Shannon Dueck

Emergency crews responded to a multi-vehicle crash late Wednesday morning near Ste. Agathe.
    
RCMP say the collision involved a semi and pickup truck at the Highway 75 and Provincial Road 305 intersection. 
    
Police note it appears the pickup truck driver may have suffered serious injuries.
    
A motorist said both southbound lanes were closed while crews cleared the scene.

It appears as though the intersection at Highway 75 and PR 305 has since reopened.
    
We will provide more information when it becomes available.

A meteorologist with Environment Canada says the freeze-thaw cycle will likely be with us for a while yet. 

Brian Luzny says they are expecting double-digit highs at times this week, with some lows dipping below the freezing point.

The Executive Director for Mennonite Heritage Village in Steinbach says the future looks optimistic even though the museum reported a sizeable financial loss for 2022.

The museum held its annual general meeting Tuesday night, attracting about 35 people.

Gary Dyck says 2022 ended up being their busiest year ever at the museum. He notes part of that can be attributed to the excitement for a return to normal following the pandemic. He adds the museum also offered more winter activities and held its first-ever Peace Trek fundraiser. 

Manitoba Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen has ordered an external organizational review of Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI). 

The Steinbach MLA says the review comes following concerns raised by the Public Utilities Board (PUB) in recent rate applications as well as concerns he has raised both publicly and privately to MPI. 

The Member of Parliament for Provencher says he lobbied hard for his border communities, and now he has received what he was asking for.

On Friday, three ports of entry in Provencher returned to their pre-pandemic operational hours of service. Ports at Piney, South Junction and Tolstoi were all operating with reduced hours since July 2020. But, Canada's Minister of Public Safety, Marc Mendicino announced earlier in the week that beginning Friday, those three ports of entry would see the following hours:

The Mayor for Ritchot cautions that there are still many variables that could either strengthen or lessen the chances for significant flooding this spring. 

In its latest flood update from Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure's Hydrologic Forecast Centre, the province is calling for a major risk of flooding along the Red River. The risk of flooding is low to moderate in most Manitoba basins. 

Border crossing hours have been extended, beginning yesterday, for ports of entry at Piney, South Junction and Tolstoi.

Canada's Minister of Public Safety, Marc Mendicino announced Monday morning that starting Friday, March 31st, hours will be extended at 39 ports of entry across Canada, returning to pre-pandemic operational hours of service. 

Thirteen of those 39 land ports of entry are in Manitoba, including ones in Piney, South Junction and Tolstoi. 

The Member of Parliament for Provencher is calling this week's federal Liberal budget a missed opportunity.

Ted Falk says the Liberals had a chance to demonstrate that they understand government finances. 

"They've indicated in previous comments that they've made that there needs to be now some fiscal restraint," notes Falk. "That certainly was not demonstrated in the budget."

Even though it has been a cold month of March throughout Southern Manitoba, you do not need to search long to find a March that was colder.

Natalie Hasell, with Environment Canada, says so far this month, there have only been a couple days when the temperature rose above the freezing mark in parts of the region. By comparison, Winnipeg is still waiting for its first day above freezing this month as recorded at the two official Environment Canada weather stations in the city, one at the airport and the other at The Forks.

The new leader of the Green Party of Manitoba admits she has taken on a big responsibility. Janine Gibson, who lives south of Steinbach, was elected the party's new leader on Sunday.

"I am excited and humbled at the confidence expressed in my leadership during these challenging times," says Gibson, who is the party's first newly elected leader since 2008, replacing James Beddome. "I have much gratitude to James for his dedication and perseverance as a model for us all."