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A Winnipeg sewage treatment center has been discharging half treated waste into the Red River for more than 3 weeks. A spokesperson for the city’s engineering department says it’s due to a problem with the biological treatment component of the south end water pollution control center plant. A number of beneficial micro-organisms that normally digest small particles of waste in the plant, have been mysteriously dying. No there is no risk or threat to the public apparently….but, officials have said if you come into contact with water from the Red, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly.

Manitoba officials have started publishing the names of businesses fined for not properly paying employees or other offences under provincial legislation. A city pizza joint was fined 2 grand for wage and overtime violations, while a propane company will pay 500 dollars for failing to show payroll records to an inspector. The Manitoba Federation of Labor is applauding the government for holding employers accountable.

Greece, and its plan to put a bailout deal to a popular vote, is the overriding issue at the G-20 summit going on in France. Prime Minister Stephen Harper arrived with a set of proposals for reform in the global financial system. But with the Greek situation more than likely to dominate the summit, there’s a good chance Harper’s agenda will go unnoticed.

Closing arguments are set to begin today in L.A., at the involuntary manslaughter trial of Michael Jackson’s former doctor. Prosecutors and Defense lawyers will summarize their respective cases after 22 days of testimony. Prosecutors will allege Dr. Conrad Murray was criminally negligent for giving the singer a powerful anesthetic without proper medical equipment standing by. But the defense will try to convince jurors that Murray wasn’t the one who gave the fatal dose….that it was Jackson himself who did it.
One of the hottest videos on YouTube lately is a pretty sad one. But, the Texas woman who posted it says she’s received an outpouring of support since posting it. The video shows her father, a judge, beating her with a belt in 2004, when she was 16 years old. What’s ironic is that her father, actually handles child abuse cases in his courtroom. Police have now gotten involved and have started a full scale investigation.

In health news this morning…..a Canadian led international study on prostate cancer has found that, when it comes to dealing with aggressive forms of the disease, hormone therapy plus radiation can increase a man’s odds of survival. The study’s author, Dr. Padraig Warde says the hormone therapy starves prostate cancer cells of testosterone, which they need to multiply. It also makes the cells more sensitive to the killing effects of radiation.

A very grim looking Kim Kardashian says “intuition” led her to pull the plug on her 72 day old stint as a wife. The reality star is currently in Australia to promote her new handbag line. She told an Aussie t.v. program that she followed her heart and felt there was no right or wrong way to handle the demise of her brief marriage to pro basketball star Kris Humphries. Kardashian filed for divorce this past Monday.

There’s still a significant disparity in prices between goods in this country and those in the U.S. A new survey has found that items here, cost an average of 11 per cent more. And while that’s still a pretty big gap, it was better than April’s survey which showed Canadians were paying an average of 18 per cent more.

Closing arguments will start today in the trial of Michael Jackson’s physician. Dr. Conrad Murray is charged with involuntary manslaughter for allegedly giving Jackson a powerful anesthetic just before he died in June of 2009.
You wouldn’t have known it from the outside, but, a business in a small strip mall in the southern Winnipeg, was full of, and was selling guns. Yesterday morning, city police, RCMP and border officials raided the store…where boxes of guns and ammo were found. This was the 2nd weapons raid by gun cops in the past few weeks.

The city’s bed bug battle continues. In fact, yesterday, officials at MTS’s customer care center were affected. On Tuesday, staff found bugs in one area of the building on Osborne street, which has some 700 workers. Company officials say a pest control company was called immediately and the entire area affected was treated.

It’s been short and sweet. The NDP government will wrap up the fall sitting today without having introducer any bills. Opposition Tory Leader, Hugh McFayden is now accusing the government of simply wanting to get in and out of the legislature as quickly as possible. But Premier Greg Selinger says it was important to have the legislature in session soon after the October 4th election, so that the government could unveil its throne speech. MLA’s are not expected to head back to work by the way, until the spring.

The battle still rages in the Wheat City. The union representing striking professors at Brandon University says mediation talks have broken down. The school’s faculty association says the talks broke down last night. That means about 200 profs, instructors, librarians and professional associates will remain on the picket line. About 3 thousand students have been affected by the strike since it began on October 12th.

