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Well inside the city, you’ve probably noticed that mosquitoes haven’t been too bad yet.  Outside the city though, that’s whole other ball game.  Taz Stuart, the city’s entomologist says the average number of mosquitoes per trap at last report was 5.  He says they don’t do any fogging until the trap count hits over 25 for 2 straight days. 

The death of a man whose remains were found in a pond just south of the city, is not due to foul play.  The man’s remains were found last Sunday alongside Highway 75, about 4 klicks outside the city.  He was later identified as a 42 year old man from Winnipeg and RCMP say although the investigation continues, foul play is no longer suspected.

The water just keeps getting higher and higher.  Towns along the Souris River are bracing for more water, as levels continue to increase south of the border.  In fact, much of Minot, North Dakota is already underwater after the rising Souris breached the city’s levees yesterday.  The province says they have been in contact with communities along the Souris River and they’ll be holding meetings with them today to go over flood fighting measures.

MP’s have continue to debate legislation that would end the lockout at Canada Post.  Tories say the back to work bill is essential to support small businesses and maintain our economic recovery.  But the NDP are attacking the government for interfering in the collective bargaining process.

Did ya see this on the news this week?  That young Emperor penguin who swam waaayyy off course, will not be allowed to die on a New Zealand beach.  The penguin has captured the imagination of people around the world after a wrong turn and swim which led him more than 3 thousand kilometers from his home in Antarctica.  Vets have now grown concerned as the birds health has begun to deteriorate, so it’s now been taken to a zoo, where experts will try to make it healthy again before returning it to the wild.

And the debate rages on.  MP’s have been sitting through the night in Ottawa debating back to work legislation in the postal dispute.  The Commons was supposed to break for the summer yesterday, but the government says it’ll continue to sit until the bill gets passed.  Right now it’s the NDP who are dragging out the debate. 

Former Toronto tycoon, Conrad Black is back in a Chicago courtroom today.  A judge is set to decide whether to send him back to jail or let him remain free based on time already served.  Black was convicted of defrauding investors of Hollinger International in 2007, and was sentenced to 6 years in jail.  An appeals court threw out 2 convictions last year, but, upheld 2 others, and Black will be resentenced today. 

And how much would you pay for a dress by the late Diana, Princess of Wales?  Well one sold for 800 grand last night at an auction in Toronto.  The dark blue dress was worn by Diana while dancing with John Travolta at a 1985 White House state dinner. 

To say MP’s are putting in some overtime, but be an understatement.  They’ve been sitting through the night in Ottawa debating the government’s back to work legislation to end the postal lockout.  The House was actually supposed to break for the summer yesterday, but, the government says they’ll sit as long as it takes to pass the bill.

About 158 thousand people will soon be getting another cheque courtesy of MPI.  The Public Utilities Board has approved the auto insurer’s application to rebate another 16 million dollars to drivers, who either didn’t get money the first time around or, got cheque’s smaller than they expected.  Only problem is, MPI is not sure when they’ll have a chance to get those cheques out, as the postal lock out continues.

With the July 1^st holiday just around the corner….there’s been a change in what’s become a tradition for many in this city.  There will be no free day at the zoo any longer.  Officials will be charging admission this year.  The Canada Day freebie has been around for several years now, and it’s become a very popular attraction, in fact a little too popular.  About 37 thousand people cram in for free that day, ten times the normal, and officials say its creating a real overcrowding problem.

The country’s western premiers are calling on Ottawa to develop a new long-term national disaster mitigation program.  They came out of their annual meeting yesterday saying that rebuilding after a natural disaster is far more costly than investing in preventive measures.  Premier Greg Selinger says the Red River floodway cost one billion dollars, but has prevented about 30 billion in disaster claims over the years. 

Manitoba’s population continues to grow steadily, posting the biggest year over year increase in some 40 years.  The latest Statscan figures show our province reached 1,246,000 plus residents on April 1^st, an increase of more than 16 thousand in the last year.  The population increase is actually far above the national average, and ranks 3^rd highest in the country.

MP’s will open debate today on the government’s back to work legislation to end the lock out at the post office.  The Conservatives had been hoping for a vote today as the House of Commons gets set to take their summer break.  But the NDP are threatening to stall the bill.  By the way, talks between the post office and its workers broke off last night, with both sides saying they are still very far apart.

