Good morning!
On the rails: While sitting motionless in your vehicle at a rail crossing waiting for a train that inches along without heed for your busy schedule, you have perhaps pondered whether rail lines should be moved out of Winnipeg. We have two stories today on that topic. In a major feature titled On A Bed Of Rails, reporter Randy Turner examines the past, present and future of the relocation debate. And chronicling a new development on Thursday, Mia Rapson reports how the Pallister government has halted a $400,000 study into rail relocation that was ordered by the previous NDP government READ MORE
Your forecast: Winnipeg Goldeyes have been lucky on the diamond, winning a playoff berth, but not so lucky with the weather. The first game of their playoff series was rained out Tuesday, the Goldeyes lost Game 1 on Thursday evening, and a makeup game tonight is also threatened by rain. Environment Canada predicts a 60 per cent chance of showers this morning and risk of a thunderstorm today, with strong winds gusting to 40 km/h, and a high of 19C. READ MORE
In case you missed it
TWITTERMichael Slobodian, 45, died Wednesday when he collided with dump truck on St. Anne’s Road near the Perimeter Highway while cycling.
RIP Slobo: The fact that a good teacher can make a difference was proven by the life of Michael “Slobo” Slobodian, 45, a teacher at Collège St. Norbert Collegiate who was killed Wednesday while cycling. More than 40 messages from his students are assembled on the Free Press webside in a Storify feature. Here’s one: “I switched 2 classes, took a grade 11 class, and removed a class from my schedule just to have Slobo as my teacher.” @lorh_emily READ MORE
Replacing the bins: City hall was asked Thursday by a civic committee to consider replacing garbage and recycling bins that are stolen or destroyed by vandals Apparently, the bins are considered convenient transportation by thieves who use the bins to cart off stolen goods. Currently, only bins damaged by Emterra crews are replaced at no charge. READ MORE
Up next
BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSWinnipeg police have seen a drop in revenue from photo radar tickets.
Police need revenue: The Winnipeg police board meeting today will address an expected budget shortfall due to overall revenues being down more than 33 per cent from last year, primarily from a drop in photo enforcement revenue. Contributing to an overall projected deficit are additional costs to the new Graham Avenue headquarters and a required adjustment of $3.7 million from the city portion of pension contributions.
A roar overhead: Air Force aircraft will conduct a flyby over the legislature building today at around 11:45 a.m. as part of the 8th annual Tri-Government Bus Pull opening ceremonies. The competition will see teams from municipal, provincial and federal governments huff and puff as they pull a bus, raising money for United Way.
Around the water cooler
KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILESFormer Winnipeg Blue Bomber QB Dieter Brock, seen here in 1981, played 10 seasons with the Bombers from 1974 to 1983.
Same-sex marriage: Should a marriage commissioner have to wed a same-sex couple if it goes against his Christian beliefs? That tricky issue was aired in a Winnipeg courtroom on Thursday in a case that pits religious freedom against human rights. Free Press reporter Katie May details both sides of the issue.
Balking at Brock: The Blue Bombers are honoring former QB Dieter Brock at Saturday’s game, but Free Press sports guys Steve Lyons and Paul Wiecek are not gushing with excitement. In a webside feature called SAY WHAT?!, Wiecek opines: “I just remember a whole lot of disappointment when Brock was Winnipeg’s QB and how the team finally won in 1984 only after they traded him away for Tom Clements.” READ MORE
Trending now
From left, Leonard Nimoy as Commander Spock, William Shatner as Captain Kirk, DeForest Kelley as Doctor McCoy and James Doohan as Commander Scott.
#tiff16: the Toronto International Film Festival, one of the largest film festivals in the world, and Randall King takes a look at a film by local collective MarkusMilosIanFabian, Imitations, which premièrs today. READ MORE
#startrek50: 50 years ago this past week, on Sept. 8, 1966, the Starship Enterprise and its iconic crew flew into our living rooms for the first time Doug Speirs takes a look at some facts you may not know. READ MORE
On this date
On Sept. 9, 1907: Riots rocked Vancouver; eight bodies were recovered after a bridge disaster in Quebec; and a precarious cliff house was destroyed in San Francisco. READ MORE
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