The Wrap: NDP support still growing, one year since Carberry crash, polar bears face extinction and Winnipeg Arts awards
Plus: a Manitoban is one step away from playing Major League Baseball

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

'The honeymoon period is holding well and they are doing even better since the election'

A Free Press-Probe Research poll shows the NDP has the support of almost six in 10 Winnipeggers, or 59 per cent, up three per cent from a poll taken in March and six points higher than its vote percentage on Oct. 3, the night Wab Kinew became premier, Kevin Rollason reports.

Kevin Rollason:

Days before a provincial byelection, a new poll shows the New Democrats are more popular in Winnipeg now than on election day. Read More

Three Savour Manitoba magazine covers promoting a food, drink, and lifestyle publication.

'I was thrown out on a field, and a lot of my good friends… were killed'

Saturday marks exactly one year since the devastating crash that killed 17 people on the Trans-Canada Highway near Carberry last June.

Reporter Tyler Searle has the latest from RCMP on the investigation, and Malak Abas spoke with an 86-year-old Dauphin resident who was rescued from the scene.

Tyler Searle:

Bus driver still unable to speak with police as one-year anniversary of Manitoba’s deadliest crash approaches

The driver of a mini-bus involved in the deadliest crash in Manitoba history has not recovered from his injuries and may never be capable of providing a statement to investigators. Read More

Malak Abas:

‘I don’t know how come God didn’t have room for me’

Dauphin senior who survived catastrophic highway crash, daughter reflect on heartbreaking loss, inexplicable luck a year later Read More

'Humans have a lot of agency here'

Research has long warned about the effect of warming temperatures on polar bear populations.

A new report uses modelling to determine how much warming would make Hudson Bay no longer habitable for polar bears, writes reporters Malak Abas and Nicole Buffie.

Nicole Buffie and Malak Abas:

Unchecked climate change could render Hudson Bay polar bears extinct by 2030s, report warns

Polar bears in Hudson Bay could be extinct as early as the 2030s if temperature agreements set out in the Paris Climate Accord are not met quickly, says a new report. Read More

'The arts are to be cherished, protected and, not the least, well funded'

The Winnipeg Arts Council, the organization tasked with distributing city funding to the arts, handed out four awards recognizing excellence and creativity in the Winnipeg arts scene.

Jen Zoratti writes on this year’s recipients.

Jen Zoratti:

Local artists celebrated at Mayor’s Luncheon

Sharon Bajer, Ekene Emeka-Maduka, Jennine Krauchi, and Brenda Gorlick were celebrated for their contributions to the arts community. Read More

'It’s super cool to think about'

Tristan Peters is one phone call away from his big-league baseball dreams coming true.

The 24-year-old left-fielder from Winkler, speaking with the Free Press by phone on Thursday, admits the thought has crossed his mind a time or two in recent weeks.

Mike McIntyre:

Peters one phone call away from MLB

Winkler product advances to Tampa Bay’s AAA affiliate Read More

'This prestigious award speaks to the value of delivering journalism that matters'

The Free Press received the CJF Jackman Award for Excellence in Journalism in the large-media category at the Canadian Journalism Foundation awards in Toronto Wednesday night.

The award recognizes investigative journalist Marsha McLeod’s work on the provincial inquest system and fatal police shootings. You can read the series here.

Free Press staff:

Free Press reporter wins esteemed award for investigative reporting

The award, named for the foundation’s founder Eric Jackman, recognizes news organizations that embrace the ideals of originality, courage, independence, accuracy, social responsibility, accountability and diversity, with an impact on their communities. Read More