It’s back to court today for Lindsay Lohan.  The actress will be in an L.A. courtroom so a judge can determine whether she violated the terms of her probation on a 2007 drunk driving conviction.  But it’s not clear yet, what the alleged violation is. 

And Joe this story is just for you my friend !  Medical researchers say one of the biggest reasons why North Americans are piling on weight…is the potato chip.  The study done by a hospital in the U.S. has found, 15 chips contain roughly 160 calories.  Problem is….no one ever seems to eat, just 15 chips.

Talks between the post office and its union have broken off, as MP’s prepare to debate back to work legislation to end the lockout.  Both sides say they are still very far apart on several issues….this despite sitting around the table for some 72 hours this week.  The government is hoping to pass back to work legislation today.

Wanna know where the “richie riches” live?  Well a new report says Asia now has the world’s 2^nd biggest population of wealthy people, overtaking Europe for the first time.  The report says the Asia-Pacific region was home to over 3 million people worth more than a million dollars last year.  Asia is now 2^nd only to North America….and they are closing that gap very fast.

Western premiers are calling on Ottawa to help develop a long term program to help prevent disasters like this year’s flooding and fires.  They came out of their meeting in Yellowknife yesterday to say rebuilding after a natural disaster is far more costly than investing in preventative measures.  The group is also asking Ottawa to consider special compensation to provinces like ours and Saskatchewan, given the magnitude of this year’s flooding.

So Gene Simmons just got a key to our city….and now Mayor Katz is thinking about doing the same for comedian Jerry Seinfeld.  Seinfeld will be here in town on September 8^th for a show at the MTS center.  Katz says Jerry is certainly someone he thinks would be worthy of consideration…and he’ll make a final decision later this summer.

Limo drivers in the city are more than a little ticked about inspections last weekend by the Taxicab Board.  They say a number of tickets were issued for things like tinted windows and illegal interior lighting.  But the board says a number of limo’s had major safety issues like faulty steering and bad wiring.  About 20 drivers with their limos protested outside the Leg yesterday.  On driver said the inspections came out of nowhere, and are giving the public a bad impression, which is not good during the busy grad and wedding season.

A Tory MP says she’s shuttin down her Winnipeg office until Canada Post employees go back to work.  Shelly Glover says she feared for her staff’s safety during a sit-in staged on Monday by 5 postal workers at her St. Boniface office.  She says the workers refused to leave until cops showed up around 1 a.m. yesterday morning. 

Manitoba Ag Minister Stan Struthers says the impact of flooding will mean at least a billion dollars in lost revenue from unseeded farmland.  The size of the number fields that won’t see crops this year, keeps growing with each rainstorm, with the worst parts being in the southwest corner of the province. 

U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to use a televised address tonight to announce a phased withdrawl of 10 thousand troops from Afghanistan.  A Pentagon official says Obama will order 5 thousand home this summer, and another 5 thousand at the end of the year.  With more to come next spring.

Cigarette packs in the U.S. will soon undergo a major facelift….in fact, they’re soon gonna start looking like Canadian smokes.  They’ll feature warning photos of rotting teeth and gums, diseased lungs and even the sewn up corpse of a smoker in a bid to turn smokers off the habit. 

A public funeral will be held this weekend in Port Coquitlam, B.C., for the mother of cancer fighting hero, Terry Fox.  Betty Fox died last Friday in Chilliwack at the age of 73. 

Bruce Springsteen is among those who delivered eulogies for his friend and bandmate of 40 plus years, sax player, Clarence Clemons.  A 2 hour funeral was held for the Big Man yesterday in Florida.  Clemons died on the weekend after suffering a stroke the week before….he was 69.

The union representing thousands of federal employees says it appears the Harper government is pushing for a major battle on the labor front.  The Public Service Alliance is fighting mad with the back to work legislation for the post office and Air Canada workers.  The P-Sac president says they’ve got a couple of contracts up for negotiation, and they’re ready to take on the government.

Some wild weather south of the line overnight.  The same system which is giving us the rain today, nailed cities like Minneapolis and Chicago yesterday.  In fact, things were so bad in Chi-town, one of the busiest airports in the U.S., O’Hare International, was virtually shut down.  Power was also knocked out to thousands of homes.

