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Talk about “Fuelled by passion”, it took just 8 days for fans to snap up all 20,000 Winnipeg Jets licence plates. MPI has ordered an additional 5,000 on sale today.  Cost is $70.00 per plate with $30 going towards the Jets True North Foundation

Starting to see more and all electric vehicles around, even here in Winnipeg. Thursday, Winnipegger Ross Redman got the first Mitsubishi i-MiEV in Canada.  He says the cost of fuelling his new car is about 80 cents per fill at Manitoba Hydro rates. In his garage, he can plug in with a standard 110-volt plug for 15 to 20 hours. He had to wait 4 years and put a 5-thousand dollar deposit down. Cost about 33-thousand dollars

A new travel award at the University of Manitoba honours the first Canadian woman of Icelandic descent who became a doctor. Dr. Sigga Christianson Houston started a medical dynasty that now spans 4 generations. Houston earned her medical degree from the university in 1925, retired at the age of 82 and lived to be 102.

The cost of the controversial Canadian Museum for Human Rights has risen to new heights. Spokeswoman Angela Cassie says the huge structure is estimated to cost $351 million, that’s $40 million more than previously announced. The federal government says it won’t pay any more so the museum is turning to private donors to make up the shortfall.

3 people are in hospital after two cars collided in Osborne Village early this morning. It happened at about 12:15 am in front of ‘Fort Rouge Park’ on River Avenue. Emergency Services had to extricate two females from one of the vehicles using the ‘Jaws of Life’. They were both taken to hospital with minor injuries. The male driver of the other vehicle was also taken to hospital with unknown injuries.

Ottawa has unveiled new measures aimed at speeding up travel time when flying. Designated lines for NEXUS card holders are opening at all major airports in Canada, including in Winnipeg. The $50 card allows passengers to bypass long lineups and random security checks and is valid for five years.

RCMP seized more than $10,000 worth of counterfeit clothing and accessories from a Brandon, Man. Store yesterday. Police say they found knock-off hoodies, T-shirts, hats and belts that had logos from various brand names, including Ford, Harley Davidson, Jack Daniels and Red Bull. So far no charges had been laid as the investigation continues.

Winnipeg Police were investigating a couple of minor incidents overnight. Responded to 5 Donald St. just after 10:15pm after getting a report of a stabbing incident. A little later just after 11:30pm police responded to a report of an assault on a Transit Bus at Portage avenue and Roseberry street. Police made no arrests in either incident.

Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has been accused of imposing a new federal health funding plan on the provinces and territories. Ottawa wants to continue increasing health transfer payments at 6% annually for the next 6 years, then tie the transfer rate to inflation. But the majority of provincial and territorial leaders said the deal amounted to a take-it-or-leave-it offer that was slapped on the table without any chance of discussion.

Do you see the robot? What a cluster as parts of Portage between Empress and Valour Road were closed yesterday as police investigated what they thought was a bomb. Started with a vehicle accident, fire-fighter thought he saw something in the back seat of one of the cars… Better safe than sorry. Turned out to be a look alike bomb devise or maybe a toy. The 39 yr old owner was only charged with driving imprudently.

Speaking of driving… Manitoba RCMP released stats from the second weekend of this season’s Holiday Check-stop. 28 more people have been charged with drunk driving. 5 more than this time last year. So much easier to call Operation red nose, where volunteers will drive you home and you can help out a local charity at the same time. So don’t be a chump, find the link on your facebook page.

RCMP are turning to the public for help in identifying a man whose body was pulled from the Red River in East St. Paul. The body was discovered on July 18, north of Hyland Provincial Park. He was between 25 to 45 years old, believed to be a smoker and was missing a bottom tooth in the left front area. Anyone with information call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

A Regina business executive who was born in Winnipeg has been named chairman of the new, 5-member Canadian Wheat Board. Bruce Johnson replaces ousted chairman Allen Oberg who served as a wheat board director since 2006. The board’s monopoly on western wheat and barley sales ended last week. The new law allowing farmers to sell on the open market goes into effect Aug. 1.

