Good morning!
WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSManitoba Hydro Power Smart mural on the the side of the Manitoba Hydro building on Portage Ave. and St James Street. Efficiency Manitoba — would take over responsibility for energy-savings programs that are now carried out by Manitoba Hydro.
Pallister’s new Crown: Despite much talk about austerity in the public sector, the Pallister government is expected to introduce legislation Thursday to create a new Crown corporation tasked with reducing electricity and natural gas use in the province. Larry Kusch has the exclusive story. READ MORE
Your forecast: After days of cloudy weather, the sun will smile on Winnipeg today and shine prominently through the weekend. It would be premature to get out the lawn chairs and the barbecues, however. Today’s high of -19 C and wind from the northwest at 30 km/h will make it feel like -35. The weekend weather will be similar: sunny but frigid.
In case you missed it
MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILESMost of the border-crossing activity takes place in Emerson because the U.S. I-29 highway ends close by.
Migrants survive blizzard: A group of 17 migrants, including a child in arms, cheated tragedy early Wednesday when they crossed the Canada-U.S. border near Emerson in treacherous blizzard conditions and took shelter in an abandoned, unheated garage. The Emerson resident who found them said: “The garage doesn’t have a door and the migrants huddled inside to keep warm.” Bill Redekop reports. READ MORE
When business goes bad: Two Winnipeg business partners were plotting to kill each other, a judge heard on Tuesday. The co-owners of Teddy’s convenience store on Balmoral Street were embroiled in a dispute that allegedly involved the hiring of a hit man and ended with police wiretapping phone conversations and setting up a covert recorded meeting. Katie May reports. READ MORE
Up next
Action plans for Capital Region: More than 150 local leaders from government, business and industry are up early today to meet at 8 a.m. at the Metropolitan Entertainment Centre. They’re discussing a long-term action plan for the Manitoba Capital Region, which includes regional planning, strategic infrastructure investment, service sharing and economic development.
Helping refugee claimants: At 11 a.m. today, the United Way will announce details of a community plan to cope with an increasing number of refugee claimants. A United Way press release notes “the growing likelihood there will be an even greater surge in refugee claimants soon. These families are scared and alone, strangers in a new country. Winnipeg service providers at the front lines of caring for them are overwhelmed.”
Around the water cooler
CURLING CANADA / MICHAEL BURNS PHOTOTeam Manitoba skip Mike McEwen, third B.J.Neufeld, second Matt Wazonaik, and lead Denni Neufeld celebrate after winning 6-5 over Northern Ontario Wednesday.
Manitoba jubilant at Brier: All members of a Manitoba curling rink leaped and raised their brooms in celebration when they won their match at the Brier championship on Wednesday with a do-or-lose final rock. Jason Bell is covering the tournament in St. John’s, Nfld., where Manitoba is now 7-1. READ MORE
An alternative to scalped tickets: Your favourite band is coming to Winnipeg (hurrah!) but bots buy all the tickets within minutes (boo!), and the tickets are then resold on websites for more than the original value. True North Sports and Entertainment suggests a solution. Kevin Rollason reports. READ MORE
Trending now
#SheInspiresMe: International Women’s Day was March 8, but many on Twitter are continuing to pay tribute to the women who have inspired them.
On this date
On March 9, 1979: The Winnipeg Free Press reported that a bare-bones $3.5-million expansion of the Winnipeg Arena, funded by the city, would go through, rather than a $15-million upgrade. Councillors had been told the $3.5-million expansion was necessary for the WHA Jets to be admitted to the NHL. turned down by the hockey league. Councillors opposed to the expansion of the arena were doubtful the NHL would ever accept the Jets as a franchise. READ MORE
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