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Jumping the queue: Provincial health ministers, senior Winnipeg Regional Health Authority officials, high-profile donors and sports stars received “potential preferential treatment” to get speedier access to MRI scans, according to a confidential report obtained by the Free Press. Kevin Rollason and Jane Gerster have the story. READ MORE
Your forecast: Spring is in the air, but also on the streets of Winnipeg. At 7 a.m. today, crews begin the annual city-wide spring cleanup operation, sweeping the entire street network including back lanes over the next five to six weeks. The high today will be 10 C, with a 30 per cent chance of showers or flurries in the morning.
In case you missed it
WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILESPremier Brian Pallister has a lot to smile about when it comes to his party’s financial picture.
Conservatives in the money: Premier Brian Pallister’s Conservatives out-fundraised and outspent the New Democrats by more than double last year. The Tories received $1,847,265 from donors who gave $250 or more, and $545,143 from smaller donations, far beyond the NDP’s fundraising. Larry Kusch reports. READ MORE
Condition of parks reviewed: A city committee will today get a long-awaited report that says 10 per cent of Winnipeg’s 1,200 parks are in poor or very poor condition. The report breaks down the deficiencies, in buildings and equipment, by individual park. Aldo Santin reports. READ MORE
Up next
Student protest today: At 12:30 p.m. today outside the Manitoba legislature, hundreds of University of Manitoba and University of Winnipeg students plan to protest rising tuition fees. The students are calling themselves the Revolutionary Student Movement.
Live web surgery: More than 100 Winnipeg School Division students will gather at Sisler High School at 10 a.m. today to watch the livestream and video conference of live medical surgery. The surgery is on a damaged thumb.
Around the water cooler
Simone Orlando photoGeordie finds warmth in a sunbeam while Ballet Kelowna dancers rehearse.
Dogs in the workplace: Free Press editorial department employees have brought their their canine companions to the newsroom for the past month, and we’re not the only office welcoming dogs. People at several Winnipeg workplaces explain how they, too, try to curb office stress with a cuddle and slobbery kiss from a beloved pooch. Doug Speirs reports. READ MORE
From cannabis to fentanyl: A self-proclaimed cannabis activist who advertised a drug delivery service and cultivated marijuana plants on government grounds has now been accused of importing a deadly opioid painkiller to Winnipeg from China. He was charged after an undercover police investigation that was prompted by flyers promising pot delivery to paying customers. Katie May reports. READ MORE
Trending now
#Leafs: Toronto fans are happy as the Maple Leafs clawed their way back from a 3-1 score favouring the Washington Capitals Monday night, with the Leafs ultimately winning 4-3 in overtime. READ MORE
On this date
On April 18, 1977: The Winnipeg Free Press reported that 30 of Manitoba’s 160 credit unions were in the red, with total liabilities of $5.6 million. Prime minister Pierre Trudeau started a tour of Western Canada in Winnipeg. A country-wide radio call-in show heard that most Canadians wanted Quebec to remain a part of Canada. In the United States, president Jimmy Carter was set to warn Americans that sacrifices must be made in the face of an energy crisis, and would introduce a national energy plan. READ MORE
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