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Departing Hydro staff cash in: Power to the people — about three dozen any way — who left Manitoba Hydro in 2015 with six-figure “termination/retirement payouts.” A recently released employee compensation report shows the workers each received in excess of $100,000, while three departing staff members each got more than $200,000 in payouts, Free Press legislative bureau chief Larry Kusch reports. READ MORE
Your forecast: The cool morning air felt great with the windows open, but the temperature will rise steadily as the hours slide by today. Environment Canada is calling for a mix of sun and cloud and a high of 24 C. Winnipeg’s in for a terrific August long weekend, starting Friday with sunshine and a high of 27 C. Expect sunshine and 28 C on Saturday, a sizzling 30 C on Sunday and a mix of sun and cloud, a 30 per cent chance of afternoon showers and 28 C on Monday.
In case you missed it
WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILESFamilies Minister Scott Fielding says delays are likely in cases with other jurisdictions.
Long wait for adoption info: Manitoba Families Minister Scott Fielding has ordered a review into the severe wait times some Manitobans face while waiting to see their birth records. The backlog was created in July 2015 after the government passed legislation that unsealed thousands of adoption records. One idea is a possible fee-based system for applicants who want a faster process. READ MORE
Hits to Churchill keep coming: Freight rail service to the northern community of Churchill will be cut in half to just once a week, and that likely means residents there will pay higher prices for food and other goods. Omnitrax made the rail announcement Wednesday, just days after it laid off the entire unionized workforce at the Port of Churchill. But the company still refuses to answer questions. READ MORE
Up next
RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSJeff Hnatiuk, CEO of the 2017 Canada Summer Games, gets into the spirit of things Wednesday, gearing up for Winnipeg’s next big sporting event.
One year and counting: Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman hosts a flag-raising ceremony today at 9 a.m. at City Hall marking the one-year countdown to the start of the 2017 Canada Summer Games. The games in Winnipeg will feature 4,000 athletes and coaches in 16 sports, 6,000 volunteers and as many as 20,000 visitors to the city. READ MORE
Crunch time for Bombers: If the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are to turn their sorry 2016 CFL season around, the time to start is tonight. The Bombers (1-4) visit Edmonton to battle the Eskimos (2-2) at Commonwealth Stadium. Game time is 8 p.m. on TSN. READ MORE
Around the water cooler
J. Scott Applewhite / The Associated PressPresident Barack Obama and Democratic Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton wave to delegates after President Obama’s speech during the third day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Wednesday.
Obama passes torch: U.S. President Barack Obama wowed delegates at the Democratic National Convention Wednesday evening, delivering a rousing speech that urged voters to elect the party’s nominee Hillary Clinton to the nation’s top office. READ MORE
Room for improvement: Rooming houses in Winnipeg have historically filled a gap in housing for people either new to the city or just starting out on their road to employment, among other demographics; but in recent decades, as the housing market becomes more expensive, there are fewer safe, well-kept rooming houses in the city. Jino Distasio writes on the potential for improvement in the city’s housing options. READ MORE
Upgrade to gold?: Christine Girard could become Canada’s first Olympic gold medallist in weightlifting, even though she isn’t even going to the Games in Rio. Girard’s bronze medal from the 2012 London Olympics may be upgraded to gold after the two women from Russia and Kazakhstan who finished ahead of her were nabbed in doping retests. But because of athletes’ right to appeal and additional testing, it could take months or even years for Olympic medals to be redistributed. READ MORE
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CPSammy Yatim
Sammy Yatim: In Toronto today, the police officer who shot and killed Sammy Yatim on an empty city streetcar will be sentenced for attempted murder. Const. James Forcillo faces a mandatory minimum of five years, the Crown has asked for eight to 10 years but his lawyers have argued for two years of house arrest. The shooting occurred in July 2013. READ MORE
Gilmore Girls: In November, the popular TV series Gilmore Girls will be revived, Netflix says. Cast members Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel, who played mother and daughter in the comedy drama, have confirmed they’ll be back. The series originally ran from 2000-07 on the WB network.
#MotherhoodMovies: It’s not May, but motherhood can be on your mind as you relax with a film. How about “28 Days Late,” “A Few Good Menopause,” “From Here to Maternity,” or “Friday the 13th Time I’ve Asked You to Take Out the Garbage.”
On this date
On July 28, 1989: The Winnipeg Free Press reported that the aboriginal justice inquiry looking into the shooting death of aboriginal leader J.J. Harper by police could be postponed again if the Winnipeg Police Association appealed a court ruling that would call one of the officers involved to testify. Damage from forest fires in northern Manitoba was estimated at $150 million. In Quebec, pro-choice supporters rallied following a court ruling that barred a woman from having an abortion. The Soviet Union granted Lithuania and Estonia economic freedom. READ MORE
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