Portage

Christy Climenhaga, a scientist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, explains that southern Manitoba faces a heightened risk of thunderstorms over the next day. Moisture is pooling across the region, with fog showing up in the southeastern prairies. She says Portage la Prairie sits on the edge of conditions favourable for severe weather, which could include slow-moving systems with hail, downpours, and strong winds.

Elections Canada is launching a probe into problems with special ballots in the last federal election.

"We really have to look at the controls in place to make sure that they are sufficient," and make improvements where possible, Chief Electoral Officer Stéphane Perrault told reporters at a press conference on Parliament Hill on Monday.

Plans for the review were outlined on Monday in the agency's report on the 45th general election held on April 28. The report promises a "comprehensive review" that will examine training, control mechanisms and processes."

After talking up the prospect of cross-party collaboration in the House of Commons, Liberal and Conservative MPs wasted little time after Parliament resumed Monday before reverting to partisan attacks over housing and the cost of living.

The tone was set early Monday afternoon, when the first-ever question period exchange between Prime Minister Mark Carney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre began cordially before turning belligerent.

What began as a routine patrol for Portage la Prairie RCMP ended with a sizable drug bust on Saskatchewan Avenue West last week.

Around 3:35 p.m. on September 10, officers spotted suspicious activity in the area and stopped to take a closer look.

They approached the man they were familiar with and placed him under arrest.

A search turned up about 53 grams of methamphetamine, three grams of fentanyl, and other drug-related items.

Police estimate the drugs have a street value of roughly $6,800.

Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for several rural municipalities in southeastern Manitoba, including Coldwell (Lundar, Clarkleigh), St. Laurent (Oak Point), Woodlands (Warren, Lake Francis), Rosser (Meadows), and West Interlake (Eriksdale, Ashern).

The Portage Terriers are joining the Wiesblatt family in their grief following the tragic passing of that family's second son, Orca. The Wiesblatt family made many friends in Portage over the seasons their sons played for the team.

Terriers President David Koroscil provided a statement on the organization's behalf.

The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba (IIU) has completed its review of an officer-involved shooting in the Rural Municipality of North Cypress-Langford and will not be authorizing charges.

An alert was issued at 12:25 p.m. today (Monday) from Environment Canada.

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for parts of southwestern Manitoba, warning that conditions are favourable for funnel cloud development through this evening.

The statement, issued at 12:21 p.m. CDT on Monday, covers

Portage la Prairie firefighters were called to a small garage fire on 3rd Street Northwest at about 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Chief Brad Bailey says crews were on scene for a couple of hours before clearing.

The garage was located against the back lane, and firefighters returned later that night when smoke was reported. Bailey notes they went back just before midnight to ensure it was fully out.

“Itwas starting to smoke, so we went back just to deal with that,” says Bailey.

Bob Oldford, past president of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 65 in Portage la Prairie, says the cenotaph expansion has been in the works for two years. He presented proposals to the city in February, and approval followed within days. A donation account was set up in March, starting with support from the Legion.

Community donations from individuals, businesses, and local groups raised more than $30,000. The original estimate was $25,000, but restoration needs increased the cost.