The family of Steven Dodge, a Winnipeg man who was stabbed to death earlier this year, claimed a legal victory after his alleged killer was refused bail on Monday. Dodge, was killed after he intervened in a domestic dispute near his Arlington Street home on June 26. Dodge’s family protested outside the courthouse during the accused’s last hearing on Nov. 10, in the hopes of convincing the court not to grant bail to the 19-year-old.

Looks like Whales can fly. A Manitoba-built airship that could someday transport goods to remote northern communities was unveiled yesterday. The 25-metre, single-pilot MB80 — also dubbed Giizhigo-Misameg, which means “Sky Whale” in the Oji-Cree language — was inflated with helium and put on display at the University of Manitoba’s engineering school.

Suddenly snow doesn’t seem that bad when you see what has happened in the Philippines. A Typhoon ripped through the South end of the country on Friday triggering flash floods. Over a thousand are dead and hundreds are still missing. Winnipeg is home to one of the largest Filipino communities who are moving quickly to raise money for the victims. The province has already committed $100,000 dollars for disaster relief.

Tenants of a Beverley Street apartment complex are homeless after a fire ripped through the building Saturday morning.  Yesterday a group of tenants returned to the burned out building at 290 Beverley to try and salvage what they could. None of the residents had tenants insurance. Industry officials said some renters mistakenly believe their belongings are covered by the building’s owner. Damage was estimated at $625,00.

Does it come with batteries? Health Canada is warning people to be extra careful around those small, disc-shaped button batteries. Reports of injuries and deaths resulting from people swallowing button batteries are on the rise.  Swallowing these button batteries can block an airway or cause chemical burns in the esophagus in as little as 2 hours. The batteries can be found in products ranging from musical greeting cards, flashing shoes, remote controls and watches.

Even though the province had issued a removal order last week, it seems the occupy Winnipeg movement is still alive at Memorial Park. Fire Marshals and conservation officers were to inspect the park yesterday morning and make sure almost all of the tents had been taken down, but they were a no show. About a dozen protestors came out to show their support, where as on a normal day you’d be lucky to find 5 people still in the camp

Former president George W. Bush once called him the ruler of ‘an outpost of tyranny.’
But he was also known for his jumpsuits, platform shoes, and nuclear arsenal. North Korean leader Kim Jong-iL has passed away at the age of 69. He had taken over power of the country in 1994 after his father’s death, and it’s believed his youngest son Kim Jong-un will now be in charge
 
More and more people are beating to the drum of Winnipeg’s Sean Quigley. The little drummer boy video has now had over a million hits on youtube. Ironically, Sean says he doesn’t like hearing his song on the radio, as it ‘freaks him out.’ Check out the new Winnipeg sensation on our Facebook page.
  
Did you know cats can be trained to do the same tricks as dogs? Researchers have found that they could get cats to do things like fetch, sit, and stand on command, but they needed to train them much differently than their fido friends. While dogs will do things to please their owners, cats only pay attention for food rewards. They say roasted chicken worked best.
 
It was a slow weekend at the box office with the latest Sherlock Holmes movie taking top spot with 40 million – a much smaller haul than the original’s 62 million opening a couple of years back.
The new chipmunks movie “Chipwrecked” came in at #2, and Tom Cruises new Mission Impossible movie “Ghost Protocol” claimed the #3 spot. That movie is currently only in Imax theatres, with an official release coming on Wednesday

Looks like Occupy Winnipeg is about to be Occu-Bye. Yesterday, officers from the province placed notices on some of the tents set up in Memorial Park. Even though there are still one or two members still camped out on a regular basis, this looks to be all but the end for the protest.
 
Maclean’s magazine has come out with their ‘most dangerous cities in Canada’ list and even though we’re up a notch from last year, most of us are surprised by the fact that we landed at the #9 spot on the list. Now, before the celebrations begin, that is the overall list, Winnipeg is still #2 in violent crime, and #1 when it comes to robberies. Prince George B.C. gets the dubious honour of being #1 when it comes to both violent and non-violent crime.
 
Winnipeg police have been out in full force for week one of their holiday checkstop campaign, and yesterday they released some numbers. 509 vehicles were pulled over, 12 drunk drivers were taken off the road, and another 11 24 hour suspensions were handed out. The program will continue through the holidays and into January.
 
