Leons Headlines Jan 28: Bank of Canada will held its key interest rate at 2.25% in today’s rate announcement as weak economic growth & rising unemployment continue to fuel debate over rate cuts.
-City of Brandon proposes a 6.6% property tax increase this year, down from 11.3% after council opts to use surplus funds to ease the burden on taxpayers. Portage proposes a 3% bump for 2026.
-The Brandon Teachers’ Association is urging the school division & MB government to fix chronic underfunding, oversized & complex classrooms & inadequate supports for students & teachers ahead of the 26–27 budget.
-A 27-year-old Virden man has been sentenced to more than a year in prison after stealing a pickup and being found passed out at the wheel in an intersection.
-The MB Nurses Union wants the province to hire safety officers at Swan River’s hospital to reduce rising violence & drug-related incidents in the ER.
-Bayer is investing more than $45 million to build a new canola seed research and development facility in Winnipeg, expected to open by the end of 2028.
-Legal experts & parents call for targeted online-harms legislation to protect children from social media abuse, as government remains noncommittal on bans like those in France & Australia.
-Winnipeg Jets score 3 in 2nd, hold on for 4-3 win in New Jersey.
-Wheat Kings fall 7-3 to Seattle, tonight they visit Wenatchee.
Manitoba Restaurant Goes CASH ONLY. One Manitoba restaurant is turning heads by ditching cards entirely and going full old-school. Using Interac, Visa, and Mastercard means fees come straight off a business’s bottom line. Going cash-only is basically a small rebellion against the swipe-tax empire.
Zellers Is Coming Back. Zellers is rolling back into Canada like it never left, vibes and all. Version 3 of the chain has had a sucessful launch in Edmonton. A store that will set the tone for the rest of the country. Is this a full comeback or just a Zellers-themed pop-up in a trench coat?
Tipping During cold weather or a Storm. If someone delivers food to you in a storm, tip like your power might go out next. Mother Nature already chose violence — don’t pile on.
THE SCHOOL/RESTAURANT/RETAIL Robot is here and he’s called “Sprout”. The $50K mass-produced programmable robot just went on sale for homes, schools, and offices. At $50,000, it better vacuum, tutor the kids, and judge my life choices quietly.
Costco’s Beloved Item Under Attack. It’s not the $1.50 hotdog but rather another loss litre item shoppers go CRAZY for.
https://www.tastingtable.com/2086677/worst-part-costco-rotisserie-chicken-lawsuit
TikTok Message Censorship Drama. TikTok users say they can’t type “Epstein” or upload anti-ICE videos without issues. Nothing screams “trust us” like unexplained word bans.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/ar-AA1V2OOw
https://www.npr.org/2026/01/27/nx-s1-5689104/tiktok-epstein-direct-messages
Meta Testing Paid Subscriptions. Meta wants you to pay for Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook. Congratulations — social media is officially cable TV now.
https://lifehacker.com/tech/meta-is-testing-paid-subscriptions-for-instagram-whatsapp-and-facebook
Vegas Cocktail Prices. The average Vegas cocktail now costs about the same as a small appliance. At this point, the buzz better include free Wi-Fi and emotional support.
https://www.tastingtable.com/2082627/how-much-average-cocktail-costs-las-vegas
Landmark Social Media Addiction Trial. A major social media addiction trial is kicking off, and the stakes are huge. This could change how platforms design apps — or at least how fast they say “we care.”
https://reason.com/2026/01/26/landmark-social-media-addiction-trial-starts-today-in-california