Comedian Tracy Morgan met with leaders of the gay community in Nashville yesterday to apologize for remarks he made in the city earlier this month.  During his stand up act, Morgan made a joke about stabbing his son if he turned out to be gay.  The star of “30 Rock,” says he no longer sees gay or straight people….just human beings.

City police have got a warning for the public today.  A convicted sex offender by the name of Ryan James Gabourie is being released this week, and it does appear he’ll be making the city his home.  The 29 year old Gabourie is apparently a high risk to re-offend.  He’s got a long history of sexual offences against children, including assault, break and enter to commit assault, and possessing child pornography.

Striking postal workers here in the city are none to happy that the feds have introduced back to work legislation.  Winnipeg chapter President, Bob Tyre says it’s unfair and deceitful and explains why the post office locked the workers out.  To protest the government bill, mail carriers rallied in front of the office of Winnipeg Conservative, Shelly Glover yesterday….although Glover was actually in Ottawa.

A 23 year old man has been killed on the job in Victoria Beach.  The RCMP say Michael Mooney of Winnipeg was working with 3 other men trying to jack up a cottage structure.  While underneath the frame of the cottage, the structure began to slide and collapse, and pinned the young man underneath.  The 2 other men were not injured.  Manitoba Labor, as well as Workplace Safety and Health are now investigating.

Frustrated farmers in this province say their fields are full of fish and they want to know what they’re supposed to do about it.  David Reykdal normally sees hundreds of cattle on his farmland, but thanks to this years flooding, he’s seeing thousands of carp and other species.  Reykdal wants to know what he’s supposed to do when the water recedes and he’s left with a lot of dead fish.  Emergency officials say they’ll be meeting with RM’s soon to brainstorm.

Canadian households are still deep in the red.  A new Statscan report says households slid even deeper into debt in the first quarter as the use of credit outpaced income growth.  The ratio of household debt to disposable income rose to 149 per cent from 147 last year.  What does that mean?  Well it means Canadians owe 1.49 for every after tax dollar they earn.

The withdrawal of some American troops in Afghanistan is expected to be the subject of a big announcement tomorrow from the White House.  U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to outline a plan for starting to bring troops home in July, as well as a broader withdrawal blueprint.  Canadian soldiers have already begun coming home, as our military prepares to switch next month from a combat mission to one focused on training.

The country’s postal workers have delivered a verdict of the Harper government’s back to work legislation, and they don’t like it.  Union president Denis Lemelin says the bill sets out wage hikes which are lower than what the post office was actually offering.  But Labour Minister Lisa Raitt says the wage hikes reflect the agreement the government has with its own unions.

B.C.’s solicitor general says she’s not interested in a blame game….but Shirley Bond wants to know why things got so outta control in Vancouver last week.  She’s announced an independent investigation into the Stanley Cup rioting, including a review of the police and civic decisions leading up to all the chaos.  Bond says she wants to see if recommendation’s from the last big riot mess, back in 94, were actually followed or ignored.

The numbers don’t lie.  Just 15 minutes of exercise a day would eliminate obsesity in about a million Canadians.  That’s according to a new report drawn up by health experts.  The report also says more than one in every four Canadian adult’s, and almost one in 11 kids are now obese in this country.

We first told ya about this last week……it appears Marilyn Monroe hasn’t lost her appeal.  That white dress from the famous scene in “The Seven Year Itch” has been sold at auction for……4.6 million dollars !  That’s more than 4 times the top price ever paid for a film costume.  No word yet on who the buyer was.

Fish have been appearing in flooded Manitoba fields, and that’s not really the crop that farmers have been hoping for.  Carp are now swimming over acres of flooded farmland throughout the Lake Manitoba area.  A spokesperson with the RM of St. Andrews says water levels are still high so they hope the carp are smart enough to find their way back to the river….otherwise they’ll all simply die.

The condition of a 19 year old man who was hit by an apparent drunk driver, has gotten worse.  The man had improved to serious condition, but was downgraded to critical yesterday.  City police say the victim and another 19 year old man were both walking east when they were hit from behind by an eastbound vehicle on Friday night.  A 41 year old man driving an S.U.V. is now facing two charges of impaired driving causing bodily harm.

