Portage

Manitoba Public Insurance is reminding drivers across the province that peeling licence plates are more than just an eyesore—they’re a growing safety concern.

Tara Seel, media and public relations lead for MPI, says deteriorating plates make it harder for both technology and law enforcement to monitor unsafe driving.

Drivers along Crescent Road West in Portage la Prairie should prepare for more disruptions as the city moves into the next phase of a long-term rebuild. The reconstruction is part of a three-year infrastructure plan aimed at making the road more durable and less prone to potholes.

Matt Phillips, Manager of Engineering for the City of Portage, says crews are starting the next stretch of work between Fourth and Tenth Street West.

Evacuees from northern Manitoba continued to pour into Winnipeg Friday as a renewed round of wildfires threatened communities and shrouded much of the province in smoke.

"It's been rough," Misty Harper said, as she and her partner walked outside of a large indoor soccer complex set up to house evacuees, along with her one-year-old daughter in a stroller. 

Some people sat at picnic tables under small canopies or on grass in an adjacent field. Buses filled with more evacuees arrived a few times each hour.

Environment Canada warns of landspout potential near Arden, Plumas, Langruth, Neepawa, Carberry, MacGregor, Sidney, Austin, Treherne, and Holland.

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for multiple communities across southern Manitoba as conditions become favourable for funnel cloud development Friday afternoon.

Manitoba residents and visitors can now explore the province’s historical landmarks using a free mobile app developed by the Manitoba Historical Society (MHS). Local historian James Kostuchuk says the new tool could transform how Manitobans connect with their heritage. 

The Stride Credit Union Fundraising Golf Tournament made its return on Thursday, July 10, drawing dozens of golfers to the Portage Golf Club for a full day of friendly competition, all in support of STARS Air Ambulance. 

Hot day, big hearts 

From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., golfers took to the course under hot, humid conditions, powering through the heat with cold drinks, good company, and a shared commitment to a good cause. Despite the sweltering weather, spirits stayed high throughout the day. 

The Portage Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) is bringing back a community favourite this weekend with a classic film, a parking lot full of supporters, and a night under the stars.

On Saturday, July 12, PAWS will host a drive-in movie fundraiser at Prairie City Cinema, featuring the 1993 family comedy Mrs. Doubtfire. The event is set to support the care of animals at the local shelter and in foster homes.

Intense thunderstorms rolled through Southern Manitoba Thursday night. 

Rose Carlsen is a meteorologist with Environment Canada. She says our hot and humid day resulted in some unstable conditions in the environment. 

The mercury Thursday afternoon climbed above 30 degrees in many parts, but with the high humidity, the humidex was close to 40.

"Then we had a cold front sweeping through in the afternoon and evening, sparking off a bunch of thunderstorms as it moved through," says Carlsen.

The Portage Clinic has just announced a recent measles exposure that occurred just a few days ago.

The exposure, defined as low-risk by the clinic, took place on July 7th between 5:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.

If you or someone you know was at the clinic at that time, ensure that the affected person is monitoring for symptoms including:

Canada’s labour market topped expectations in June amid a surprise surge in hiring.

Statistics Canada said Friday that the unemployment rate dropped a tenth of a percentage point to 6.9 per cent in June as the economy added some 83,000 jobs.

The vast majority of those jobs were part-time, the agency said, with 47,000 positions added in the private sector.

A Reuters poll of economists heading into Friday’s release had expected the jobless rate would rise to 7.1 per cent in June as employment levels held flat.