The head of the Winnipeg Police Association says violence in the city is being fuelled by gangs and organized crime. Mike Sutherland says police grappled with a rash of fire-bombings and shootings during the summer as rival bikers tried to corner the city’s drug trade. 2 fatal shootings on the weekend has pushed the number of homicides in our city to 34…..that ties the record set back in 2004.

Technically, the recession ended in this country 2 years ago. But for hundreds of thousands, its effects are still being felt. A new study by Food Banks Canada has found that during a random month this year, more than 850 thousand Canadians relied on food handouts. That’s the 2nd highest number on record…..and 26 per cent higher than before the recession in 2008.

The doctor charged in Michael Jackson’s death says he hasn’t made a final decision about whether he’ll testify in his own defence. Dr. Conrad Murray told the judge yesterday that he’s consulting with his lawyer and will advise the judge of his decision this morning. The judge did tell Murray he has a constitutional right to testify….as well as the right to remain silent.

Well that American religious broadcaster who predicted the world would end on October 21st….now says he’s embarrassed it didn’t work out that way. 90 year old Harold Camping says he and his Family Radio Network are finding it very difficult to recognize the truth of prophecy. By the way, this is the same who predicted the world was going to end back on May 21st. Some followers who believed him actually sold all of their belongings to help pay for thousands of billboards to spread his doomsday message.

A former Playboy bunny is suing Sammy Hagar for spilling their secrets in his autobiography, “Red.” Hagar had written that a woman had shown up at his hotel room one night, and 10 days later announced she was pregnant. He denied being the Daddy but, did pay for her bills until the baby was born in 1989. Sadly, the baby died shortly after birth. The woman, who was a former bunny, is now saying Hagar violated their confidentiality agreement by putting the story in the book. Hagar’s lawyers have yet to respond.

Today’s the day that the new Metallica—Lou Reed album comes out. Drummer Lars Ulrich says they really had no idea what they’d be doing with Reed. So they just went into the studio and played and played. Now personally, I’ve heard a couple of tracks from this album…..and my thought is…..the Metallica boys should stick to what they do best…..playing with each other and no one else !

It was a violent, deadly, and record breaking weekend in the city. There were 3 separate shootings, leaving 2 dead and one person in critical but stable condition. Police say one person was shot at the Lincoln hotel, another gunned down in the Exchange district, and the 3rd shooting, happened in the North End involving a 14 year old boy. He’s still in hospital recovering. So far, police say it’s too early to say whether or not any of the shootings were gang related. So far no suspects have been arrested and the public is being asked to call crimestoppers if they have information about any of the incidents. This, by the way, ties the record for the deadliest year the city has ever had. 34 people have now been murdered….tying the record form 2004.

After years of construction and plenty of delays….Winnipeg’s brand new airport finally opened this weekend. The building, was originally scheduled to open in 2010, but thanks to problems with underground pipes, the opening was delayed for over a year. The new airport has got plenty of shopping and restaurant options. And, the layout is supposed to make things very smooth….with arrivals happening on the main floor, and departures on the 2nd floor. The old airport is now scheduled for demolition.

Power companies from Maryland to Maine are trying to restore electricity to nearly 3 million customers left in the dark by a freak snow storm this weekend. Areas along the east coast got hammered with the white stuff….some getting upwards of 80 centimeters.

It’s a big day in the world today ! The planet’s population is about to hit the 7 billion mark. So far officials aren’t quite sure when this will happen or where…but most experts say the 7 billionith person will likely be born in India.

A Japanese government panel says it’ll take at least 30 years to safely close the Fukushima nuclear power plant. But, crews say the plant is now relatively stable.

Paramount pictures must be purring after the studio’s “Puss in Boots” opened atop the North American box office this weekend. The “Shrek” spin-off featuring the voice of Antonio Banderas, brought in some 34 million dollars. The low budget horror flick, “Paranormal Activity 3” took second spot, and the new Justin Timberlake sci-fi thriller, “In Time,” came in 3rd.

The planet earth is about to hit a milestone today. Scientists believe that a baby born somewhere today will push the world’s population to 7 billion. No one knows where that birth will happen, but, researchers say there’s a good chance it’ll be in India. That country is the fastest growing in the world, with one baby born every second.

Seasame Street is going to Pakistan….but not quite like we know it. There will be no Big Bird or Oscar the Grouch. There will be Elmo, but also a host of new characters, like Haseen O Jameel the crocodile and a 6 year old girl named Rani who loves the game of cricket.

