🌎 Venezuela Quakes Death Toll Climbs
The death toll from Venezuela’s devastating twin earthquakes has risen to at least 164, with nearly 1,000 people injured as rescue crews continue searching collapsed buildings for survivors. The hardest-hit areas include the coastal state of La Guaira and parts of Caracas.
The magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes struck just 39 seconds apart Wednesday evening and rank among the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century.
💵 Loonie Sinks to 70-Cent Range
Canada’s dollar has slipped to around 70 U.S. cents, falling roughly four cents since May amid a sluggish domestic economy and continued strength in the U.S. dollar.
Analysts say investment flowing into the American artificial intelligence sector is helping fuel demand for the greenback, with the loonie expected to weaken further before rebounding.
🚗 MPI Seeking Rate Increase
Manitoba Public Insurance is asking the Public Utilities Board to approve a 2.38 per cent increase in auto insurance rates for the 2027-28 fiscal year.
MPI says the request is driven by rising claims, operating and investment costs, adding this spring’s severe weather did not factor into the application.
🏫 Anti-Bullying Petition Grows
Organizers of a petition launched following a bullying incident involving a Waverly Park School student say their concerns extend beyond a single school and point to wider issues within the Brandon School Division.
The petition has now surpassed 1,600 signatures and calls for stronger anti-bullying measures, greater accountability and more action from school officials.
🌊 Flood Warning Remains for Brandon
A flood warning remains in effect for Brandon as water levels continue rising along the Assiniboine River following recent heavy rainfall.
Provincial forecasters expect river levels to increase through Friday and are urging residents to exercise caution around low-lying areas and riverbanks.
🌱 Stormwater Pond Project On Schedule
Construction of Brandon’s new naturalized stormwater pond near the municipal cemetery remains on track for an October completion date.
According to reporting by the Brandon Sun, the nearly $6.3-million project is intended to reduce flooding risks and improve the city’s ability to manage major rainfall events.
🚔 Fentanyl Seized During Well-Being Check
A 19-year-old Brandon man is facing drug trafficking charges after police discovered 2.5 grams of fentanyl during a well-being check behind the 600 block of 10th Street.
Officers also seized packaging materials consistent with trafficking and a stolen Manitoba driver’s licence.
⚖️ Assault Charge Laid
A 38-year-old Brandon man has been charged following an alleged assault at a Winnipeg hotel.
Police say the investigation began after the victim provided photos of her injuries. The accused was arrested Tuesday and released with a court appearance scheduled for September.
🩺 New Doctor Headed to Carberry
Prairie Mountain Health says a new physician is expected to begin practicing in Carberry this fall.
Dr. Hanan Almanama, who was originally trained in Palestine, has completed the necessary training requirements to practice medicine in Manitoba.
🏥 ER Wait Times Under Pressure
Health experts say emergency room wait times across Canada continue to climb because many patients who require long-term care or home-care services remain stuck in hospital beds awaiting placement.
As a result, admitted patients are often waiting more than 16 hours for care spaces, with seniors and those managing chronic illnesses feeling the greatest impacts.
⛳ Community Rallies Around Hope 4 Holden
Brandon residents showed strong support for seven-year-old Holden Stewart during the annual Hope 4 Holden golf tournament.
Organizers say community interest was so strong that more than 180 golfers participated, with spots filling up almost immediately.
🏈 Riders Post Loss Despite Championship Season
The Saskatchewan Roughriders finished their Grey Cup-winning season with a $157,000 operating loss.
Team officials point to Grey Cup-related expenses, additional game-day costs and compensation vouchers issued following a wildfire-delayed game as contributing factors. The club had posted a $2-million surplus the previous year.
🌡️ Deadly Heat Threat in Paris
Extreme heat is turning Paris’s attic apartments into dangerous living spaces as temperatures soar above 40 degrees Celsius.
Researchers say Paris now faces the highest heat-related mortality risk among 30 European capitals, with death rates increasing dramatically during major heatwaves.
