News briefs for Thursday, May 11, 2023

Fire destroys Keewatin Street home

8:32 AM

A house on Keewatin Street was gutted in a fire early Thursday.

Firefighters were sent to the scene in the 0-100 block of Keewatin at 1:02 a.m. and fought the blaze from outside. The fire was declared under control at 2:20 a.m.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. The house is a total loss, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service said in a news release.

Terri Clark, Paul Brandt team up for Burt show

9:26 AM

Canadian country stars Terri Clark and Paul Brandt are joining musical forces for a cross-Canada acoustic tour that stops at the Burton Cummings Theatre Nov. 3.

Tickets go on sale May 18 at 10 a.m. at ticketmaster.ca, however there are fan club presales scheduled for May 16 and May 17. Prices were not announced.

The Alberta artists — Clark grew up in Medicine Hat; Brandt in Airdrie — are two of Canada’s most decorated country artists. Clark is a three-time Juno Award winner who was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2004 and will be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame on May 18.

Brandt is a six-time Juno winner and also won the Slaight Music Humanitarian of the Year award in 2019 for his efforts to end human trafficking.

WestJet connects Winnipeg to Atlanta

10:26 AM

WestJet is launching daily, five times per week service from Winnipeg to Atlanta starting in September.

Atlanta is the largest airport in the world, with nearly 100 million passengers in 2022 and more than 100 direct connections from there as the global hub for Delta Airlines.

An announcement was made Thursday morning at Price Industries, a Winnipeg company with a sizable operation in Atlanta.

Province reimbursing physician licensing fees

12:09 PM

The Manitoba government announced $13 million to reimburse physician licensing fees over the next two years.

In a press release Thursday, the government said the reimbursement is part of an “evolving package” of incentives and workplace improvements intended to retain physicians working in the province.

It’s also providing $350,000 to set up all Manitoba doctors with access to a secure messaging platform called Cortext, which helps physicians and care team members connect and collaborate in real time to make diagnostic and treatment decisions faster, the release said.

The communications tool is expected to facilitate collaboration, improve care, and support better transitions for patients between health-care providers. Cortext is expected to roll out to physicians beginning this month.

31-year-old man found injured on Main Street dies

1:32 PM

A 31-year-old man found injured on Main Street late Wednesday has died, sparking a homicide investigation.

Winnipeg police patrol officers were called to the intersection of Main Street and Stella Avenue at about 10:50 p.m. When they arrived, they found the victim suffering and performed CPR, police said. He was rushed to hospital in critical condition, but he was later pronounced dead.

Homicide detectives have identified the victim as Vincent Brian Kipling, 31. Autopsy results are pending, police said. His death marks the 13th slaying in Winnipeg this year.

No one has been arrested and homicide detectives have asked for anyone with information or video surveillance footage that could be relevant to call investigators at 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477.

Woman dies in Highway 1 collision

3:08 PM

A 43-year-old woman from the Rural Municipality of North Norfolk died at the scene of a two-vehicle collision on Highway 1 Wednesday morning.

Portage la Prairie RCMP were called to the scene in the RM at the intersection of Highway 1 and Road 64 West at about 9:45 a.m.

A vehicle, driven by the deceased victim, headed south on the road collided with another vehicle traveling east on the highway, RCMP said. The 20-year-old driver of the other vehicle, also from the RM, was taken to hospital with injuries Mounties described as non-life threatening.

Local RCMP and a forensic collision reconstruction specialist are investigating.

Overland flood warning issued for southwestern Manitoba

3:38 PM

An overland flood warning has been issued for southwestern Manitoba for Friday and Saturday.

The province’s hydrologic forecast centre says a rain storm forecasted to hit North Dakota could cross the border and bring up to 150 mm of precipitation to communities including Brandon, Virden, Souris and Boissevain.

The province says soil in that area west of PTH 10 and south of the Trans Canada Highway is saturated so it could create overland flooding or significant run off.