Roblin housing project gets OK after city denies appeal

A long-debated proposal to add more than 100 new homes at 4025 Roblin Blvd. is finally moving forward, after a series of obstacles.

On Wednesday, the city’s appeal committee denied an attempt to halt the project, instead supporting the proposal to add 119 housing units at the site, including a four-storey building with 101 multifamily units, plus 18 townhomes. This would add to an existing 33 units within the Odd Fellows building at the same property, located near the intersection of William Clement Parkway.

After multiple roadblocks to construction, the applicant said the decision to let the project proceed is a relief.

“My (first) application was approved by (city) council. If that approval had stuck, people would actually already be living there. I don’t object to due process. I’m very grateful to live in Canada and have democratic process … But as somebody who goes through this process multiple times per year, and I’ve been doing this for 20 years, (I’ve seen) that process get longer and longer and fraught with more risk,” said Daniel Serhal, the site’s owner and developer.

Judge breaks down while sentencing man for child pornography offences

During his 26 years on the bench, provincial court Judge Ray Wyant has sentenced killers, rapists, and thieves and been a constant witness to humanity at its worst.

On Tuesday, the veteran judge sentenced a man whose collecting and distributing of child sex abuse videos online included detailed and violent descriptions of child rape.

Resting his brow on his hand, his voice catching with what looked like tears, Wyant couldn’t contain his emotion.

He didn’t even try.

Bill seeks to improve transparency into Manitoba doctor misconduct

Manitoba’s NDP government is taking steps to improve transparency surrounding doctor wrongdoing by amending a law that governs the physician watchdog.

The move comes in the wake of extensive Free Press reporting on this issue.

On Wednesday, Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara introduced Bill 36, the Regulated Health Professions Amendment Act, in the legislature. If passed, it would force bodies like the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba to hold public cancellation hearings for physicians convicted of crimes related to suitability to practise. Currently, the hearings are held in private.

The Free Press first brought the issue to light in January after learning the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba was holding the cancellation hearing for a physician convicted of sexual assault behind closed doors. The revelation was one in a long line of transparency and public accountability issues involving the self-regulating college the Free Press has been investigating since 2022.

High-speed route crater takes toll on vehicles, motorists’ nerves during morning rush

Several Winnipeg motorists were left stranded at the side of a busy high-speed thoroughfare Wednesday morning with blown tires and damaged rims after hitting a large pothole during their morning commute.

New water taxi, tour operator enters space long held by Splash Dash

A new business restarting Winnipeg water bus service and continuing boat tours along the Red and Assiniboine rivers will soon set sail.

The company has already received hopeful praise from The Forks and anger from the site’s former operator — and possibly future competitor — Splash Dash Boat Tours.

For now, Winnipeg Waterways is anticipating the arrival of five Quebec-made boats before its May 18 start date.

“We hope to make Winnipeggers proud,” co-owner Will Belford said Wednesday.

The Latest | Seated juror in hush money trial excused as prosecutors ask judge to sanction Trump

NEW YORK (AP) — Jury selection in Donald Trump ’s hush money case encountered new setbacks Thursday as a previously seated juror was excused after backtracking on whether she felt she could be impartial and fair. The status of a second sworn-in juror was also in limbo over concerns that some of his previous answers to questions were not accurate.

Seven jurors were sworn in on Tuesday, but with the excusal of at least one lawyers now need to pick 12 others to serve on the panel that will decide the first-ever criminal case against a former U.S. president.

Prosecutors on Thursday also asked Judge Juan M. Merchan to sanction Trump over seven more social media posts they say violate a gag order that bars Trump from attacking witnesses.

The prosecution on Monday sought a $3,000 fine against Trump over three Truth Social posts.

‘She was pretty much a pretzel’: firefighters pull trapped eight-year-old out of play structure

A Lorette mother is warning parents to keep a close eye on their children, after her eight-year-old daughter became trapped inside a play structure last weekend, prompting a call to emergency services.

“Playgrounds may look like all fun and games, but they can be potentially dangerous, too,” said Keanna Deslaurier.

Deslaurier’s daughter, Nevaeh, was playing at École Lagimodière playground last Sunday in the small community, located 30 kilometres southeast of Winnipeg.

“All I heard was, ‘Mom, I’m stuck,” she said, describing the moment the small child clambered inside a small, plastic drum attached to the play structure.

Leaf Rapids expands its musical palette on Velvet Paintings

Images from childhood linger in the back of our minds, waiting to haunt us when we least expect it.

That’s certainly the case for Keri Latimer of the Winnipeg folk-rock band Leaf Rapids, whose youthful memories inspire the group’s new album Velvet Paintings, which comes out Friday.

“My parents had these two velvet paintings in the basement of the house that I grew up in. One was a crying clown and one was a laughing clown and they both were super-creepy and they always freaked me out,” says Latimer, who, along with her husband, Devin Latimer, drummer Joanna Miller and guitarist Chris Dunn, will perform songs from the record Friday at the Times Change(d) High and Lonesome Club.

“I really hated them at the time, but they stuck in my memory and they were featured in this song I was writing about … It’s cheesy and low-brow, kind of like us.”

Liberals buck global trend by ‘doubling down’ on foreign aid, as sector urges G7 push

OTTAWA - Foreign aid groups are hailing the federal Liberal government's return to a policy of increasing humanitarian and development spending each year, while asking for a plan to push allies to reverse a global decline in aid.

"It was a good moment for Canada to step up and show global leadership by making this commitment of additional, new humanitarian money," said Kate Higgins, the head of Cooperation Canada, which represents more than 100 non-profits.

The Liberals pledged in their Tuesday budget to increase humanitarian aid by $150 million in the current fiscal year and $200 million the following year.

Global Affairs Canada says that means total foreign aid for this fiscal year "is projected to exceed $7 billion," though the department did not offer a precise number.