Well the new terminal at James Richardson International Airport is now officially open. The first plane touched down just after 5 a.m. yesterday and the passengers from it entered the state of the art, eco-friendly building. The official ribbon cutting took place later on in the morning with Mayor Sam Katz and MP Steven Fletcher. The old terminal is now scheduled for demolition.

If 3-D had been perfected about 15 years ago, when “Titanic” was made, the iceberg may have busted through the movie screen and onto our laps. Well, James Cameron is now working to make that happen now. He’s now working on turning the film into what he calls 2.99-D. It’s apparently as close to 3D as possible without originally shooting it with 3D cameras.

Steve Perry has become a fan of Journey. He hasn’t been in the band for 13 years, but he helped put together their new “Greatest Hits Volume 2.” He says he could appreciate the power of the music much more now. The big question? Will he reunite with them? Perry says he’s just not interested. In his words….he says they have severely and emotionally gone their separate ways.

Dave McIntosh, president of the Neepawa Natives says the player who first reported a case of hockey hazing, is now going to be traded and one of the team’s assistant coaches has resigned. The father of the 15 year old boy says he welcomes the trade and says he’s proud of his son for doing what was right. The father says the boy has gotten a great deal of support, including a phone call from NHL great, Sheldon Kennedy.

A webcam has been set up to document in real time the annual migration of hundreds of polar bears outside Churchill. The bears travel through the small town each October and November and then wait for the Hudson Bay freeze up, when they can get out on the ice and hunt for seals. Now, 4 cameras have been set up to capture their antics. The live stream can be viewed at www.explore.org.

Protesters staged a rally outside a Winnipeg courthouse after a manslaughter charge was stayed in the death of Geraldine Beardy. Back in September of 2009, Beardy was assaulted at a grocery store for allegedly shoplifting a can of meat. She died a few days later. The store owner was charged with manslaughter, but the case did not proceed because the Crown said a key witness had left the country. Protesters also staged a demonstration in front of the store involved.

10 people are in hospital after a small plane crashed and burned on a road beside Vancouver’s airport last night. The pilot of the twin engine Beech King Air 100, reported problems shortly after taking off for Kelowna. He tried to land, but the plane came down some 900 meters from the runway. The 2 pilots are in very critical condition, while the 7 passengers are listed as serious. A pedestrian was also hurt in the crash.

A Conservative senator says it’s time to ditch the beaver as Canada’s official emblem. Nicole Eaton says the beaver is so 19th century….and a dentally defective rat. She wants it replaced by the polar bear, whom she says is majestic and a powerful symbol of aboriginal live in the Great White North.

Good news for those planning that winter escape. Our loonie continues to pick up strength after jumping more than a cent yesterday. Our buck gained more in trading overnight and is now sitting at 101.04 cents U.S. Traders say the loonie is being boosted by optimism about a plan to deal with Europe’s debt crisis.

Another amazing story of survival from earthquake-ravaged Turkey. A 13 year old boy has been pulled alive from the rubble of a collapsed apartment building, 4 and a half days after the quake. The boy was rushed to hospital with undetermined injuries. So far, at least 550 people have been killed by the magnitude 7.2 quake.

Bigger isn’t necessarily better. That’s the thought from interim Liberal leader Bob Rae. He says he’s not sure about the Harper government’s plan to add 30 seats to the House of Commons. Rae says if thinks the Commons is already close to its maximum with 308….and in fact, says the number of MP’s should be trimmed to 300 if anything.

Charlie Sheen’s new sitcom has now gotta a home. FX says it’s ordered 10 episodes of “Anger Management.” Production will begin early next year and the series will air during the summer. Sheen will star in the same role Jack Nicholson had in the movie from 2003, playing a shrink who should see one himself.

The largest private donation in the history of the Assiniboine Zoo will be used to create a state of the art polar bear exhibit. The Richardson Foundation donated 5 million dollars yesterday to the project. Work will now soon begin to transform a 4 hectare site into Journey to Churchill, an exhibit where visitors can experience what it’s like to see the Manitoba bears up close and personnel.

Jets pride has gone global, thanks to a Winnipeg based division of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Recent photos from Kandahar, Alert Bay and Italy show members of the Canadian Air Division displaying their pride in Winnipeg’s new NHL team. Division spokesperson David Elias says 3 flags displayed in the photos were among 6 Winnipeg Jets flags the NHL gave to 17 Wing on the day the franchise unveiled its new uniforms back in September.

