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‘Ketamine Queen’ gets 15 years in prison

By Andrew Dalton 5 minute read Preview

‘Ketamine Queen’ gets 15 years in prison

By Andrew Dalton 5 minute read Thursday, Apr. 9, 2026

LOS ANGELES — A federal judge on Wednesday handed down a sentence of 15 years in prison to a woman who pleaded guilty to selling actor Matthew Perry the ketamine that killed him in 2023.

“You’re going to have to show some epic resilience,” Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett said to Jasveen Sangha, echoing the defendant’s words earlier in the hearing about her self-improvement.

Citing the unique role Sangha admitted to playing in Perry’s death and her broader drug-dealing business, the judge gave the 42-year-old a sentence that will almost certainly be more than all four of her co-defendants combined.

The hearing Wednesday in a Los Angeles courtroom was in many ways the pinnacle of the two-and-a-half-year investigation and prosecution that followed the overdose death of the 54-year-old actor, whose role as Chandler Bing on NBC’s “Friends” in the 1990s and 2000s made him one of the biggest television stars of the era.

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Thursday, Apr. 9, 2026

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Liquor & Lotteries dropping Air Miles

By Kevin Rollason 3 minute read Thursday, Apr. 9, 2026

WINNIPEG — Buying a bottle of booze at a Liquor Mart will soon get you no closer to paying for a vacation.

Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corp. announced it is flying away from being part of the Air Miles program, after almost 30 years of helping its eligible customers rack up reward points.

“We are exploring what other loyalty programs are available and whether they would be a fit for Manitoba Liquor Marts,” an MLL spokesperson said on Wednesday.

“We’ll follow our usual procurement process if we decide to engage with a new provider. Until then, Manitobans can expect to continue receiving the superior service and experiences that Liquor Marts are known for.”

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Ottawa releases another $51 million in aid for Ukraine

3 minute read Saturday, Apr. 4, 2026

OTTAWA — The federal Liberal government unveiled another $51 million in aid and reconstruction funding for Ukraine on Friday, including humanitarian aid such as food and shelter and supports for recent veterans who fought against Russia’s invasion.

The new measures come from a broader fund outlined in the 2025 budget, and $32 million of the money will go toward humanitarian aid through outside organizations, including the Red Cross, the United Nations Refugee Agency and the World Food Programme.

Another $5 million has been earmarked for programming to help veterans reintegrate into society.

Randeep Sarai, secretary of state for international development, said in a phone interview from the Kyiv Post newspaper office that Canada signed a memorandum of understanding with Ukraine a few years back on providing technical assistance to veterans.

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WINNIPEG — Lawyers for a man who alleged he was repeatedly sexually assaulted as a child by a now-dead Catholic priest in rural Manitoba and Winnipeg in a 2023 lawsuit recently reached a confidential settlement with the Archdiocese of St. Boniface.

Terms of the settlement, which was reached in the fall after a private judicially assisted dispute resolution in front of a Court of King’s Bench justice in September, are not included in public court records reviewed by the Free Press.

The lawsuit, which was filed in June 2023 and named the archdiocese and archbishop as defendants, was officially discontinued in November.

The plaintiff, now in his early 60s, claimed the alleged abuse began when he was eight-years-old in 1972 and lasted until 1982.

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Dozens arrested after ‘No Kings’ rally in L.A.

By John Raby 3 minute read Preview

Dozens arrested after ‘No Kings’ rally in L.A.

By John Raby 3 minute read Monday, Mar. 30, 2026

Authorities in Los Angeles deployed tear gas near a federal detention centre and made dozens of arrests following one of thousands of “No Kings” rallies held this weekend across the United States and in Europe to protest President Donald Trump’s actions and the war in Iran.

Los Angeles police said Sunday that 74 people were arrested for failing to heed a dispersal order that was given after Saturday’s rally ended. One other person was taken into custody on suspicion of possessing a weapon that police described as a dagger.

The arrests stood out from what otherwise were mostly peaceful protests. Organizers said there were more than 3,100 events registered in all 50 U.S. states.

As hundreds of protesters surrounded a federal complex in downtown Los Angeles, some threw rocks, bottles and broken concrete blocks at officers, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said in a statement late Saturday night.

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Monday, Mar. 30, 2026

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Advocacy groups call for inquest after plasma donor deaths

By Malak Abas 4 minute read Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026

WINNIPEG — The provincial government is being urged to call an inquest into the deaths of two people who had donated plasma at for-profit collection centres in Winnipeg.

Health Canada has promised to investigate the deaths, which occurred in October and January at two Grifols Plasma Donation Centres in Winnipeg.

However, the Manitoba Health Coalition said Health Canada licenses Grifols and it has a conflict of interest.

“We want as independent and (thorough) an investigation as possible for the loved ones of these Manitobans who died, to get real answers and so that harm like this doesn’t happen in the future,” coalition executive director Noah Schulz said at a news conference Friday.

