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Good news this morning for shareholders in the Crocus Investment Fund.  They’ll get paid 3.83 cents per unit.  In total, cheques worth 54.7 million have been mailed out.  Crocus shares if you’ll recall were pulled from the market back in 2004, after big concerns about a number of companies in its portfolio.

A new report has got a dire warning about the effect climate change is having on our country’s rivers.  The WWF report says some rivers are close to drying up, due to the effects of climate change combined with the growing demand for food, water and energy.  The report looked at 10 major rivers.

Our dollar continues to gain on the U.S. greenback…closing a full cent higher yesterday to now sit at almost 98 cents U.S.  A weakening U.S. buck, higher commodity prices and positive economic news, are giving the loonie its lift.

DNA evidence is said to have answered any paternity questions surrounding Canadian born actor, Keanu Reeves and the grown children of a Barrie, Ontario mother.  Keanu’s lawyer says the DNA tests have proven that Reeves didn’t father any of the woman’s 4 adult children.  Reeves agreed to the DNA testing last month, based on the woman’s court claim that the actor may have fathered one or more of her kids.

Even with dire warnings that security in Afghanistan is fast deteriorating, many Canadian soldiers remain surprisingly upbeat about the mission.  Right now we have nearly 2800 troops deployed in the dangerous Kandahar area. 

Opposition MP’s are furious over a binge of Tory-friendly, taxpayer funded cheque presentations.  The oversized cheques prominently displaying the Conservative party logo, or the name of the local Tory MP, have been presented at several photo-ops.  Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff says his party supported stimulus funding on behalf of the government of Canada….not the federal Tory party.  Prime Minister Harper says it won’t happen again.

Apparently there’s a cougar roaming Charleswood these days……and yes, we’re talking about the animal.  Police and conservation officers were out looking for the big cat yesterday, but couldn’t find it.  But a homeowner on Haney street insists he saw one.  Officials say even though the cougar population in the province is pretty small, there’s usually one or two sightings every year.

The horrific child abuse case of Phoenix Sinclair, is back before a Manitoba court today.  Both Samantha Kematch and Carl McKay are appealing their 1^st degree murder convictions in the young girls death back in 2005.  The couple admitted to repeatedly abusing the girl, but are now arguing over the circumstances, hoping to have that conviction changed to manslaughter.

School divisions in the province have been ordered to start posting online the number of kids absent for each school, each day.  The post will either be a message of no unusual absences, or, higher than normal absences.  Even though government officials aren’t saying it, most believe this new online roll call has everything to do with the swine flu.

Manitoba is spending 10 million dollars on a bid for a UNESCO world heritage site.  The designation would make the province’s eastern boreal forest, an internationally protected area.  The announcement is being applauded by many environmental groups.

Well if you’re planning on taking a trip south this winter, you are gonna love this news.  Our loonie continues to fly on world markets.  Yesterday, it gained ¾ of a cent, to close the day over 97 cents U.S.  And analysts say they expect our buck to be at par with the U.S. greenback by January.

Art experts think they’ve found a new Leonardo da Vinci….and if they’re right, it would be the first major work by da Vinci to be identified in 100 years.  Forensic art experts say a fingerprint on the canvas of what was thought to be a 19^th century German painting of a young woman, has convinced pretty much everyone that it’s actually a da Vinci.  Dealers now say the painting which was originally bought for 19 grand, could be worth 150 million bucks !

The drama over bonuses for executives at bailed out American companies and banks is being revived today on Capitol Hill.  A U.S. government watchdog will detail how Washington couldn’t legally stop the payout of millions of dollars in bonuses at AIG, even after the insurance giant took billions in federal cash. 

Even though polls show that most Canadians aren’t sold on getting the H1-N1 vaccine this fall, the public health agency is still feeling pressure to speed up its approval.  Agency chief Dr. David Butler-Jones says the inoculation program is scheduled to being the first week in November.  But he admits it’s possible the program could launch sooner if it needs to.

California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger is calling out his own wife, Maria Shriver, for apparently violating a state law he himself brought in last year.  The celeb web-site, TMZ, posted a couple of photos yesterday showing Shriver holding a cell phone to her ear, while she was driving.  Schwarzenegger then wrote to TMZ….”thanks for bringing her violations to my attention.  There’s gonna be swift action taken.”  A spokesperson says that means the governor will ask his wife to start using a hands-free device.