Here’s a stat we can be proud of. For the 13th year in a row, Manitobans are the most charitable people in the country. However, it seems our American neighbours are still more generous than we Canadians in general. In our province, 26% of taxpayers donated to a charity, while 26.6 of Americans have done the same. It’s not to late to give this year, as Scotia Bank is still taking cash and toy donations for the 102.3 Clear FM Toy Mountain with the Salvation Army.
 
The Winnipeg Jets put up a good fight last night, but they just couldn’t stop the Russian machine Alex Ovechkin, who got the game winning goal with just over a minute left in the game to give the Capitals the 1-0 win. Next up it’s a big homecoming for former jet Teemu Salanne tomorrow night along with his team the Ducks. That’s a 6:00 start.

Yesterday marked a huge day for members of the U.S. military and their families as the 9 year war on Iraq formally came to an end. Almost 4500 U.S. soldiers lost their lives during the campaign. The remaining 4000 troops will be pulling out of Iraq by the end of the year.

Winnipeg City council passed the 2012 capital budget by a vote of 10 to 6 yesterday.  The budget of 393 million dollars includes 150 million dollars for street work, including 77 million for Plessis Road. 

Perhaps, he likes to wear the hat??  Thomas David Hanaway, 54 of Manitoba was recently freed from jail for impersonating an RCMP officer.  He’s been accused of mimicking one again — this time in writing.  He has prior convictions for impersonating a policeman dating back to 1998 and 1982.

A gunman opened fire on a Christmas market in Liège, Belgium.  At least four people died and around 122 were injured.  The gunman was found dead at the scene. 

A major 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck Papua New Guinea Wednesday, the US Geological Survey said, but no immediate tsunami warning was issued.

International physics teams Tuesday narrowed down the hiding place of the so-called “God particle.”  The “God particle” gets its nickname from its elusiveness, sought for decades in experiments aimed at detecting the subatomic particle.  That particle, when found, will answer why other subatomic particles weigh what they do and perhaps will open the door to explaining the mystery of gravity and the Caramilk secret.

According to the Huffington Post, the number one Canadian quote of 2011 is – “Love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.”   Those are the words of the late NDP Leader Jack Layton, in a letter to Canadians before his death in late August.

Have you been ticketed with photo radar at Grant Avenue and Nathaniel Street?  If so, the The Canadian Taxpayers Federation and Wise Up Winnipeg, a group that opposes photo radar, say they want to hear from you. Canadian Taxpayers Federation’s says there is no way a vehicle could move that fast as soon as it turns onto Grant westbound at Nathaniel. A protest is in the works for Friday at City Hall.  Wise Up founder Todd Dube said Monday he’s in talks with a U.S. photo radar expert to come to Winnipeg and assist with motorists’ ticket challenges. 

Canada is formally pulling out of the Kyoto protocol.  Ottawa says it backs a new global deal to cut emissions of greenhouse gases, but insists it has to cover all nations, including the United States, China and India, which are not bound by Kyoto’s current targets.

A black bear found in downtown Vancouver yesterday didn’t take the bus.  He hitched a ride in the back of a garbage truck from North Vancouver.  Conservation officers tranquilized the bear and brought it back to a secured compound in North Vancouver. It will be released later this morning into the upper Squamish Valley.

Bubba, be glad you don’t live in New Zealand.  Doing donuts in that country could get your car crushed.  The country’s tough new street racing legislation allows the state to seize and destroy a vehicle after a third illegal street racing offense.

Looking for work?  Buckingham Palace is still looking for a senior gardener.  The pay is pretty lousy, the Queen’s offering a modest $27,000 for the year-long contract.  Your perks, well other than your business card, there aren’t really any?  Simply accommodations and other benefits, the deadline, December 30th.

A pedestrian involved in a crash yesterday near Portage Avenue and Maryland Street has died.  The street was closed to traffic for most of yesterday.  Police said the victim, who was sent to hospital in critical condition and died there, was a 65-year-old man.

