News briefs for Thursday, November 9, 2023

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Jets lead Predators 4-2 after two periods

8:45 PM

The Winnipeg Jets have built a 4-2 lead over the Nashville Predators through two periods at Canada Life Centre.

Kyle Connor is leading the way with two goals, while Mason Appleton and Cole Perfetti have singles. Filip Forsberg has both goals for the visitors.

Shots are 28-15 for the Jets, who are seeking a third straight victory.

Multiple-vehicle crash in south Winnipeg

8:23 PM

At least one person is in critical condition after a multiple-vehicle collision in south Winnipeg. 

City police are investigating a crash involving at least two vehicles near the intersection of Pembina Highway and Killarney Avenue. The incident — the second of its kind within an hour — happened around 4:45 p.m. Thursday.

One motorist who was involved in the incident was transported to hospital with serious injuries, a duty officer with Winnipeg Police Service confirmed. 

WPS shut down northbound Pembina Highway between Dalhousie and Killarney avenues. Southbound Pembina Highway, between Kirkbridge Drive and Bairdmore Boulevard, was also immediately reduced from three lanes to two.

Pedestrian in critical condition after collision

8:10 PM

Wendy Sawatzky / Winnipeg Free Press

City police say a pedestrian was rushed to the hospital in critical condition after being struck by a bus in downtown Winnipeg Thursday. 

The Winnipeg Police Service received a report about a serious motor-vehicle collision involving a Winnipeg Transit bus around 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 9.

Northbound Main Street was promptly closed between Logan and Higgins avenues. 

An on-call officer told the Free Press early reports suggest the pedestrian was not crossing at a designated intersection when the incident happened. 

Jets, Predators tied 1-1 after one period

7:49 PM

The Winnipeg Jets and Nashville Predators are tied 1-1 after one period of play.

Mason Appleton opened the scoring with his fourth goal of the year, but Filip Forsberg tied it up later in the opening frame.

There have been two fights so far — both involving Jets captain Adam Lowry, who dropped the gloves with Jeremy Lauzon and, later, Cole Smith.

Shots are 15-7 for the Jets through 20 minutes.

This is the start of a five-game home stand for Winnipeg.

Daycare centres, schools evacuated due to bomb threats

4:54 PM

Child-care centres and adjoining schools in two southern Manitoba communities were evacuated as a precaution due to anonymous bomb threats Thursday afternoon.

RCMP said no devices or suspicious items were found after a threat against a daycare centre in La Broquerie was reported at 1:40 p.m.

At 2:15 p.m., RCMP were called to a threat involving a child-care centre and school in St-Pierre-Jolys.

Joint police unit captures escaped B.C. inmate

2:01 PM

A joint Winnipeg police and RCMP unit focused on violent crime suspects helped find an escaped violent offender from British Columbia.

On Monday, the Vancouver Police Department asked the Manitoba Integrated Violent Offender Apprehension Unit for help finding Jessie Gerald Joe Martin-French, 29, who had escaped from a halfway house in B.C. on Oct. 29 and made his way to Portage la Prairie.

He was serving a sentence for firearms and drug offences, police say. The joint Manitoba unit, along with the Manitoba First Nations Police Service, searched several homes. At one of the residences, police say, Martin-French jumped from a window and tried to run, but officers captured him after a short chase.

Police took him to Stony Mountain prison to be held until he’s transported to B.C.

Province gives Festival du Voyageur $50K for Fort Gibraltar rebuild

11:39 AM

The province has granted $50,000 to Festival du Voyageur to fix its Fort Gibraltar historical site, after the dramatic collapse of an elevated platform in May injured a group of school kids and a teacher.

Culture Minister Glen Simard, whose portfolio includes francophone affairs, announced the funding on Thursday.

In a news release, the province said the grant is meant to support of the “safe occupancy” of the historic site.

“This grant provides essential funding for required structural work that will allow the organization to safely host the 2024 edition of the festival,” said Simard in a statement.

Festival du Voyageur announced in early October that it plans to tear down the fort’s walls and walkways in the wake of the May 31 collapse.

Aging hydro turbines to be replaced

10:37 AM

The federal and provincial governments will spend $314 million to replace eight old turbines at the Pointe du Bois generating station.

As well, Premier Wab Kinew and Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced today a new 230-kilovolt transmission network will be built for the Portage la Prairie area for $161.1 million.

The joint investment will help provide more reliable clean energy from new generators while the Portage area project will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 37 per cent from the Brandon Generating Station.

Man walking on Trans-Canada Highway, struck and killed, now identified

9:34 AM

A man killed by a semi-trailer while walking in the middle of a lane on the Trans-Canada Highway has been identified.

He was 21 years old and from Ochre River, Man., according to police.

The man died Nov. 2. Blue Hills RCMP attended the site — the westbound lanes near Road 115 West, which is about 10 km west of Brandon in the Rural Municipality of Whitehead — at 8:35 pm that day.

The young adult was pronounced dead on site.

The semi-truck driver, a 25-year-old Regina man, was not hurt. RCMP continue to investigate.