Members of the city’s gay community are mourning after 2 people died in a fire at a local bathhouse.  Robert Yablonski says his 23 year old son, Steven, was asleep when fire broke out at Aquarius Men’s Bath, around 7 yesterday morning.  Police are still trying to confirm the other man’s identity.  Reports say the blaze appears to be accidental, and may have been caused by careless smoking.

An appeal begins today for a Manitoba couple found guilty of 1^st degree murder in the death of the woman’s young daughter.  Samantha Kematch and Karl McKay want their convictions reduced to manslaughter.  The pair were convicted of killing 5 year old Phoenix Sinclair a few years ago.

2 doctors and the lawyer-boyfriend of Anna Nicole Smith, are due in a California court today to hear what government witnesses have to say about their alleged roles in supplying drugs that killed the celebrity model.  A judge will then decide whether there’s enough evidence to order Howard K. Stern and 2 doctors to stand trial.

A new Canadian study suggests that two-thirds of the most severe cases of swine flu, 67 per cent in fact, are women.  The study’s author says he’s really puzzled as to why that is.  Meantime, the study also suggests that developing countries with limited health care, may be in for a rough ride with H1-N1 this coming flu season.

Philatelists listen up !  You’ll soon be able to bid on a collection of rare stamps that actually predate Confederation.  But, as you would expect, they won’t come cheap.  The early Canadian postage stamps include 2—1851 stamps, showing a very young Queen Victoria….and are worth as much as 750 thousand dollars.  The stamps will go up for auction next month in New York.

The country’s human resources minister is expected to table a bill this week, that would allow self employed people to get Employment Insurance benefits.  The bill would extend benefits to a growing group of people, including more and more women who are setting up their own businesses while trying to take care of their kids.

It seems that it’s mostly women who suffer the worst cases of the swine flu.  A new Canadian study has found that, women make up a high percentage, 67 per cent in fact, of really severe cases of the H1-N1 virus.  The study’s author, Dr. Rob Fowler says, the numbers are really quite puzzling. 

It looks like Manitoba Hydro and its striking union, have worked out a deal.  The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, made that announcement on their website.  The union says it’ll hold a special meeting soon to explain the settlement to its members.  Close to 3 thousand hydro workers went on strike, exactly a week ago.

Premier Gary Doer’s last day at the leg was yesterday.  Doer sat in the legislature for 23 years, the last 10 as Premier.  He’ll now start work on October 19^th as Canada’s new ambassador to Washington.

So it is the Thanksgiving Long Weekend, and that means both city police and the RCMP will be out in full force with their checkstop campaigns.  In fact, police right across the country will be stepping up traffic patrols and enforcement the next 3 days.  The national campaigns goal…is to make the country’s roads as safe as possible during this holiday weekend while a lot of people are traveling.

To say that 2009 has been a good year for Barack Obama….might be an understatement.  He of course was inaugurated as U.S. President last January, and now, he’s been awarded this year’s Nobel Peace Prize.  The Nobel Committee says Obama deserves the award for his efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.

This’ll be pretty cool to check out.  2 parts of an unmanned NASA space probe are now on a collision course with the moon.  A 2.2 tonne empty rocket stage, should crash into the lunar surface at twice the speed of a bullet, followed 4 minutes later with a smaller hit by a 2^nd piece of the probe.  If you’d like to watch this happen live…you can…..check out NASA.gov.

More swine flu news to tell ya this morning.  A new U.S. study says the H1-N1 virus is much more dangerous than just the seasonal flu, and hits the young harder than the elderly.  It shows one quarter of people hospitalized with the swine flu this year, needed intensive care and 7 per cent died. 

And from the strange but true file this morning….Dallas police are looking for a man they say repeatedly sneaks into backyards, dances or swims around naked, then runs away.  Cops think the man has been streaking in the same neighborhood since 2005.  In one case….they say he danced nude on top of a backyard air conditioning unit.  A hunt is now underway for a pudgy man about 6 feet tall, who covers his face…but nothing else….while busting his moves.

Some 23 thousand renewal notices will soon be going out to homeowners and businesses who got an alarm permit between 2000 and 2002.  The notice is part of city council’s approval of a renewal fee every 4 years for all alarm permit holders.  If you get one the notices in the mail this month, you’ll be required to fill out the application, and, return it with either a 20 or 30 dollar fee by the end of November.

