Leons Headlines May 11: Manitoba is preparing for an early wildfire season by deploying extra crews and aircraft as dry, windy conditions raise fire risk across much of the province, including burn bans in parts of western Manitoba.
-An Ontario doctor has filed a lawsuit claiming recruiters allegedly “tricked him” about proposed duties & pay at the Carberry hospital.
-Rising outflow from the Shellmouth Dam is pushing the Assiniboine River to peak levels this weekend, with the potential for overland flooding, so look for precautionary closures in Brandon.
-A deck fire at a trailer in Meadowbrook Village was quickly contained Saturday; minimal damage, no injuries.
-Salvation Army to open an expanded thrift store & food bank in Neepawa Wednesday.
-Manitoba’s RAAM clinics (Rapid Access to Addictions Medicine) explosive increase in demand as the drug crisis deepens, with visits tripling since 2020 to over 28K in 2025.
-Brandon Police have increased downtown foot and bike patrols to boost visibility and deter crime as spring activity rises.
-New StatsCan data shows Manitoba remains near the top in Canada for violent crime, driven mainly by assaults and robberies in major centres.
-Dauphin Tim Hortons tops the country in Smile Cookie sales, over $59K raised for the Countryfest Cinema; 10 Westman stores raised nearly a quarter-million ($241K) for local charities.
-High gas prices limit boating plans for some, but at Clear Lake they’re looking forward to a strong summer season following the end of a recent boat ban.
-Restaurants Canada says Manitoba’s PST changes on prepared foods could disadvantage restaurants and put jobs at risk.
-Highways 1 & 10 are seeing increased roadwork due to frost damage, with additional EV chargers planned along Highway 16.
-Trump calls ceasefire proposal from Iran ‘totally unacceptable’, sends oil price up again.
-Farmers increasingly stressed, as they face rising fertilizer & fuel costs during spring seeding.
-73yr old driver from Dauphin faces $1500 in fines after allegedly doing 163 in 100 zone near Portage Wednesday.
-Dale’s Candy Co to open a location at Shoppers Mall; currently at Wpg’s Outlet Collection mall.
-Jets auction off old dressing room stalls as the room gets an overhaul in offseason.
Hantavirus Update. 4 in BC are isolating and all cruise ship passengers are now in thier home countries. Experts continue to stress the risk to the public is low as cable news channels continue blanket coverage both on networks and online.
Airplane incident (Denver runway). A serious incident in Denver saw an aircraft strike a person on or near the runway during takeoff operations on Saturday night. The event is under investigation as authorities review airport safety and ground procedures.
WestJet flight changes and compensation. Passengers affected by WestJet schedule changes may be eligible for compensation depending on the reason and timing of the disruption. In some cases, airlines are required to reimburse costs or offer refunds under Canadian air passenger rules.
WHL scout fine. A WHL scout was fined $5,000 after making an inappropriate on-air comment referring to a sportscaster as “pretty” during a televised draft broadcast. The league said the comment did not meet professional standards for conduct. The incident has sparked discussion about professionalism in sports broadcasting environments.
Census reminder. The national census deadline is approaching on Tuesday, and households are being reminded to complete and submit their forms. Failure to respond can lead to follow-ups or penalties under federal law. Officials say the data is critical for funding, planning, and community services across the country.
Drive-thru tipping issue. A customer reported being automatically charged a tip at a drive-thru without noticing until after the transaction was completed. The situation has raised concerns about transparency in point-of-sale tipping systems. Consumers are being encouraged to carefully review receipts and payment prompts before finalizing purchases.
(Pic Credit: Jessica Leigh after recent visit to Minot Starbucks in ND)
Hot dog topping combos. A summer food feature highlights eight creative hot dog topping combinations meant to spice up backyard cookouts and make grilling more fun and unique. These ideas are aimed at people looking to move beyond the usual ketchup and mustard.
https://www.tastingtable.com/2165694/unique-hot-dog-topping-combos
Jelly Roll fan moment. Musician Jelly Roll had an emotional interaction with a disabled fan outside a TV taping, creating a widely shared heartfelt moment. The encounter, captured by TMZ, shows him taking time to connect personally with a special needs fan and his Mother, and even extends VIP treatment to a show afterwards.
