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Nygard in Epstein files, snow clearing, Christmas home, holiday hockey, New Year’s Eve cooking
Plus: Is Santa Canadian? Is his workshop in Canada?

Good evening.

This newsletter will be taking a break tomorrow and Thursday. We’ll next return to your inbox on Dec. 26.

Find out what shops, services and entertainment options are open and closed over the next few days in our online holiday roundup.

Here’s a look at what our newsroom has been working on today:

 

'A deeply troubling, all-too-familiar pattern'

Chris Kitching:

Ex-Winnipeggers who accused Nygard of sex crimes not surprised by Epstein link

FBI tried to interview former prince Andrew during investigation of disgraced fashion mogul Read More

 

Lindsay Whitehurst And Seung Min Kim, The Associated Press:

Voluminous new Epstein document release includes multiple Trump mentions, but little revelatory news

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department has released tens of thousands more documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, a tranche that included multiple mentions of President Donald Trump but... Read More

 
 
 

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Perfect summer pours and pairings
 

'Just bear with us'

Joyanne Pursaga:

‘Just bear with us’: city asks drivers for patience with snow-clearing operation

Several days after two snowstorms walloped Winnipeg, many of the city’s major routes remain treacherous because of deep ice ruts. Read More

 
 

'All that worry that we carry has been lifted'

Scott Billeck:

‘There’s peace here’

Season’s messages of love, joy and family on full display at St. Vital group home for people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities Read More

 
 

'They’re loving it out there'

Mike McIntyre:

Schenns welcome Winnipeg winter

Veteran blue-liner steps behind bench as sons hit the ice for Jets Challenge Cup Read More

 
 

Showstopping mains

Eva Wasney:

Impress dinner guests without excess kitchen labour

Readers share recipes for welcoming the new year with low-fuss, big-taste fanfare Read More

 
 

Try our Year-End News Quiz!

Test your news savvy with 12 questions about local events in 2025.

2025: The Year In News Quiz

Twelve questions — one per month — about the news in 2025. Take the quiz

 
 
 

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Get ready to savour Manitoba's freshest summer flavours
 

Local

Carol Sanders: Khan should’ve taken high road: Goertzen
Kelly-Anne Riess: Deadpool drops by Children’s Hospital to say thanks on behalf of Olympian’s family
Joyanne Pursaga: Klein to double down on derelict homes
Malak Abas: Mayoral candidate Vogiatzakis criticized for living outside Winnipeg
Malak Abas: A day on the campaign trail: Winnipeg's mayor, seeking a second term, does double duty
Chris Kitching: Fewer health system critical incidents reported in 2025 than in previous two years, data shows
Nicole Buffie: Cops handcuffed by bail issues, lack of mental-health options, WPS chief tells residents in crime-ridden North End neighbourhood
Chris Kitching: Software glitch caused multi-provincial 911 outage: Bell
Marsha McLeod: Clock ticks down on destruction of records documenting residential school abuses
Free Press staff: Safety upgrades completed at Whiteshell park falls where brothers drowned
 

Opinion

Jerrad Peters: Premier League would be all too relieved if Blues simply went away for a while
Robin Bezte: Small businesses outline election priorities
Free Press: Letters, Oct. 2
Erna Buffie: Transit, roads and city council’s priorities
Niigaan Sinclair: Hero fought to remember children lost at residential school
Editorial: Time for AI guardrails is right now
Brian Ramsay: Who protects collegiate athletes?
Adam Johnston: Winnipeg’s challenge: preparing for weather extremes
Tom Brodbeck: PUB should set Winnipeg water, sewer rates; that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be lower
Editorial: Legislation needed on vacant buildings
 

Arts & Life

Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press: Michael Bublé, Jann Arden among musicians to toast k.d. lang at tribute concert tonight
Nick Murray, The Canadian Press: Michael J. Fox promoted to companion level of Order of Canada
Randall King: Manitoba’s own Summer Howell takes on biggest role yet as Stephen King’s telekinetic teen Carrie
Ben Waldman: Virgo Rising’s debut LP is visceral, vulnerable
Free Press: Listen up
Free Press: What’s up
Conrad Sweatman: Robot study gives seniors say in era of AI
Maureen Scurfield: You’re a solid, loyal sister, so worry not
Alison Gillmor: Thriller has steam to spare, but story slogs
Ben Sigurdson: Winnipeg Book Festival starts a new chapter
 

Sports

Ken Wiebe and Mike McIntyre: Influx of young talent gives Jets a noticeable boost
Joshua Frey-Sam: Six high school hockey programs ceased operations as direct result of Hockey Manitoba policy
Steve Douglas, The Associated Press: Man City lodges ‘comprehensive’ appeal after guilty verdict in financial rule-breaking scandal
Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press: Igor Shesterkin becomes the 18th NHL goaltender to score a goal and first to do it for the Rangers
Ronald Blum, The Associated Press: Robot umpires flip 54% of challenged calls in ABS debut as teams learn to time appeals
Taylor Allen: Bombers turn to other passions away from the field
Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press: There are two horses named in memory of Johnny Gaudreau and they’re running in the same race
Mike McIntyre: Ferraro gets call-up to the Jets
Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe: Jets bench boss Arniel talks rebuilding from last season’s struggles
Grace Anne Paizen: Around the NSL: Silano’s spectacular strike; Rapid treading water; Post-season posturing
 