Mayor Sam Katz warns there’ll be big trouble if David Asper can’t complete arrangements to build a new stadium.  Earlier this month, the Bombers gave Asper a year long extension for his plans to construct a retail complex on the current site of Canad Inns Stadium.  Asper blamed the sluggish economy for the delay.  But now, a further kink is in the works……the current stadium needs repairs.  Bomber officials say the club needs to be out of the current stadium within 7 years at the latest.

Good news for those who use the Disraeli Freeway everyday.  It will not close while under construction.  That bit of news came from both the mayor and premier yesterday.  Although the city is still in the middle of choosing one of 3 bids for the construction, they do hope to have shovels in the ground by next year. 

Canadian banks say its consumers who’ll suffer from the feds decision to stop banks from selling insurance on their web sites.  Currently, banks can sell insurance through separate companies, not from bank branches.  But yesterday, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced he intends to pass legislation to make that illegal. 

Nearly a dozen Canadian universities have made the world’s Top 200 list.  The World University Rankings are out, and 11 Canuck schools made the cut.  All of the universities in the Top 10 were either in the U.K. or the U.S., with Harvard at number 1.  But Montreal’s McGill University did score highest in this country at number 18.  U of Toronto was next in 29^th, and the University of Alberta came in at 59^th.

Can you imagine as a kid, getting an invite to this?  President Barack Obama, hosted a White House party with real star power last night.  The Obama’s, including daughters Sasha and Malia, invited 150 school kids over to fall stargaze on the South Lawn last night.  The event even featured astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Sally Ride.

You’re not gonna believe this one !  The father of Sarah Palin’s grandchild is using naked ambition to extend his fleeting 15 minutes of fame.  Levi Johnston is going to be featured in…..Playgirl !  Johnson of course gained notoriety after the pregnancy of Sarah Palin’s daughter shook last fall’s U.S. election campaign.

And, if you’re heading to the States on the long weekend, there’s a new survey out which may interest you.  It’s got some tips about words to avoid in conversations with Americans.  Apparently this poll found that the word or phrase Americans find most annoying is “whatever.”  Runners up included, “you know,” “anyway” and “it is what it is.”

Manitoba Hydro has settled with 2 of its non striking unions, but, electrical workers continue to walk the picket line this morning.  The company says so far, no new talks are scheduled with the electrical workers, who’ve been off the job now since last Friday. 

The province is handing out more money to help youths who are in danger of selling themselves for sex.  The funding is part of a program that identifies high risk kids and connects them with social workers and assistance programs. 

So, have you ever tried those cherry flavoured cigarettes before?  Well, soon nobody will be smoking them as the feds are a step closer today to banning them.  Bill C-32 would prohibit all flavours and additives in tobacco products, except for menthol. 

Former KISS drummer Peter Criss has a special interest in October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month…….since he had it himself.  Criss says he was diagnosed with breast cancer last year.  Apparently, the cancer was found early and he’s now cancer free. 

Debt ridden Canwest Global Communications, has finally taken cover beneath the umbrella of the country’s creditor protection laws.  Nearly a decade after a costly spending spree, the owner of Global and the National Post, has now been granted court protection from all those it owes, so it can restructure.

If there are any prayers “lying around,” Liz Taylor says she would dearly appreciate them.  That’s because she’s having heart surgery.  The 77 year old says she’s having a leaky valve fixed in a very new procedure that doesn’t involve cracking open the chest.  No word yet on when Taylor is actually going in to the hospital to have it done.

Well one thing’s for sure….David Letterman’s sex and blackmail scandal has meant a big boost for his ratings.  The late night hosts apologies to his wife and staff drew more viewers to his CBS show than any of NBC’s primetime shows last night.  And, that includes old rival Jay Leno’s new show.  The 5.7 million who tuned into Letterman, more than doubled the audience for NBC’s “Tonight Show.”

Gotta love being a star.  Actor Mel Gibson’s drunk driving conviction….it’s now been wiped from the books.  Yesterday, a judge in Los Angeles ruled the conviction stemming from his notorious 2006 arrest, can be erased.  This after Gibson successfully completed the terms of his 3 years of probation.

