Little bit of shock and awe out of the Leg yesterday. As you’ve probably heard by now, Premier Gary Doer has decided to call it quits. Doer said when you have a chance to go out on your own terms, it’s best to do so. So now, party officials will meet as early as this weekend to begin planning a leadership convention. Possible contenders to replace Doer include, Finance Minister Greg Selinger and former NDP MP, Bill Blaikie.
Well you gotta like this news on a Friday morning. If MPI gets its way, auto insurance rates will stay the same next year. The crown owned insurer has filed a request with the Public Utilities Board to keep rates in 2010 at this year’s level. A spokesperson says declining auto theft rates have helped to make this happen.
That crippled bridge over the Red River near St. Adolphe, will be partially dismantled. The crossing was closed indefinitely last week after one of its piers began sinking, thanks to riverbank instability. An official says a completely new bridge does remain a possibility.
More than 20 thousand people lined up in Boston yesterday to pay their last respects to Edward Kennedy. The former senator’s closed coffin is lying in repose for 2 days at the JFK Library and Museum. Tonight, a memorial service will be held, and then tomorrow the official funeral at a Boston cathedral.
An absolutely unbelievable story out of California. A convicted sex offender and his wife are under arrest today after a bizarre kidnapping that started in 1991. Jaycee Lee Dugard was abducted when she was 11. For the past 18 years, she was kept hidden from the world behind a series of fences and sheds. Authorities say she was raped, and even had 2 girls by her captor. Now 29 years old, officials say Dugard appears to be in good health, and has been reunited with her family.
Danny is gonna be blowin out east this weekend. The Canadian Hurricane Center says the Atlantic provinces can expect a lot of rain, and strong winds courtesy of tropical storm Danny. However, forecasters say it’s too soon to predict how much rain and how damaging the winds will be.
NASA will try again today to launch the space shuttle Discovery. The agency says it appears a fuel valve that forced it scrub Tuesday’s planned launch, is now working perfectly. The shuttle is due to go on a 13 day mission to deliver supplies to the international space station.
The Liberals say there’s not much chance they’ll bring down the minority Tory government this fall. Senator David Smith, who co chairs the Liberal campaign says it’s irresponsible to “push the election button every time.” Smith says as far as he knows, Canadians simply have no appetite for an election right now.
