Bias in media

Please review each article prior to use: grade-level applicability and curricular alignment might not be obvious from the headline alone.

A man paddles a canoe in Annobón Island, Equatorial Guinea, Sunday, June 12, 2022. (AP Photo)
No Subscription Required

Equatorial Guinea enforces yearlong internet outage for island that protested construction company

Ope Adetayo, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview
No Subscription Required

Equatorial Guinea enforces yearlong internet outage for island that protested construction company

Ope Adetayo, The Associated Press 6 minute read Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — When residents of Equatorial Guinea's Annobón island wrote to the government in Malabo in July last year complaining about the dynamite explosions by a Moroccan construction company, they didn't expect the swift end to their internet access.

Dozens of the signatories and residents were imprisoned for nearly a year, while internet access to the small island has been cut off since then, according to several residents and rights groups.

Local residents interviewed by The Associated Press left the island in the past months, citing fear for their lives and the difficulty of life without internet.

Banking services have shut down, hospital services for emergencies have been brought to a halt and residents say they rack up phone bills they can't afford because cellphone calls are the only way to communicate.

Read
Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025
No Subscription Required

Nation building needs research — not just infrastructure

Mario Pinto 5 minute read Saturday, Sep. 13, 2025

Living through the second Trump administration as a Canadian has been likened, by one commentator, to a teenager being kicked out of the house. We must grow up fast and deal with the fact that we can now only rely on ourselves. So, the federal government is moving fast on files related to security, sovereignty and connectivity. The Liberals passed Bill C-5 to expedite projects that will help Canadians live on our own. Wonderful.

But.

In our rush forward, we cannot overlook the power of nation-building research, which must go hand-in-glove with these infrastructure projects. Research and infrastructure are not competing priorities: they are essential partners in nation-building.

Bill C-5, the Building Canada Act, grants the federal government sweeping powers to quickly build large projects that help goods move faster and more easily. This act intends to strengthen our security, autonomy, resilience and advance the interests of Indigenous Peoples. But there can be no nation-building without nation-building research.

SUPPLIED Improvements to the Port of Churchill in Manitoba’s North, including the provision of an icebreaker ship and possibly an all-weather road, will allow greater access to the port and provide improved transportation links for northern and Indigenous communities.

Grey Cup week could feature game-changing economic score for Churchill, political triumph for Kinew

Dan Lett 5 minute read Preview

Grey Cup week could feature game-changing economic score for Churchill, political triumph for Kinew

Dan Lett 5 minute read Friday, Sep. 12, 2025

It is an incredible economic and political gift that could keep giving to Manitoba’s NDP government for years, if not decades, to come.

This week, Prime Minister Mark Carney released a list of five major projects that his government would fast-track to give Canada more economic independence from the United States. No Manitoba projects made that first short list, but something called “Churchill Plus” was identified as being under consideration for approval in the second round.

Churchill Plus includes improvements to the Port of Churchill in Manitoba’s North, including the provision of an icebreaker ship and possibly an all-weather road, to allow greater access to the port and provide improved transportation links for northern and Indigenous communities.

There is no way to exaggerate the economic and political dividends that could flow from Churchill Plus.

Read
Friday, Sep. 12, 2025
SUPPLIED A Steinbach animal rescue charity was hit by a second catastrophe in a year as basements and streets flooded while some communities were inundated by two months’ worth of rain overnight Thursday. Photos taken Friday morning, September 12, 2025

Steinbach, nearby communities flooded in massive overnight deluge

Chris Kitching 5 minute read Preview

Steinbach, nearby communities flooded in massive overnight deluge

Chris Kitching 5 minute read Friday, Sep. 12, 2025

Some residents of Steinbach were mopping up and assessing damage Friday after the southeastern Manitoba city was swamped by two months’ worth of rain in about four hours.

An animal rescue charity was hit by catastrophe again when basements and streets flooded almost a year to the day a deluge inundated buildings.

“Last year, they told us it was a one-in-1oo-year event, and here we are 11 months later with the same event,” said Graham Pollock, vice-president of Steinbach and Area Animal Rescue.

He said the organization moved almost two dozen cats and kittens to foster homes after nearly 2.1 metres (seven feet) of floodwater filled the shelter’s basement overnight Thursday.

Read
Friday, Sep. 12, 2025
PHIL HOSSACK / FREE PRESS FILES Kilcona Park is a 48-hectare off-leash dog area, adjacent to Highway 59 in the northeast quadrant of the city.

Road through popular dog park proving divisive

Joyanne Pursaga 5 minute read Preview

Road through popular dog park proving divisive

Joyanne Pursaga 5 minute read Friday, Sep. 12, 2025

Users of a large and popular city dog park fear renovations that will cut a road through the expansive property will transform the serene space into a busy traffic route.

By contrast, the city expects the updated park would serve more people and make better use of its entire property.

Frequent visitors to the 48-hectare off-leash dog area in Kilcona Park, adjacent to Highway 59 in the northeast quadrant of the city, say it’s a well-loved spot that the road would disrupt.

“Putting a big road through that… park, it just seems so intrusive. It’s beautiful just the way it is, there’s prairie wildflowers, there’s wildlife,” said Tom Moody.

