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Free Press Head Start for March 20, 2026

Good morning.

Some Winnipeg residents will flock to city hall next week, aiming to oppose a racing-pigeon aviary in their neighbourhood, Joyanne Pursaga reports.

A man who was found dead in his burned-out vehicle near the Canadian Pacific Kansas City rail yard last week was the victim of a homicide, Erik Pindera reports.

— Nadya Pankiw

 

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Your forecast

Cloudy with a 30 per cent chance of flurries this morning followed by a mix of sun and cloud. Risk of freezing drizzle this morning with fog patches dissipating. Wind up to 15 km/h and a high of 3 C, feeling like -7 with the windchill.

What’s happening today

🎸 July Talk is celebrating the 10th anniversary of Touch with a Canadian tour that will stop in at Burton Cummings Theatre, 364 Smith St., tonight at 8 p.m. Winnipeg-based indie-folk singer-songwriter Taylor Jackson will open the show. Tickets are $42.50-$66 at Ticketmaster.

July Talk is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its Juno-winning sophomore album Touch. (Colin Medley photo)

July Talk is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its Juno-winning sophomore album Touch. (Colin Medley photo)

Today’s must-read

With its soft lighting and cosy couches, the classroom hangout at the River East-Transcona School Division high school is supposed to be a safe space for students to decompress.

But that changed one Monday in January.

That day, after the supervising teacher had left the room, a teenage girl says she was sitting on the floor with her back against a love seat when a much larger male student sat down on the cushion directly behind her, boxing her in between his knees, and grabbed her breasts.

The girl’s family says they felt the school treated the allegation like a routine disciplinary matter by downplaying the threat, putting the rights of the accused ahead of those of the victim, and ultimately making the girl responsible for her own safety.

Reporter Jeff Hamilton has the story.

The River East-Transcona School Division has maintained it handled the case appropriately. (Daniel Crump / Free Press files)

The River East-Transcona School Division has maintained it handled the case appropriately. (Daniel Crump / Free Press files)

 

On this date

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Today’s front page

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

 
 

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Top news

 

Dean Pritchard:

Judge sides with Mountie who hit motorcyclist to stop chase

Motorcyclist faces trial on raft of charges Read More

 

Free Press staff:

PUB locks in Hydro rate increases, warns more on way

Manitoba Hydro customers can expect further upward pressure in rates as the Public Utilities Board has finalized a four per cent general rate increase — effective Jan. 1, 2026 — and approved general r... Read More

 
 
 

New in Sports

Mike McIntyre:

Beatdown in Beantown

Arniel looks for answers after Jets lifeless performance to start road trip Read More

 

Mike McIntyre:

‘Just want to continue to play your best as long as you can’

Scheifele’s relentless dedication behind Jets’ star centre’s banner season Read More

 

Joshua Frey-Sam:

Lancers able to answer the bell

Dakota KOs St. Paul’s, to face Maples in final Read More

 

Joshua Frey-Sam:

‘It’s great that I can go and represent and show out’

Winnipeg’s Lasu one of five Canadians on LIU battling in March Madness Read More

 
 

New in Arts and Entertainment

Alison Gillmor:

Cosmic crowd-pleaser

Space odyssey’s optimism, humour and stellar star turn Hail Mary into sure thing Read More

 

Ben Waldman:

Fu Fu Chi Chis bring decade of harmony to first full album

Most choirs sing about God, grace and gratitude: outfitted in century-old house dresses, Winnipeg’s Fu Fu Chi Chi Choir sings heartfelt odes to drunk dials, diss tracks to booty calls and romantic murder ballads with maggot-coated codas. Read More

 
 

New in Business

Malak Abas:

Downtown mulls uncertain impact of Fairmont downtime

As the Fairmont Winnipeg hotel prepares to close its doors this summer for a months-long renovation project, surrounding businesses say they’re waiting to see what the impact will be on Winnipeg’s dow... Read More

 
 

Fresh opinions

Gwynne Dyer:

Why is China launching a new language law?

More than 90 per cent of the country’s 1.4 billion people speak Chinese. Read More

 

Jesse Hajer :

Tough budget situation makes for difficult choices

As Manitoba approaches its 2026 budget, we need to recognize the profound political and economic changes that have occurred since the NDP were elected in 2023, primarily tied to the Trump administration in the U.S. Read More

 

Jessica Scott-Reid:

Winnipeg and ground squirrels

In a move shocking to many local animal lovers, the City of Winnipeg has opted to go ahead with its plan to kill ground squirrels at nine city parks and fields via methods that animal advocates say will cause prolonged pain and suffering. Read More

 
 

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