Seventeen of twenty players on the boys hockey team from Sturgeon Heights Collegiate received a five game suspension for having liquor in their hotel room during a recent tournament in Brandon.

Manuel Noriega has returned to Panama.  The former Panamanian dictator arrived in his home country, nearly 22 years after U.S. forces forcibly removed him from office.  The 77-year-old was taken straight to prison to serve time for crimes committed during his rule.

A 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck in Mexico’s western Guerrero state Saturday night, shaking buildings and causing panic in the nation’s capital and the Pacific resort of Acapulco.  At least 3 died as a result.

Canadian oil giant Suncor Energy Inc. says it is pulling out of Syria in order to comply with new international sanctions aimed at further isolating the regime of President Bashar Assad.

Blowfish, a new over-the-counter hangover cure that recently launched in the U.S.  Blowfish combines Aspirin, caffeine and antacid in a tablet that dissolves in water — so it gets into your system faster than a pill. Another bonus is that while most hangover remedies are taken before the party starts, this one is designed to help when you’re in the throes of the morning-after woes. Currently, it’s available only in the States — but Blowfish makers say they’re going to investigate Health Canada’s approval requirements.

Tis the season for giving……a gold coin that was dropped into in a Salvation Army Christmas kettle in southern Alberta turned out to be worth a whole lot more than a loonie.   The coin is solid gold.    The church says the coin was deposited into a kettle in Brooks, east of Calgary, last week.  It was wrapped in a $5 bill along with a note explaining it was worth $1,700.  The donation was anonymous.

Arson investigators are looking into a massive fire that tore through an auto repair shop in the city’s West End on Monday.  This fire marks the third time this year that firefighters had to put out flames at Logan Radiator: a firebomb hit the store in June, followed by a fire less than a month later.

Charges have been laid in the murder of Sheldon Kostenko.  Jordan Gregory Charney has been charged with second-degree murder.  Sheldon Kostenko’s body was found inside a Winnipeg apartment building early Saturday morning.

The Osbourne Village Shoppers Drug Mart is looking to expand its current 10,000 sq.ft. by adding a partial-second storey, and a further 7,600 sq.ft. at street level going towards River Avenue. For this to happen, Shoppers will have to buy out 2 neighbouring businesses.

RCMP in Manitoba are warning shoppers to be aware of counterfeited goods as you go about your holiday shopping.  Popular counterfeited items include electronics, jewelry, designer apparel, perfume, shampoo, fake designer purses, pirated DVDs and even little blue pills made to look like Viagara – the big cash though, is the NHL Jets franchise. Winnipeg Jets jerseys are among the most seized counterfeited items in Manitoba. 

From the irony file – An apparent security flaw on Facebook exposed Mark Zuckerberg’s private photos.  and, maybe yours too….If you’ll recall Mark Zuckerberg is the guy who owns and runs facebook – and, if you’re curious  – the photos picture Zuckerberg looking, well, pretty boring.  No photos of him ‘eating what he kills’.  The bug has since been fixed .

The world’s oldest dog passed away on Monday afternoon at his home in Sakura, Japan. Pusuke, a male cross-breed, was recognized as the oldest dog in the world by Guinness Book of World Records in December last year, reports ABC News. Pusuke was 26-years-old when he died, reports the Kyodo News. Born in March, 1985, the dog had just over three months to go until its next birthday.  That’s somewhere between 118 to 185 human years.

A sunrise ceremony is being held at the Legislature building this morning to commemorate Canada’s Day of Remembrance and Action on violence against women.  Today, December 6th is the 22nd anniversary of the Ecole Polytechnique massacre in Montreal.

 Winnipeg police are investigating the city’s 37th homicide. Police said Dominique McCann, 19, was found on Selkirk Avenue Friday around 4 a.m. with severe upper body injuries. She died in hospital from her injuries.  Police are looking for  people to come forward with details on the young woman’s whereabouts from Wednesday, Nov. 30 through till when she was found.

