If driving on Highway 10 through Forrest just north of Brandon is your regular route, you’ll notice the speed limit is much lower – it’s now 50-kilometres-an-hour, down from 70. There’s an uncontrolled crosswalk in the middle of Forrest between two schools, and the province made the change this week to improve safety.
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Brandon will be hosting about 300 first responders from across the province next week. The inaugural Brandon Emergency Services Conference will run from next Wednesday to Saturday. Brandon Chief Terry Parlow says paramedics and firefighters don’t usually train together, so this is a chance to share knowledge.
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Officials in the RM of Westlake-Gladstone dropped the ball. Manitoba’s auditor general says they failed to properly investigate a cyber attack that cost the municipality over $470,000. The report also revealed financial mismanagement at five other municipalities, and recommends the province take over more control of public funds going to municipalities.
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Nine Manitoba manufacturers will share in $21-million in federal funding to improve productivity and their ability to compete internationally. One company, Prairie Fava in Glenboro, will receive $1.5 million to expand its grower network to meet an increased demand for fava beans.
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New numbers show job vacancies were up across Canada in June – especially in construction. Stats-Canada also says weekly earnings were up 3.7% in June to an average of just over $1,300.
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As we head into a hot and sunny long weekend, the province is warning about algae blooms exceeding acceptable levels at several beaches including at Sandy Lake, Delta Beach and Pelican Lake North in Westman. Typically, if it gets hot at the end of August nutrients can load-up in lakes creating algae blooms.
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Measles cases continue to pile up in Manitoba, ten more were confirmed in the third week of August putting the total at 20 so far this month. Two new exposure sites were also identified in Winkler and Morden.
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A new poll has found a majority of Canadians want to see Ottawa regulate artificial intelligence to ensure its safe and ethical. This as many governments have been focusing on adopting AI and moving away from safety and governance. Even Canada’s minister for artificial intelligence has said he’ll put less emphasis on regulations.
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Winnipeg’s Garden City neighbourhood was hit by an unusual crime spree this week. Someone went through a back-lane ripping out downspouts on at least 10 homes. Police are investigating, but homeowners believe thieves were collecting the aluminum to sell for scrap, which can fetch between 70 and 80 cents a pound. So, a 10-foot piece of downspout weighing less than 2 pounds would get you about a dollar.