Good morning!
Horrific assault: We begin with the distressing story of two women working at a rehab centre for male youth near Selkirk who were beaten with a baseball bat and pool balls stuffed in a sock Sunday night. Now, police and the province are searching for a pair of teens believed responsible for the attack. The family of Jackie Healey told the Free Press she suffered a fractured skull, has lost the sight in one eye and had teeth knocked out when she was assaulted while on a work placement at the Behavioural Health Foundation. They are blaming the facility and Red River College, where she studies, for leaving her and another worker in charge of two troubled teens. READ MORE
Your forecast: Look on the bright side — there’s no risk of heat stroke today. The rain started falling early this morning and won’t let up until this afternoon. Environment Canada says as much as 15 millimetres could fall, with winds gusting to 60 km/h this morning. The daytime high is just 15 C, although showers continue tonight with a risk of a thunderstorm. Expect a cool, wet Wednesday, while Thursday should be sunny at 22 C.
In case you missed it
MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSNDP Interim Leader Flor Marcelino.
Strange brew: Manitoba’s new health minister says he’ll ask the “appropriate authorities” to look into interim NDP Leader Flor Marcelino’s habit of giving away the leaves or tea made from the guyabano plant, a product that is used in alternative medicine. Kelvin Goertzen said he’s uneasy about the health implications of Marcelino giving away guyabano, and also about her using her legislature office to distribute the leaves. Late Monday afternoon, Marcelino issued a statement by email in which she said she made a mistake having repeated claims about guyabano’s potential to help those suffering from cancer, and would no longer distribute the dried leaves from her office. READ MORE
Won’t fly here, yet: Porter Airlines had a short but successful test run in and out of Winnipeg last week, but there are no firm plans to set up a permanent operation here. The Toronto-based carrier flew delegates attending the Liberal convention in town, making trips between Winnipeg and Toronto, and Winnipeg and Ottawa on Thursday and again on Sunday. “Our flights were effectively sold out,” said Porter spokesman Brad Cicero. “In the long term, we hope to be serving Winnipeg but we can’t say that will be happening at a specific time at this stage.” READ MORE
Up next
BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSFinance minister Cameron Friesen.
Spreading the cash: Manitobans will hear the new Tory government’s financial strategy for the province today when Finance Minister Cameron Friesen stands in the legislature and delivers his first budget at 2:30 p.m. Then on Wednesday morning, Friesen will address a Manitoba Chambers of Commerce business audience to break down the budget during the last MBiz Breakfast event before September. That event is slated for 7:30 a.m. at the Hotel Fort Garry. READ MORE
Decades of service: A 100-year-old woman who volunteers her time doing tax returns for less fortunate community members will receive a special national award today at Government House. Manitoba Lt.-Gov. Janice Filmon will present Francis Kusner with the Governor General’s Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers today at 2 p.m. For the past 40 years through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, Kusner has completed thousands of income tax returns for individuals with modest incomes who are unable to prepare returns on their own.
Around the water cooler
MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILESPremier Brian Pallister disclosed his interests in two Costa Rican companies Monday.
Southern exposure: So, it’s official. Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister has publicly disclosed his shares in a pair of Costa Rican companies. Every MLA had until 5 p.m. Monday to disclose their assets and interests on forms that were submitted to the legislature. The premier submitted his form — with just a half-hour left to spare — disclosing his shares in two companies in the Central American nation. READ MORE
Netting a victory: The Winnipeg Goldeyes earned a slim 3-2 triumph Monday night in their American Association baseball league season opener at Shaw Park. Despite giving up a rare triple play in the first inning, the Goldeyes did just enough offensively to earn the win and raise their record to 7-4 after starting the season with 10 straight road contests. Josh Romanski, who hit into the triple play, redeemed himself with a home run later in the game to spark the home side. READ MORE
Changing the words?: The lyrics to “O Canada” will be a hot topic in Ottawa today. The House of Commons is debating an effort by Liberal MP Mauril Belanger to render the national anthem gender-neutral, by replacing the line in the English version “in all thy sons command” with “in all of us command.” Belanger was diagnosed with ALS last fall and now able to speak only with the assistance of an electronic device. READ MORE
Trending now
#StanleyCupFinal: The Pittsburgh Penguins beat the San Jose Sharks 3-2 in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final Monday night, READ MORE
#ThisMaySoundStrangeBut: No surprise, but there is a more than a little nonsense on this one, including “Toothpaste and orange juice? Not so bad!,” “My favorite breakfast is anything leftover from the Chinese restaurant” and “Jesus said backwards is sausage.”
On this date
On May 31, 1933: The Winnipeg Free Press reported that three Manitobans stood to win $52,876 in the classic Derby to be run at Epsom Downs. Stocks soared to new peak levels at the Montreal Stock Exchange. Louis Meyers, 29, took first place in the Indianapolis 500, making him the second man to win the race twice; three people (two drivers and one mechanic) died as a result of crashes during the race. The Prince of Wales, in an address to a U.S. audience, said the United States and Great Britain were now realizing they could not pursue isolationist policies during the Great Depression.
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