City crews have been out on the streets of Brandon filling potholes since the last week of March, and they report there are fewer craters this year. A couple of reasons include crews hauled away more snow this winter creating less run-off, and we’ve had a slower melt. You can report a pothole on the 24-hour hotline 204-729-2200 – or on the city’s website at City of Brandon –
———-
The big cannabis celebration is this Sunday – 4/20 – and CAA Manitoba reminds everyone to not get behind the wheel impaired. In a recent survey, most drivers said they recognize the risks of cannabis-impaired driving, but over half reported driving shortly after consuming. And alarmingly, 79% were confident in their ability to drive. Penalties include license suspensions, having your vehicle impounded, and hefty fines.
———-
The province is rolling out a COVID-19 vaccination campaign for those at the highest risk of developing serious outcomes. The aim is to get people vaccinated before summer, when virus circulation might increase. The extra doses will be available to anyone 65 or older, Indigenous people over 45, residents of long-term care homes, and anyone age six months or up who’s moderately or severely immunocompromised.
———-
Construction is to begin in May on a new 12-bed behavioural unit at Brandon’s Fairview Personal Care Home. The Brandon Sun reports the first floor of the north tower will be renovated to create ‘a calm, peaceful environment, staffed with health-care aides, nurses and activity workers’. The $2.3-million project is to be completed sometime next year.
———-
The premiers of Manitoba and Nunavut are working on a hydroelectric and fibre optic project, and are asking Ottawa for capital funding. It would see a 1,200 kilometre line built through northern Manitoba to several Nunavut communities west of Hudson Bay. A recent estimate put the cost at $1.6-billion.
———-
You can vote in the federal election beginning Friday at Advance Polls. The polls will be open 9:00 am to 9:00 pm through Monday. You can find your poll location on your Voter Information Card – or at Elections Canada On-line – Élections Canada en ligne General election day is April 28th.
———-
The leaders of the four main political parties will square off for a second and final debate tonight in Montreal. During the French debate last night, Carney, Poilievre, Singh and Blanchet sparred over pipelines, the economy and U-S President Donald Trump’s trade war. The Liberal’s Mark Carney, who’s leading in the polls, and was the frequent target of attacks from his rivals on Wednesday.
———-
This could be huge. Scientists using the James Webb Space Telescope have found the strongest signs yet of life beyond our solar system. They’ve detected an alien planet’s atmosphere that has the chemical fingerprints of gases, that on Earth, are only produced by biological processes. It suggests the planet may be teeming with microbial life. The planet is 8.6 times bigger than Earth and is 124 light years away in the constellation Leo.
