Shannon Dueck

Our provincial government has announced more funding for Manitoba schools.

The Manitoba government is allocating more than $20 million to build on previous investments that strengthen student support and learning across kindergarten to Grade 12 schools in the upcoming school year. Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Wayne Ewasko made that announcement Thursday morning.

Conditions continue to improve in Whiteshell Provincial Park. That is according to Manitoba Parks, which says floodwaters continue to recede.

Water levels on the Winnipeg and Whiteshell rivers have been receding and the next phases of reopening are being implemented. Provincial Road (PR) 307 remains closed to all traffic between Nutimik and Betula lakes. Betula Lake can now be accessed on PR 307 from the south via Rennie for permanent residents, cottagers, and businesses only. Residents returning to Betula Lake can expect to travel through floodwaters.

The evacuation order has ended at Betula Lake. 

Manitoba Parks made that announcement, coinciding with the opening of Provincial Road (PR) 307.

Temperature records were shattered Sunday across southern Manitoba. Environment Canada is reporting that 18 weather stations set new marks on Sunday for the hottest June 19 on record.

All of this and it is not even officially summer yet. Summer will arrive on Tuesday at 4:14 am.

The local state of emergency has been extended for Whiteshell Provincial Park.

Despite improving conditions on the Winnipeg River and many lakes and streams, the province says unusually high water levels continue to cause potentially hazardous conditions in some areas of the park, posing a significant risk to public safety. 

The current order is set to expire on June 19th. The new order will expire on July 18th. 

The community of Rosenort has come together to help build a new home for a family it does not even know. Or at least, did not know until the start of construction.

Michelle Pereira is Chief Operating Officer for Habitat for Humanity. She says this all started when K-Tec, which is based in Rosenort decided that Habitat would be one of their charities of choice. K-Tec ended up manufacturing an earthmoving scraper and then auctioned it off for $205,000. Pereira says that money was then used to buy all of the materials to build this house. 

That familiar summer noise of buzzing mosquitoes seems to have made a return to southern Manitoba. Yes, the mosquitoes are back, and a Manitoba entomologist says quite likely they will be worse this year than in recent summers.

John Gavloski says the mosquito population is heavily dictated by how much standing water is around. And, with all of the rain this spring, there is a lot of water that has pooled. 

If your weekend plans include heading to a provincial park, there is no need to buy a park pass.

The Manitoba government has announced free provincial park access as well as free family fishing this weekend.

Environment, Climate and Parks Minister Jeff Wharton is encouraging Manitobans to venture outside and enjoy a provincial park this weekend.

As gas prices continue to soar, CAA is trying to help Manitobans get the biggest bang for their buck out of every tank of fuel.

As gas prices continue to soar, CAA is trying to help Manitobans get the biggest bang for their buck out of every tank of fuel.