Free Press Head Start for Feb. 25

Good morning.

Russia has pressed its invasion of Ukraine to the outskirts of the capital, Kyiv, in what The Associated Press said is essentially the largest ground war in Europe since the Second World War. U.S. journalists have said intelligence sources are worried Kyiv could fall within days.

Pope Francis went to the Russian embassy in Rome today to express his concern about the war in a move that has no recent precedent. Popes usually greet ambassadors and heads of state in the Vatican.

Members of Winnipeg’s Ukrainian community gathered at vigils to pray for peace on Thursday.

After the attack began, a man from an eastern part of Ukraine occupied by pro-Russian forces since 2014 stopped at a store on Selkirk Avenue to buy flags.

Melissa Martin’s latest column is on remembering where you were when major world events happen.

A Brandon teacher is worried about her parents in Ukraine, who heard the country’s military destroying nearby bridges to slow Russian aggressors coming from Belarus.

Paris has replaced St. Petersburg as host of the UEFA’s Champions League final after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia will not host any more World Cup events this winter, the International Ski Federation said today.

— Adam Treusch, assignment editor

What’s happening today

CPU.S. President Joe Biden removes his mask during a meeting in Washington in January. (Alex Brandon / The Associated Press files)

Relaxed mask mandate: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will significantly loosen federal mask-wearing guidelines to protect against COVID-19, two sources told The Associated Press. Most Americans will no longer be advised to wear masks in indoor public settings. READ MORE

Set to take stage: The Manitoba Theatre for Young People’s first indoor production in two years debuts tonight. Jill Wilson reports. READ MORE

What’s happening this weekend

Jets centre Mark Scheifele is pressured by Avalanche winger Andre Burakovsky during a game in Denver on Jan. 6. (Jack Dempsey / The Associated Press files)

Clash in Colorado: The Jets will try to halt a three-game losing streak when they face the Colorado Avalanche in Denver at 8 p.m. CT tonight. The Jets face the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday afternoon, ending a four-game road trip. Jeff Hamilton reports on Jets forward Evgeny Svechnikov’s up-and-down season. READ MORE

Rally for Ukraine: A rally urging people to “stand with Ukraine” is happening at the Manitoba legislative grounds on Saturday at 5 p.m. People are encouraged to bring flags. READ MORE

Pandemic protest: A student-led protest calling on the Manitoba government to keep some pandemic health restrictions is scheduled at the legislative grounds on Saturday at noon. READ MORE

Weather

Your forecast: Sunny with a mix of sun and cloud by mid-afternoon, a high of -12 C, wind chill as low as -38, and wind increasing to 30 km/h this morning and gusting to 50 this evening. An extreme cold warning remains in effect. READ MORE

In case you missed it

Winnipeg postal clerk Amber Mann and her union say Canada Post is refusing to accommodate employees in its masking policy. (Supplied)

Mask policy ‘petty’: A mail worker says she was sent home for wearing a KN95 mask. Canada Post’s mask policy came under scrutiny last month after the Free Press reported a mail carrier was sent home because he insisted on wearing a high-quality respirator. Dylan Robertson reports. READ MORE

Dauphin defenceman suspended: The Manitoba Junior Hockey League has suspended a Dauphin Kings player for 18 games for making a racist gesture during a game. Mike Sawatzky reports. READ MORE

Oscar-nominated actress dies: Sally Kellerman — who was nominated for an Academy Award for playing Margaret (Hot Lips) Houlihan in director Robert Altman’s 1970 film M*A*S*H and also starred in the 1986 comedy Back to School — has died at age 84. READ MORE

On this date

On Feb. 25, 1989: The Winnipeg Free Press reported Winnipeg would host the 1991 Grey Cup. A consultant’s reported recommended the province eliminate school tax assistance payments to thousands of elderly tenants. A women’s rights activist decried the arrest of a woman who was forced to spend a night in jail hours after losing her infant son in a house fire. A Winnipeg woman’s 11-year fight to get her sister out of Leningrad ended in victory when Soviet authorities allowed the sister and her family to leave.

Today’s front page

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

Head Start