Security tightens at downtown library

Users of the downtown Millennium Library will be subject to several new security screening measures, more commonly seen at airports and sporting facilities.

City hall announced Friday that effective Feb. 25, all visitors to the Donald Street library will undergo bag checks and be subjected to a hand-held metal detector sweep for alcohol and prohibited weapons. Visitors who refuse to participate will be barred from entering the library.

“The number of incidents (has) increased in the past four to five years, incidences involving violence, threats, alcohol, substance abuse and it was concerning. We met with police and our security contractor. After discussing, we came up with this course of action,” Ed Cuddy, manager of library services, told reporters. “We feel it’s a big change, but we feel it’s justified based on the kind of incidents we’ve been experiencing recently.”

Cuddy wouldn’t elaborate on the nature of the incidents, but did say library workers have not been the victims.

Shooting, stand off net nine year prison sentence

Daniel Larsen had been out of prison just five days when he shot up a Point Douglas house and sparked a 10-hour armed standoff with police that shut down a portion of the Disraeli Freeway.

Larsen, sentenced last week to nine years in prison, believed residents of the Grove Street home had sold fentanyl to his son, court heard.

“The speed with which Mr. Larsen was able to obtain a firearm, formulate a plan and become criminally involved is… horrifying from a public safety standpoint,” Crown attorney Amy Wood told provincial court Judge Malcolm McDonald.

Larsen, 37, pleaded guilty to reckless discharge of a firearm for the June 14, 2025, incident and two related weapons offences.

Russia booted from Eurovision Song Contest over Ukraine

King is the second convoy organizer whose bid to get out from behind bars was rejected this week, after protest spokesperson Tamara Lich was denied bail on Tuesday.

Kinew will listen to city request for new taxes — but no promises

Premier Wab Kinew remained coy about whether he would support a new municipal tax in Winnipeg as the city struggles to maintain services.

Kinew dodged questions on the matter Friday afternoon.

“We want to see services strong, we want to see roads getting fixed,” Kinew said. “Affordability is really top of mind … we got to keep life affordable for the average person out there.”

Some of the items being considered for a new tax are: alcohol, online deliveries, vehicle registration, vacant homes, commercial parking and land transfers with an exemption for first-time homebuyers.