Manitoba is extending a province-wide state of emergency until August 22nd due to the on-going wildfire situation. The state of emergency was first declared in May, lifted in June when conditions improved, and then brought back in July when fires flared-up again, mostly in the north. Several communities still remain partially or fully evacuated. There are still 159 active wildfires across the province.
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The rain and humidity this week could change this, but right now mosquito counts in Brandon are low. It’s a different situation in the Winkler area where the province is to begin spraying for mosquitoes. There’s evidence that a high number of the insects in that region are infected with West Nile virus.
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Statistics Canada is out with some crime numbers for Brandon. In 2024, the city’s violent crime severity index jumped 18%. The index covers assault, uttering threats, forcible confinement and homicide. Overall crime, however, remained relatively steady rising less than 1%. Property crime and drug offences decreased last year.
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The family of a First Nations woman, who died at the hands of a Winnipeg serial killer, hopes a special court hearing will help them heal and move on almost a year after the trial. The family of Ashlee Shingoose will have a chance to give victim impact statements. She was identified in March as the unknown victim in the case.
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Local farm equipment retailer, AgWest, has started work on new buildings in Brandon and Russell. Both facilities will be 20,000-square-feet in size, and will need new staff. A year ago, AgWest was purchased by Dutch firm Mechan International. The new buildings are set to open in December.
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Air Canada and the union for 10,000 of its flight attendants are set to resume contract talks today to try and avoid a strike that could begin on August 16th. Issues include wages and the elimination of unpaid labour.
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The three candidates in the Spruce Woods byelection are to face-off in a debate this month. It’ll be held August 20th at the Sprucewoods Community Hall. Liberal Stephen Reid, Conservative Colleen Robbins and the NDP’s Ray Berthelette are running in the riding that includes a portion of north Brandon. Election day is August 26th.
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The federal Conservatives are still bringing in more through donations than any other political party – but that’s dropped since the spring election. They raised just over $9-million this past quarter – down from $28 million
in the first three months of this year. The Liberals brought in $7.7-million in the last quarter – the NDP $1.9 million.
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Many are calling this the definition of entitlement. U-S Vice President JD Vance’s security detail had an Ohio river’s water level raised last weekend so he could take the family kayaking on his birthday. The secret service says waterflow on the Little Miami River was increased to ensure motorized watercraft and emergency personnel ‘could operate safely’ while protecting Vance.
