Good morning!
Your forecast: This weekend, the highs aren’t all that high, while the lows are just too darned low. Environment Canada is calling for a mostly sunny Friday with a daytime high of 2 C in the afternoon. Tonight, the temperature falls to -12 C. On a cloudy Saturday, there’s a 40 per cent chance of morning flurries, and some really high winds blowing later in the day – with gusts 50 km/h to 70 km/h. The daytime high Saturday is 5 C and the overnight low is -2 C with rain or snow. Expect periods of snow Sunday, a daytime high of 0 C and an overnight low of -12 C into a brisk but sunny Monday.
In case you missed it
JEFF CHIU / THE ASSOCIATED PRESSWinnipeg Jets center Alexander Burmistrov (6) skates in front of San Jose Sharks defenceman Brenden Dillon (4) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Thursday.
Jets bite Sharks: For those who hit the hay before the Jets game was over, you’ll either be pleased or peeved on the outcome, depending on your point of view. Winnipeg’s NHL club, down 3-1 in the second period, rallied for a 5-4 triumph over the host San Jose Sharks in a contest that finished after 12 a.m. CDT. Dustin Byfuglien netted the winning goal with just 10 seconds left in regulation time for his fourth point of the night. That’s three wins in a row for Winnipeg (34-39-8), which moved up to sixth-last place in the league standings but lessens its chances of a top pick in the summer entry draft. READ MORE
Mental health forum: An engaged crowd grilled candidates with some pointed questions Thursday night at a forum organized by the Partners for Community Mental Health. For many in the audience, the topic hits too close to home. Bonnie Bricker the mom of a Reid Bricker — man who suffered me mental health issues, attempted suicide multiple times and has now been missing for nearly half a year – was the first to speak, urging the health care system to get its act together for the start committing resources to the problem. READ MORE
Big change at historic corner: In three years’ time, a 40-storey apartment building will likely be towering over Portage and Main. But that’s not all, said Artis REIT president and CEO Armin Martens on Thursday. The plan is to also build a new five-star hotel at the corner in the not-too-distant future. READ MORE
Up next
WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSManitoba RCMP spokesman Sgt. Bert Paquet speaks to reporters Thursday morning near Dakota Tipi First Nation, where police are still searching for a suspect involved in shootings that injured two people.
A community in distress: A member of the Dakota Tipi First Nation council has called a press conference today to discuss the trying conditions in the community that likely sparked a double shooting there Thursday. The event is scheduled for 11 a.m. in the band office board room, according to Karl Stone. RCMP say a man and woman were shot and are in serious condition in hospital. A 31-year-old man, who is also related to the victims, was arrested.
Annual spring feast: Today at noon, the Winnipeg Police Service’s District 3 community support unit hosts the 20th annual Spring Feast at the Indian & Metis Friendship Centre, 45 Robinson St. Helping out are students and staff from R.B. Russell School’s culinary program. Police members from the RCMP, CN and CP rail companies and Treaty Three police services will also host with the WPS. Kids from area schools will entertain with traditional dances. In the past, the feast has served 700 people.
On the campaign trail: Progressive Conservative Leader Brian Pallister releases the party’s platform early today at Smith Restaurant, Inn at the Forks, at 75 Forks Market Road. The event is slated for 8:30 a.m. Meanwhile, NDP Leader Greg Selinger makes an “affordability announcement” today at 10:30 a.m. at 1624 Jefferson Ave., and then speaks at the Manitoba Trucking Association annual general meeting at noon at the RBC Convention Centre. The Liberal Party hasn’t indicated its campaign plans for the day, yet.
Around the water cooler
WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSPC Leader Brian Pallister.
Blue period: A Winnipeg Free Press / CTV telephone poll conducted by Probe Research shows almost half of the voters in Manitoba are getting ready to mark an ‘X’ next to a Tory candidate’s name April 19. The Progressive Conservatives lead at 46 per cent, followed by the NDP at 28 per cent for the NDP, with the Liberals at 20 per cent, and the Greens at six per cent. READ MORE
State of emergency: The Children’s Hospital declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, meaning it can invoke Article 10 of the collective agreement with nurses and redeploy staff and change schedules. The situation is thanks to a “perfect storm” of patients with severe cases of flu, respiratory distress syndrome and a spike in the number of newborns needing intensive care. READ MORE
Trending now
CPFree Press columnist Ben Macphee-Sigurdson reviews nine new beers
#NationalBeerDay: It’s more an American thing, but it’s trending north of the border as well. April 7 was, in fact, National Beer Day, which actually has some historical roots and wasn’t concocted by some college kids after writing their final exams. It is closely linked to the end of Prohibition (the 1920s and 30s) when it was considered illegal in the U.S. to consume, produce or distribute alcoholic beverages – until the ban was lifted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on April 7, 1933 by way of the Cullen-Harrison Act.
#IdolFinale: It’s the end of the road for ‘American Idol’ after 15 seasons, and the show went out in fine form Thursday night with a dozen performers — some now famous and some not so much – hitting the stage. Carrie Underwood, Jordin Sparks and Fantasia were on hand for the crowning of Trent Harmon, the show’s final champion. READ MORE
On this date
On April 8, 1988: The Winnipeg Free Press reported that in the upcoming provincial election, the Liberals were closing in on the Tories’ lead, with the parties’ support among decided voters at 37 per cent and 43 per cent, respectively. The NDP remained in third place at 19 per cent among decided voters. In Winnipeg, an inquest found that at least two police officers had their guns drawn in a confrontation in which aboriginal leader J. J. Harper was shot and killed.
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