City police have a warning for pet owners today.  Don’t be leaving them in a parked vehicle without proper ventilation or water.  Cops they received several calls over the weekend about just that.  They say even on a warm day, a vehicle parked in the shade with windows slightly open, can still become extremely hot. 

As the feds work on back to legislation to end the postal dispute, more talks will take place today between the post office and its union.  A Canada Post official says there is still time to reach a deal without Ottawa stepping in. 

A 17 year old water polo player with dreams of playing for Canada in the Olympics is now apologizing for his part in the Stanley Cup rioting in Vancouver.  Nathan Kotylak turned himself in to police after social media sites posted pictures of him stuffing a burning rag into the gas tank of a police car.  Kotylak says his actions were dumb and he can’t explain how or why he got caught up in the melee. 

New rules take effect today that’ll give the federal government the power to remove unsafe products from store shelves.  Ottawa can now pull unsafe toys, sporting goods, cribs and some other products off the sales floor, instead of just requesting producers do so. 

A member of the Canadian junior water polo team has apologized for taking part in last week’s riots in Vancouver.  And 17 year old Nathan Kotylak is urging other people who were involved to take responsibility for their actions.  Kotylak has turned himself into police, and says he can’t explain why or how he got caught up in the mob mentality.  He’s now been suspended from the water polo team, and says he’s prepared to accept the consequences of what he did.

Canada Post says it still wants to get a deal done with the postal workers union.  But the union says there’s been no progress at the bargaining table, and they accuse postal officials of just waiting for the government to step in.  Labour Minister, Lisa Raitt is expected to introduce back to work legislation today.  About 48 thousand postal workers were locked out last Wednesday after almost 2 weeks of rotating strikes.

The organization that oversees the internet address system, has voted to greatly expand the number of new website suffixes available.  The group says hundreds more could be created beginning late next year.  The new domains could be categorized by subjects like industry and geography.

Well that old fridge or freezer ya got sittin around, could make you a little money.  The Power Smart Refrigerator Retirement Program is paying Manitoba Hydro customers 40 bucks for working fridges, 15 years or older.  They’ll even come and pick it up for free.  Hydro says it hopes the service will reduce energy waste by the more than 190 thousand inefficient fridges and freezers in the province.

Been in a car wreck lately?  Did ya get hurt?  Well the province is implementing a mediation service to deal with motorists appealing MPI’s decisions about injury compensation.  People unhappy with the insurer’s decisions on injury claims can now appeal to an independent mediation office starting this summer. 

Manitoba politicians left the Leg yesterday for the last time until the province’s October 4^th election, but the political debate is far from over.  The 9 week spring session was dominated by opposition attacks over the cost of BiPole Three, a planned hydro transmission line that’ll bring electricity from the north to southern Manitoba and the U.S. 

Quite the scene in front of the downtown post office yesterday.  About a thousand union members staged a loud rally in front of the building.  At least 10 different unions marched in support of locked out postal workers and striking Air Canada employees.  

One strike is over, but there’s more labour turbulence in the airline industry.  Air Transat flight attendants have given their union a strike mandate after overwhelmingly voting down the last offer from the airline.  That means they could walk off the job anytime after July 19^th.  The news comes as Air Canada’s customer service reps return to work after a 3 day strike.  Their union and the airline have reached a tentative contract.

Vancouver’s Police Chief Jim Chu is blaming a small core of criminals and anarchists for the Stanley Cup rioting.  Chu says most came from out of town, equipped with the tools of the riot trade….masks, goggles, gasoline and clubs.  He says 9 officers were among the 150 people injured that night, including several officers who were actually bitten by the rioters.

If ya love star memorabilia….this sale’s for you.  Actress Debbie Reynolds is parting with some pretty valuable stuff that she’s collected for decades.  An auction will be held tomorrow down in Beverly Hills as well as online, to sell costumes and props from some of film’s greatest stars and roles.  Among them?  The Marilyn Monroe dress that flirted with a subway gust in “The Seven Year Itch,” and Julie Andrew’s guitar from “The Sound of Music.” 

Back to work today for Air Canada’s check-in agents and other customer service reps.  Their union’s reached a tentative deal with the airline after a 3 day strike.  The settlement was announced a short time after the feds introduced legislation that would’ve forced the workers back to their jobs. 

Talks between the post office and its union are set to resume today.  The Crown Corporation says it expects the talks to continue through the weekend.  The government does plan to introduce back to work legislation on Monday to end the lockout if no deal gets done. 