Business

Collin Binkley And John Leicester, The Associated Press: G7 nations will release 100 million barrels of oil and diesel fuel after prices soar
Daniel Johnson, The Canadian Press: TSX rises nearly 350 points amid investor focus on economic resilience
Gabrielle Piché: Critical mineral development: Grid Metals promotes southeast Manitoba cesium deposit
Aaron Epp: Wawanesa rebrands newest branch WSI
Craig Lord, The Canadian Press: Bank of Canada’s key rate ‘too blunt’ to fix housing unaffordability: official
Sammy Hudes, The Canadian Press: Rogers becomes sole owner of MLSE after completing purchase of remaining 25% stake
The Canadian Press: S&P/TSX composite finishes in negative territory, U.S. markets gain ground
The Canadian Press: Minimum wage hikes set to begin across five provinces
Hau Dinh And Aniruddha Ghosal, The Associated Press: Pandora opens $150 million Vietnam jewelry factory powered by renewable energy
Gabrielle Piché: ‘Warmest welcome’ at Manitoba, U.K. defence partnership summit
 

Canada

Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press:

The continental trade pact is up for review in 2026 — here’s what Trump might want

WASHINGTON - A mandatory review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico-Agreement on trade kicks into high gear next year as U.S. President Donald Trump continues his campaign to realign global trade and p... Read More

 

Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press:

Three more Alberta recall petitions issued against politicians, bringing total to 26

EDMONTON - Elections Alberta issued three more recall petitions Tuesday for members of the provincial legislature — two United Conservative backbenchers and one Opposition New Democrat. ... Read More

 

Morgan Lowrie, The Canadian Press:

Quebecers urged to avoid ERs amid flu and respiratory virus ‘maelstrom’

MONTREAL - Quebecers are being urged to avoid unnecessary emergency-room visits amid what one infectious-disease doctor is calling a respiratory virus "maelstrom." McGill University H... Read More

 

The Canadian Press:

Yukon power grid under ‘significant’ strain as deep freeze grips Western Canada

WHITEHORSE - Bitter cold in the Yukon is straining the power grid and the territory's energy minister says it may get worse as demand peaks and temperature records fall.  Environment ... Read More

 

Hannah Alberga, The Canadian Press:

How can E. coli survive in frozen and microwaved Pillsbury Pizza Pops?

TORONTO - A Pillsbury brand Pizza Pop may not seem like an obvious candidate for E. coli – given the freezing and heating that goes on before it reaches the consumer's lips – but foodborne il... Read More

 

Dayne Patterson, The Canadian Press:

Man woke in Regina hospital to learn son, 11, died from carbon monoxide leak

REGINA - From his Regina hospital bed, Sergio Losco remembers his 11-year-old son as a brilliant and kind child with a penchant for soccer.  Losco spoke fondly about his boy, Henry, i... Read More

 

Nono Shen, The Canadian Press:

Purple haze in the sky over Delta, B.C., sets off awe, curiosity and questions

On the darkest nights of winter when the cloud cover is just right, there's a purple haze above parts of Metro Vancouver and it has nothing to do with Christmas or Jimi Hendrix.  Cath... Read More

 

Sarah Ritchie, The Canadian Press:

Federal health minister to launch strategy on men’s and boys’ health in 2026

OTTAWA - The federal government is planning to release a strategy on men's and boys' health in the new year, something advocates have long called for to address issues that prevent men from g... Read More

 

Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press:

Gaza advocates urge Canada not to ignore persistent suffering amid partial ceasefire

OTTAWA - Advocates for Palestinians are urging Ottawa to do more to stop a deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, saying the release of Israeli hostages hasn't stopped preventable deat... Read More

 
 
 

World

Illia Novikov, The Associated Press: Major Russian drone and missile attack on Ukraine kills at least 3 people and cuts power
Lindsay Whitehurst And Seung Min Kim, The Associated Press: Voluminous new Epstein document release includes multiple Trump mentions, but little revelatory news
Julia Frankel, The Associated Press: Ex-aide says Netanyahu tasked him with making a plan to evade responsibility for Oct. 7 attack
Aamer Madhani, The Associated Press: Trump says he’s inviting Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to next year’s G20 summit in Miami
The Associated Press: US strikes another alleged drug-smuggling boat in eastern Pacific
Manuel Rueda, The Associated Press: Colombia declares an economic emergency in a criticized effort to raise more taxes
Trân Nguyễn, The Associated Press: California drivers warned to reconsider Christmas travel plans ahead of storms
Joey Cappelletti, The Associated Press: Trump administration moves to overhaul how H-1B visas are granted, ending lottery system
 

One last thing...

Marissa Birnie, The Canadian Press:

Fact Check: Santa Claus received Canadian citizenship, but nationality disputed

Canada says Santa Claus is a Canadian citizen, and it claims Canadian sovereignty extends to his North Pole residence and workshop. Is it true? Read More

 
 

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