Steinbach

It wasn't an ideal start, but the U13 Wildcats never quite, battling right to the end, claiming victory in the silver bracket of the Peppers Classic in Mankato, Minnesota.

"It's super fun," coach Jason Plett says when looking back over the year to this point. "They're definitely getting closer as a team every game and every practice. There have been highs and lows during games, being it's the U13 age, but it's awesome to see how they pick each other up, work through those tough times and getting better."

Food, friends, and fun times are all anticipated at Mitchell and Area Fun Days, which is coming up quickly.

Brian Esau, councillor for the area in the Rural Municipality of Hanover, says the two-day event, running July 12-13, will be overflowing with excitement.

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.

Two active members of the Canadian Armed Forces are among four people arrested and charged on Tuesday for allegedly participating in an anti-government plot to forcibly take possession of land in the Quebec City area.

Three of the suspects, motivated by "violent extremism," planned to start a militia and "took concrete actions" to facilitate terrorist activity, the RCMP said. Two 24-year-olds and a 25-year-old allegedly took part in military-style training that included shooting, ambush, survival and navigation exercises, using a variety of firearms and high-capacity magazines. 

Families and friends gathered to see the Carillon Sultans play their last home game in A.D Penner Park before prepping for provincials.   

Kevin Plett is the president of Landmark Baseball, but he says he enjoys coming to watch the Sultans as a fan and a dad.   

Road resurfacing crews continue to work along Brandt Street south in Steinbach, causing travel delays for motorists this afternoon. 

Construction crews are directing traffic at all intersections along Brandt Street, including at Woodhaven and Reimer Avenue.

A collision on Highway 52 is causing traffic delays in the westbound lanes, just past Loewen Boulevard.

As of 5:15 p.m., the right lane remains temporarily closed, causing slowed traffic.

Motorists should drive with caution through the area.

No further details are available at this time.

The latest update from the Manitoba Wildfire Service indicates that conditions remain largely unchanged from recent days. 

Officials say the majority of the province remains at a high fire danger level. 

Crews are actively responding to 83 wildfires. So far this season, 237 wildfires have been recorded in Manitoba, above the average for this date of 191 total fires. 

With the end of the crop year coming up on July 31st, we are starting to see a seasonal slowdownof grain movement.

CN's Assistant Vice President of Grain, David Przednowek says even with the seasonal decline, they have still registered just over half a million tonnes of grain movement per week over the past couple of weeks.

"We are seeing the demand for CN supply hopper cars for grain movement decline. You know, in the past couple of weeks we've seen orders for CN supply equipment in that 3334 car per week range. "

Two people are dead after two single-engine planes crashed in mid-air south of Steinbach, Man.

Adam Penner, president of Harv's Air pilot training school, says the two were students and were practising takeoffs and landings in small Cessna planes this morning.

He says the two appear to have tried to land at the same time and collided a few hundred metres away from the small runway.

He says the planes are equipped with radios, but it appears the two pilots didn't see each other.