Aftermath of an inferno In pictures: Wildfire destruction at Lac du Bonnet's Wendigo Beach By: Photography by Mikaela MacKenzie Posted: 5:00 PM CDT Friday, May. 23, 2025

Prospective prophets profit

Investing generally involves a prophetic take on the future.

After all, investors are wagering that asset prices’ values will increase over time.

Yet prediction markets kick prognostication up several notches. These online platforms move beyond just financial assets to an assortment of world events: elections, sporting events and whether the latest blockbuster will break box office records.

At least, that is what the world’s largest prediction market platforms — Polymarket and Kalshi, both based in the United States — offer.

The true costs of your pet — for everyone

Pets are a problem, but few will discuss the downsides of pet ownership.

Family hopes police alert will bring missing woman home

The family of Ashley Arason has made a desperate plea for her to come home.

The 41-year-old last had contact with her family on April 6, 2019, which was her 34th birthday.

“I’ve got a place for her,” said her older sister, Pamela Arason, through tears on Thursday. “She has a place to go, a home to come to.”

On Thursday, Winnipeg Police Service renewed the call for help from the public to solve the missing person case.

Winnipeggers hoping for shorter waits in rural ERs delay care for all, Selkirk nurse says

Nurses and union leaders say Winnipeggers — who are frustrated with wait times at city hospitals — head to rural emergency rooms instead, but the facilities don’t have enough staff to meet the extra demand.

As a result, patients in the Selkirk Regional Health Centre emergency department have waited up to 18 hours during peak times, said one nurse who works there.

The nurse, who spoke to the Free Press on the condition of anonymity, said in recent years they have noted more Winnipeg patients who’ve driven the 25 kilometres north to Selkirk’s ER, believing the wait for treatment would be shorter than in the three emergency departments inside the Perimeter.

“They’re all trying to access health care, right? And everybody deserves health care. And I feel bad, because people have to come out here thinking that the wait times are less,” the nurse said. “I can’t blame people for wanting to seek care, and they’re desperate to see someone.”