Crisis at the Capitol
CPPolice move a protester near the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday night after a day of rioting. (John Minchillo / The Associated Press)
President promises ‘orderly transition’: One day after a mob of rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol in an insurrection that drew condemnation from around the world, U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged his electoral loss for the first time. After Trump’s Twitter account was locked for posting messages that appeared to justify the insurrection, his social-media manager tweeted a statement from Trump early today. “Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition” on Jan 20, the tweets state. “While this represents the end of the greatest first term in presidential history, it’s only the beginning of our fight to Make America Great Again!” READ MORE
Congress confirms Biden’s win: Trump’s statement came shortly after Democrat Joe Biden’s victory in November’s presidential election was officially confirmed in a joint session of Congress early today. Separate debates in both chambers on an objection to Arizona’s electoral votes were halted Wednesday afternoon because of the rioting. After reconvening last night, another objection was made to Pennsylvania’s votes after midnight local time, and it was voted down, as was the first objection. The majority of GOP members of the House of Representatives supported the objections, along with a small number of senators. The Associated Press reports. READ MORE
Four died amid chaos: A curfew in Washington ended at 6 a.m. local time. D.C. police said four Trump supporters died during the occupation of the Capitol and 52 people were arrested by their members, half of them at the Capitol Building. A woman was fatally shot by U.S. Capitol Police inside the building, while three other people died in “medical emergencies.” The Washington Post identified the woman who was shot as 35-year-old Ashli Babbitt, an air force veteran. She had expressed support for Trump and the QAnon conspiracy theory on social media. READ MORE
Amendment explained: There were news reports Wednesday that some members of Trump’s cabinet were considering whether to use the 25th Amendment to strip him of his powers, making Vice-President Mike Pence acting president. Here’s a CNN article explaining how that would work. READ MORE
A history of violence: This is not the first time the Capitol has been attacked. Here’s a look back at incidents of violence at the seat of the U.S. legislative branch. The Associated Press reports. READ MORE
Weather
Your forecast: Increasingly cloudy with a high of -1 C, wind chill as low as -11 this morning and wind from the south at 25 km/h. There is a 30 per cent chance of flurries beginning early Friday morning.
COVID-19 coverage
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSCode-red restrictions have cost Caitlin Bousfield (left) and Sam Rivait, co-owners of Good Fortune Barber Shop, months of business. Premier Brian Pallister is said to be facing pressure from business groups and eyeing a reduction to COVID-19 restrictions by the beginning of February.
Pallister pushing to relax rules: Tory sources told the Free Press that Premier Brian Pallister wants to ease pandemic restrictions by the beginning of February. One government official said “a lot of it has to do with the pressure that he’s been facing from commerce and business groups.” Temur Durrani reports. READ MORE
Vaccines for First Nations: Manitoba will begin shipping 5,300 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to First Nations today, the provincial government announced this morning. READ MORE
Learning loss: Maggie Macintosh reports on how assessment scores in Manitoba schools suggest elementary literacy skills have suffered amid the pandemic. READ MORE
PM, premiers to meet: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will convene a virtual meeting with Canada’s premiers today. Speeding up COVID-19 vaccinations is among the items on the agenda. READ MORE
Anniversary of downed flight
People gather on Jan. 10, 2020, at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg for a vigil organized by the University of Manitoba Iranian Students Association (UMISA) for the Winnipeg victims killed in a plane crash in Iran. Victims from left to right are: Forough Khadem, Bahareh Hajesfandiari (41) Anisa Sadeghi (10) and Mohammad Sadeghi, Amir Hossein Ghorbani (21), Farzaneh Naderi (38) and Noojan Sadr (11), Amirhossien Ghasemi (32), Farhad Niknam (44), and Mojgan Daneshmand, Pedram Mousavi, Daria Mousavi (14) and Dorina Mousavi (9). THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
The lives lost: One year ago, shortly before 9 p.m. CT, Iran mistakenly shot down Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752. All 176 people on board were killed, including 138 with ties to Canada. The passenger jet, bound for Kyiv, was struck by two missiles fired by the Iranian army shortly after takeoff from Tehran and crashed at about 6:18 a.m. local time on Jan. 8, 2020. Here is a story on some of the victims. READ MORE
‘A negotiating process’: Ralph Goodale, Canada’s special adviser on the incident, is rejecting Iran’s offer to pay $150,000 to the families of those killed. Goodale, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other government members are set to meet with the loved ones of victims in a private virtual event today. READ MORE
On this date
On Jan. 7, 1988: The Winnipeg Free Press reported that an inner-city resident opened her home to fellow tenants, including a sick infant, when their building’s boiler broke down; 12 adults and six children took shelter in her basement suite, which was kept warm by hot water pipes running to the adjacent laundry room. Manitoba NDP premier Howard Pawley called on federal Progressive Conservative health minister Jake Epp to explain his role in the awarding of a contract to produce CF-18 aircraft to Canadair in Montreal rather than the Winnipeg-based Bristol Aerospace Ltd. consortium.
Today’s front page
Get the full story: Read today’s e-edition of the Winnipeg Free Press READ MORE
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