The Wrap: MGEU lawsuit, explosives arrest, Skibicki admission and Jets coach retires
Plus a musical about the end of the world

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

'Highhanded, outrageous and unlawful'

Manitoba’s largest public-sector union, MGEU, is suing a retired staffer for allegedly orchestrating a secret scheme that garnered nearly half a million dollars in rebates on home insurance sold to union members.

The union alleges Raymond Erb set up an unauthorized agreement with an insurance provider, directing payments to his personal accounts and hiding his actions.

Legislative reporter Carol Sanders reports on the statement of claim.

Carol Sanders:

MGEU sues former staff member over alleged home insurance rebate scam, police investigating

Police are investigating and Manitoba’s largest public-sector union is suing one of its retired staffers who allegedly set up a secret side-hustle and, for decades, received close to a half-million do... Read More

Iced drink with lime on a wooden surface beside the Savour Manitoba magazine cover.

'The whole house kind of shook'

The Winnipeg Police Service announced a lengthy list of charges against Evan Luke Reimer on Friday, saying they’d seized several firearms and a large number of explosives from a residence in Headingley.

Reimer has been in trouble with the law in the past, with five previous convictions for arson.

Residents who live near a house he owns in the community shared concerns with the Free Press about his disruptive and potentially dangerous behaviour.

Tyler Searle and Erik Pindera:

Arsonist found with ‘concerning and diverse’ explosives a known troublemaker, Headingley neighbours say

HEADINGLEY — Residents living near a convicted firebug who Winnipeg police allege was conspiring to detonate an explosive device on the city’s outskirts describe the suspect as a known troublemaker in... Read More

'We are no longer concerned with proving that the accused has committed the offences'

Jeremy Skibicki has admitted in court that he killed four women in Winnipeg, but his lawyers are asking that he be found not criminally responsible because of mental illness.

With Skibicki’s admission he killed the four women, the Crown has consented to the case being heard by a judge, not a jury.

The development came three days after King’s Bench Chief Justice Glenn Joyal ruled the trial of Jeremy Skibicki would be heard by a jury.

Court reporter Dean Pritchard explains the turn of events.

Dean Pritchard:

Admitted serial killer will be tried by judge; jury to be dismissed

Skibicki to argue not criminally responsible Read More

'It just hit me... It’s time'

Winnipeg Jets coach Rick Bowness is retiring, one week after the team was eliminated in five games from their opening-round playoff matchup with the Colorado Avalanche.

Bowness announced his retirement Monday after 38 NHL seasons, a well-respected career that included leading the Dallas Stars to the Stanley Cup Final in 2020 and more time spent behind the bench than anyone else in league history.

Hockey writer Ken Wiebe looks back on Bowness’ career… and reviews six possible candidates for the position.

Ken Wiebe:

‘I knew in my heart it was time’

Bowness bows out as Jets coach; NHL a better place because of people like Rick, says captain Lowry Read More