And all the ladies in the house…listen up !  That guy in a flashy car may be an eye-catcher, but women looking for a long-term relationship should let him drive away.  That’s according to some new research down in the States.  Studies suggest women do find men who spend money on expensive luxury cars more desirable than men who buy your regular type of vehicle.  But research showed that the women don’t prefer men with flashy wheels as marriage partners. 

The provincial government is overdue in holding a public hearing, required under law, on Manitoba’s troubled child welfare system.  In the wake of a report last year that said the system was in a state of chaos, the government passed a law that requires the province’s children’s advocate to appear before a legislative committee within 60 days of issuing her annual report.  Well that deadline passed yesterday, and the opposition Tories are now crying foul. 

The city has stalled a plan to add 2 new wards to Winnipeg.  City Hall was considering upping Winnipeg’s wards from 15 to 17, because at least 3 wards currently have as many as 60 thousand residents, compared to 30 and 40 thousand in other wards.  But the city’s executive policy committee decided yesterday to send the issue back to the ward boundry committee, for further review.

B.C. Premier, Christy Clark calls it a disappointing night, and she’s not just talking about Vancouver’s loss to Boston.  Hundreds of people went on a rampage in downtown Vancouver after the Bruins beat the Canucks to win the Stanley Cup.  Mobs overturned and then set fire to cars.  Looters ran through stores including The Bay, Sears and Future Shop, smashing windows and grabbing what they could carry.  It was 4 hours before cops were finally able to restore order.

The feds may introduce a bill today in order to end the strike at Air Canada.  It gave the required 48 hour notice of back to work legislation on Tuesday, only hours after the 3800 customer service agents went on strike.  The feds also served notice that similar legislation could be brought in next week to end the lockout at Canada Post.  The government says both strike’s could jeopardize the country’s economic recovery.

Al-Qaida’s longtime number 2, is now number 1.  A website affiliated with the terror group says Ayman al-Zawahri has succeeded Osama bin Laden as head of the global network.  The Egyptian doctor served as bin Laden’s deputy for years.

This is a big day for Big Blue as IBM marks its 100^th anniversary.  Apple, Facebook and Google couldn’t exist without IBM’s pioneering work in developing computers.  IBM not only introduced the floppy disk back in 71, but, also developed the first bar code, as well as a high speed processing system that allowed ATM transactions, and, they even created the magnetic strip technology for credit cards.

It’s taken months of rehab but, the U.S. Congresswoman who was shot in the head back in January, has now been released from a Houston hospital.  Gabrielle Giffords still struggles to speak and walk, and will continue daily therapy at the hospital on an outpatient basis. 

For the 2^nd time this week, the feds have served notice that it’s ready to legislate an end to a contract dispute.  This time, it’s the post office.  Prime Minister Harper says the labour fights at Canada Post and Air Canada are putting the economy at risk.  So the feds could introduce back to work legislation to end the airline strike today, and similar legislation to end the postal lockout on Monday.

The Canucks lose….and some fans go wild.  Violence erupted in downtown Vancouver last night after the Canucks lost the Stanley Cup final to Boston.  Cars were overturned and set on fire, windows were smashed and stores got looted.  Police in riot gear fired off pepper spray to try and gain control of some of the mobs….but, it was over 4 hours before they were able to get things under control.  In Boston meantime, police report some arrests but no serious incidents as hockey fans celebrate the Bruins win.

This year it was a rebate……next year it could be a decrease.  Manitobans could see their general auto insurance rates drop in 2012-2013.  MPI is asking the Public Utilities Board to approve a 6.8 per cent drop for some 900 thousand vehicles.  MPI spokesperson Brian Smiley says the drop in rates is mostly due to last year’s surplus.  He also says a decrease in auto thefts is another reason for the reduction.

A man convicted of hog-tying a 13 year old girl and leaving her to freeze to death in a shed, wants a new trial.  Mark Grant filed documents with the Manitoba Court of Appeal this week, seeking to have his 2^nd degree murder conviction overturned.  Grant alleges the judge made some 18 errors in the handling of his high profile jury trial which ended back in February.  Grant was given a mandatory life sentence, with no chance of parole for at least 25 years in the death of Candace Derksen.

