s poignant football analogy about faith — and the loss of his son this past summer — that quieted the room and touched every heart at Canad Inns Polo Park.

Stegall, 55, shared how his faith was shaken after his 20-year-old son, Chase, died unexpectedly from epilepsy in June. Chase was found in his dorm room at DePaul University in Chicago, where he was a member of the school’s soccer team.

In the weeks that followed, Stegall said he pleaded with God for answers — and fast ones.

“(God) told me he was going to tell me in football terms that he knows I’ll understand,” Stegall said, recalling how about 60 to 70 per cent of plays an offensive co-ordinator calls fail for one reason or another. “But God said, ‘I’m the life offensive co-ordinator, and every single play I call has always been right. It’s never wrong. It’s worked every single time. You might not like the play I am calling, but it’s for the betterment of the team.’”

Epstein email says Trump ‘knew about the girls’ as White House calls its release a Democratic smear

WASHINGTON (AP) — Jeffrey Epstein wrote in a 2019 email to a journalist that Donald Trump “knew about the girls,” according to documents made public Wednesday, but what he knew — and whether it pertained to the sex offender’s crimes — is unclear. The White House quickly accused Democrats of selectively leaking the emails to smear the president.

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released three emails referencing Trump, including one Epstein wrote in 2011 in which he told confidant Ghislaine Maxwell that Trump had “spent hours” at Epstein’s house with a sex trafficking victim.

The disclosures seemed designed to raise new questions about Trump’s friendship with Epstein and about what knowledge he may have had regarding what prosecutors call a yearslong effort by Epstein to exploit underage girls. The Republican businessman-turned-politician has consistently denied any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes and has said he ended their relationship years ago.

Trump did not take questions from reporters Wednesday, even after inviting them into the Oval Office to watch him sign legislation ending the government shutdown.

Newfoundland artist’s fictional hockey league takes on toxic masculinity, homophobia in the sport

The St. John’s Sissies. The Nain Nancys. The Come By Chance Flamers. These are just some of the teams in the Queer Newfoundland Hockey League, the fictional conference at the heart of a multimedia solo exhibition of the same name by Canadian artist Lucas Morneau, which comes to Gallery 1C03 at the University of Winnipeg today.

Thousands of fare evaders denied bus rides since crackdown began in September

Thousands of would-be bus passengers have been turned away since September, when the city started cracking down on people who don’t pay.

Since then, 7,614 people were either denied rides (4,944) or they walked away before being prompted to pay, the city said Wednesday.

The city said 931 warnings have been issued and that 359 riders paid after being asked. The warnings were issued by transit safety officers for fare-related issues.

Winnipeg Transit inspectors have made more than 6,800 fare checks since September, and safety officers have spent more than 1,400 hours enforcing issues.

Burton Cummings is standing tall in homecoming concert on namesake stage

Burton Cummings is back at Burton Cummings Theatre — and looking forward to another hometown visit in the not-so-distant future.