Free Press Head Start for Feb. 23

Good morning.

China — an ally of Russia — today accused the U.S. of creating “fear and panic” over the crisis in Ukraine. The outcome is seen as having ramifications for China’s threat to invade Taiwan, its border dispute with India and its claims in the South China and East China seas. Canada announced plans to deploy hundreds of troops to eastern Europe and impose new sanctions against Russia. A Free Press editorial says the West must respond to Moscow’s aggression. Manitoba’s Ukrainian community is getting more worried as the crisis continues. A Winnipeg woman was among the Mennonite Central Committee staff members pulled from Ukraine.

Plowing of Winnipeg’s residential streets will begin this morning (not yesterday, as stated in Tuesday’s Head Start bulletin. Oops.) A residential parking ban will take effect at 7 a.m.

Gary Brooker of English band Procol Harum, who sang the enduring 1967 hit A Whiter Shade of Pale, has died at 76. Mark Lanegan, a key player in the early Seattle grunge scene as the singer of the Screaming Trees, has died at 57.

— Adam Treusch, assignment editor

What’s happening today

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSThe protest scene along Broadway on Tuesday night. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press)

Deadline for protesters: So-called “freedom convoy” protesters say they will comply with a 5 p.m. deadline given by police to remove their vehicles from an area across from the Manitoba Legislative Building. The protest against pandemic restrictions began Feb. 4. One of the co-organizers said protesters will maintain a presence inside Memorial Park. Chris Kitching reports. READ MORE

Allard wants audit: Coun. Matt Allard will introduce a motion calling for an audit for the city’s public works department at the Riel Community Committee meeting amid an ongoing investigative series by the Free Press. Ryan Thorpe reports. READ MORE

COVID-19 news conference: The Manitoba government will hold its weekly news conference on the pandemic. The province said Tuesday that COVID-19 hospitalizations decreased by 30 from Friday. READ MORE

Seeing Stars: The Jets will face the Dallas Stars at 6:30 p.m. in the second of four consecutive road games. Jeff Hamilton reports from Texas. READ MORE

Weather

Russell Kernaghan runs in Assiniboine Park on Tuesday. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press)

Your forecast: Sunny with a high of -20 C, wind chill as low as -42 and wind from the west and later the southwest at 15 km/h. An extreme cold warning remains in effect. READ MORE

In case you missed it

Rooster Town in March 1959. (Gerry Cairns / Winnipeg Free Press Collection, Archives of Manitoba)

Possible new name for park: The city is considering a request to change the name of Pan Am Pool Park to Rooster Town Park to honour Métis families displaced decades ago. Joyanne Pursaga reports. READ MORE

Preparing for D.C. protests: The Pentagon has approved the deployment of 700 unarmed National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., as it prepares for trucker convoy protests beginning next week. The Associated Press reports. READ MORE

Found dead in the cold: The 31-year-old woman found dead in The Pas on Monday morning was Ashley Kematch, who left behind a son. “It’s terrible. It’s such a tragic loss of a young woman who had her whole life in front of her,” Mayor Herb Jaques said. Cody Sellar reports. READ MORE

On this date

On Feb. 23, 1959: The Winnipeg Free Press reported the federal government faced sharp questions from the Opposition over its decision to scrap the Avro Arrow jet interceptor program without making plans to cope with the consequent dislocation in the economy. A tip from the wife of a former Avro employee who lost his job because of the government’s cancellation led to the RCMP searching prime minister John Diefenbaker’s offices for a suspected time bomb. The Soviet Union threatened to occupy Iran if the latter signed a new defence alliance with the U.S.

Today’s front page

Get the full story: Read today’s e-edition of the WInnipeg Free Press READ MORE

Head Start