Your forecast
Periods of light snow. Wind becoming northwest at 20 km/h gusting to 40 this afternoon. High -5 C, wind chill near -14.
Schools in some divisions may be closed today, or are cancelling school bus service. See this map of school divisions in Manitoba and click on the division to see any announcements or warnings.
What’s happening today
🖼️ Sue Gordon’s encaustic works and Aliana Au’s inky Prairie landscapes come together in Steadfast/Changing Light, a duo show celebrating two Manitoba artists with strong points of view. Soul Gallery, 65 Albert St. Opening reception tonight, 6-9 p.m.
Prairie Red by Aliana Au is on display at Soul Gallery. (Supplied)
Today’s must-read
The city’s former top bureaucrat was accused of making up a land deal to cover up a bribe and avoid criminal charges during the public inquiry into the Winnipeg Police Service headquarters project Wednesday, which he promptly denied.
Michael Finlayson, a lawyer for the City of Winnipeg, asked former Winnipeg chief administrative officer Phil Sheegl to respond to several assertions the city argues took place.
Finlayson suggested a document was manufactured to create a reason why Armik Babakhanians, owner of key headquarters contractor Caspian Construction, made a payment to Sheegl when he was CAO. Joyanne Pursaga has the story.
Phil Sheegl’s testimony marks the first time he has spoken publicly about the headquarters project since leaving city hall in 2013. (Ruth Bonneville / Free Press)
On the bright side
A Brandon University paleontologist has helped identify prehistoric barf that’s nearly 290 million years old — and could be the oldest known example of fossilized vomit from a land-dwelling predator.
Mark MacDougall, an assistant biology professor, was part of a research team that identified 41 bones from at least three animals inside the regurgitated cluster by using CT scans and chemical analysis, the university said in a news release.
Signs point to the vomit coming from a top predator — likely an early relative of mammals — that gulped down a mixed meal that included a small reptile, a fast-moving lizard-like animal and part of a much larger plant-eater, and later coughed it back up. The Brandon Sun has more here.
An artist’s interpretation of the barf a top predator vomited nearly 290 million years ago. (Supplied)
On this date
On Feb. 18, 1960: The Winnipeg Free Press reported Queen Elizabeth gave birth to a boy, her second son. In Washington, the U.S. secretary of state outlined a two-stage disarmament plan that would dissolve all national armies and call for an international force to keep the peace. Three Winnipeg school trustees suggested the board spend as much money on education as it thought necessary without worrying how much the province would provide in grants. 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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