Your forecast
Cloudy, with a 30 per cent chance of flurries early this morning, with wind becoming southeast at 30 km/h near noon. Snow beginning late this afternoon. High -3 C, wind chill -18 this morning and -10 this afternoon.
What’s happening today
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers aren’t likely to set off any fireworks once CFL free agency begins this morning, writes Jeff Hamilton.
Much of the excitement has already taken place, including a busy couple of days last week that led to new deals for all-stars Brady Oliveira, Dalton Schoen and Brandon Alexander. Read the full story here.

Receiver Rasheed Bailey remains unsigned by the Bombers and will probably play elsewhere in 2024 (.Jason Franson / The Canadian Press files)
Today’s must-read
A Manitoba father is charged with five counts of first-degree murder in the killings of his three young children, his common-law wife and her niece Sunday, in what is being described as an “unimaginable tragedy.”
Ryan Howard Manoakeesick, 29, was charged Monday, as friends identified the victims as his partner Amanda Clearwater, 30, their three kids — two-month-old Isabella, four-year-old Jayven and six-year-old Bethany — and Clearwater’s 17-year-old niece, Myah Gratton.
The victims and suspect lived together in a house in Carman, about 75 kilometres southwest of Winnipeg. Chris Kitching and Dean Pritchard report.

RCMP investigate at a home on 3rd St NW in Carman on Sunday. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press)
On the bright side
A bounty of 10 African penguin chicks has hatched in just over a year at a San Francisco science museum as part of an effort to conserve the endangered bird.
The penguins began hatching in November 2022, ending a four year period without any new chicks, and continued through January of this year, the California Academy of Sciences announced Wednesday. The Associated Press reports.

An African penguin chick, left, born in January, sits on a towel next to Nelson, middle, and Alice, both born in November 2023, at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, on Feb. 8. (Jeff Chiu / The Associated Press files)
On this date
On Feb. 13, 1939: The Winnipeg Free Press reported in Vatican City, Italians and foreigners from all over the world crowded St. Peter’s Square for the third day to pay homage to the body of Pope Pius XI. In London, a move by the Labor party to begin debate in the House of Commons on recognizing the Spanish Insurgent administration was blocked by the speaker. In Winnipeg, the second-largest bonspiel in Manitoba history was set to begin, with 251 rinks involving 1,016 curlers taking part. Read the rest of this day’s paper here. Search our archives for more here.

Today’s front page
Get the full story: Read today’s e-edition of the Free Press.

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