Good morning!
The royal visit: There’s no stop at the zoo to see the polar bears, no chance to devour a Goog at the BDI or grab a hotdog down Broadway. But Prince Edward, the youngest child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, and his wife, Sophie, do have a jam-packed few hours in Winnipeg today. The Earl and Countess of Wessex, as the couple is officially known, will visit the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, lunch with the premier and lieutenant-government and split off for a couple of events before leaving the city by 2:30 p.m.
Your forecast: Were you up early enough to witness that brilliant sunrise? It was like someone covered the eastern sky with fiery pink-coloured cotton. But just like the old adage says, sailors — and landlubbers alike — take warning. Environment Canada says showers will begin later this morning and we could get amounts of up to 10 millimetres. The sky should clear by mid-afternoon, and the daytime high temperature is expected to hit 21 C. Soak up the sunshine and heat Thursday and Friday, folks, because the rain starts falling Friday night, and there’s a 30 per cent chance of showers Saturday and a very good chance of rain Sunday.
In case you missed it
A screen grab of Daniel Tokarchuk in a videotaped police interview in 2004. Tokarchuk and parole officials were mulling a possible full-time return to society.
Secret romance proves costly: Free Press justice reporter Mike McIntyre has the story about a convicted killer working his way toward parole who derailed his own efforts at freedom. Daniel Tokarchuk’s mistake? He fell in love. The 43-year-old Winnipeg man, convicted of second-degree murder for shooting his former friend and Hells Angels associate Trevor Savoie on a street in River Heights in May 2002, was denied parole after officials say he hid a romantic relationship from them. He met the woman while on unescorted temporary absences from prison last summer and kept the relationship a secret. READ MORE
Taking aim at mayor: A veteran Winnipeg councillor isn’t just taking shots at Mayor Brian Bowman down at City Hall, he’s taking to the airwaves to voice his criticism. Transcona Coun. Russ Wyatt has taken out a series of radio ads, knocking Bowman for refusing to allow a debate at last week’s council meeting on Wyatt’s plan to spend an additional $30 million on local road repairs this season. Wyatt has set up a website to make his case and he initiated an online petition. City council approved a record $105-million for local and regional street repairs in this year’s budget — which Wyatt and five others voted against. READ MORE
Kids still missing: There is no word today on the whereabouts of an 11-year-old girl and her nine-year-old brother, who are believed to be somewhere with their mother. A spokesman with the Winnipeg Police Service says Sandra Giesbrecht, 44, is known to police, and she is in a custody dispute with her former partner. Police are not concerned about the well-being of Montana Giesbrecht and her brother, Josh, at this time but want to know their whereabouts, Const. Rob Carver said. He could not say whether it was the mother, or someone helping her, who picked up the children on Monday. They were driven off in a small white, four-door vehicle. Police are asking anyone with information to contact the police missing persons unit at (204) 986-6250. READ MORE
Up next
Bombers gearing up: The Winnipeg Blue Bombers hit the practice field today from 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. in preparation for Friday’s season-opener against the Montreal Alouettes at Investors Group Field. Kickoff for the battle between the Bombers and the Als is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. READ MORE
Gambling on Vegas: The NHL board of governors meets today to vote on whether to expand the league to 31 teams. And it appears they have already decided to bet on Las Vegas and pass on Quebec City. The new franchise is expected to begin play in the 2017-18 season. READ MORE
Around the water cooler
MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILESPremier Brian Pallister.
Expanding CPP: Manitoba’s Progressive Conservative government abstained from voting on the federal-provincial plan to expand the Canada Pension Plan. It was one of only two provinces, along with Quebec, that did not endorse it. Premier Brian Pallister said Manitoba will offer suggestions on how to improve a new Canada Pension Plan agreement forged on Monday by Canada’s finance ministers, but he declined to cite specifics. READ MORE
Not in their neighbourhood: Residents of the Corydon-Osborne area made clear at a community meeting Tuesday night that they don’t want the City of Winnipeg to impose rezoning upon their neighbourhood. The city’s plan would see 950 properties, most of which are in the area south of Corydon Avenue and about 140 north of Corydon, rezoned from R1 (single family) to R2 (two family or duplex) zoning designations. READ MORE
Trending now
#IDontRememberAsking: Something slip your mind? Or maybe life served you up a little surprise. People are tweeting “…for your opinion,” “…you to proofread my tattoo,” and “…but, please, tell me again about your life story.”
#ComicBookSongs: Geeks, get your groove on, to such hits as “Back in Black Panther,” “Every Rose Has Its Thor,” “I Will Silver-Surf-ive,” and “Rockin’ Robin.”
On this date
On June 22, 1962: The Winnipeg Free Press reported that 10 medical doctors and 13 cabinet ministers met in Regina to settle the dispute over Saskatchewan’s medical care insurance plan, but hope seemed dim. Meanwhile in Winnipeg, in his keynote address at the Canadian Medical Association convention, Dr. Lawrence A. Rabson said that while health care can be subsidized, good health cannot really be bought. In Berlin, a bank manager was sentenced to life in prison for his role helping Adolf Eichman in mass murder during the Holocaust.
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