Free Press Head Start for Jan. 19

Good morning.

Provincial health officials are scheduled to hold their weekly news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic today. The province reported Tuesday that 19 more people had been admitted to hospital with the coronavirus, for a total of 620.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and federal health minister Jean-Yves Duclos will give an update on the pandemic at 10:30 a.m. CT.

The provincial government has reached an agreement to send patients who have waited for more than a year for spinal surgery to get their operation in Fargo, N.D.

The New York attorney general’s office says investigators uncovered evidence the Trump Organization, former U.S. president Donald Trump’s company, used “fraudulent or misleading” asset valuations to get loans and tax benefits.

— Adam Treusch, assignment editor

What’s happening today

SUPPLIED
The development proposed for 514 Wellington Cres. will have eight condo units, with 17 underground parking spaces.

Vote on condo project: The City of Winnipeg’s executive policy committee will vote on a rezoning application for 514 Wellington Cres. Council’s property and development committee overturned an earlier rejection of the application. Martin Cash reports. READ MORE

Sutton Avenue standoff ends: A standoff with city police in North Kildonan that began late Tuesday afternoon ended with a man being taken into custody early this morning. READ MORE

Set to release stats: Statistics Canada will release its inflation reading for December. The figure was 4.7 per cent for October and November, the highest readings in 18 years. The Canadian Press reports. READ MORE

Tensions over Ukraine soar: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Ukraine, one day after the White House warned Russia could launch an attack on the former Soviet republic at any time. The Associated Press reports. READ MORE

President on past year: U.S. President Joe Biden will hold a rare news conference on his 365th day in office. The Associated Press reports. READ MORE

Weather

Maddy Hunter, three, shovels the sidewalk in the West End after a big snowfall in Winnipeg. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)

Your forecast: Cloudy with a 30 per cent chance of more flurries until later this morning, with a high of -21 C, wind chill as low as -34 and peak winds from the northwest at 20 km/h gusting to 40 beginning later this morning. People were busy shovelling on Tuesday and might have more to do today. READ MORE

In case you missed it

Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal in front of Winnipeg Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey (44), goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) and left wing Kyle Connor (81) in overtime. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Road trip starts with loss: The Jets lost to the Capitals in overtime to start a four-game road trip. “Both goalies played well,” Jets forward Pierre-Luc Dubois said after the game. “But it definitely feels like a point dropped instead of a point gained.” Mike McIntyre reports from Washington. READ MORE

Fashion figure dies: Influential fashion journalist and former Vogue creative director and editor-at-large André Leon Talley has died at 73. READ MORE

‘Steeper mountain to climb’: A Winnipeg lawyer who once represented an airman disciplined for refusing to be inoculated against anthrax says military members who won’t get vaccinated against COVID-19 are in for a tougher fight. The Canadian Press reports. READ MORE

Federal funding for search: Dakota Tipi First Nation and Ottawa have signed an agreement to guide potential unmarked gravesite investigations at five former residential school sites in Manitoba. Kevin Rollason reports. READ MORE

Possible heritage protection: The former St. Boniface police station might soon be designated a historical resource. Joyanne Pursaga reports. READ MORE

On this date

On Jan. 19, 1944: The Winnipeg Free Press reported Canadian troops had captured a hill 1.5 kilometres from San Tommaso, on the Adriatic front, but faced stiff resistance when German forces counterattacked. In Winnipeg, a two-year-old boy was found dead on the floor of a kitchenette by his mother; injuries on the boy’s body convinced police he had been murdered, and a full investigation was underway.

Today’s front page

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