Being a Manitoba Liberal is no longer a free ride. The Liberals are doing away with free memberships and launching an 18 month fundraising effort to try and rebuild after their party took a big hit in the provincial election earlier this month.

Well someone mistook the side of a Tim Horton’s coffee shop for a drive thru lane yesterday….and the crash that happened after left a large hole in the side of a Tim’s restaurant. Fortunately, the woman who was driving the car didn’t appear to be hurt, and no one inside was injured.

How bout a little golf and a massage? A Scandinavian style outdoor spa will be built at a Winnipeg golf course as part of a new deal between the city and business partners. The clubhouse at the Crescent Drive Golf Course will be torn down this week to make way for a Nordik Spa-Nature franchise that’ll open next fall. Officials involved with the project say they hope the spa will revive the city owned golf course
U.S. President Barack Obama says the role the Americans played in bringing down former Libyan Dictator Moammar Gadhafi is a recipe for success. Speaking with Jay Leno last night, Obama said there wasn’t a single American soldier on the ground and there were no U.S. casualties. He also said while no one likes to see anyone meet the kind of end that Gadhafi did, he did refuse to let Libya move towards democracy peacefully.

It’s a big ole waiting game today…..the world is watching to see if European leaders will reach a deal to solve the continent’s massive debt crisis. Markets could drop sharply if European policy makers come out of today’s summit in Brussels without a comprehensive and credible plan.

One of the most talked about celebs to ever shuffle across the “Dancing with the Stars” ballroom said goodbye last night. Chaz Bono was voted off the show yesterday……and it wasn’t much of a surprise as he’d been at or near the bottom of the scoring all season long.

An aggressive passenger forced an Air Canada flight from Edmonton to Toronto to make an emergency landing in Winnipeg last night. Airline officials say the passenger became physically and verbally abusive, and others on the flight had to restrain the person until the plane landed. City police say they now expect to lay a host of charges.

Yesterday’s Aerosmith concert in Paraguay was postponed until tonight…this after lead singer Steven Tyler fell in his hotel bathroom. The 63 year old rock star, apparently wiped out and broke 2 of his teeth in the fall. Officials say he was treated at hospital for cuts on his face and did get 2 dental implants. This by the way is the first time the band has ever played Paraguay and organizers expect some 50 thousand people to show up.

It took more than 100 firefighters over 12 hours to control a massive blaze at an old paper mill in the city yesterday. Fire officials in fact, are still on the site this morning, putting out hotspots at Gateway Industries on Point Douglas Avenue. Sheldon Blank, the owner of the company says he’ll have to absorb the estimated 1.5 million dollar loss as he didn’t have any insurance. Officials say it’s too early yet to say if the fire was deliberately set, although there have been previous fires set at the old building.

Premier Greg Selinger admits it was a horrible mistake to free a convicted killer from a provincial jail when he was supposed to stay behind bars. Selinger was reacting to the accidental release and subsequent arrest of Walter Sanderson, a 28 year old inmate from Headingly jail, that was let go last week. Justice officials say 31 inmates have been mistakenly let go from Manitoba jails since 2006. And Selinger says that’s something which has got to change.

Libya says Moamammar Gadhafi won’t be buried until his death is examined by the International Criminal Court. That announcement came after the office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights called for a probe into the dictator’s death. He was killed yesterday by rebels in his hometown of Sirte.

A labor rally will be held on Parliament hill today. It’s being organized by the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which claims the Harper government is trying to trample on free collective bargaining. CUPE represents Air Canada flight attendants, who last week were temporarily blocked by the feds from walking off the job. On that front by the way…..both sides have agreed to settle their contract dispute with binding arbitration.

Researchers in Denmark did the biggest every study on whether cellphones may cause cancer. More than 350 thousand people were covered in the study, which found no evidence of any link. The study concluded that there’s no difference in cancer rates between people who used a cellphone for about a decade, and those who did not.

He’s taking a page out of the American handbook. One of the front runners in the race for the federal NDP leadership says rich Canadians should pay more income taxes. Brian Topp says it’s wrong for Ottawa to give billions in tax breaks to the wealthy. He says the money would be better spent helping Canadians who are struggling just to get by. He’s also calling for higher corporate taxes, and suggests a government he leads, might eventually boost the G.S.T.

