Free Press Head Start for June 5
While images of wildfires capture their ferocity, data can provide insight into how bad a fire season is.
Such is the case with two graphics, powered by satellite data, that showcase a Canadian wildfire season off to a wild — and scary — start.
Twice a day a NASA satellite sends images to the ground, giving a real-time view of where fires are burning. This is especially useful for remote areas where no sensors are stationed. The Associated Press has more here. What's happening today
Toronto-based former Winnipegger and bestselling fantasy novelist Guy Gavriel Kay comes back to town to launch his latest novel, Written on the Dark , tonight at 7 p.m. at McNally Robinson's Grant Park location. Kay will be joined at the launch in conversation by Bruce Symaka. Ben Sigurdson has a preview here.
Guy Gavriel Kay (Ted Davis photo)
There's plenty of family-friendly entertainment to be found at The Forks this week during the annual KidsFest event hosted by the Winnipeg International Children's Festival.
The party kicks off at 10 a.m. today with a showcase of Francophone performers, including local singer-songwriter Micah Baribeau, a.k.a Micah!, and Montreal theatre duo Les Soeurs Kif Kif. Today's must-read
The NDP government has asked the provincial auditor general to probe Project Nova, the doomed technology project undertaken by Manitoba Public Insurance.
In a letter to auditor general Tyson Shtykalo, which was obtained by the Free Press , Finance Minister Adrien Sala stated that after spending $165 million on Nova, most of the promised features — including full online access for Autopac customers — remain unfulfilled.
Sala stated in his letter that an internal government review identified a number of 'concerns' about MPI's management of Nova. Dan Lett has the story.
The NDP government has asked the provincial auditor general to probe Manitoba Public Insurance's Project Nova.(Mikaela MacKenzie / Free Press files) On the bright side
An adolescent loggerhead sea turtle named Dilly Dally crawled into the Atlantic Ocean Wednesday morning, months after having a front flipper amputated at a Florida turtle hospital.
The turtle was brought to Loggerhead Marinelife Center in January suffering from predator wounds to the front flipper. The veterinary crew at the Juno Beach facility assisted in Dilly Dally's rehabilitation and care.
'Every time we can release a turtle back into the wild is special and not just for us but for all the interns and volunteers and everyone that puts an effort to getting these turtles back out there. It's always a really special day,' said Marika Weber, a veterinary technician at the centre. The Associated Press has more here.
An adolescent loggerhead sea turtle named Dilly-Dally crawls into the Atlantic Ocean after being released on Wednesday. (Rebecca Blackwell / The Associated Press) On this date
On June 5, 1956: The Winnipeg Free Press reported city council told its public safety committee to draw up new specifications on boots for the Winnipeg fire department and call for tenders again; the decision was a victory for boot salesman William Gelfant, who a month earlier had caused an uproar at city hall when he charged the city was buying footwear that did not meet the city's own specifications. Read the rest of this day's paper here. Search our archives for more here.
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