Councillor charged; Manitoba budget; Commonwealth reopens
Plus: Jets host Avalanche

Nicole Buffie:

Wyatt ignores colleagues’ calls to step away after sex assault charge, takes seat at council meeting

Mayor Scott Gillingham said he would welcome a review of the rules that allow a city councillor to continue working despite being charged with a criminal offence. Read More

Carol Sanders:

Province’s $10-B health-care budget raises questions about priorities, value for Manitobans

A day after the province announced a $10-billion budget — its largest ever — to fix health care and reduce wait times, questions are being raised about how the money is being spent. “I think Manito... Read More

Scott Billeck:

Restaurants want in on PST break

Association says it will suffer when grocery items become exempt July 1 Read More

Malak Abas:

King’s Head owner sues law firm over amalgamation fallout

The owner of downtown Winnipeg staple King’s Head is suing a local law firm, claiming poor legal advice resulted in him taking on undue risk and may have cost him the potential sale of his pub last ye... Read More

Dean Pritchard:

Judge scolds Crown, ends trial of man accused of killing mom

‘Highy prejudicial’ questioning leads to stay of proceedings Read More

Jeff Hamilton:

A failure to act

Family says teen re-victimized by school’s lax response after reporting sexual assault Read More

Dan Lett:

A well-oiled machine

Like everyone else in the industrialized world, Manitobans are suffering from Mideast-conflict gas pains; soaring prices could lead to an energy turning point in Canada Read More

Tyler Searle:

True North, strong and… Trump?

More than 20 per cent of Manitobans think the U.S. could invade Canada in the next two years, poll conducted for the Free Press reveals Read More

Jocelyn Gecker, The Associated Press:

Perfect homework, blank stares: Why colleges are turning to oral exams to combat AI

The assignment involves no laptop, no chatbot and no technology of any kind. In fact, there's no pen or paper, either. Instead, students in Chris Schaffer’s biomedical engineering class at Cornell ... Read More

Chris Kitching:

Province turning former university building downtown into transitional living units for homeless people

The $24.4-million purchase and renovation project at 447 Webb Place was confirmed in Tuesday’s provincial budget, although the site opened a couple of months ago. Read More

Chris Kitching:

Here are 15 highlights from Manitoba's 2026-27 budget

Here are 15 things to know about the budget. Read More

Nicole Buffie:

Spring sprung, grass not riz; frozen drains flood, hide where potholes is

Spring has sprung in Winnipeg, and that means streets filled with potholes hidden by lakes because melting snow is unable to get down clogged and frozen street drains. Read More

Chris Kitching:

Parents warned about measles risk over spring break, religious celebrations

Manitoba Health is urging parents to consider the risk of measles while travelling or attending large gatherings over spring break or upcoming holidays, in a bid to slow down Canada’s worst active outbreak. Read More

Nina Dragicevic, The Canadian Press:

Not working in your desired field? Bridge jobs can still be beneficial to your career

A bridge job can be more than just a temporary gig while you wait for something better. It brings its own opportunities, and potentially surprise twists in your career. Young job-seek... Read More

Mike Corder, The Associated Press:

A soothing study session: Students cram in Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw as musicians play

AMSTERDAM (AP) — From the stage of Amsterdam's historic concert hall, violinist Hyunjin Cho and cellist Efstratia Chaloulakou look out over row after row of young faces illuminated by the glo... Read More

Kelvin Chan, The Associated Press:

One Tech Tip: Here’s how AI can (and can’t) help you in your job hunt

For many job seekers, it might seem like there's never been a harder time to find a job. Hiring for white-collar jobs has been especially weak, part of what economists call a “low-hir... Read More

AV Kitching:

‘I get to do so much’

95-year-old happy to help others in nursing home Read More

Eva Wasney:

Pro women’s hockey game inspirational

Canada Life Centre awash with jerseys as Montreal plays Ottawa Read More

Gabrielle Piché:

Province’s first Indigenous parenting event draws hundreds in person, online

Amara LeClair starts with the basic questions: Where are you from? Who are your grandparents? Did they forage? Read More

Kevin Rollason:

‘Fly WestJet, see a UFO’

Pilots report ‘basketball-sized object’ at 13,000 feet Read More

Aaron Epp:

‘Everyone has to start from somewhere’

Indigenous Chamber of Commerce Manitoba annual event encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to believe in themselves Read More

Kevin Rollason:

Canada’s best-looking buildings ‘are all here’

Former Great Big Sea front-man Alan Doyle sings praises of Winnipeg's downtown architecture Read More

Tom Brodbeck:

NDP’s spin machine kicks into high gear when it comes to deficit

If “huge progress” looks like this, Manitobans should brace themselves for what failure might bring. Read More

Michael Abon:

Seniors and families deserve better

Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham was at the executive policy committee on March 17, defending the decision to cancel the Wellington Crescent bike lane pilot project. Read More

Rebecca Chambers:

Winnipeg’s collective identity tethered to ‘coulda, shoulda’

A middle child unsure of identity and place, Winnipeg is content being just good enough, but always wondering what we could have been if we’d only had a little more momentum, recognition, vision. Small, cold and isolated. Read More

Alexandra Olson, Claire Savage And Linley Sanders, The Associated Press:

What men and women think about gender and pay, according to a new AP-NORC poll

NEW YORK (AP) — Most working women in the U.S. believe they are disadvantaged when it comes to earning competitive wages, but many men hold a different view, according to a new AP-NORC poll. ... Read More

Joel Schlesinger:

In nothing we trust?

Fraud Awareness Month resonates more than ever as Canadians worry about AI further blurring what’s real Read More

Ritika Dubey, The Canadian Press:

If you changed jobs last year, here’s how it might affect your taxes

Months after the dust settles following a change in employment, people often forget that a new job can impact that year's tax return. Read More

Sammy Hudes, The Canadian Press:

Saving money on vacation doesn’t have to mean sacrificing fun: Here’s how to do it

Whether jet-setting overseas or embarking on an excursion closer to home, travel experts say there are many ways to save money on a holiday, without sacrificing the fun of it all. Read More

Eva Wasney:

New slice of life

Singer-songwriter Del Barber trades life on the road to open small-town pizza parlour Read More

Ben Sigurdson:

Wines for celebrating long-awaited end of winter

We’re officially into spring, which means shifting from hearty, warming and rustic wines to those better-suited to warmer (or at least warming) temps — think lighter, fruit-driven wines. Read More

Malak Abas:

Commonwealth Kitchen rises from ashes

Downtown Winnipeg eatery among businesses damaged in 2025 arson spree, not all will reopen Read More

What’s up

Free Press staff recommend things to do this week Read More

Ben Waldman:

Henry VIII’s stage fight

Stage combat direction amps up royal rumblings in RMTC's The Last Wife Read More

Ben Waldman:

SiR’s upcoming season a case of all’s fair in love and war

A month before Christopher Nolan’s film adaptation of The Odyssey invades cinemas worldwide, Shakespeare in the Ruins’ 2026 season will feature a solo version of The Iliad, giving audiences a crash co... Read More

Ken Wiebe:

Barron pays it forward

Jets’ centre welcomes mentor role to club’s young guns Read More

Conrad Sweatman:

Tracing the roots of democracy to today’s fragmentation

People sometimes joke that we would be no worse off if we picked someone at random from the phone book to rule the country. Read More

The week that was: March 16-23

In this week's quiz: an unusual hockey game, Alan Doyle's favourite building, pothole damage, a new provincial registry and a sport without cheering. Take the quiz