News briefs for Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Bisons women fall to Cougars

10:07 PM

Jade Belmore scored 22 points and added four rebounds to lead the fifth-seeded University of Regina Cougars to a 71-45 win over the No. 12 Manitoba Bisons in a play-in game at the Canada West women’s basketball playoff tournament Wednesday night in Abbotsford, B.C.

The Cougars advanced to the tournament quarter-finals.

Lauren Bartlett had seven points, two assists and 11 rebounds for the Bisons. Emerson Martin added 10 points for Manitoba.

Workers at independent living site set strike date

3:24 PM

About 160 health-care workers at Ten Ten Sinclair Housing have set a strike date for early March.

Workers at the independent living site will go on strike March 6 unless “fair wages” are offered to front-line staff members, the Canadian Union of Public Employees said in a news release.

Ten Ten Sinclair Inc. is a non-profit organization that receives funding from the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.

CUPE locals 4376 and 2348 are preparing for strike action and are planning information pickets outside the main facility at 1010 Sinclair Ave. in the coming weeks.

“These workers provide front-line health care to persons living with disabilities, with mental health challenges, and others in our community who need the support, and they deserve to be treated fairly, ” CUPE Manitoba president Gina McKay said in a news release.

Suspects sought in Portage la Prairie store robbery

2:57 PM

RCMP are searching for suspects after a Portage la Prairie store was robbed twice in a matter of days.

Officers responded to a panic alarm at the business in the 700 block of Saskatchewan Avenue East at 5:10 a.m. Wednesday. Two male suspects — one armed with a handgun, the other with a knife — robbed the store of cash and cigarettes.

The suspects fled westbound and are believed to have entered a waiting vehicle.

Security video shows the two males and a woman who entered the store just before the robbery, walked around briefly and left.

Mounties are asking anyone with information about the robbery to call 204-768-2311 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

RCMP are also searching for two males who robbed the same business and assaulted an employee at about 9:10 p.m. Friday.

The males, armed with a firearm and a knife, fled with stolen cash. The 31-year-old victim suffered minor injuries.

RCMP said it’s not known whether the same suspects are responsible for the two similar robberies.

Top Manitoba Mountie moving on

1:53 PM

The commanding officer of the Manitoba RCMP is leaving to take the same role in Alberta.

Rob Hill, who was also recently named deputy commissioner, took over Manitoba’s D Division in July 2022. He was previously chief superintendent of criminal operations in Manitoba.

“Moving provinces and taking on a larger responsibility within the RCMP is an exciting opportunity, but leaving Manitoba isn’t easy for me, nor for my family, by any means,” Hill said in a media release Wednesday.

“It’s difficult, as this province has been part of my life for so long; in fact, more than half my career has been right here in Manitoba.”

Suspect arrested for Flin Flon assault

1:32 PM

RCMP have arrested a man they were seeking in connection with an assault in Flin Flon.

Brennon Daniels, 21, was wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for assault with a weapon and allegedly violating conditions of his parole. Other warrants for his arrest had also been issued, Mounties said.

RCMP asked for the public’s help in finding Daniels on Wednesday, and later announced he had been arrested.

Sudden death under investigation in Brandon

1:25 PM

Brandon police are investigating a woman’s sudden death in the western Manitoba city.

Police were called about someone sleeping in a yard in the 200 block of Princess Avenue at about 7:59 a.m. Monday.

A 49-year-old woman was found dead. The Brandon Police Service  are investigating the cause of death.

One injured in Redwood Avenue crash

9:58 AM

One person was taken to hospital after a three-vehicle crash on Redwood Avenue on Wednesday morning.

Police were called about the incident west of Artillery Street at about 8:16 a.m.

A car was badly damaged in the collision, and a pickup truck also had visible damage.

Part of Redwood remained closed an hour after the crash.