The Wrap: Police officer sued — again, ER waits get longer, craft-brewery ups and downs, NHL award predictions and 2023’s best photos

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

'The search was… warrantless and unreasonable'

A former employee of a downtown convenience store is suing a Winnipeg police officer over allegations he was wrongfully detained during an investigation.

It’s at least the ninth time the officer, Sgt. Jefferey Norman, has been sued while working as a city police officer.

Erik Pindera:

Winnipeg police officer with history of misconduct accusations faces new lawsuit

A Winnipeg police officer repeatedly accused of misconduct faces a new lawsuit over allegations he wrongfully detained a corner store clerk during an investigation into untaxed cigarettes and illicit ... Read More

Get ready to savour Manitoba's freshest summer flavours

'When we have these prolonged wait times, it takes our society down'

A former Winnipeg doctor is raising the alarm about long wait times in city hospitals after her elderly mother faced an estimated 30-hour wait in the Health Sciences Centre emergency room earlier this week.

Winnipeg’s ER wait times are higher now than they were at any other point over the past decade, according to the most recent median wait time figures released by the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority for November.

Katie May:

‘It’s insane’: Ontario MD outraged by mother’s wait in HSC emergency department

Former Concordia Hospital physician takes to social media to highlight alarming state of health affairs Read More

Tom Brodbeck:

Ruinous Tory ‘reforms’ left ERs on life-support in gravely ill hospitals

The latest emergency-room wait-time numbers for Winnipeg hospitals are catastrophic. There’s no other way to put it. ER wait times, no matter how you measure them, have never been this high, at lea... Read More

'There’s never been a more important time to support your local craft producer'

The last year saw some promising developments in the local craft beer, cider, wine and spirits industry.

But in 2024, a number of factors could combine to rock, and potentially reshape, Manitoba’s drinks landscape.

Drinks writer Ben Sigurdson surveys the highs and lows affecting the local drinks industry.

Ben Sigurdson:

Craft producers celebrate good times, uncertainty ahead

Manitoba's craft-drinks landscape saw many promising developments in 2023 — but don’t be surprised to see a few local breweries and contract brewers trade hands or even close up shop for good in 2024. Read More

Difficult decisions

As the NHL hockey season approaches the halfway point, Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe weigh in on where things currently stand when it comes to the major award categories.

There’s plenty of quality competition and no shortage of tough calls on tap.

Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe:

Mid-season musings

Several Jets in the conversation when choosing NHL’s best Read More

2023's best photos

In a blink of an eye, 2023 has come and gone. But our staff photographers were around the city and province to capture some of the best images of the year.

2023: The year in photos

Free Press photographers share their best images from the last 12 months Read More