Couple escapes death after vehicle sandwiched between semi-trucks

The survival of a Winnipeg couple who were seriously injured when a tractor-trailer slammed into the back of their SUV has been described by family as nothing short of a miracle.

Carli and Marcus Paetzold, whose pet dog, Oakley, also survived, are facing long recoveries after their vehicle was crushed between two semi-trucks while coming to a stop at Lagimodiere Boulevard and East Mint Place Friday morning.

“Carli suffered many broken bones, a fractured vertebrae and a crushed vertebrae, as well as other injuries,” her cousin, Emily Guenther, wrote in a statement published on a GoFundMe page. “She underwent surgery to fuse her spine which was successful, with surgeons noting that she was incredibly lucky to avoid paralysis.”

Carli, a labour and delivery nurse, was in critical condition when she was airlifted to a city hospital by STARS air ambulance.

Shared Health nurses ratify contract after first deal dumped

Nurses who work for Shared Health have voted in favour of a new collective agreement after their employer sweetened the pot in advance of a possible strike vote.

About 77 per cent of voters backed the four-year contract, said Manitoba Nurses Union Darlene Jackson on Monday.

“Now the work begins to keep pushing for and fighting for things that nurses need to see in the facilities,” Jackson said. “They need to see safer workplaces, they need to see a decrease in their workload.”

The 4,100 nurses, many of whom work at Health Sciences Centre, received an updated contract proposal after rejecting the first tentative contract in May, which had been recommended by the union.

Winnipegger Litz chosen to lead new women’s pro soccer league

The Northern Super League, Canada’s fledgling women’s pro soccer loop, won’t have a team in Winnipeg for its inaugural season in 2025 but it will have an influential Winnipegger atop its power structure.

The NSL announced Monday that Christina Litz, a University of Manitoba trained lawyer and long-time sports executive, has been named its first president.

In recent months, Litz had been serving as a consultant for NSL founders Diana Matheson and Thomas Gilbert. During that time, the league had a brand launch and followed with the announcement of multi-year television broadcast deal involving TSN, RDS, CBC and Radio-Canada.

“Given how well (Canadians) do on the international stage, if we want to stay there and we want to produce more Desiree Scotts out of Winnipeg, we need to have a pathway in which they can play at the highest levels in their country,” said Litz, who served as chief brand and commercial officer at True North Sports and Entertainment until last fall.

Ottawa got to root of problem on dental plan: Manitoba dentists

The Manitoba Dental Association is praising the federal government’s decision to amend the delivery of Canada’s national dental plan after previously panning it for being too restrictive. The Liberals announced Monday dentists, dental hygienists, denturists and dental specialists will not be required to register for the Canadian Dental Care Plan before treating patients. Instead, the program will be delivered on a claim-by-claim basis, allowing providers to bill the insurance company directly. Manitoba Dental Association president Daron Baxter said this process “more closely resembles” how dentists and oral health-care providers currently handle insurance claims. Ruth Bonneville / Free Press Files Rechie […]

Tuxedo NDP MLA named special adviser on health care

Newly sworn-in Tuxedo MLA Carla Compton is starting the job with extra responsibilities.

Premier Wab Kinew announced Monday that the nurse, who won the affluent and historically Tory constituency for the NDP, will be his special adviser on nursing, culture and safety, as well as co-chair a provincial health care advisory table with Dr. Eric Jacobsohn.

“We’re very thrilled with your election, Carla,” Kinew told more than 100 MLAs, guests, staff and officials at her swearing-in ceremony at the Manitoba legislature.

“As you all know, the reward for good work is more work,” the premier quipped.

Premier muses about extending gas tax holiday

The province is keeping an eye on the impact of high interest rates as it decides whether to extend Manitoba’s gas tax holiday beyond Sept. 30.

“People are travelling a ton this time of year,” Premier Wab Kinew said Monday.

He was asked about Manitobans’ cost of living concerns and whether the gas tax holiday will carry on into the fall. The temporary pause on the tax, which is 14 cents per litre, that started Jan. 1 has helped Manitobans combat inflation, the premier said.

“This an important way that we can put money back in your pocket and ensure you can use it to either catch up on bills, the cost of groceries or head out and enjoy our great Manitoba summer,” said Kinew. His government has credited the gas tax holiday for the province reporting the lowest inflation rate in Canada, at 1.3 per cent.

Province asks LGBTTQ+ community for input on safety

The Manitoba government is asking how to better serve members of the LGBTTQ+ community after being “attacked” in recent years.

Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine said the Women and Gender Equity Manitoba Secretariat is conducting an online survey and focus groups to learn more about the community’s needs and concerns.

“The underlying thing here is that in the last many years, we’ve really seen the community not feel safe for a variety of different reasons across the province at the hands of the former government,” she said in an interview.

Before going down to defeat in the Oct. 3 election, the Progressive Conservatives campaigned on “parental rights” — an all-encompassing term rooted in socially-conservative beliefs about gender diversity. Critics said it was a transphobic dog whistle intended to rile up part of the Tories’ base.

Messi will play Tuesday against Canada in Copa America semifinal

NEW YORK (AP) — Lionel Messi won't be stopped by a leg injury and will play in Argentina's Copa America semifinal against Canada on Tuesday night.

Messi has been dealing with a right leg problem since the 1-0 group stage win over Chile on June 25. He missed the first-round finale four days later but played the entire match in the quarterfinal victory over Ecuador last Thursday. Argentina and Ecuador were tied 1-1 after regulation time. Argentina then won 4-2 on penalties.

"Leo is good. He will be playing tomorrow,” Albiceleste coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed Monday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

At 37, Messi has 13 Copa America goals and is four behind the record shared by Argentina’s Norberto Méndez and Brazil’s Zizinho but hasn't scored in this year's tournament.

Consultations set to begin on spot for planned Winnipeg supervised consumption site

WINNIPEG - The Manitoba government is making progress on its plan to open the province's first supervised drug consumption site in central Winnipeg.

The government will work with the Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre, which already runs an addiction clinic, and consultations are to begin soon on finding an exact location.

"We've looked at other jurisdictions. It is clear that there will be an impact when you open a supervised consumption site in terms of the next few blocks around it," Premier Wab Kinew said Monday.

"So we need to select the location with that in mind. That means it probably can't go near a school or a daycare. Are there other areas where maybe we could put a community plan around (it) with foot patrol and collaboration with law enforcement?"