The MLA for the Interlake region is catchin some flak for comments he made about this summer’s floods in the province.  NDP Tom Nevakshonoff told exhausted and frustrated evacuated residents at a meeting, they should be happy they aren’t in Japan or Mississippi.  He told the crowd that he was sorry people were being inconvenienced, by Mother Nature, but pointed out that things could be worse. 

The postal strike has just gotten a little more nasty.  This morning Canada Post has decided to lock all workers out.  This after 12 days of rotating strikes.  A post office spokesperson says he believes the lockout is the best way to resolve the impasse at the bargaining table.  Both sides are expected to be back at the table today.

The bad news?  It’s day 2 of a strike at Air Canada. The good news?  The walkout it appears is having very little impact at airports.  Managers are filling in for the 3800 customer service agents who’ve walked off the job.  But it does look like there’ll be an end to this soon.  The feds say they may introduce back to work legislation by the end of this week.  The government says a prolonged strike could and would threaten our economic recovery.

Don’t know if you heard….there’s a change on the way when it comes to buying sunscreen.  But for consumers who are confused by all the numbers and claims on the labels…..not to worry help is on the way.  Health Canada says it’s monitoring what’s happening in the States, as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says beginning next summer, sunscreens will have to prove their filter out both UVA and UVB rays to claim they protect against skin cancer.

Natalie Portman has got a baby boy to go along with her Oscar.  People Magazine says the 30 year old actress has given birth to her first child.  Portman met her fiancé while making the movie “Black Swan.”  He was the choreographer…and she of course took home best actress honors for her performance in that very movie.

Well don’t bother checking your mailbox today.  Canada Post has locked out its 48 thousand unionized workers and suspended operations across the country.  The Crown corporation says 12 days of rotating strikes have cost it some 100 million dollars….and they’re hoping by locking the workers out, they’ll be a little more motivated at the bargaining table. 

If you’re in Vancouver tonight, getting set for a Stanley Cup party perhaps…ya better stock up on your booze early.  Liquor stores in that downtown city will be closing early today.  Officials have ordered all of them to shut their doors an hour before game time, to try and reduce any rowdiness on the streets.

And Canadians love to kick back and watch the Stanely Cup finals…even if they don’t have a roof over their heads.  A homeless man in Vancouver has set up a t.v. in a back alley, and invited a few friends over to watch.  Vinnie Danes has permission from a local business to use one of its outlets to plug in his old set.  As many as 20 people have shown up to watch….and they’ll be in the alley again tonight, for the 7^th and deciding game.

And here’s a shocker for ya this morning.  The wedding is off for Hugh Hefner.  The 85 year old Playboy founder says his 24 year old fiancé has had a change of heart.  Hefner and former playmate, Crystal Harris, were scheduled to be married this weekend at the Playboy Mansion in L.A. 

They’ve timed, as it’s 7 minutes.  That’s how long it’ll take the city’s new rapid transit buses to take passengers from downtown to the Fort Rouge station…and that by the way, includes stops.  City spokesman, Bill Menzies says that shaves at least 10 minutes from navigating Confusion Corner alone, where buses sometimes get delayed as much as 20 minutes because of traffic.  The first phase of the 138 million dollar corridor is slated to be completed later this year….but it won’t actually operate until 2012, after a thousand drivers have been trained on how to drive on it.

More evacuations were underway yesterday in the RM of Siglunes, along Lake Manitoba.  A combination of strong winds and high water levels were breaching some dikes and putting properties at risk.  Meantime, Emergency Measures Minister Steve Ashton says this summer’s flooding could cost the province more than the so called “Flood of the Century” back in 97. 

The province has appointed a former municipalities president to hear appeals from farmers, property owners and businesses over flood coverage.  Ron Bell will oversee any complaints about compensation for that deliberate dike breach near Portage la Prairie last month.  He’ll also be responsible for helping owners of homes and cottages damaged by water levels on Lake Manitoba.

Ya better plan on some wait times at the airport.  That’s what people are being told this morning now that Air Canada’s customer service agents have walked off the job.  About 3800 employees went on strike just after midnight.  A union spokesperson says talks went down to the wire, but the 2 sides couldn’t agree on pensions and wages.

