The Manitoba government is expanding its use of electronic ankle bracelets that feature GPS to monitor people released on bail. 100 more are being added at a cost of $1.2-million doubling the total number. The program is available in Brandon, and Mayor Jeff Fawcett says this is a meaningful step toward enhancing public safety in the city.
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Brandon’s police chief has confirmed the Hell’s Angels have established a chapter in the city. Tyler Bates told The Brandon Sun, the police are aware of the motorcycle gang’s presence and are actively monitoring the group. In 2014, Manitoba became the first jurisdiction in North America to declare the Hells Angels a criminal organization.
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The family of a man who died after being assaulted by three other inmates at Brandon Correctional Centre has reportedly filed a lawsuit. 44-year-old Collin James Kempthorne died in 2024. The CBC says the lawsuit names the inmates, the Manitoba government, the attorney general and the correctional centre. The family alleges Kempthorne was placed among gang members, even though jail workers knew he had no gang affiliation.
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The search at Prairie Green Landfill near Winnipeg has officially ended. Ceremonies were held on July 14th and 15th to honour the lives of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran whose remains were recovered. The province says the search for Ashlee Shingoose will continue at Brady Landfill. The women were victims of a serial killer.
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Manitoba Public Insurance is increasing the number of spots available for its popular high school education program. The fall session of Driver Z will have 4,700 seats, with 2,126 in rural areas. Registrations begin July 23rd.
The program uses a mix of e-lessons, virtual and in-person classes, and in-car sessions.
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There’s a movement to ditch Manitoba’s front license plates on passenger vehicles. A petition at Change starts here · Change.org argues the regulation is outdated, environmentally inefficient, and economically unnecessary. Manitoba Public Insurance says front plates help in identifying vehicles in certain traffic and enforcement situations. Alberta and Quebec have already dropped the plates.
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Close to 13,000 people are out of their homes due to wildfires in Manitoba, but more are finding space in hotels. Officials say they found rooms for 705 more people. Others are staying with either family or friends, or in shelters. Most of the province is at a high fire risk once again.
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Hotel rooms are scarce in Brandon due to wildfire evacuations, so Brandon University is taking in 200 participants in the Prairie Cup lacrosse tournament this weekend. The university says it has a lot of open space in the summer and the lacrosse people can stay in its on-campus residence rooms.
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The third annual Salamander Summer Music Festival begins today in Brandon’s east-end. 21 artists will perform throughout the weekend at Rideau Park. The festival also features a kids zone, a variety of vendors, food trucks,
and local craft brewery Section 6 along with Wooden Gate Cider Company.
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The Canadian Union of Postal Workers has told members to reject the crown corporation’s latest contract offer saying workers cannot back down. Canada Post set dates for the vote beginning next Monday to August 1st. The two sides have been bargaining for over 18-months sprinkled throughout with strike activity.
