Good morning!
Your forecast: Remember that classic Looney Tunes episode where Bugs Bunny is relishing his morning shower under a waterfall? He’s singing April Showers. HE IS NOT SINGING FEBRUARY SHOWERS!! So, what the heck is going on out there? Rain has been drizzling since about 5 a.m. as the temperature reached 0 C, making for some slippery streets and sidewalks, and the showers will likely continue this afternoon. The high today is 3 C. Tonight, the rain turns to flurries, the wind picks up and the temperature drops to -7 C. On Saturday, expect a mainly cloudy day with a 30 per cent chance of flurries and a steady temperature of -8 C, while Sunday will be sunny with a daytime high of -11 C.
In case you missed it
Elizabeth Lafantaisie
Life in prison: On the fifth anniversary of the death of Elizabeth Lafantaisie, 73, her killer, Thomas Brine, 29, was sentenced Thursday to life imprisonment with no chance of parole for 25 years. Brine, found guilty of first-degree murder Wednesday, had sexually assaulted and strangled the senior citizen in a parkade in February 2011. After the verdict, the families of the victim and her killer spoke for a few minutes and finally embraced. READ MORE
Scouts volunteer guilty: Former Scouts Canada volunteer Larry Kiska, 46, will find out next month how much time he will spend in prison for having a sexual relationship in May 2012 to December 2013 with a 16-year-old girl he met in the program. The provincial court put over the sentencing decision until March. READ MORE
Power struggle: Manitoba Hydro International, a subsidiary of the Crown corporation Manitoba Hydro, is in a battle with Nigeria over what the African nation calls “unwholesome” practices regarding a power contract. MHI has a three-year deal to manage the Transmission Co. of Nigeria, but the local government claims it isn’t being paid in the country’s national currency, the naira, which is considered a criminal offence there. READ MORE
Up next
Wayne Glowacki / Winnipeg Free Press filesPolice Chief Devon Clunis
Before the start line: The event is still more than two months away but supporters of the 12th annual Winnipeg Police Service half marathon want Winnipeggers to start thinking about the big event. Today, Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman, WPS Chief Devon Clunis and Canadian Cancer Society (Manitoba) executive director Mark McDonald join race committee member Robert Smith for a fundraising kickoff event today at 11 a.m. at the CCS office, 193 Sherbrook St. Joanne Schiewe, who is currently battling brain cancer, will also be on hand. She is half-marathon participant who raised $24,000 a year ago.
How sweet it is: Landing tickets would be sweet, indeed, if you’re a big fan of James Taylor. They go on sale today at 10 a.m. online at ticketmaster.ca, or at the MTS Centre box office and all Ticketmaster locations, or by calling 1-855-985-5000. Ticket prices range from $35 to $95 plus fees. Don’t see this legend alone — you’ve got a friend to go, too. See what we did there?
Around the water cooler
Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free PressFather and grandfather, Ray Smylski, volunteers to drop off flyers containing information on missing teen, Cooper Nemeth, along Enfield Cresent Thursday afternoon.
Social media impacts search: Free Press columnist Jen Zoratti takes a look at how strangers are stepping up to help family and friends in the search for 17-year-old Cooper Nemeth, missing since Sunday, and how social media has been both helping and hindering the effort. READ MORE
Epic comeback… almost: Down 3-0 late in the first period and 4-1 early in the third, the Winnipeg Jets stormed back with four straight goals to take a 5-4 lead over the hosting Tampa Bay Lightning. But alas, the visitors fell 6-5 in a shootout. But more than the loss itself, people are talking about a couple of checks by Tampa Bay defenceman Anton Stralman, one of which looked to be directed at the head of Winnipeg centre Bryan Little. Jets coach was irate and was later ejected from the game for verbally abusing the refs. READ MORE
New low-cost airline: Vancouver-based Canada Jetlines Ltd. has made a move to get its ultra-low-cost carrier service launched, and Winnipeg travels could benefit. The CEO of the company is hoping to clear all hurdles and be selling tickets and flying sometime this year. Jim Scott said Canada Jetlines’ fares will be, on average, 40 per cent lower than current baseline fares. READ MORE
Trending now
JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILESExpecting vendors of alcohol to compensate for societal harm is akin to expecting fast-food chains to help remedy obesity.
#NationalDrinkWineDay: So, apparently Thursday, Feb. 18 was National Drink Wine Day. Did you celebrate with a glass of Chardonnay, Merlot or raspberry Zinfandel? Perhaps, several? A website dedicated to the day explains it’s “to spread the love and health benefits of wine. Wine has played an important role in history, religion and relationships. We embrace the positive benefits of wine such as new friends, reduced risk of heart disease and the enhancement of food and life.”
#TypeOfPeopleIAvoid: Folks on Twitter have many suggestions on who to steer clear of, including “People who can’t accept that Pokémon is awesome,” “People who put the milk in first when making a cup of tea,” and “Men’s Rights Activists.”
On this date
On Feb. 19, 1966: The Winnipeg Central Heating company said it must cease operation at the end of the season or face bankruptcy. Fritz Schneider, a 44-year-old Winnipeg mechanic, said he was one of only two survivors of a group of five Germans who were supposed to drop a bomb on New York City during the Second World War. This was the first time the story of the plot to attack New York had been revealed. Winnipeggers woke to a third chilling day, with overnight lows reaching -44, breaking the previous record set 86 years earlier; the temperature was also 50 degrees lower than the temperature on the same date a year earlier.
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