Good morning!
Drama in Fort McMurray: Our thoughts turn to our fellow Canadians from Fort McMurray, Alta., this morning as a wildfire rages in the northern Alberta city, destroying entire neighbourhoods and forcing the evacuation of all 80,000 residents. Thankfully, there are no reports of injuries. Fort McMurray is the capital of Alberta’s oilsands region and sits about 435 kilometres northeast of Edmonton. READ MORE
Your forecast: This warm, dry May weather continues well into next week, with nary a hint of precipitation for Winnipeg and the surrounding areas. Today, Environment Canada is calling for a sunny, breezy day, with a daytime high of 21 C and an overnight low of 13 C. The mercury climbs to a remarkable 31 C on Thursday, falls to a mild 18 C for Friday and Saturday, and then hits 20 C on Saturday and 25 C on Sunday.
In case you missed it
WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSThe Manitoba Progressive Conservative cabinet sits for the first time in the Manitoba legislative building Tuesday and invite media in for questions. At left, Ian Wishart, Scott Fielding, Blaine Pedersen, Premier Brian Pallister, Heather Stefanson Rochelle Squires and Eileen Clarke. At table at right is Ron Schuler, Cathy Cox, Cameron Friesen, Kelvin Goertzen, Ralph Eichler and Cliff Cullen.
Tories take command: Progressive Conservative Brian Pallister was sworn in as Manitoba premier Tuesday and made good on an election promise to appoint a smaller cabinet. The new premier appointed eight men and four women to his inner circle. The Tories grabbed 40 of 57 seats during the April 19 election to oust an NDP government that had been in power for 17 years. READ MORE
Man admits to three murders: A 40-year-old Winnipeg man admitted Tuesday to three separate homicides in 2015 which, he told police at the time, were “vengeance” for the earlier rape of his girlfriend. John Ostamas, a transient man who spent time in several homeless shelters and battled a litany of mental health issues, pleaded guilty to three counts of second-degree murder for the killings of Myles Monias on April 10 and Stony Bushie and Donald Collins on April 24. READ MORE
Guns, guns, guns: A whopping 13 firearms were stolen during a break-and-enter in Dauphin on Monday, RCMP said. Pistols and rifles, as well as a large metal gun safe, were stolen during the brazen break-in, which happened in the afternoon. An RCMP spokesman said the homeowner faces no charges because all the firearms “were registered and safely stored.” READ MORE
Up next
Face of the Games: This morning, the host committee of the 2017 Canada Summer Games unveils the official mascot for the large sporting event, slated for July 28 to Aug. 13, 2017 in Winnipeg. The mascot makes its debut at 10 a.m. at Dufferin School, 545 Alexander Ave.
Around the water cooler
Woman seeks assisted suicide: A second terminally ill Manitoban is asking a judge to allow a physician-assisted death. A Manitoba woman, who is not identified in court documents, has applied to ask a Court of Queen’s Bench justice for the legal right to have a doctor-assisted suicide. The woman’s request will be heard during a hearing Friday. The document says the woman has “a grievous irremediable medical condition that causes suffering.” READ MORE
Trump to cruise in: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz ended his U.S. presidential campaign Tuesday, eliminating the biggest impediment to Donald Trump’s march to the Republican nomination. Cruz, who cast himself as the only viable alternative to Trump, announced his exit after a stinging defeat in Indiana’s Republican primary. READ MORE
Heat too hot to handle: A miracle basket at the buzzer by Kyle Lowry only delayed the inevitable Tuesday night as the host Toronto Raptors fell 102-96 in overtime to the Miama Heat in Game 1 of their second round National Basketball Association Series. Lowry nailed a 40-foot three-point shot just as time expired to pull the Raptors into an 89-89 tie, but the Heat regained command during the extra five-minute session. Game 2 is Thursday in Toronto. READ MORE
Trending now
#MayThe4thBeWithYou: It’s a great day to be a Star Wars fan, and sort of hellish if you’re not. Celebrate your love of the Force, Jedi, stormtroopers or wookiees in whatever way you see fit.
On this date
On May 4, 2007: The Winnipeg Free Press reported that a house cat caused a Canada Post employee so much grief that the mail carrier refused to deliver mail to the home, and that the cat’s owners would have to collect their mail from a postal outlet. Winnipeg was bracing for the worst cankerworm infestation since the 1990s. On the election campaign trail, NDP leader Gary Doer touted wind power while Tory leader Hugh McFadyen pledged to build a new provincial jail that could house up to 300 inmates.
|
