The Wrap: Sentence for triple killer, The Forks rail bridge, inmate-release error, U Sports player on a break
PLUS: A Winnipeg woman who turned a painting hobby into an international design business

A man who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the 2022 deaths of his common-law partner and their two children will serve a life sentence with no parole eligibility for 16 years.

Trevis McLeod, 52, admitted in September to killing Shantelle Murphy, 32, and children Isabella, 6, and Mason, 3, in their Portage la Prairie home.

The mother and children were “viciously bludgeoned” in their beds, then McLeod set a fire and fled.

Dean Pritchard reports from the courts on what the judge called “the worst case I have ever dealt with in my career.”

It could cost more than $10 million to repair the historic rail bridge at The Forks, which closed suddenly in June 2023.

The Forks is still in the process of determining a permanent solution for the 110-year-old bridge, but some remediation work is now underway.

Nicole Buffie talks to The Forks and active-transportation users about the span’s future.

Earlier this week, corrections officials accidentally released Mark Traverse, an accused killer who was supposed to be kept behind bars until his November manslaughter trial.

Traverse was found yesterday and re-arrested without incident.

But this is not the first time an inmate has been let out of a provincial jail accidentally. Manitoba Justice annual reports indicate a handful of people are released by mistake each year.

Reporter Erik Pindera looks into what’s going wrong and what Manitoba Justice is doing to solve the problem.

Manitoba Justice Minister Matt Wiebe signalled Thursday that a permanent anti-shoplifting program is being eyed, after a temporary initiative focusing on three Winnipeg neighbourhoods was extended to Dec. 31.

Wiebe confirmed 12 city police graduates — funded by the province — will soon join the campaign, which has been using existing officers on overtime since June.

Chris Kitching reports.

Bryanne Hobson was living in Toronto and working a demanding job in 2014 when she decided to give watercolour painting a whirl.

A decade later, she’s spun that hobby into a full-time venture that sees her husband and a staff of eight working with established retailers around the world to develop private label and company-branded products.

In his latest Made in Manitoba feature, business reporter Aaron Epp looks at the couple’s return to Winnipeg and the rise of Hobbry’s success.

Manitoba left side Raya Surinx was the best women’s U Sports volleyball player in the country in 2023-24.

So what does she do for an encore? A mental health break.

Sportswriter Mike Sawatzky talks to Surinx and her coaches and teammates about the need to take time off to refresh mental and physical reserves.