Come to grips with mixed up, muddled up feelings

Manitoba volunteer medical mission to Nicaragua cancelled due to unrest

Dozens of Nicaraguans in need of hip and knee replacements won't get surgery this fall, after a group of Manitoba doctors cancelled a surgical mission due to ongoing civil unrest in the Central American country's capital.

For the first time in seven years, a team of doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and other medical staff won't travel to Managua as part of the annual Operation Walk Winnipeg. Medical volunteers from across the province have treated hundreds of underprivileged Nicaraguans over the years; they gave new hips and knees to nearly 70 patients in desperate need of joint surgery during last year's three-day trip.

The 2018 trip, scheduled for November, was cancelled last week, the group's lead surgeon, David Hedden told the Free Press.

"We feel terrible that we can't go this year, but the safety of the team is the most important thing," said Hedden, who doubles as medical director at the Concordia Joint Replacement Group at the Winnipeg hospital.

‘Freedom Convoy’ leader shared symbol of far-right hate group on TikTok

Dave Steenburg has called for calm and respect from protesters in other posts.

Former Beer Mile world champion wins Manitoba Marathon

Corey Gallagher has won another big race, but this time, he didn't have to chug a couple beers along the way.

Gallagher is a former beer mile world champion and record holder, a sport where you run four laps around a track and have to down a beer after each lap. But no beer was required on Sunday at the 40th annual Manitoba Marathon and the 31-year old Winnipeg native still led the pack, despite the fact it was the first time Gallagher had ever ran a full marathon. But the lack of experiene was no problem, as he was the first to cross the finish line inside Investors Group Field to win the men's full marathon at 2:37:48.5.

"This is pretty high up there," said an exhausted Gallagher, ranking his marathon victory to his 2014 Beer Mile world championship. "I was always scared of a full (marathon). I'm just happy to get it done and check it off the bucket list."

Gallagher ran the half marathon at the event for years, before missing the last three or four due to several injuries. Gallagher was just happy to finally be healthy enough to be competiting again, although he's not so sure if he will defend his title at next year's marathon as he said "nothing can prepare you for (a full marathon) properly."

Widow on mission to improve mental-health supports for law-enforcement officers, families

Stacia Franz is honouring her late husband’s life and legacy by seeking to ensure no law enforcement officer suffers in silence and no other spouse is widowed at 36.

Meta settlement should be first of many

Who knew? A massive company knew its products were harmful to children and teens, and not only kept its products on the market, but worked to make them more addictive, to build their own profits.

Welcome to social media, and a huge settlement in a case against online giant Meta.

First, the cash in the settlement: Meta will pay US$12.1 billion to settle suits by 47 U.S. states, who had argued Meta knowingly exploited teenage weaknesses. (A lot of money, until you consider that Meta’s revenues last year were US$200 billion.)

Meta is promising to limit teens’ access to social media platforms to two hours a day (unless parents allow more), block sites between midnight and 6 a.m., block notifications during school hours, and stop allowing image modifications for teens, among other things.

Weary, waterlogged Manitobans cast wary eye on the sky

Severe spring flooding is taking its toll on Manitobans who’ve battled to save their homes, have been forced to evacuate their communities or have become isolated by surging water levels.

People in flood zones are dealing with fatigue, stress and burnout amid a disaster that has dragged on for weeks and is poised to disrupt daily life into the summer.

“We’re just exhausted. For me, it was emotional, trying not to lose our home,” said Peguis First Nation resident Cindy Sutherland, who’s been fighting floodwater since April 30.

She is feeling a sense of relief because the water is receding and a Tiger Dam — a barrier of water-filled tubes — is now set up around her home.