News briefs for Tuesday, January 6, 2026

VJ’s gets shoutout from visiting actor Blake Anderson

1:41 PM

A Winnipeg burger institution is getting some major praise from a visiting celebrity.

American actor Blake Anderson gave a glowing shoutout to VJ’s Drive Inn on a recent episode of the This Is Important podcast.

“VJ’s Drive Inn has probably one of the top 5 burgers I’ve ever had in my life,” Anderson says on the podcast he hosts alongside his Workaholics co-stars Adam Devine, Anders Holm and Kyle Newacheck. “It is literally a hut where these old women forge the most beautiful burgers you will sink your teeth into.”

Anderson, who was recently in town filming the forthcoming curling movie Sticks and Stones, went on to extol the virtues of the VJ’s Special — an $11 fatboy-style burger served with chili, cheese, mustard, onion, pickles, shredded lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise.

“The chili isn’t sloppy; it just makes the burger more beefier,” he says.

VJ’s, a year-round takeout joint, opened at 170 Main St. in 1958.

Bombers sign defensive back Evan Holm

1:06 PM

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have signed defensive back Evan Holm to a two-year contract extension.

Holm, who recently worked out for the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers, was scheduled to become a free agent in February.

Holm was named to the CFL and West Division All-Star teams in 2025 and was also voted the Blue Bombers Most Outstanding Defensive player after finishing with 55 tackles, six more on special teams, two forced fumbles and four interceptions.

More measles warnings for Steinbach, Morden, St-Pierre-Jolys sites

12:14 PM

The provincial government notified the public Monday of three more locations in southern Manitoba where people might have been exposed to measles.

The locations are:

• The emergency waiting room at Bethesda Regional Health Centre in Steinbach, from 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 27 to 2 a.m. on Dec. 28
• Menzies Medical Centre in Morden, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m on Dec. 29, Dec. 30 and Dec. 31
• De Salaberry District Health Centre in St-Pierre-Jolys, from 1:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 31.

Public health officials asked anyone who was in those locations during those times to check their immunization records and ensure they are up to date with measles vaccines.

Teenager struck by vehicle in River Park South

11:25 AM

A teenager struck by a vehicle Monday was rushed to hospital in critical condition.

The teen was hit near Warde Avenue and Lanyon Drive in the River Park South area at about 4:10 p.m., Winnipeg Police Service spokesman Const. Claude Chancy said Tuesday.

The driver of the vehicle stayed at the scene and spoke with officers, Chancy said. No charges have been laid.

Chancy had no update on the teenager’s condition.

Extremely potent synthetic opioid found for first time in street drug

10:46 AM

A synthetic opioid four times stronger than fentanyl was detected at Street Connections for the first time.

A white, round pill sold as Percocet was found to contain metonitazene, Street Connections — run by the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority — said in a drug alert last week. The pill had a marking of “TEC” on one side and a scored line on the other.

The pill was tested at Street Connections on Dec. 19, but the results were inconclusive. It was sent for further testing, which detected metonitazene.

Naloxone can reverse the effects of metonitazene, but it might take more doses to revive someone.

Two guns seized, three charged

10:24 AM

Police seized a shotgun and a handgun with a defaced serial number after stopping a vehicle in a back lane early Monday.

Officers stopped the 2020 Ford Explorer behind the 200 block of Machray after an alleged traffic infraction at Machray and Charles Street shortly after midnight.

Three people ran away. Officers arrested one person — a 46-year-old man — nearby. He had 17 grams of fentanyl and nearly $3,000 on him, the Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release Tuesday.

Officers arrested another 46-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman at the intersection of Main Street and Cathedral Avenue. Police said the woman was the driver.

Officers found a dismantled Remington 12-gauge shotgun, a loaded .357 revolver and a digital scale when they searched the SUV.

All three people have been charged with firearms-related offences.

The first man arrested is also charged with drug trafficking, possession of proceeds of crime and five counts of failing to comply with a release order. The woman is charged with two counts of failing to comply with conditions of an undertaking.

All three people were detained in police custody.