Police are on the hunt this morning for a convicted Manitoba killer, who took off from a halfway house.  A country wide warrant has been issued for 27 year old John Howard Bird, after police weren’t able to find him.  Bird was serving an 8 year, 2 month sentence, for manslaughter amongst other charges.   In May of 2003 he fatally stabbed a man up in Lynn Lake, and wounded 2 others.

A couple of off duty RCMP officers are in trouble with the law.  In separate incidents, both Constable Dana Randall and Constable Darcy Stevenson were charged with impaired driving.  Both work in northern Manitoba.

About 200 people rallied outside of the leg yesterday, to try and draw attention to mental illness issues.  People at the rally said 1 in 5 Canadians is affected by mental illness, yet, stigma prevents many of them from getting the help they need.

Health workers in the Winnipeg area, have now been dropped from the list of people recommended to get the seasonal flu shot.  The Regional Health Authority says it made the decision because of new concerns the vaccine could make them more vulnerable to the swine flu virus.  Manitoba Health announced last week that, only people most at risk to the flu should get the vaccine first.

David Letterman is owning up to his mistakes.  During the taping of last night’s “Late Show,” he admitted things have been a little chilly at home since his public admission last week of sexual relationships with some female staffers.  He then publicly apologized to his wife, Regina, saying she’s been really hurt by his behaviour. 

New study out this morning says pregnant women should be really leery about a common chemical found in plastics.  The study found that pregnant women exposed to bisphenol A, are more likely to have daughters with aggressive and hyperactive behaviours.  Bisphenol A is used to make things like water bottles, baby bottles and resins that line the inside of metal food and beverage cans.

Well things are really getting nasty between reality t.v. show stars, Jon and Kate Gosselin.  Kate now says Jon has left her with no money to pay her bills.  She says Jon took out 230 thousand dollars from their joint bank account, leaving just a thousand bucks behind.  Jon however says that is a load of crock.  He says he took out 22 thousand…..money which he says is his paycheque from TLC for the t.v. show.

Manitoba’s only secure psychiatric facility wants a mentally ill killer shipped out of the province.  Officials at the Selkirk Mental Health Center say they found a knife, drugs, alcohol and cash in the ceiling tiles of Joey Wiebe’s private room.  They say they can no longer control his extreme risk to staff and patients.  Wiebe was found not criminally responsible back in 2001 for the murder of his stepmother, Candis Moizer, at their home in Niverville.

And days after revealing on air that he’d been sexually involved with women on his staff at the “Late Show,” David Letterman has now publicly apologized to his wife.  During the taping of his show last night, Letterman said his wife had been horribly hurt by his behaviour.  He also apologized to his staff, which he says has been browbeaten and humiliated by reporters.

No talks are scheduled today in the Manitoba Hydro strike, as 24 hour picketing kicks in.  Hydro workers walked off the job Friday evening.  Money is still the main issue in the dispute.

Family and friends gathered last night in the city to remember more than 70 missing or murdered aboriginal women in Manitoba.  More than 300 people bundled up to attend the 4^th annual Sisters in Spirit Vigil, down at the Forks.

There was a riot yesterday out at the Brandon Correctional Institute.  Investigators now assessing the damage, and trying to figure out what sparked the trouble.  Heavily armed tactical police used pepper spray, stun grenades and water hoses to get things under control.  Justice officials say 27 inmates of the 282 housed at the institution, were involved.

Another very successful, CIBC Run for the Cure yesterday in downtown Winnipeg.  More than 5100 people took part in this year’s event, raising over 800 thousand dollars. 

It seems a lot of people like to laugh with the undead.  Woody Harrelson’s “Zombieland” was Number 1 at the box office this weekend.  The horror-comedy took in 25 million U.S. this weekend.  The animated family movie, “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” finished the weekend 2^nd, and the double feature “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2” in 3-D, came in 3^rd spot.

It’s been 5 days since Indonesia was shaken by a powerful earthquake, and rescue workers are now calling off their search for survivors.  Instead, government and relief workers will now concentrate on providing aid to survivors.  Over a thousand people lost their lives in the quake last week.

For those thinking about gettin some real estate down south, the deals are still there, apparently.  Thanks to the bursting of the real estate bubble in the U.S. last year, and our strong dollar, the time to grab deals is now.  Apparently, quite a few Manitobans are buyin up property in places like Arizona, where homes are selling 50 per cent less than they were just a couple of years ago.