The province delivered its Throne speech yesterday….where the government outlines its plan for the next year. There were no big surprises in the speech…..pledges included things like capping kindergarten to grade 3 classes at 20 students. Deductibles will be waived on cancer drugs….and more funding will be given to police. All of the pledges made yesterday were election promises laid out during the recent campaign.

The provincial government will outline its post election plans today in a throne speech. The speech will kick off a brief, 9 day fall sitting of the Leg. Premier Greg Selinger has said the government will focus on economic growth and keeping Manitoba affordable. Selinger enters the session with the largest NDP majority in Manitoba history….37 of the 57 seats.

Big plans for Maple Leaf ! The company has announced a 3 year 560 million dollar restructuring plan expected to boost competitiveness and profits. That means a small plant here in the city will be closed by the end of 2014, but a larger plant in the city will get upgraded.

A major fire broke out overnight at a business on Point Douglas Avenue. As a result, emergency crews have had to close the Louise Bridge in both directions. No word on how the blaze got started at Gateway Industries. But, residents in the area say there were several explosions before the building burst into flames. So far there’s no reports of any injuries. But emergency crews expect to be on the scene for most of the morning.

Well not many consumers will dislike this news. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is turning up the heat on Canadian retailers to bring their prices down close to those in the U.S. Flaherty says Canadians are justifiably ticked off, that many goods are cheaper in the States, even though our dollar is close to par. He says he’s now prepared to look at reducing tariffs if that’s what needed to close the price gap.

Some interesting findings are contained in the new Canadian Index of Wellbeing. The index measures quality of life, and it found that we’re smoking less and getting our flu shots. But, diabetes and depression are on the rise. And while Canadians are working out more and taking longer vacations, we’re spending less time engaged in the arts and culture.

Lindsay Lohan has posted 100 thousand dollars bail after an L.A. judge revoked her probation yesterday. As we told you yesterday, the actress ran into some problems while doing her community service at a woman’s shelter. A hearing will now be held November 2nd to determine if Lohan will have to return to jail.

An update now on a story we told you about yesterday. Dozens of exotic animals….including lions and rare Bengal tigers had to be killed near Zanesville, Ohio yesterday. Police had to hunt down and shoot the animals after they were released from a preserve by their owner, who they committed suicide. Animal rights groups are now up in arms over the 49 animals that were shot. But officials say they just couldn’t use tranquilizer guns as it would take too long to get the animal down. Some 49 exotic animals were shot and killed yesterday.

After much debate, the new rolling waste carts are on their way. City council approved the plan yesterday by a vote of 11 to 4. The carts will now replace those blue boxes and auto-bins across the city. But to cover the costs of the changes, the city will now charge every household a 50 dollar fee. The changes are expected to begin in about a year’s time.

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty says it’s time for Canadians to benefit from a strong loonie. He says the dollar has strengthened considerably over the last 5 years, and retailers have had more than enough time to adjust prices accordingly. And with our dollar trading near or above par with the greenback for most of this year, Flaherty says Canadians are rightly annoyed when they see prices for the exact same goods a lot cheaper stateside.

A Canadian crown corporation may be preparing to invest in an internet giant. The Wall Street journal reports the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board is partnering up with Microsoft and others to make a bid to buy Yahoo. The bid, if ever it goes through, would be worth billions !

A Mountie from a northern Manitoba detachment has been charged with assault causing bodily harm. RCMP say they got a complaint last January of excessive force during an arrest in the Pas. The complaint involved a 28 year old man who had been taken into custody for causing a disturbance. Constable Rene Pashe, a 6 year veteran, is now set to appear in The Pas provincial court on November 28th.

A Winnipeg woman who won 25 thousand dollars worth of technology from Cisco, has donated it all to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. Kathy Knowles won the award for her work over the last 20 years establishing libraries in Ghana. Knowles was also named of the country’s 25 Transformational Canadians by the Globe and Mail.

We first told you about this story yesterday. The hunt is still on for a man who was mistakenly released from a Manitoba jail. Justice officials say 29 year old Wally Sanderson was freed by mistake from Headingly Jail on Monday. Sanderson is wanted by police for assault and breach of probation. Again, he’s described as 5 foot 9, weighing around 200 pounds with a muscular build. He’s got black hair and brown eyes. If you see Sanderson, you’re asked to call police or crime-stoppers right away.

