Leons Headlines May 30: As wildfires rage in northern MB Thursday, officials scramble to evacuate over 750 Pimicikamak residents by land & air amid blocked escape routes & heavy smoke, in what may be the province’s largest evacuation since the ’97 flood.
-Lynn Lake’s 600 residents were evacuated on Monday. The fire, north of the community, is out-of-control, and is estimated at 7,000 hectares in size.
-Indigenous-led group Wiijiiwan in Brandon is helping evacuees by coordinating donations & support through the Red Cross, as the city prepares to receive multiple flights of evacuees. While the majority of evacuees will go to Wpg, 300 will be housed in Brandon.
-First Nation leaders in MB are condemning federal & provincial governments for delayed responses, poor communication, and bureaucratic hurdles through the crisis, calling for immediate coordinated action.
-MB Wildfire Service tightens fire & travel restrictions province-wide, citing human-caused fires; trails, water routes closed, burn permits canceled, and access limited to developed or main areas.
-Five Brandon firefighter-paramedics & 2 officers have been deployed to wildfire-threatened Lynn Lake to check for urban hot spots & set up sprinkler protection, won’t be directly fighting fires. Carberry is also sending a team of 4.
-NEW Westman municipality burn bans: RM of Minto-Odanah, which includes the town of Minnedosa – and the RM of Wallace-Woodworth, northwest of Brandon.
-870 Manitoba Hydro workers are set to hold a strike vote today.
-Three Westman roads, including PR 349 near Souris and 2 Brandon streets, Richmond & 26th ranked among CAA Manitoba’s 10 worst.
-Oilers beat Stars 6-3 in Game 5, advance to 2nd straight Stanley Cup Final to face Panthers in 2024 rematch. Game 1 is Wednesday in Edmonton.
Air quality is expected to be very poor this weekend. Across the US, many states have been altered to air quality warnings due to the Manitoba wildfires, so needless to say, our air quality will be very poor this weekend. Best to watch for updates from Env. Canada.
Fewer Canadians are visiting the U.S. due to Trump’s trade war and annexation talk, hurting tourism. In response, operators across the U.S., including in New York, California, and Seattle, are offering Canadians exclusive discounts and freebies to win them back. However, many Canadians remain hesitant, citing political tensions and a weak dollar, with some saying discounts aren’t enough. California IS on SALE for Canada. Good deals? You be the judge.
Closer to home here’s visitminot’s appeal to Canadians:
I thought there was a housing crisis? Apparently there is a quiet but significant shift happening. Toronto landlords are offering perks like rent-free months, $500 gift cards, and free Wi-Fi to attract tenants amid record-high condo supply and falling rents. Experts say the competitive market is giving renters more negotiating power, though the trend may be short-lived as construction slows.
Uh-oh. Maybe Canada DID let that welcome mat get too big? Things are cooling fast.
Victoria’s Secret Cyberattack. Victoria’s Secret’s website is offline following a cyberattack that caused significant disruption.
Hawaii Tourist Tax. Hawaii has introduced a new tourist tax to help fund climate initiatives, asking visitors to contribute to the state’s future.
How old should you be to use a cell phone? A new Texas law requires age verification for phone users, potentially marking the start of broader digital restrictions.
Kelly Osbourne Photo. Kelly Osbourne’s latest photo has sparked rumors of Ozempic use and plastic surgery due to her drastically changed appearance.
https://www.boredpanda.com/kelly-osbourne-completely-different-appearance-new-instagram-snap
Solo Travelers Apparently PAY MORE! Airlines like Delta are now charging solo travelers more, reserving the lowest fares for those flying in pairs.
