Leons Headlines June 19: BPS issue an urgent plea for public help in finding missing teen Owen Bedford, emphasizing the need for solid leads & expressing support for the family.
-A 16yr old Neelin student accused of a sword attack that seriously injured a classmate ordered to get a 30-day mental health assessment, investigators review evidence to see if more charges are needed.
-Maple Leaf Foods shareholders overwhelmingly approve the creation of Canada Packers, a new independent company that will take over the pork business in Brandon.
-Gambler FN breaks ground on the Tipi Hotel & Conference Center, a 130-room facility behind Western Nation’s gas bar for summer 2027.
-Recent rain has lowered fire risk in many areas, prompting the Wildfire Service to ease restrictions to Level 2, allowing certain burn permits and backcountry travel, though 21 wildfires are still active.
-Due to wildfire risk, environmental concerns & impact on animals, fireworks in Dauphin cancelled for Canada Day & instead the city will host a picnic.
-Empire Co. Ltd., which owns Sobeys and Safeway, made more money this quarter ($174M) than last year ($149M) as sales and profits went up, especially in food, while gas sales dropped due to lower prices.
-A key Liberal campaign promise of an $800 tax cut for the average Canadian now appears overstated, as PBO says the average family will save $280 next year.
-Canadians with ties to Middle East watch anxiously as the latest conflict between Israel & Iran stretches to a week.
-Cheaper airline tickets coming? The Competition Bureau recommends scaling back foreign ownership restrictions for airlines.
Canada may never see the cup again, and it has nothing to do with hockey, and everything to do with BUSINESS & GOVERNMENT. American teams benefit from massive local TV deals, corporate sponsorships, and luxury box revenue streams that far exceed what Canadian markets can offer. The U.S. dollar is stronger, giving American franchises more financial flexibility to attract and retain top talent, and even though there’s a salary cap, American players pay less tax. Meanwhile, Canadian teams face higher taxes, stricter business regulations, and harsher weather that makes recruitment harder.
Sponsorship dollars are also fewer in Canada, where companies have smaller marketing budgets compared to U.S. giants. NHL salary caps are in U.S. dollars, but Canadian revenues are in weaker Canadian dollars, creating a financial disadvantage. U.S. cities like Vegas, Tampa, and Dallas offer players better lifestyle perks, including lower taxes and warmer climates. Media pressure is often more intense in Canada, which can deter players looking for a less scrutinized environment. Canadian teams often lose bidding wars for star players due to these combined pressures. Until the ECONOMIC playing field evens out, the Stanley Cup will continue slipping through Canada’s fingers.
RIDERS are lists of things artists need backstage to make the concert an enjoyable experience for them. They ask for food, drinks and sometimes other things to enjoy themselves, or offer to the crew, bandmates and guests. Some are wild. Sinatra needed 3 cans of THIS soup!
https://www.tastingtable.com/1885923/frank-sinatra-canned-soup
Here are some of the weirdest and most expensive backstage riders ever recorded:
- Van Halen’s Brown M&M Clause
Why: Their contract had a clause demanding a bowl of M&Ms with all the brown ones removed.
- Kiss’s Roasted Pig & Loads of Alcohol
Weird factor: The band requested a whole roasted pig for their backstage meal, alongside huge amounts of specific beers and vodkas.
- Beyoncé’s Healthy, Organic Demands
Interesting twist: She demands organic, gluten-free, vegan-friendly foods and a big spread of fresh vegetables and juices.
- Ozzy Osbourne’s Eccentric Requests
Examples: Hot black coffee, a live bat (for stage), and bizarre snack combos. Once requested a bowl of custard and peas.
- The Rolling Stones’ Luxuries
Requests: Bottled waters from specific springs, rare cheeses, fresh flowers, and even a pillow spray to create a certain mood backstage.
Ozzy Osbourne wants to live on forever with fans. He’s selling cans of his own DNA so fans can potentially “clone” him.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/ozzy-osbourne-exclaims-clone-me-35414497
Wait what? I thought we got away from cable, but now this? Netflix will begin airing traditional broadcast channels in France next summer, mimicking the cable model it helped disrupt.
Is this cheating or a new way to see marriage evolve? A man proposed to an A.I. chatbot, and his real-life partner says she’s fine with it, calling it “not cheating.”
https://www.tmz.com/2025/06/18/man-asks-ai-chatbot-to-marry-him