It’s been a scary night for some residents in Ohio. Wild animals are on the loose near Zanesville…and as one officer puts it….”the kind you see in Africa.” Police say as many as 48 exotic animals, including cheetahs, grizzly bears and tigers, all escaped yesterday from a private animal preserve and are now running wild. The owner of that preserve by the way…was found dead on the property.

Well if the L.A. city prosecutor gets his way, Lindsay Lohan will be heading back to jail. At a hearing today, the prosecutor will accuse the starlet of violating her probation because she’s been turfed from her community service assignment at a women’s shelter. This is just the latest legal problem for Lohan, who remains on probation for that 2007 drunk driving case.

Profits have taken a juicy jump at Apple. The company says it earned 6.6 billion dollars in the 4th quarter, up 54 per cent over last year….but believe it or not, it’s still less than analysts had been expecting.

Testimony will resume today in the involuntary manslaughter trial of Michael Jackson’s doctor, Conrad Murray. Jurors will hear more about the powerful anesthetic that authorities say killed Michael in June of 2009. Dr. Steven Shafer, an expert on propofol, will resume testifying for the prosecution about the drugs effects on the singer.

Not surprising ! Susan Sarandon is under fire for referring to Pope Benedict as a Nazi. The Oscar winning actress made the remark last weekend during an interview at a film festival. The Catholic League says her remark was obscene. And the Jewish Anti Defamation League is also calling on her to apologize to Catholics for what it calls her deeply offensive remark.

Doctors say women are twice as likely as men to develop depression, and that early treatment of the illness may pay off in old age. Research has apparently shown that women, especially those in mid-life, may be more prone to depression than men because of their hormonal cycles. It also could be due to the stress of juggling multiple roles, including working outside of the home, and acting as the family’s primary caregiver. Doctors say by the way…bouts of depression can double the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia later in life, so early treatment is essential.

Apple will apparently close its retail stores for several hours today. It’s to allow employees to watch a web-cast of a memorial service from Apple’s California headquarters celebrating the life of its late co founder, Steve Jobs.

The feds new tough on crime bill, has gotten a pretty rough ride on Parliament Hill. Among other things, the bill would see more money spent on prisons and prosecution, while penalties would be toughened. But some criminologists say, the bill is a hodgepodge of proposals, some of which are half-baked…..and none of which will make Canadian streets any safer.

It’s been sitting empty for years now….but work is finally getting underway to fill the former Winnipeg Arena site at Polo Park. Ground was ceremonially broken yesterday for the new offices of Western Financial Group. Along with the offices, the complex will also feature a number of retail outlets.

Legislation that will allow the feds to pretty much wipe out the monopoly of the Canadian Wheat Board, will be introduced today. But the board says it won’t go down without a fight. Chairman Allen Oberg says the believe the government’s actions are illegal and they’ll consider taking the matter to court.

City police have charged a 13 year old boy in a series of armed robberies they say also involved a 10 year old. Cops allege the 2 boys tried unsuccessfully to rob a convenience store, but succeeded in robbing a discount store. They also say the older boy sprayed bear spray at a woman and her dog during the robbery of a grocery store. The 13 year old is now facing 3 counts of robbery with a weapon, and wearing a disguise with intent, along with a host of other charges. The 10 year old had been acting as a lookout but cops say he can’t be charged under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Contract talks have resumed between the striking faculty association and Brandon University. At the same time, students at the school are asking administration and professors to pledge that students won’t face penalties if they choose not to cross the picket line.

Toronto will host a visit from royalty next month. Prince Albert of Monaco, and his new wife, Princess Charlene will head to the city to attend a grand opening for a Grace Kelly exhibit. The late actress was Albert’s mother.

A controversial tweet has reportedly prompted the Harper government to ask the Palestinian envoy to our country to leave. Report say the government has decided to limit communication with Linda Ali until a replacement arrives. At issue is a tweet that Ali posted this month with a link to a YouTube video, which Ottawa has deemed offensive to Jews.

Not surprising…given that he’s not running our country. It would appear that Canadians give U.S. President Obama a better grade on his job performance than Americans do. 51 per cent of Canadians asked said, they thought Obama is doing at least a good job, while another 30 per cent rated his performance as fair. Those are certainly better numbers than what Obama is looking at, at home. Recent polls say only 40 per cent of Americans approve of his work so far.

