Free Press Head Start for July 28

Good morning.

Winnipeg police will release more information later today about what they called “a serious crime that occurred overnight.” Traffic on Provencher Boulevard was blocked in both directions between Des Meurons and Langevin streets as of 6:30 a.m. as officers investigated.

Swimmer Penny Oleksiak won bronze in the women’s 200-metre freestyle at the Tokyo Olympics, making her Canada’s most decorated summer Olympian. Canada has nine medals so far in Tokyo. Winnipeg swimmer Kelsey Wog advanced to the semifinals in the women’s 200-metre breaststroke after heats this morning. The event’s semifinals are scheduled for shortly before 10 p.m. CT tonight. Winnipeg’s Leah Kirchmann finished 12th in the women’s cycling time trial.

Actor Bob Odenkirk, who stars in the Breaking Bad spinoff prequel series Better Call Saul, was hospitalized after he collapsed on the show’s set in New Mexico on Tuesday.

A briefing note for Canada’s labour minister says providing free tampons and pads in federally regulated workplaces could cost employers more than $1 million annually, and up to $2.3 million with a 100 per cent take-up rate.

— Adam Treusch, assignment editor

What’s happening today

JESSE BOILY / WINNIPEG FREE PREMcPhillips Station Casino reopens today. (Jesse Boily / Winnipeg Free Press files)

Casinos to reopen: Winnipeg’s casinos — Club Regent and McPhillips Station — and the Shark Club Gaming Centre can open as of this morning. All patrons are required to show proof they are fully immunized. Casinos were one of the few types of businesses still closed under pandemic health orders. READ MORE

Free-agent signings start: The NHL’s free-agent signing period begins at 11 a.m. CT. Sports columnist Mike McIntyre doesn’t expect the Jets to make any major acquisitions. READ MORE

Schmidt to speak: The Jets landed defenceman Nate Schmidt of the Vancouver Canucks in a trade last night after acquiring another defenceman, Brenden Dillon of the Washington Capitals, in a trade Monday. Schmidt will speak to journalists at noon CT today. READ MORE

Weather

Your forecast: A mix of sun and cloud with a high of 29 C, humidex of 33 and peak winds from the north at 40 km/h gusting to 60 starting early this afternoon.

In case you missed it

Police are issuing more tickets to people riding bikes on sidewalks. (Cody Sellar / Winnipeg Free Press)

Twice as many tickets: City police handed out twice as many tickets to cyclists riding on sidewalks last year as they did in 2019. Cody Sellar reports. READ MORE

Case in Crown’s hands: A justice source told the Free Press the results of a decade-long investigation by RCMP into allegations of child sex abuse at the Fort Alexander Indian Residential School have been sitting on the desk of the Crown attorneys’ office for 17 months. Ryan Thorpe reports. READ MORE

Water woes: The City of Morden is asking residents and commercial operators to scale back their water use amid a drought. READ MORE

On this date

On July 28, 1932: The Winnipeg Free Press reported that the United Kingdom offered tariff preferences to the dominions, however the grain trade was not included when Canada requested a small tariff on wheat. In Winnipeg, reaction to Britain’s offer of preferences on Canadian beef, bacon, butter and base metals was positive. Near Surrey, England, Mrs. A.C. Bossom, her son Bruce, and Prince Otto Erbach Fursteneau of Germany were killed when their airplane exploded in the air.

Today’s front page

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

Head Start