It’s a bigger show of force in the postal workers fight with Canada Post.  The union has targeted Montreal and Toronto for today’s rotating strikes…meaning 15 thousand postal workers are now off the job.  A union spokesperson says they’ve been avoiding targeting big centers like T.O…..that is, until now.  With talks still stalled, they’re hoping action like this will help get them started again.

Well opposition parties got a taste of things to come under this new Tory majority government.  The Conservatives got their first chance last night to flex their newfound muscle and easily passed their federal budget in the Commons.  The bill passed 167 to 131, with the NDP and Liberals voting against it. 

We warned ya it could happen and now it has.  Air Canada’s customer service reps, have hit the bricks.  The strike began overnight, after talks broke off between the airline and the union.  Pensions and wages were apparently the big sticking points.  Now as far as what that means for you….well longer lines and big wait times.  The airline is warning customers to plan for plenty of extra time at the airport, and if possible, don’t pack any luggage.

Officials down in Joplin, Missouri say there are now 2 more fatalities from that monster tornado that devastated the city last month.  The 2 people were in hospital, but died of their injuries.  So that brings the death toll to 153.  That makes the Joplin tornado the deadliest in the U.S. in more than 6 decades.

And cha-ching for the former Miss Hanna Montana.  Miley Cyrus made more money in the last year than any other actress under the age of 30.  She’s 18 and Forbes says she made a very nice 15 million dollars. 

There’s another pretty major storm on the way today, which could dump up to 60 millimeters of rain on flood weary residents of western Manitoba.  Provincial officials say this storm will push our flood measures beyond the limit.  2 weeks ago, residents along Lake Manitoba saw their homes damaged due to high winds and about a thousand still can’t return to stay.  Meantime, The Portage Diversion…which takes water from the Assiniboine and dumps it into Lake Manitoba, is already running over-capacity, and with more rain in the forecast, officials are more than a little worried.

Friends and family hope a national campaign….and a 5 thousand dollar reward….will be enough to locate Mildred Flett, who hasn’t been seen for over a year.  They gathered at the Indian and Metis Friendship Center here in the city this weekend, to launch this new campaign.  Flett was last seen on June 8^th of 2010.  She’s described as aboriginal, 5 foot 10, with medium wavy black hair and brown eyes.  Anyone who might have seen Flett, or has information on her disappearance, are asked to call CrimeStoppers.

Hundreds of people living on Winnipeg’s streets were offered a caring and helping hand as volunteers gave out more than 250 backpacks filled with personal hygiene items.  The homeless were also treated to a BBQ lunch.  But Ron Eldridge a spokesperson for Devoted to You Ministries, the group handing the packs out says, sadly, demand was so great, they actually ran out. 

Well hundreds of workers at Air Canada may go on strike at one minute after midnight tonight, if a deal with the airline isn’t reached today.  Both the company and the union say they’re committed to reaching an agreement to avoid a strike by customer service and sales staff.  But so far…that hasn’t happened.  The airline by the way has downplayed the potential impact of a walkout saying….if it happens it’ll continue to operate a full flight schedule. 

Weekend talks aimed at settling the postal dispute, failed to produce a deal to end the rotating strikes which began 10 days ago now.  Post office officials say the disruptions are pushing customers away….and that means starting today, the mail will only get delivered 3 days a week.

The U.S. Congress returns to work today….but at least one lawmaker won’t be there.  New York Democrat, Anthony Weiner starts this week on a temporary leave of absence, as he seeks treatment for an undisclosed disorder.  Weiner spent most of last week embroiled in a sexting scandal that has since produced even more suggestive photos….and more calls for his resignation.

Flood weary Manitobans can’t catch a break.  Another storm, which could bring a deluge of rain and wind is expected to hit the southern part of the province today.  That means, flows into the Portage Diversion are forecast to come close to peak levels reached in mid-May, which would again cause the Souris and Assiniboine rivers to spill their banks.

A series of strong earthquakes have shaken the New Zealand city of Christchurch today.  At least two buildings collapsed, but fortunately, there are no reports of any deaths so far.  It was only back in February when the same city was hit by a massive quake, killing 181 people.

Sources say saxophonist, Clarence Clemons of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, has suffered a stroke.  It was only last month that Clemons performed on the season finale of “American Idol.”  Clemons has suffered numerous ailments over the last few years.  So far there’s no word yet on his condition.