Jets clinch home-ice in first round of playoffs with 4-3 victory over Kraken
9:23 PM
The Winnipeg Jets have clinched home-ice advantage in their first-round playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche.
A 4-3 victory on Tuesday over the Seattle Kraken ensures the Jets will finish in second place in the Central Division.
Kyle Connor scored twice, while Nikolaj Ehlers and Tyler Toffoli had the other tallies.
Winnipeg is now 51-24-6 on the year – including seven straight victories. They will close out the 82-game regular season on Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks. The playoffs are expected to begin this weekend, but no dates have been announced.
Manitoba Avenue dwelling burns again
4:05 PM
Crews extinguished a fire at a Manitoba Avenue dwelling for the second time in less than three weeks.
Firefighters were sent to the two-storey converted dwelling on the 300 block of Manitoba Avenue at 5:44 p.m. Monday and declared the fire under control at 6:48 p.m.
Crews were sent there again at 2:22 a.m Tuesday after fire was found during a check and declared the situation under control at 3 a.m.
The building was boarded up after a fire on the night of March 27. The building was occupied at that time.
Preliminary observations suggest the March fire was accidental, caused by an electrical malfunction, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service said at the time.
Crews were sent to a fire at a single-storey dwelling on the first 100 block of Delorme Avenue at 1:32 p.m. Tuesday. The fire was declared under control at 2 p.m.
Occupants of the home got out before crews arrived.
City set to begin controlled burns
2:37 PM
The city is set to begin its annual controlled burns of natural areas this week, weather permitting.
The City of Winnipeg expects to conduct burns throughout the city until about June 14.
“We will only do so when wind conditions are suitable and with appropriate fire guards in place,” the city said in a news release Tuesday. “Fire plays an important role in the preservation and restoration of prairies. Lack of fire allows weeds to invade these endangered plant communities.”
The city has been conducting controlled burns on tall grass prairies since 1986.
Three sought in $70K iPhones theft
2:23 PM
Police are searching for three suspects after thieves stole more than $70,000 worth of iPhones from the Walmart in Portage la Prairie.
The theft happened at the Sissons Drive store at about 9:30 p.m. on March 9.
Police were told a woman distracted an employee in the electronics area while two men broke into a cabinet and stole about 60 of the Apple products.
“The entire incident occurred within minutes” and was not noticed until the next morning, RCMP said.
This incident is believed to be related to three similar thefts that happened within the last month in Swift Current, Sask., Brooks, Alta., and Medicine Hat, Alta.
Police released an image of a man who was wearing a white jacket and a blue baseball cap. The other man was wearing a black and white cap.
The woman was wearing a long white jacket. All three suspects were described as being in their 30s.
Portage la Prairie RCMP are asking anyone with information about the theft to contact them at 204-857-4445, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.
EPC eyeing encampment cleanup pilot project
12:48 PM
A pilot project that aims to clean up more of Winnipeg’s encampments looks set to start soon.
On Tuesday, council’s executive policy committee voted to devote up to $170,000, within the city’s existing budget, to enter an agreement with Main Street Project, Siloam Mission and Downtown Community Safety Partnership to conduct the project.
While it’s not yet clear how many encampments this would clean up, Mayor Scott Gillingham said he hopes the work can begin as soon as possible and continue through the end of October.
The mayor said he hopes the cleanups can take place on a weekly basis.
The city spent nearly $84,000 to conduct 162 encampment cleanups in 2023, while officials estimate it would cost $4.06 million per year to provide weekly cleanups at 150 encampments spread throughout the city, according to a recent report.
Council is expected to vote on the pilot project later this month.
Three teens arrested for sex assault in ‘hazing incident’
12:23 PM
Three teenage boys have been arrested for sexual assault in connection with a “hazing incident” on a hockey team that happened in January.
The five victims were 15 or 16 years old. The three boys arrested are 17 years old, Manitoba RCMP posted on social media Tuesday afternoon.
Man shot through door, three people charged
12:13 PM
A man was shot through a door he knocked on early Monday, Winnipeg police said.
Police said the man, 56, went to see a friend in the 800 block of William Avenue at about 12:45 a.m. and was shot through the door.
The man, who suffered a serious upper-body injury, went to the hospital, and police were called.
Members of the heavy armed tactical support team were sent to William Avenue. Two suspects exited the home and were arrested. A third remained inside for “some time” before he was arrested, the Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release Tuesday.
Police obtained a warrant and searched the home at about 1:10 p.m. Officers seized a modified rifle and magazine with ammunition.
Two men, ages 25 and 23, and a 20-year-old woman have been charged with weapons, assault and other offences. All three were detained in custody.
Girl finds sawed-off shotgun on Gimli beach
10:34 AM
Police are investigating after a young girl found a sawed-off shotgun on a Gimli beach.
RCMP said a family was clearing garbage near their cottage when the 12-year-old girl found the gun at about 12:35 p.m. Saturday.
The firearm was rusted shut. Mounties disassembled it at the Gimli detachment, where they determined it was not loaded.
RCMP are investigating to determine the origin of the firearm and whether it is connected to any criminal activity.
RCMP said a family was clearing garbage near their cottage when the 12-year-old girl found the gun at about 12:35 p.m. April 13, 2024.
The firearm was rusted shut. Mounties disassembled it at the Gimli detachment, where they determined it was not loaded.
RCMP are investigating to determine the origin of the firearm and whether it is connected to any criminal activity.
PCs to pick new leader in 2025
10:29 AM
Manitoba’s Progressive Conservatives will decide on a new leader next year on April 26.
The party announced the date for the leadership race today.
The PCs will elect a new leader to replace former premier Heather Stefanson who announced she’d step down after the party lost the Oct. 3 provincial election. MLA Wayne Ewasko has served as interim leader since Jan. 18.
Lawyer Brad Zander, Manitoba’s elected representative on the Conservative Party of Canada’s national constitution committee, will oversee the leadership election as committee chair. Further details about the contest will be released in the coming weeks, the PCs said in a news release.
Arkells, Cochrane, Blue Rodeo to party at the Burt
10:12 AM
Hamilton rock group Arkells join Tom Cochrane, Blue Rodeo and the Headstones at the annual Burt Block Party Aug. 22-25 outside the Burton Cummings Theatre.
Tickets go on sale April 19 at 10 a.m., at ticketmaster.ca, however there is a presale scheduled for April 17 at 10 a.m. Prices for a one-evening ticket begins at $59.50 plus fees, a price that remains until 1,000 tickets are sold or until May 1. VIP tickets and four-day passes will also be available.
Skydiggers and Winnipeg’s Indian City are confirmed for the Aug. 22 opening night with Blue Rodeo. Aug. 23 will be an alt-rock Friday night with Arkells, July Talk, the Blue Stones and Winnipeg’s the Haileys on the bill. The Headstones and I Mother Earth will play Aug. 24 and Cochrane, Streetheart, both Manitoba acts, perform Aug. 25 along with Sass Jordan.
Police seek suspect in homicide
8:56 AM
Police are asking for help from the public in locating a suspect they believe was involved in the death of a 26-year-old man in February.
Kevin Delaney Flett was found injured in the area of Maryland Street and Wellington Avenue Feb. 25. He was sent to hospital and later died.
The suspect is 30-year-old Tyron Custer Harper, who is wanted by police on second-degree murder charges.
Anyone with information regarding Harper is asked to call the Homicide Unit at 204-986-6508, Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS, or online at winnipegcrimestoppers.org.
