Winnipeg Ice downed by Medicine Hat

9:18 AM

The Winnipeg Ice had its 11-game win streak snapped in Medicine Hat last night, falling 6-4 in a spirited battle with Tigers.

The loss dropped the junior club to 48-8-1 (97 points) on the dwindling season and ended what had been a perfect road trip to that point, winning its first seven contests.

Winnipeg remains five points ahead of the Seattle Thunderbirds for top spot in the Western Hockey League.

The Ice travel to Regina to play the Pats tomorrow, 7 p.m. puck drop.

Four-year-old shoots six-year-old at Peguis

9:21 AM

A six-year-old child was rushed to hospital with serious injuries after being shot by a four-year-old.

Fisher Branch RCMP said on Thursday that children were staying at a residence on Peguis First Nation when they found a firearm on Monday at about 11:10 p.m.

The younger child fired the gun and hit the other child.

The injured child was left with serious, but not life threatening injuries.

RCMP executed a search warrant on Wednesday and seized five firearms, a cross bow and ammunition.

An adult male has been arrested and is facing a charge of unlawful storage of a firearm.

Province announces hearing-aid grants

11:25 AM

The province is creating a $12.6-million grant program that will help seniors with hearing loss cover the expense of testing, fitting and buying hearing aids.

The grant of up to $2,000 is available to all Manitobans who are 65 or older, have been prescribed hearing aids by an audiologist or otolaryngologist and had a family income under $80,000 in the previous year.

Selkirk RCMP seek suspects accused of using counterfeit cash

1:30 PM

Selkirk RCMP are on the lookout for two men suspected of spending counterfeit cash at businesses earlier this week.

RCMP were called to a business on Manitoba Avenue in Selkirk at about 1:45 p.m. on Tuesday, where a man had tried to buy goods with two fake $100 notes. The clerk suspected the bills were counterfeit and called for Mounties before the man ran off, RCMP said.

RCMP have determined two suspects, caught on surveillance, used counterfeit cash at several businesses in Selkirk. They suspect more businesses might have accepted the counterfeit $100 bills.

Mounties ask anyone with information on the two suspects, or who might have accepted fake money, to contact the Selkirk detachment at 204-482-1222 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.

Two 14-year-old girls die after being found outside in cold

2:32 PM

Two 14-year-old girls died after they were found outside a home on St. Theresa Point First Nation at about 8 a.m. Wednesday.

RCMP said they believe the girls were outdoors for a period of time while the temperature dropped to about -23 C in the northern community.

Autopsies will be conducted to determine the cause of their deaths, said police.

Manitoba nabs third bronze medal of Day 13 at Canada Games

2:59 PM

Make it three medals for Manitoba on Thursday at the Canada Winter Games in Prince Edward Island.

Winnipeg’s Matias Enciso, 14, captured the first in the men’s épée event while Richer product Khloé Lessard-Kulchyski, 16, secured the other in the women’s sabre competition.

Selkirk’s Daniel Ekosky, 16, found the podium with a bronze medal in the men’s judo -81kg competition.

Manitoba sits eighth among competing provinces and territories with 11 medals (three gold, four silver, four bronze) as Day 13 continues.

Man dead after truck hits ditch in Gimli

3:12 PM

A man has died after a cement truck traveling southbound on Highway 8 at 17th Avenue in the rural municipality of Gimli Tuesday afternoon swerved, entering a ditch.

The driver of the truck, a 46-year-old man, had entered the west side of Highway 8 and drove into the ditch, rolling the vehicle and trapping him inside. He was the lone occupant of the truck.

The driver was working at the time of the incident. RCMP and Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health are investigating.

Hospital leaders acknowledge patient’s hallway death

3:55 PM

Leaders of Manitoba’s largest hospital have spoken publicly for the first time about the death of a patient who was waiting in an ER hallway this week.

No details about the patient have been released, other than that the individual was brought in by EMS around 11:30 pm Feb. 27 and deteriorated within an hour before being pronounced deceased. The patient had no family members at the hospital with them, said Dr. Shawn Young, chief operating officer of HSC.

The death is under investigation, and Young couldn’t say whether the results will be released publicly.