Good morning!
ALEXANDRA PAUL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSSue Bakker points out where she saw the boot at the boat launch on the Red River near Selkirk
Likely not Thelma Krull: We begin the day with word from the daughter of Thelma Krull — the 57-year-old grandmother who inexplicably disappeared on a morning walk nearly a year ago in Winnipeg — that human remains found in the Red River north of Selkirk are probably not her mother. Lisa Besser said she called Winnipeg police when the remains of a leg in a boot were discovered Monday evening. Police confirm their working conclusion is that this is not Krull, despite the fact the boot was a hiking boot and Krull was last seen wearing a pair of hiking boots. READ MORE
Your forecast: Expect a hot, humid day in southern Manitoba. Environment Canada is calling for a high of 29 C and a humidex rating of 35 today. Basically, that means the combination of temperature and humidity produce a day that feels like 35 outside. That combination could also produce a thunderstorm tonight, beginning after midnight. The sky clears Friday morning and we’re in for another hot one as the mercury hits 29 C again. Environment Canada is calling for sunshine and a high of 24 C on Saturday and a good chance of rain Sunday.
In case you missed it
WAYNE GLOWACKI/WINNIPEG FREE PRESSPallister was asked if he could see any scenario in which a hydro transmission line from the North might be built on the east side of the province. “Absolutely” was his response.
Moving Bipole III: Premier Brian Pallister opened up the possibility of moving that contentiously debated location for the mega-hydro transmission corridor from the west side of Lake Winnipeg to the east side. Lots of ink has been spilled over where to put it; the former NDP government was adamant it would go on the west side and the Conservatives, at the time, were just as insistent it go on the east side. If the line switches sides, Pallister said the location could include protected lands managed by First Nations, if that’s what’s in the best interests of Manitobans. READ MORE
Stealing a deal: City councillors were in a flap over a pricy piece of land the city needs to complete the southwest transit corridor. Manitoba Hydro now wants $20.4 million, which the mayor and his cabinet endorsed reluctantly. Less than a year ago, the property was appraised at a fraction of the cost, just $4.6 million. While the city and the utility bicker, ratepayers in Winnipeg will be the ones that pay for this deal. READ MORE
Frowning on Manitoba’s deficit: One of the world’s most important credit rating agencies says Manitoba’s latest budget does nothing to ease its concerns over the province’s nearly $1 billion deficit. Moody’s Investor Service says it’s not adjusting Manitoba’s low credit rating, but it says the May 31 budget is credit-negative, meaning investors have concerns about the government’s finances and the province’s weak fiscal outlook. READ MORE
Up next
New chapter begins: The University of Winnipeg holds its spring convocation today at the Duckworth Centre, 400 Spence St. Faculty of Arts students get their degrees at 9:30 a.m. and then students in science, business and economics get their degrees at 2:30 p.m. On Friday at 9:30 a.m., students in theology (including marriage and family therapy), education and kinesiology will receive their degrees.
All for the kids: The 34th Annual Kidsfest kicks off today at The Forks. The four-day festival features circus acts, acrobatics, comic daredevils, artists and musical performances. Advance discounted tickets are available online at www.kidsfest.ca or at all Winnipeg and area Safeway locations. READ MORE
Around the water cooler
John Woods / The Canadian PressMontreal Alouettes quarterback Jimmy Underdahl (8) gets the pass away despite pressure from Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Nate Collins (98) during the second half of pre-season CFL action in Winnipeg.
Comeback win for Bombers: Trailing 13-6 with mere minutes left in the opening half, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers exploded for 30 unanswered points to knock off the Montreal Alouettes 36-13 in CFL preseason action Wednesday night at Investors Group Field. Bomber quarterback hopefuls Dominique Davis and Bryan Bennet were the surprise stars, orchestrating scoring drives that propelled the home side to victory. The two pivots are vying for third-string duties behind starter Drew Willy and backup Matt Nichols. READ MORE
Amending assisted dying bill: The Senate has voted to allow suffering Canadians who are not near death to seek medical help to end their lives, knocking out the central pillar of the federal government’s proposed new law on medically assisted dying. Senators voted 41-30 to delete a requirement that a person’s natural death must be “reasonably foreseeable.” Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould earlier signalled that the government is unlikely to accept such an amendment. READ MORE
Reaching for a new low: It was bad enough that only the lucky and the affluent snagged tickets for the the Tragically Hip, after blocks of seats got scooped up and reposted on online for outrageous prices. Now comes word from south of the border that tickets handed out for free to Muhammad Ali’s public memorial service are showing up for sale online. An Ali family spokesman has denounced the profiteering. READ MORE
Trending now
RYAN REMIORZ / THE CANADIAN PRESSConstruction magnate Paolo Catania leaves Quebec Provincial Police headquarters after being arrested by the anti-corruption unit in 2012 in Montreal.
Paolo Catania: The Montreal construction company executive was among those arrested in a corruption scandal, but the long-awaited fraud trial connected to a controversial land deal in Montreal that helped spark years of investigations into corruption in Quebec’s construction industry will be delayed a little while longer. READ MORE
#ThankfulThursday: It’s unclear in the Twitter world whether it’s just today or it becomes an every-Thursday kind of thing, but people are expressing their gratitude for everything from good friends, to supportive spouses, to a good cup of coffee, to live music, to a good book.
On this date
On June 9, 2006: The Winnipeg Free Press reported that Iraqi and U.S. forces had killed the Iraqi terror leader Abu Musab al-Zarkawi in an air strike after months of searching for him. The 2006 spring season in Canada was the warmest on record. Manitoba Hydro staff were set to strike the next Monday.
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