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Free Press Head Start for Nov. 19, 2025

Good morning.

Francophone teachers have been asked to limit homework wherever possible and promote nightly reading routines in response to the rise of artificial intelligence. Maggie Macintosh reports.

The co-owner of a Corydon bakery that closed its doors amid accusations of mismanagement is now suing tie-dye maven and former business partner Pepper Foster for nearly $200,000. Malak Abas has the story.

— David Fuller

 

 

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Your forecast

Mainly cloudy, with a 30 per cent chance of showers this afternoon. High 5 C. UV index 1 or low.

What’s happening today

Canada’s national public alerting system is scheduled to be tested across the country today.

A test message and tone from Alert Ready will be broadcast on television, radio and compatible wireless devices. The Canadian Press has more here.


Everyone knows the goal of comedy open mics: earn as many laughs as you can. While it also shines a light on the city’s funnier storytellers, the Winnipeg Story Slams have a broader focus. The bittersweet, the strange, the (tragi)comic — all types of stories are welcome.

The Grand Slam marks the end of Winnipeg Story Slam’s first full season, bringing together 10 past slam winners for a “championship showdown.” Each storyteller gets 10 minutes, rather than the usual five, while a new group of judges awards cash prizes for winners. Royal Albert Arms, 48 Albert St., tonight at 7 p.m. Tickets $20 at the door or online.

Nicole Dube is the organizer of the Winnipeg Story Slam. (Supplied)

Nicole Dube is the organizer of the Winnipeg Story Slam. (Supplied)

Today’s must-read

The Manitoba government has vowed to make the health-care system safer by boosting staff-to-patient ratios and eliminating mandatory overtime for nurses, in a throne speech packed with promises on the economy and public safety.

The speech, read by Lt.-Gov. Anita Neville, includes plans for a Manitoba-wide crackdown on meth, new rules to stop “unfair” rent increases, four new schools, 402 new child-care spaces in Winnipeg and Brandon, and a renewed commitment to balance the budget by 2027 without raising taxes.

“We’ve got all these great ideas on health care and the economy and we’ve got to execute those while still being responsible with spending, growing the economy and being balanced when it comes comes to revenue — that’s a very narrow path,” Premier Wab Kinew told reporters. Chris Kitching Carol Sanders have the story.

Here are some highlights from Tuesday’s speech.

As Gabrielle Piché reports, a $3-billion combustion turbine facility is proposed for Westman as Manitoba Hydro projects power shortages in the coming years. Read more here.

Read columnist Tom Brodbeck’s take on the throne speech.

For the first time in the province’s history, the Manitoba government published its throne speech in three languages: English, French and Anishinaabemowin. (Mike Deal / Free Press)

For the first time in the province’s history, the Manitoba government published its throne speech in three languages: English, French and Anishinaabemowin. (Mike Deal / Free Press)

On the bright side

The world could use more mitzvah — more good deeds.

“So many people feel powerless, thinking nothing they do makes a difference,” Sharon Graham, past president of the Winnipeg section of the National Council of Jewish Women Canada, said. “But they are wrong. Every good deed, no matter how small, does make a difference.”

While people can do a good deed any time, she is particularly excited for Mitzvah Day this Sunday, when the Winnipeg section is doing Pack a Purse for the Fort Garry Women’s Resource Centre. John Longhurst has more here.

On this date

On Nov. 19, 1948: The Winnipeg Free Press reported the United Nations general assembly overwhelmingly rejected a Soviet proposal that the Big Five powers cut their armaments by one-third within one year. In China, Nationalist planes and tanks attacked fleeing Communist forces on three sides of Suchow, which was hailed as a victory ending any present threat of a Communist advance to the Yangzte River and Nanking. A group representing voters in Norwood charged that a $250,000 bylaw was defeated, and not approved, on the night of the St. Boniface elections on Nov. 12. Search our archives for more here.

Today’s front page

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

 
 

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Top news

Nicole Buffie:

Thompson hospital nurses voting on measure to ‘grey-list’ facility over safety concerns

Unionized nurses in northern Manitoba will vote on whether to “grey list” their workplace because of persistent safety concerns and staffing issues. Read More

 

Joyanne Pursaga:

Two camps cleared just as new city policy takes effect

One day after the city started enforcing its new ban on homeless encampments in many areas, including at schools and playgrounds, the city said two small sites had been removed. On Tuesday, city offic... Read More

 

Dean Pritchard:

Bartender testifies accused killer threatened her after fatal fight with restaurant owner

A woman who confronted accused killer Curtis Dalebozik moments after a violent street fight that left restaurant owner Kyriakos Vogiatzakis dead or dying on the ground said Dalebozik threatened to do... Read More

 

Stephen Groves, The Associated Press:

Congress acts swiftly to force release of Epstein files, and Trump agrees to sign bill

WASHINGTON (AP) — Both the House and Senate acted decisively Tuesday to pass a bill to force the Justice Department to publicly release its files on the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a remar... Read More

 
 
 

New in Sports

Mike McIntyre:

Scheifele shines in milestone game

Jets No. 1 centre notches three assists on night he becomes franchise leader in games played Read More

 

Taylor Allen:

‘I wanted to be here’

Bombers’ O’Shea keen to continue building ‘special’ franchise Read More

 

Ken Wiebe:

Blue Jackets’ Mateychuk making his Manitoba debut

Dominion City product honoured to represent community in the NHL Read More

 
 

New in Arts and Entertainment

Eva Wasney:

Your moment of baking zen

A little bit of science and a lot of patience are the only magic required Read More

 

Ben Waldman:

What goes around, swims around for new Snakeskin Jacket show

If you ask Winnipeg actor-director Jane Walker which Canadian artist has most profoundly challenged her theatrical expectations, there’s no competition: the answer is Daniel MacIvor. Read More

 
 

New in Business

Aaron Epp:

WestJet maps Winnipeg-Reykjavik route

‘More than convenience — it is about connection’: weekly direct flight to Icelandic capital from Manitoba begins in June Read More

 

Sammy Hudes, The Canadian Press:

CMHC reports annual pace of housing starts dropped 17 per cent in October

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says the annual pace of housing starts in October fell 17 per cent compared with September. The national housing agency said the seasonally adjusted annual rate of ho... Read More

 

Michelle Chapman, The Associated Press:

Cloudflare resolves outage that impacted thousands, ChatGPT, X and more

A widely used Internet infrastructure company said that it has resolved an issue that led to outages impacting users of everything from ChatGPT and the online game, “League of Legends,” to the N... Read More

 
 

Fresh opinions

Editorial:

A tick with a new kind of health concern

Sometimes, big stories start small. A man in New Jersey has died of complications from a tick bite. The culprit? A lone star tick, one that’s often recognized by a white star-shaped spot on its back. Read More

 

Erna Buffie:

A bad budget for climate and nature

To say I’m disappointed with the new federal budget would be the understatement of the year. Truth is, I’m frustrated and angry, not just because of what’s in the budget but by what has been cut and what is glaringly absent. Read More

 

Gwynne Dyer:

Trump heads to court against the BBC

I have spent thousands of hours sitting alongside video editors working on productions quite similar to the Panorama documentary that has landed the British Broadcasting Corporation with the threat of a billion-dollar libel suit by U.S. President Donald Trump. Read More

 
 

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