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Tories decry limited hours of drug site, despite opposing it

By Scott Billeck 4 minute read Preview

Tories decry limited hours of drug site, despite opposing it

By Scott Billeck 4 minute read 2:01 AM CDT

WINNIPEG — The Tory party, which has opposed a supervised drug consumption site, was critical Friday about limited operating hours for the soon-to-open site because it said addictions don’t follow a weekday schedule.

The site, set to open later this month at 366 Henry Ave., is expected to operate from Tuesday to Thursday between 11 a.m. and 6:45 p.m.

Jeff Bereza, the party’s addictions critic, said drug users will be without support for much of the week.

“Where are these people going to go?” asked Bereza, who has repeatedly said he supports more treatment options instead of a supervised consumption site.

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2:01 AM CDT

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WINNIPEG — Two new backcountry camping sites and 19 different projects to bolster and upkeep hiking infrastructure were announced on the eve on Manitoba Trails Day.

Environment and Climate Change Minister Mike Moyes hosted a news conference on Friday to tout $200,000 in new projects to create, improve and maintain recreational trails.

The recipients of the 2026 provincial trail grants program are undertaking various maintenance, trail study and construction initiatives.

New trails are slated to be built in Steep Rock, Falcon Lake, Landmark, Morris, Dauphin, Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, Boissevain, Headingley, St. Adolphe, Treherne and Beausejour.

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Rollover response

1 minute read Preview

Rollover response

1 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

Brandon Fire and Emergency Services members and Brandon Police Service members respond to a two-vehicle collision that caused one of the vehicles to roll onto its roof at the corner of Victoria Avenue and Sixth Street in Brandon late Friday afternoon. Police said there were no serious injuries and the cause of the crash is still under investigation. Alcohol is not believed to have been a factor. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)

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2:00 AM CDT

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Scrumming Through Sunny Semis

By Massimo De Luca-Taronno 1 minute read Preview

Scrumming Through Sunny Semis

By Massimo De Luca-Taronno 1 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

A crowd of players from the St. John’s-Ravenscourt Eagles and Dauphin Clippers swarm a Clippers forward following a ruck during the first half of semifinals action. Dauphin dismantled St. John’s-Ravenscourt and will face St. Paul’s in the championship game today. (Massimo De Luca-Taronno/The Brandon Sun)

A wall of St. Paul’s defenders line up as Souris’ Mackenzie Monias prepares to attack. (Massimo De Luca-Taronno/The Brandon Sun)

Matthew Poklar of the St. Paul’s Crusaders drives forward during the Manitoba High School Rugby Provincial championship semifinals against the Souris Sabres at John Reilly Field on Friday afternoon. The Crusaders squashed their opponents 55-10 to advance to today’s boys final against Dauphin. (Massimo De Luca-Taronno/The Brandon Sun)

Dauphin Clippers attacker Desiree Lariuier gets wrapped up by a pair of Springfield Sabres defenders during the second half of semifinals action. Dauphin shutout Springfield in a dominant 66-0 victory to punch its ticket to today’s girls final against Steinbach. (Massimo De Luca-Taronno/The Brandon Sun)

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2:00 AM CDT

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Perrin fires 66 to take Grey Owl lead

1 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

Patrick Perrin shot a red-hot 6-under 66 to lead the Grey Owl golf tournament by six strokes at Clear Lake Golf Course on Friday.

The Elmhurst Golf and Country Club member made all his ground on the front nine, shooting 30 to lead past champion Nick Myhre and Brandon’s Ty Lewis by six.

Garth Collings leads the Greyer Owls (60-plus) with an opening 74.

The majority of the field played their first round on Friday, though about 70 players are still beginning the tournament today.

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Semi-retired truck driver emotional over $46M lotto win

By Chris Kitching 5 minute read Preview

Semi-retired truck driver emotional over $46M lotto win

By Chris Kitching 5 minute read Yesterday at 2:00 AM CDT

WINNIPEG — Earl Giesbrecht was thrilled when he checked his lottery tickets at a local grocery store and initially thought he was $46,000 richer.

The Whitemouth grandfather was stunned a few seconds later when he counted the zeroes on a display and realized the windfall was $46 million — the biggest Lotto 6/49 prize ever awarded in Manitoba.

“I was disappointed and frustrated that I never win. I went into the store (to scan tickets), and it said, ‘Not a winner,’ ‘Not a winner,’” Giesbrecht, 70, said at a news conference in Winnipeg on Thursday. “And then it said, ‘Free play,’ and the other one came up and I thought I won $46,000.

“I said, ‘Thank goodness.’ When the (employee) checked, she told me how much I won, and then I had to call my brother, who thought I was having a heart attack.”

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Yesterday at 2:00 AM CDT

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