News briefs for Friday, January 6, 2023

Manitoba adds 38 COVID-19 deaths to provincial total, influenza activity dropping

10:42 AM

Manitoba Public Health reported 38 new deaths owing to COVID-19 to close out 2022.

In its latest virus surveillance report, the province said no deaths were recorded between Dec. 25 and Dec. 31. However, the total number of COVID-19 deaths during the respiratory virus season jumped from 229 to 267.

Fifty people were admitted to hospital with COVID-19, including 12 to intensive care during the last week of December. Viral spread and activity was comparable to the previous week, public health said.

Meanwhile, influenza activity is decreasing, with infections approaching levels expected for this time of year. The flu landed 20 people in hospital during the reporting period and two people died.

Public health reported an overall increase of 13 deaths owing to influenza to bring the total to 50 for the respiratory virus season. The province did not issue a public health report for the week of Dec. 18 to 24.

See detailed charts showing provincial COVID-19 data here.

Armed man zapped with Taser, arrested after getting off bus

11:55 AM

Police used a Taser on a man who had been seen with knives while on a bus Thursday night.

The Winnipeg Police Service was called about a man causing trouble on the bus shortly before 10 p.m. Because of the man’s actions, the bus stopped near Portage Avenue and Kennedy Street.

Someone called police a second time saying the man had taken two knives out of a backpack and hid one of them in his waistband and the other in his ankle area.

Police arrived and saw the man walking northbound on Kennedy. The WPS said he was unco-operative with officers and placed his hands near his ankle area. Police zapped him with a Taser and seized a folding-style knife, a hunting-style knife from his front waistband and a can of bear spray from his backpack.

The 19-year-old man is charged with three counts of possession of a weapon and six counts of failing to comply with conditions of a release order. 

He was detained in custody.

Mall shoplifter arrested with BB gun

11:57 AM

A woman who pointed a gun and pulled the trigger at mall security staff members while shoplifting shoes was arrested.

Winnipeg police said Friday the woman had taken a pair of shoes from Kildonan Place at about 7:45 p.m. Thursday.

Police said when mall security followed the woman outside the mall, she pointed the gun at them and pulled the trigger, making them think they had been shot at.

Police responded and arrested the woman outside a nearby store. Officers found a BB gun on her and recovered the stolen item.

No one was injured in the incident.

A 21-year-old woman, who was detained in custody, has been charged with several offences including robbery and discharging an air gun with intent.

Quartet of injured players return tonight for Jets

11:58 AM

The Winnipeg Jets are getting both quality and quantity back into the lineup tonight.

Coach Rick Bowness confirmed that all of Nikolaj Ehlers, Blake Wheeler, Cole Perfetti and Nate Schmidt will make their return from injuries.

The quartet have a combined 55 points (18G, 37A) in 93 games so far. But they have missed a combined 59 games.

Connor Hellebuyck will start in net as the Jets try to win a fourth straight game. Puck drop against the Tampa Bay Lightning is 7 p.m. at Canada Life Centre.

Another PC cabinet minister won’t run again

1:39 PM

Labour Minister Reg Helwer announced today that he will not seek re-election.

“After 12 years of proudly representing Brandon West, I have decided to spend more time with my family and not seek re-election,”  Helwer said on social media.

He is the 10th Progressive Conservative member of Premier Heather Stefanson’s caucus to announce that they will not run in the Oct. 3 provincial election.

Winnipeg Beach girl missing, might be in city

2:34 PM

RCMP are looking for a missing teenage girl from Winnipeg Beach.

Latisha Smith, 17, was last seen at a home on Murray Avenue in the Interlake town at about 2 p.m. on Dec. 28.
Latisha is described as 5-2 in height, 100 pounds, with long brown hair and blue eyes. She might be in the Winnipeg area, RCMP said in a news release Friday.

Anyone with information on Latisha’s whereabouts is asked to call Gimli RCMP at 204-642-5106 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

Jets lose Eyssimont to Sharks

3:53 PM

The Winnipeg Jets have lost forward Michael Eyssimont to the San Jose Sharks. He was picked up on waivers Friday afternoon.

Eyssimont, 26, appeared in 19 games with the Jets this year, scoring his first NHL goal and adding four assists. Winnipeg wanted to send him down to the Manitoba Moose of the AHL, but the other 31 teams had a chance to obtain him first.

The Jets lost defenceman Johnathan Kovacevic on waivers earlier this year to the Montreal Canadiens, while picking up forwards Axel Jonsson-Fjallby (Washington) and Karson Kuhlman (Seattle) via that same avenue.