Portage

Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, two leaders of the Freedom Convoy protest, are scheduled to be sentenced for mischief on Oct. 7 in an Ottawa courtroom.

In addition to lengthy prison sentences, the Crown wants to seize Barber's truck, which was used in the protest.

A forfeiture hearing on that matter is scheduled for Sept. 12.

Ontario Court Justice Heather Perkins-McVey said Thursday she wants to rule on the mischief sentence and truck forfeiture at the same time so that she does not deliver "piecemeal" decisions.

Ash and embers rained down on the northwestern Manitoba town of Leaf Rapids when an out-of-control wildfire entered the community Wednesday evening resulting in the damage of one home and several abandoned buildings. 

Firefighters have been in the community for weeks establishing fire guards, managing vegetation and setting up value protection on critical infrastructure, but "intense fire behaviour" that ramped up over the course of a few hours prompted crews to temporarily leave the town. 

The Manitoba Agricultural Museum's biggest event of the year, the Threshermen's Reunion and Stampede, is underway. The event runs until Sunday, July 27th, and this beloved summer tradition blends heritage, entertainment, and community, with live music playing a central role in the festivities. 

As families across Manitoba make the most of warm weather, water safety remains a pressing concern, particularly for young children.

Over 260,000 units recalled

On Monday, Health Canada issued a recall for more than 260,000 above-ground swimming pools sold nationwide, following reports of nine child drownings in the United States.

The Portage Padres are gearing up for the second round of the Santa Clara Baseball League playoffs with Game 1 of the semi-finals against Carberry taking place Friday night at Rotary Republic of Manitobah Park.

Portage finished the regular season at the top of the standings and earned a first-round bye. The Royals advanced to the league semi-finals beating Minnedosa in three games.

Farmers in Manitoba’s Interlake are cautiously welcoming new drought support measures announced this week, though some say more action may be needed if dry conditions continue into August.

Arvid Nottveit, a cow-calf producer near Pineimuta Point and vice-president of Manitoba Beef Producers, says the area has seen very little rain this season.

“Some of our hayfields, they're not really even worth cutting,” he notes. “We’ll probably just hope that we can graze cattle on them.”

Stefanie Dunn, executive director of the Portage la Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce, says Manitoba’s recent trade agreements with four provinces are “long overdue” and will bring real benefits to local businesses and workers.

The Manitoba government signed memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, and Prince Edward Island to reduce trade barriers, improve labour mobility, and open new markets.

Three workers who were trapped in a remote northern British Columbia mine have been rescued after more than 60 hours underground.

Red Chris mine operator Newmont Corp. said the three men were safely bought to the surface at about 10:40 p.m. on Thursday.

It said Kevin Coumbs, Darien Maduke and Jesse Chubaty — contractors for B.C.-based Hy-Tech Drilling — were in good health and spirits after being trapped underground by two rockfalls on Tuesday morning.

"This was a carefully planned and meticulously executed rescue plan," the company said in a statement.

The search for 69-year-old Stewart Campbell continues, after his vehicle was found this morning in the Rural Municipality of MacDonald.

Stewart, who has been missing since July 15th, was not with the vehicle when it was discovered around 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 24th. It was located on Road 3 West, about 500 metres north of Highway 2.

The month of July has brought cool, wet weather and smoke from forest fires to the majority of the Prairies.

Rain has been reported in some of the drier areas, but its coming too late for drought stressed crops and forage, with RM's across Manitoba, and Saskatchewan and  Alberta County's now declaring agricultural disaster areas.

Taking a regional look at what's happening:

Manitoba