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Environment Canada and Manitoba Health have ended a special air quality statement for Winnipeg and much of southern Manitoba, as wildfire smoke conditions improve in these areas.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the air quality advisory has been lifted for Winnipeg, Portage la Prairie, Steinbach, Selkirk, Gimli, Morden-Winkler, and surrounding communities, indicating improved visibility and air conditions.

Winnipeg police arrested two men after community tips alleged that drug dealers were targeting areas near temporary evacuee residences.

On July 6, members of the West District Community Support Unit observed several suspected drug transactions involving occupants of a vehicle in the 1700 block of Wellington Avenue, close to evacuation sites.

At approximately 9:25 p.m., officers stopped the vehicle nearby on Sargent Avenue, arresting the driver and seizing three grams of cocaine, $820 cash, and a drug-related cellphone.

Funeral For:  Ruth Duester
Funeral Date: July 11, 2025 
Ruth Duester, 86, of Winnipeg formerly of Poland, passed away Saturday, July 5th at Riverview Health Centre. She is survived by her husband Erwin, 5 children, 10 grandchildren, 1 sister, 2 sisters-in-law and their families. She was predeceased by 2 sisters, 1 brother and 1 brother-in-law. 
The funeral service for Ruth Duester will be held Friday, July 11th at 11am at North Kildonan Mennonite Brethren Church, 1315 Gateway Road, with burial at Glen Eden Cemetery in West St. Paul.  

Funeral For:  Helena Epp 
Funeral Date: July 12, 2025 
Helena Epp, 81, of Winnipeg passed away Sunday, July 6th at Calvary Place. She is survived by her husband John, 3 children, and 8 grandchildren.  
The funeral service for Helena Epp will be held Saturday, July 12th at 2pm at Chapel Lawn Funeral Home, 4000 Portage Avenue, with reception to follow. Private interment will be held. 
Donations may be made to Calvary Place. 
Arrangements by Chapel Lawn Funeral Home, Winnipeg.  

Winnipeg got an unexpected shout-out on the popular TV quiz show Jeopardy! last night, though it seems none of the contestants were prepared for it.

Under the category "That's Honorific!," contestants faced this clue: "In Canada, His or Her Worship is for people with this government job, like Scott Gillingham of Winnipeg & Surrey, B.C.'s Brenda Locke."

The correct response: "What is a mayor?" Unfortunately, all three contestants missed it. One guessed "M.P.", another ventured "Minister," and the third chose not to respond.

At the time of shooting the Sunday Hymn Serenade video last Fall, Rosemary Siemens and Eli Bennett felt what ultimately would come together for the song "Just As I Am" would be the most important video they created to date. Debuting about two weeks ago, the video has already amassed tens of thousands of views on YouTube and Facebook.

Siloam Mission in Winnipeg was recently blessed with a huge shipment of socks, ensuring community members' greatest needs are met for a few months. 

"Recently we received 40,000 pairs of socks," says Kendall Giilck, the Principal Gift Specialist with Siloam Mission in Winnipeg. "That came about through truly divine timing through Sock Rocket and the Manitoba Nurses Union." 

Two student pilots died Tuesday morning after their single-engine planes collided mid-air during practice exercises, the head of a pilot training school said.

The students, who were not identified, were practising takeoffs and landings when they appear to have tried to land at the same time on the small rural runway south of Steinbach, said Adam Penner, president of Harv's Air. 

The collision left the planes wrecked in a field on private property, roughly 400 metres from the runway.

The Manitoba Wildfire Service says most of the province remains under high to very high wildfire danger, particularly in the north, where the threat of fire spread is most severe.

As of July 9, there are 83 active wildfires burning across Manitoba, well above the seasonal average of 191 fires to date, with 237 reported so far this year.

Evacuees in need of assistance are now being directed to the Leila Soccer Complex at 770 Leila Avenue in Winnipeg, which is serving as the province’s primary evacuation reception centre.

Ottawa is expected to miss its 2026 deadline to implement $10-a-day child care services across the country, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives said in a new report published on Wednesday.

The analysis concluded that just six provinces and territories are meeting that fee target now.

David Macdonald, an economist with the centre, said even though fees have dropped significantly everywhere, the federal government is unlikely to meet its self-imposed deadline.