The Wrap: Arlington Bridge frustration, drunk-driving sentence, ex-law dean’s expenses contested, and the Lightning weigh in on Jets stars’ deals

It’s believed the century-old Arlington Bridge — closed to vehicles and pedestrians yesterday for safety reasons  — is likely to remain gated off for years while the city figures out whether to rehabilitate or replace it.

Local residents and commuters are frustrated by the closure, which links the North and West ends. The bridge was used by more than 13,000 vehicles per day, and drivers, pedestrians and cyclists are now forced to take a kilometres-long detour.

The closure has put decisions by current and past councils under scrutiny. Council was first told the structure was at the end of its functional life in 1967. In the last decade, the city has set aside about $4 million for studies that looked at whether to prolong or replace the bridge.

A man responsible for a high-speed, drunk-driving collision that killed 24-year-old Jordyn Reimer has been sentenced to seven years in prison but will be eligible for statutory release after serving 28 months.

Tyler Goodman, 30, had pleaded guilty to one count each of impaired driving causing death and leaving the scene of an accident.

His mother, Laurie Goodman, pleaded guilty to obstructing justice after she lied to police about her son’s whereabouts at the time of the crash; she was sentenced to six months of house arrest.

At the professional disciplinary hearing of Jonathan Black-Branch, who left the University of Manitoba in 2020 after an internal audit concluded he misused public funds, several lawyers on Wednesday disputed claims they’d been wined and dined by the ex-law dean at the Manitoba Club.

The case against Black-Branch includes 141 receipts from the ritzy social club, filed as hospitality expenses that required entertainment of at least one guest for school-related business.

Several lawyers named on receipts told the hearing they hadn’t met with him at the club, or hadn’t eaten or drunk what was claimed.

 

The Winnipeg Jets experienced a jolt of energy when Mark Scheifele and Connor Hellebuyck signed matching seven-year extensions just before the start of the regular season.

The squad has sustained that momentum with solid play and is challenging for top spot in the Central Division.

Hockey writer Ken Wiebe talked to the coach and players on the Tampa Bay Lightning — whom the Jets may be playing as you read this newsletter — about the importance of having the team’s core pieces sign on the dotted line.