The next phase of construction on a roundabout at First Street and Maryland Avenue in Brandon begins next week. The intersection will be closed May 5th to the 9th for underground watermain installation. Detours will be in place – and the work will also impact the multi-use pathway, bus service and access to Crocus Plains and Maryland Schools.
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The Manitoba government is spending $540,000 dollars to battle zebra mussels. The money will help fund community efforts to prevent their spread – and to buy more specialized equipment including high-pressure washers to clean watercraft. Zebra mussels have been found in Cedar Lake, Lake Manitoba, and recently in Clear Lake.
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Due to a high risk of wildfires, restrictions will go into effect Friday for much of southeast Manitoba and the Interlake – and will include the Whiteshell and Spruce Woods Provincial Parks. Fires are not allowed during the day – and motorized backcountry travel is also banned between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm. Extreme winds, warm temperatures, and low humidity levels are being forecast for those areas.
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The Province is boosting its Orange Shirt Day Fund by a million dollars – a 25% increase over last year. The money will support projects that raise awareness about Orange Shirt Day, honour survivors of residential schools,
or provide opportunities for reflection and commemoration. Proposals are being accepted until June 16th. Orange Shirt Day is September 30th.
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Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers have resumed talks to try and reach a deal before contracts expire this month. The union says there’s been some progress, but there are still difficulties. A national strike was suspended last year so a federal commission could review the issues and make recommendations in a report that’s due May 15th.
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Hotel owner Wally Daudrich, who was recently defeated in his bid to lead the Manitoba Conservatives, plans to seek the party’s nomination to run in a byelection in Spruce Woods. Grant Jackson had represented the riding before resigning to run federally for the Tories and winning in Brandon-Souris in Monday’s election. A byelection has not yet been called.
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There’s an election on Saturday to turn a small patch of coastal South Texas – home to Elon Musk’s rocket company SpaceX – into a city known as Starbase. It’ll probably happen – because most of the residents are his employees. There is a problem however, the vote could give Musk too much control over access to a popular swimming and camping area – because moving his rockets around closes a local highway which goes to a state park.
