This morning
Forgiveness and friendship: Ricky Strongquill travelled to British Columbia late last month to meet the man who murdered his father. Robert Sand remains in prison for the killing of Manitoba RCMP Const. Dennis Strongquill in December 2001. His son says he’s becoming friends with Sand, “ultimately helping one another to heal.” Mike McIntyre reports. READ MORE
Your forecast: It will be sunny today with a high of 30 C. If you’re heading to the Winnipeg Folk Festival, take note: there’s a 60 per cent chance of showers and a risk of a thunderstorm late this evening and overnight.
In case you missed it
JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSMelissa Mulder (not shown), general manager of Smith Restaurant at The Forks, says her restaurant is taking part in a “No-Straws” campaign during July where they will be providing plastic-free compostable straws and only when requested.
Small items, big problem: The Plastic Free Peg movement has convinced more than 30 local eateries not to give out straws unless patrons ask for them and to give diners compostable straws when they do ask. The initiative is part of a global campaign this month to reduce plastic waste. Conservationists say straws are an often-overlooked type of waste that doesn’t compost. Stefanie Lasuik reports. READ MORE
Better ride to see Bombers: The new bus terminal at Investors Group Field will be open for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ home opener Friday night. It’s designed to accommodate 12,000 riders in a 15-minute period and will hold around 110 buses in its loop on game days. All Park and Ride services will use the new station, which moves transit traffic off Chancellor Matheson Drive and University Crescent. Carol Sanders reports. READ MORE
Strong sales: Vehicle sales in Manitoba were up 10.6 per cent through the end of May compared with the previous year, and local dealers are reporting strong sales last month, too. Only Alberta and Saskatchewan had a greater increase in sales through the first half of 2017. Martin Cash reports. READ MORE
Up next
Committee to vote on contract: City council’s executive policy committee will vote today on the ratification of a negotiated contract agreement with members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 500. The agreement is for a contract until February 2021 and includes wage increases of 1.5 per cent at the end of 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Around the water cooler
JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILESManitoba Federation of Labour President Kevin Rebeck says Bill 28 is unconstitutional and interferes with workers’ rights to free collective bargaining.
Labour lawsuit: A coalition of labour groups is suing the Progressive Conservative government over Bill 28. The statement of claim alleges the Public Services Sustainability Act is unconstitutional and interferes with collective bargaining rights. Nick Martin reports. READ MORE
Ready for Pine Ridge: Manitoba golfer Aaron Cockerill is hoping his familiarity with Pine Ridge Golf Club gives him an advantage when the Players Cup begins this week. He’s hoping to give the hometown crowd something to cheer for. “I want to play as well as I can this week for them. It’s going to be a lot of fun,” says Cockerill, who is the only local product with full-time status on the Mackenzie Tour — PGA Tour Canada. Mike McIntyre reports. READ MORE
Trending now
AMBER BRACKEN / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILESOmar Khadr
Omar Khadr: Trending in Canada after Khadr, who spent 10 years as a prisoner in Guantanamo Bay for war crimes, despite controversy surrounding the military commission that convicted him, is reportedly to receive a $10.5-million settlement from the Canadian government. Khadr has claimed, with some evidence, that he was tortured while imprisoned by the United States in Cuba, and is blind in one eye. READ MORE
On this date
On July 5, 1987: The Winnipeg Free Press reported that Canada Post and striking letter carriers had reached a tentative contract settlement after nearly three weeks of rotating walkouts. Two Winnipeg plastic surgeons pioneered a successful method or reconstruction male genitalia from the skin of a patient’s forearm. Some of U.S. president Ronald Reagan’s aides operated a “parallel government” linked to the theft of briefing materials from former president Jimmy Carter’s 1980 campaign, according to the Miami Herald. READ MORE
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