Looks like you can expect another volatile day on the markets. Asian stocks tumbled overnight, and analysts are blaming it on 2 things. First, German leaders warned that a comprehensive solution to Europe’s debt crisis may not be as near as people think. And China reported that their robust economic growth slowed in the last quarter. That news sent both Japan and Hong Kong’s market tumbling. Yesterday, Toronto’s TSX lost 158 points.

City police are asking for the public’s help, in a finding a man wanted for an assault. 28 year old Walter Joseph Sanderson is also wanted for breach of probation. Cops say anyone who sees Sanderson, should not approach him, rather call police right away. Sanderson is described as aboriginal, 5 foot 9 with a muscular build. He has black hair and brown eyes.

A memorial for longtime Liberal MP and MLA, Reg Alcock, will be held this Friday. Alcock apparently died of a heart attack last Friday, at the age of 63. The memorial will be open to the public.

It was a good summer for car dealers in our province. New stats show there were just over 4 thousand new vehicles sold in our province in August…..which is a 2.6 per cent increase over July sales….and a 6.4 per cent increase over the same time period last year. Those numbers are pretty decent given that sales dipped nationally.

The waves have been hammering the eastern shore of Lake Winnipeg, and home and cottage owners have been watching the water closely. Winds gusting to over 70 clicks an hour yesterday did some damage…although it hasn’t been as bad as last year when 2 meter waves almost destroyed the boardwalk in Grand Beach.

Organizers of the “slut walk,” in downtown Winnipeg this weekend say, they hope it becomes an annual protest against sexual violence. Close to 300 people took part in the event on Saturday. The walks were inspired by a Toronto police officer who advised a group of York University students last January, to not dress like sluts in order to protect themselves from rape.

MPI is investigating how vandals managed to alter a number of its electronic signs in the city to print rude messages. One of the signs told drivers to slow down, but added an extra curse word for emphasis. MPI spokesperson Brian Smiley says he doesn’t know how it happened. But he says they like the mobile signs as it makes it possible to change messages on location.

The RM of La Broquerie is in no hurry to cancel the state of emergency following fires earlier this month. Reeve Claude Lussier says if something happens, the state of emergency is still in effect and can be triggered automatically. He says it’ll likely remain in effect until this Friday.

MP’s return to the Hill today for the resumption of Parliament. One item on their plates this week is potential back to work legislation in the labor dispute between Air Canada and its 6800 flight attendants. The union is still smarting over the feds scuttling its plans to strike last week, when the labor minister sent the dispute to a labor board for review. There could also be words of honor today for former Manitoba Liberal MP Reg Alcock, who died last week at the age of 63.

Research in Motion is trying to say it’s sorry with some apps. The Blackberry maker will offer its smartphone owners a selection of premium apps over the next few weeks worth a total of 100 dollars…free of charge. The company says it wants to show its appreciation for customers patience during last week’s near global disruptions in its e-mailing, texting and browsing services.

It’s mail no one wants to get. Letters will be sent out this week to thousands of Ottawa area residents, warning them of a slim chance they could have been exposed to H.I.V. or Hepatitis. As many as 6800 people who dealt with a single physician at a “non hospital” clinic, will be notified of the health concern. Ottawa’s chief medical officer has only said a “lapse in medical procedure controls could have put people at risk of infection.”

Their week long Thanksgiving break is over and members of Parliament return to their desks today in the House of Commons. One issue likely to provide some sparks is the still unresolved labor dispute between Air Canada and its flight attendants. Labor Minister Lisa Raitt nixed their strike plans last week by sending the dispute to the Canadian Industrial Relations Board, which prevents any work stoppage.

Don Cherry has apologized, and they accept it. 3 former NHL tough guys say they appreciate the apology offered up by Cherry this weekend for insulting them a week earlier in a rant about fighting in hockey on “Coach’s Corner.” Cherry had said Stu Grimson, Chris Nilan and Jim Thomson were “turncoats” for using the recent deaths of 3 other NHL enforcers as a soapbox to link fighting with drug use. The 3 also indicated they would not be pursuing legal action against Cherry as a group.

As Occupy Wall Street marks one month since it began protesting corporate greed and excess, the movement has now gone global. Rallies were held over the weekend in several Canadian cities, including Toronto, Montreal, Halifax and Vancouver, as well as overseas in Europe. Demonstrators say they plan to organize more Canadian rallies and marches this week.