The country is marking a space travel milestone….it was 25 years ago today that Marc Garneau blasted into orbit as the country’s first astronaut.  The anniversary coincides with another first, Guy Lalilberte as the country’s first space tourist.

2 new studies in the U.S. suggest that autism may be more widespread than previously thought.  Both indicate that about 1 in 100 kids have autism disorders.  Previous estimates were 1 in 150.  Health officials say greater awareness, and spotting autism in younger children may explain at least some of the increase.

Several investigations are underway and major security upgrades being done at the Selkirk Mental Health Centre.  This, after a mentally ill killer was recently caught hiding a knife, drugs, alcohol, cash and love letters from a female nurse….who has since been fired.  26 year old Joey Wiebe has caused repeated problems for staff since being found not criminally responsible in 2001 for the murder of his step mother.

NDP leadership candidate, Greg Selinger is back in the lead in delegate count.  With less than a third of the constituency meetings left to go, Selinger has got 582 committed delegates compared with Steve Ashton’s 366.

A last ditch attempt will be made this morning to try and stop a strike at Manitoba Hydro.  Thousands of workers at the utility have served the company with a strike notice, and could hit the bricks today.  Money is still the main issue in the dispute.  By the way….there’s never been a strike or walk out at hydro in the history of the company.

Canadian circus billionaire, Guy Laliberte will hop on board the international space station this morning.  The Russian rocked carrying him, has docked with the station, and the hatches will soon open.  Laliberte will be greeted by fellow Canadian Bob Thirsk, who is the middle of a 6 month stay at the station.

Okay…so here’s some interesting news.  Being drunk can apparently have some benefits.  A new study of 8 thousand trauma patients has found that those who were smashed before being injured, were 7 times more likely to survive than sober patients.  Researchers stress they’re not encouraging people to booze it up, but say the finding could lead to better treatments.

A new study suggests it’ll soon be the norm for kids of the 21^st century to live to the ripe old age of 100….and beyond.  They say people born in the 20^th century saw their life spans increase by 30 years…..and that trend is expected to continue as medical advances continue.

No big surprise here.  The Harper government has survived yet another confidence vote.  Thanks to NDP backing…..a motion aimed at turfing the Tories, was defeated 144-117. 

The condition of a man Tasered by city police, has now been upgraded from critical to stable.  The 31 year old man ended up in hospital Monday night after cops say he was confrontational with officers.  Police say the man had become quite belligerent and refused to follow officers instructions…so, the Taser was used.

The fed’s plans to redevelop and sell a former military base in Winnipeg, have been derailed.  A Federal court judge has ruled that Ottawa should have consulted with aboriginal groups before transferring the land to another company.  The ruling could mean that the land, could eventually be turned into an urban reserve.

Thousands of people are trapped under collapsed buildings on Indonesia’s Sumatra Island.  2 strong earthquakes have pummeled the area in the last 24 hours.  At least 529 people are known dead, and rescuers are working feverishly to find survivors. 

Meanwhile, military transports are flying aid to Samoa and American Samoa, both devastated a couple of days ago by a tsunami.  Several tourist resorts were completely wiped out, and at least 150 people have been killed there.

That former reality t.v. show contestant accused of murdering his wife, will be remembered today at a private memorial in Calgary.  Ryan Jenkins was found dead of an apparent suicide in a B.C. motel after an international manhunt in August.  Jenkins had been charged with killing Jasmine Fiore, his former wife in Los Angeles back in August.

The Harper government could face a confidence vote later today, but it appears there’ll be little drama.  The NDP has indicated it’ll vote with the Tories, keeping the government in power. 

Things are looking up.  That news this morning from the International Monetary Fund.  They’ve brightened their global economic outlook for next year.  It says the world is recovering from the recession faster than expected thanks to government stimulus packages. 

And be prepared to see a lot of glove fist bumps at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver next year.  Canadian Olympic medical officials want atheletes to find new ways to celebrate to prevent the spread of swine flu.  They’re suggesting avoiding high fives, handshakes, and the 2 cheek kiss.  Officials say it it’s needed as the H1-N1 virus hits young, health individuals usually much harder.