Hate-crime-related charges are being considered in the case of a Winnipeg high school student accused of lighting a Jewish girl’s hair on fire with a lighter after spewing anti-Semitic comments at her.  The boy, 15, was suspended from Oak Park High School last week and arrested by police who charged him with assault with a weapon. The alleged incident happened in a hallway after the end of classes on Nov. 19

The Ottawa appointed trustee has been booted from Attiwapiskat. Band councillors kicked him off the reserve Monday when he showed up. Federal officials say the appointee is still in charge of the money, and will continue to control the band’s financing even if he is not allowed into the community. 

And, what could possibly go wrong?

Biologists are saying they may be able to clone a woolly mammoth from bone marrow extracted from a well-preserved thigh bone recovered from permafrost soil in Siberia.  Mammoths, according to experts, have been extinct for 5,000 to 10,000 years.  The scientists believe that with this procedure, they might be able to produce embryos with mammoth DNA which may be implanted into a female elephant for gestation.  Did these scientists not see Jurassic Park?

Charges against former junior hockey coach and convicted sex offender Graham James are going before a Winnipeg judge on December 7. James’ case has been remanded numerous times over the past year while the defense and Crown continued discussions about the case.

Statistics Canada says the vast majority of Canadians feel they are safe from crime. The agency released a study of Canadians age 15 and older, and found 93 per cent of those surveyed said they felt satisfied with their personal safety from crime. Among cities, highest levels of satisfaction were in Moncton, N.B. and Kingston, Guelph and Oshawa, Ont. They were lowest in Winnipeg, Vancouver, and Edmonton.

Car shopping for Christmas? Consumer Reports yesterday revealed that the Chevrolet Volt is the most popular car among owners. The Volt, an extended-range electric car, beat out the pricier Porsche 911 and the Dodge Challenger. The Volt runs for around $41,000, while the Porsche goes for $82,100 and the Challenger goes for $30,000.

The $110 million dollar Chief Pegius Trail Extention is set to open before noon today. It’s intended to get through-traffic off of local and residential streets in North Kildonan, and onto a high-speed thoroughfare. During the next 20 years, the city plans to extend the thoroughfare west of Main Street to McPhillips St. and eventually Route 90, as well as east from Lagimodiere to the Perimeter Hwy.

Manitoba Hydro’s plan to build the $3.28 billion dollar Bipole Three high-voltage transmission line down the west side of the province has been filed to the province for public review. The new bipole line is needed to move more power from northern dams south, to export markets in the northern United States. The environmental impact statement is the latest stage in Hydro’s plan to start building the line late 2012.

A jury has found Kelly Clarke guilty of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of a Joel Labossiere and his wife Magdalenain their St. Vital home in 2008. Following a trial that began Nov. 16, the 12 jurors deliberated for most of Wednesday and Thursday morning before reaching their decision just after 1 p.m. Clarke has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.

The annual overnight parking ban is now in effect between 2am to 7am on streets designated as a snow route.  This week the City of Winnipeg announced its new snow-clearing notification system. Neighborhoods will be assigned letters from the alphabet for specific zones You can see the residential snow-clearing schedule at knowyourzone.winnipeg.ca or 311 for more info.

No charges will be laid in the case of a baby found at the Club Regent Casino this week. Original reports said the infant had been abandoned in a hotel stairwell, but according Const. Robert Carver the woman who phoned 911 was actually the mother, and the child was with her the entire time. Details about the gender and condition of the infant have not been confirmed.

A 73-year old man has been charged after a store in Brandon found photos of nude girls on film. Brandon police said a man dropped off film for developing at a local department store and staff because concerned about what they saw on those photos. An investigation revealed the images were of 2 girls, both under 18.

Driving through North Kildonan is about to get a lot smoother. The new  $110- million dollar extension of the Chief Peguis Trail from Henderson Highway to Lagimodiere Boulevard will officially open at around noon.  Mayor Sam Katz, Premier Greg Selinger along with a few other dignitaries will be on hand for a ribbon cutting ceremony.

 It’s not just Joe’s home away from home, but now home for Motley Crue. Last night on Piers Morgan, the band announced they will start a 3-week run at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Starting on February 3, the Crue will rock a series of 12 shows called “Motley Crue in Sin City”. They will be the first hard rock band to the Vegas to do residency thing. Catch the band again tonight with Morgan for a full one-hour interview.