Read
Friday, Sep. 12, 2025
Telus offices are seen in Ottawa on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. The telecom giant is asking the CRTC to rule Rogers offside for unfairly blocking it from advertising on Rogers-owned media platforms. Telus says Rogers is also interfering with its long-standing sponsorship of the Calgary Flames. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Telus drops the gloves with Rogers over alleged ad blocking on its media platforms

Sammy Hudes, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Preview

Telus drops the gloves with Rogers over alleged ad blocking on its media platforms

Sammy Hudes, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2025

TORONTO - A Canadian telecom giant is asking the national regulator to call one of its competitors offside, saying it has been unfairly blocked from advertising on the other company's media platforms.

It's a battle between Telus Corp. and Rogers Communications Inc. that also extends to the ice, with the former alleging that Rogers has used its position as Canada's dominant TV rightsholder for NHL games to interfere with Telus' long-standing sponsorship of the Calgary Flames.

The issue was outlined in a complaint filed by Telus in June and posted to the CRTC's website Tuesday. It alleges Rogers has been engaging in "anticompetitive behaviour" that violates regulatory rules.

Rogers disputes that characterization, however, saying Telus' advertisements aim to harm its reputation and therefore don't comply with its content standards.

Read
Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2025
FILE - Tom Hanks arrives at the 15th Governors Awards Nov. 17, 2024, at The Ray Dolby Ballroom in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

Trump celebrates West Point alumni group canceling award ceremony to honor Tom Hanks

Michelle L. Price, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Trump celebrates West Point alumni group canceling award ceremony to honor Tom Hanks

Michelle L. Price, The Associated Press 5 minute read Monday, Sep. 15, 2025

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump celebrated news on Monday that an alumni group from West Point canceled an award ceremony set to honor Tom Hanks, with the president calling the famous actor “destructive” and “WOKE.”

Hanks was scheduled to receive the 2025 Sylvanus Thayer Award on Sept. 25, but the U.S. Military Academy's alumni association canceled the ceremony last week, according to news reports.

“Important move!” Trump said in a post on his social media network Monday. “We don’t need destructive, WOKE recipients getting our cherished American Awards!!! Hopefully the Academy Awards, and other Fake Award Shows, will review their Standards and Practices in the name of Fairness and Justice.”

West Point, its alumni association and a representative for Hanks did not immediately respond to messages and calls seeking comment Monday.

Read
Monday, Sep. 15, 2025
Nurses clocked about 36,547 overtime hours per month in 2022, an increase of about 50 per cent compared to 2020. (Winnipeg Free Press files)

Number of private agency nurses rises

Carol Sanders 5 minute read Preview

Number of private agency nurses rises

Carol Sanders 5 minute read Monday, Sep. 8, 2025

As the province tries to move away from its reliance on private agency nurses, data show the practice continues to increase in Manitoba.

A report Thursday from the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba shows there were 1,611 nurses working for private agencies in 2024, up from 1,418 in 2023.

“Our fundamental mandate as the professional regulator is to ensure public protection and provide the conditions that work towards supporting and ensuring patient safety,” said college spokesman Martin Lussier.

“When there is a significant shift in the practice of (nurses) that we regulate, part of our work is to assess: does that create new challenges or risks.”

Read
Monday, Sep. 8, 2025
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) throws a pass under pressure from Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith Jr. (3) in the second half of an NFL football game Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
No Subscription Required

Onslaught of sports betting ads make gambling seem enticing to youth, doctors say

Nicole Ireland, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview
No Subscription Required

Onslaught of sports betting ads make gambling seem enticing to youth, doctors say

Nicole Ireland, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025

TORONTO - Doctors are calling for restrictions on sports betting ads, saying they are setting youth up for a future of problem gambling.

An editorial published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal on Monday says the ads are everywhere during sports broadcasts and that the legalization of online gambling has made every smartphone a potential betting platform.

Editor Dr. Shannon Charlebois says even though betting sites say they're only for people 19 years of age and older, youth are being inundated with advertising that equates enjoying sports with betting.

She says child and teen brains are still developing and the constant exposure to gambling messages normalizes harmful behaviour that they can carry into adulthood

Read
Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025
BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS Federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald (right) makes an agriculture announcement in the Tache Room at the Fort Garry Hotel in Winnipeg, Man., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. MacDonald was joined by Provincial Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn for the announcement.

‘We’re here for you’, agriculture minister tells farmers

Erik Pindera 3 minute read Preview

‘We’re here for you’, agriculture minister tells farmers

Erik Pindera 3 minute read Sunday, Sep. 7, 2025

The federal agriculture minister and his Manitoba counterpart tried to offer comfort Sunday to canola producers and other farmers roiled by massive tariffs from China and other economic uncertainty.

Liberal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald said in Winnipeg on Sunday a new $370-million in support meant to ease the pain in the canola industry, which was announced Friday by Prime Minister Mark Carney, is “just a start.”

“I know you’re stressed, you need to make business decisions, this is your livelihood and what you’re hoping to pass on to the next generation… when the time comes,” said MacDonald. “We’re here for you.”

MacDonald made the comments ahead of an annual meeting of federal, provincial and territorial agriculture ministers, which runs through Tuesday in Winnipeg, where trade uncertainty is expected to largely top the agenda.

Read
Sunday, Sep. 7, 2025