Free Press Head Start for Jan. 12

Good morning.

Two sisters who have have limb girdle muscular dystrophy and who rely on home care services supported in part by the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority are concerned they won’t be able to afford the care they need. They’ve now started a fundraiser, since funding hasn’t increased as their conditions have worsened. Erik Pindera has the story.

And local and national student leaders disagree about the legitimacy of a recent University of Manitoba Students’ Union vote that showed its members want to cut ties with the Canadian Federation of Students. Maggie Macintosh reports.

— David Fuller

Your forecast

Mainly cloudy with fog dissipating this morning, with a high of -7 C and a low of -12.

What’s happening today

The Winnipeg Jets face the Sabres in Buffalo, starting at 6 p.m. CT. Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff may be ready to make some big moves as the NHL trade deadline looms; Mike McIntyre has the details.

Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press files)

Today’s must-read

An Alberta company believed to be purchasing the 287-unit non-profit Lions Place housing complex in Winnipeg has a history of hiking rents and mismanaging its properties. Carol Sanders has the story.

Lions Place property in Winnipeg. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press files)

On the bright side

The Indian government has approved $2.3 billion to support the production, use and export of green hydrogen, which is produced through the electrolysis of water, powered by electricity generated from renewable sources of energy, rather than through use of fossil fuels. The Associated Press reports.

On this date

On Jan. 12, 1961: The Winnipeg Free Press reported Brandon Packers owners Hugh Paton and H. Hubert Cox were arrested in Toronto and would be brought to Manitoba to face a charge of stealing $400,000; attorney general Steling Lyon said the charge followed an RCMP investigation, which arose from a judicial inquiry into a Brandon Packers strike the previous year. Winnipeg police chief Robert Taft defended the practice of keeping police informants’ names secret even though they were paid with city funds. Search our archives for more here.

Today’s front page

Get the full story: Read today’s e-edition of the Free Press.

Top news

Joyanne Pursaga:

Mayor, councillor hope downtown library can resume services next week

One month after Millennium Library closed due to a stabbing death on its main floor, two elected officials still hope it can reopen sometime next week. Read More

Danielle Da Silva and Carol Sanders:

‘Moving in the right direction’

Premier Heather Stefanson defends her government’s record on health care, dismisses predictions Tories headed for election defeat in wide-ranging interview with Free Press Read More

Dean Pritchard:

Two years house arrest for fake immigration consultant

Restaurant owner profited from illegally representing applicants, falsifying documents Read More

New in Sports

Mike Sawatzky:

Rose returns to action

U of W volleyball player back on court after suffering gruesome injuries Read More

Staff:

Pair skaters Kemp and Elizarov have world championships in sights

The worlds await Ava Kemp and Yohnatan Elizarov, or so it would seem. Read More

Taylor Allen:

Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame names class of 2023

Family affair for Minnedosa’s Orrs Read More

New in Arts and Entertainment

Ben Waldman:

Setting the stage

Without Gary Plouffe’s work in the fly gallery, audiences at Into the Woods wouldn’t see the forest or the trees Read More

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson:

What’s up

Valley of the Birdtail book launch Read More

Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press:

Jeff Beck, guitar god who influenced generations, dies at 78

NEW YORK (AP) — Jeff Beck, a guitar virtuoso who pushed the boundaries of blues, jazz and rock ‘n’ roll, influencing generations of shredders along the way and becoming known as the gui... Read More

New in Business

Martin Cash:

Car sharing flying high

Peg City breaks out of the red, adds profits, cars and members to its fold Read More

Martin Cash:

Turo sets sights on Manitoba, in talks with MPI

In other car-sharing news, Turo, a mobile app company that has created Canada’s largest car sharing marketplace, is in discussion with Manitoba Public Insurance to launch that service in Manitoba. Read More

Danielle Da Silva:

Manitoba defends loan to bus maker New Flyer after layoffs

The Manitoba government says protecting local jobs is the priority as it hammers out the terms of a $50-million loan to local manufacturer NFI Group following a recent round of layoffs. Economic Development Minister Cliff Cullen said he was not aware the Transcona zero-emission bus maker had laid off 30 employees at its New Flyer subsidiary on Dec. 22, one day before he joined NFI Group chief executive officer Paul Soubry to announce the taxpayer-supported loan. “Our focus has been on the bigger picture,” Cullen said. “We’re optimistic once New Flyer gets through that we’ll be able to grow the work force here in Manitoba.” Read More

Fresh opinions

Editorial:

Paid sick leave needed as viruses persist

Manitoba’s continuing refusal to consider the pressing need for a paid sick-leave law has become an exercise in bad timing. Read More

Dan Lett:

Millennium Library blueprint must balance safety, accessibility

Before Christmas, in the wake of the horrific stabbing death on the main floor of the Millennium Library, city officials estimated the flagship facility would reopen by mid-January. Read More

Tom Simms:

Financialization of housing must be confronted

Government housing policy preferences are based on values, the most fundamental being the extent to which housing is viewed as a right, or as a commodity. Read More

Head Start