You may want to have sand or gravel on hand, if the forecast precipitation this evening turns to freezing rain rather than snow, as temperatures are expected to drop later this week. In the United States, Congress is moving forward to impeach President Donald Trump after Vice-President Mike Pence declined to convene cabinet members and remove the president under the 25th Amendment. And in Winnipeg, questions are being raised about the pace of COVID-19 vaccinations.
— David Fuller
U.S. insurrection fallout
With the U.S. Capitol Building in view, members of the military stand on the steps of the Library of Congress's Thomas Jefferson Building in Washington. (Patrick Semansky / The Associated Press files)
Second impeachment: U.S. President Donald Trump is facing an unprecedented second impeachment in the U.S. House of Representatives, with an increasing number of House Republicans joining their Democratic colleagues in supporting the articles of impeachment. Trump faces a charge “incitement of insurrection" after he encouraged a mob of his supporters who then attacked the U.S. Capitol Building where Congress was certifying the results of the presidential election. The Associated Press reports.
GOP turning against president: It's unclear how many Republicans in the Senate would vote to remove Trump from office, but Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania joined Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska over the weekend in calling for Trump to “go away as soon as possible.” Meanwhile, on Tuesday night, the New York Times reported that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who largely prevented Trump's removal in his handling of the Senate trial for Trump's first impeachment, has said he believes Trump committed impeachable offences, and is said to be "pleased" about impeachment.
Fury in Congress: As more details emerge about the attack last week on the Capitol Building, conflict is rising between Democrat and Republican, between Republicans and members of their own party, and from both parties over the catastrophic security failures that allowed a mob to take over the building, leading to at least five deaths. As well as blame pointed at Republicans who publicly supported Trump's baseless claims of election fraud, three Democrats who sheltered with Republican House members when they were spirited to a secure room disclosed they had since tested positive for COVID-19. The Associated Press reports.
Weather
Your forecast: The temperature is expected to rise from -10 C this morning to a high of 1, with a 60 per cent chance this evening of snow or freezing rain.
COVID-19 crisis
The province's COVID-19 vaccination centre at the Convention Centre. (John Woods / The Canadian Press)
Vaccine rollout: Concerns are being raised about the pace of COVID-19 vaccinations in Manitoba. Despite the large vaccination clinic inside the RBC Convention Centre having 30 stations to administer vaccines, only eight people were giving injections on Tuesday morning. Premier Brian Pallister focused on supply issues in answering questions about the slow rollout. Larry Kusch and Danielle Da Silva have the story.
In case you missed it
An area with thin ice on the Assiniboine River by the Maryland Street Bridge in Winnipeg on Tuesday. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)
On thin ice: Amid the pandemic and restrictions on inside gatherings, more Winnipeggers are looking to outside activities to keep active. But as Ryan Thorpe reports, some of the opportunities for winter fun on the Assiniboine and Red rivers come with a warning: thin ice. Both rivers, with areas where people can walk and skate, also have some areas with open water.
Delay on sewage plant: A city report shows that delays to work on the city's south end sewage treatment plant that were caused by the COVID-19 pandemic could affect the project's $335.6-million price tag. Work on the plant’s headworks facility was affected, as well as an interim step to reduce phosphorus in its effluent. Joyanne Pursaga reports
On this date
On Jan. 13, 1939: The Winnipeg Free Press reported that in Ottawa, a judge said he found no evidence that any member of Parliament or the Senate had stood to benefit from the government's decisions regarding the purchases of Bren machine guns; the judge further recommended that the purchases of armaments and munitons be taken out of the hands of the department of national defence and entrusted to an expert group of competent businessmen. In Minneapolis, Manitoba speed skaters, hockey players and fans received a warm welcome, including a breakfast where the mayor greeted them on behalf of the city — but also warned them that in the upcoming Ten Thousand Lakes speed skating competition the Canadians were to take part in, they would face stiff competition. Great Britain warned Italy that in the event of any trouble between Italy and France, Britain would stand firmly behind France.
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