Free Press celebrates launch of art exhibit Headlines: The Art of the News Cycle reflects on the Free Press's past and toasts to the future of local journalism Posted: 11:14 AM CST Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022

COVID cases spike even as US hits 200M vaccine milestone

A collection of breaking news briefs filed on December 13, 2021

• Province seeks help from Ottawa to staff intensive care units

• Bombers hosting Grey Cup celebration at IG Field Wednesday

• Snowmobiler killed in crash with pedestrian in Pimicikamak Cree Nation

• Missing man last seen in Elmwood neighbourhood

• Small passenger plane crashes after engine failure

• Latest round of Teachers' Idea Fund projects announced

• Eight dead as COVID-19 climbs in Southern Health

• Extent of Wheeler's injury still unknown, Moose dealing with COVID-19 situation

• Teenage boy arrested after Charleswood stabbing

• Teen girl arrested in bus shelter stabbing

• Man with ties to Winnipeg wanted by Saskatoon police in sex assault investigation

• Woman slain on College Avenue

• Jets shuffle lines at practice without injured Wheeler

• Pionk returns to practice with Jets

• Province extends paid sick leave

Manitoba curlers make triumphant return after world juniors

It was an over-30-hour journey to return to Winnipeg, but knowing what was waiting for them back home, no one was complaining.

The hug rug at the Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport was surrounded by friends and family decked out in red and white who were proudly holding up signs congratulating two local teams on becoming world champions.

On Saturday in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, Winnipeg's Jacques Gauthier and Altona's Mackenzie Zacharias skipped their teams to men's and women's world junior gold medals. It's the first time two Manitoba teams have won the world juniors in the same year.

Both squads, who were wearing their Team Canada uniforms and had their medals proudly hanging around their necks, landed minutes after midnight on Sunday and came down the escalator to the sound of a piper playing behind them. Dozens of supporters were in attendance to greet the world champions.

St. Boniface CEO’s commute from COVID-19 hot spot ‘career-limiting move’

Because of COVID-19, Manitobans face many restrictions when visiting loved ones in hospitals and personal care homes.

An adult who seeks care in a hospital emergency room cannot take someone with them for support unless they have cognitive issues or require a translator.

Restrictions apply to hospital visitors who have recently travelled outside Manitoba to Eastern Canada.

So, when the president and CEO of St. Boniface Hospital, Martine Bouchard, travelled to Manitoba from Montreal this week without self-isolating for two weeks, it stunned observers.

US measles cases hit highest mark in 25 years

NEW YORK - Measles in the U.S. has climbed to its highest level in 25 years, closing in on 700 cases this year in a resurgence largely attributed to misinformation that is turning parents against vaccines.

"This is alarming," said Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University vaccine expert. Not only is measles dangerous in itself, but its return could mean other vaccine-preventable diseases seemingly consigned to the past may be coming back as well, he said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 695 cases had been reported in 22 states this year as of Wednesday afternoon. That was up from 626 reported Monday and makes this the nation's worst year for measles since 1994, with eight months still to go in 2019. There were 963 cases in 1994.

Roughly three-quarters of this year's illnesses in the U.S. have been in New York state, mainly in two ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities in Brooklyn and suburban Rockland County. Most of those cases have been in unvaccinated people.

Duha Colour Services to move U.S. firm’s operations to Winnipeg, add 94 new jobs

Fresh off its acquisition of one of its leading U.S. competitors, Winnipeg-based Duha Colour Services Ltd. has announced it will use government grant money to expand its operations.

The federal and Manitoba governments said on Wednesday they have tabbed $160,000 for the Duha Group subsidiary — the world’s largest manufacturer of paint swatches and colour charts — to upgrade its local plant and train 136 employees.

Duha Group first announced bringing the U.S.-based Colwell Color Ltd. brand under its banner in October 2024.

It said this week it is transporting equipment and operations to Winnipeg from Colwell’s facility in Indiana. The move — and government grant — will create 94 new positions and allow the firm to train 42 current employees.