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Youth acted on ‘mass murder suicide plan’

By Tessa Adamski 7 minute read Preview

Youth acted on ‘mass murder suicide plan’

By Tessa Adamski 7 minute read Updated: 8:50 AM CDT

A youth accused of severely injuring a student in a targeted sword attack at a Brandon high school detailed a “mass murder suicide plan” months before the incident, mimicking a racially motivated school killing of three immigrants in Sweden.

The 17-year-old boy unexpectedly pleaded not guilty to nine charges on Tuesday during a scheduled pretrial hearing in Brandon’s Court of King’s Bench before federal Crown attorney Hugh Crawley read an agreed statement of facts.

The Indigenous teen, who can’t be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, is charged with three counts of attempted murder, aggravated assault, two counts of assault with a weapon, wearing a disguise with intent and two counts of possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose in relation to the June 10, 2025 attack at École secondaire Neelin High School.

His trial is expected to resume in June 2027.

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Updated: 8:50 AM CDT

Local

Brandon city council Ward 5 candidate and incumbent Greg Hildebrand. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)

Bhavesh Patel takes on Hildebrand in Ward 5

By Alex Lambert 7 minute read Preview

Bhavesh Patel takes on Hildebrand in Ward 5

By Alex Lambert 7 minute read Yesterday at 10:51 PM CDT

Until election day, The Brandon Sun will be running profiles on each of the city’s 10 electoral wards, asking candidates to identify the most important problems facing their ward.

Businessman Bhavesh Patel is challenging Coun. Greg Hildebrand for the Ward 5 seat.

Running for his second term, Hildebrand, 53, said pedestrian safety is the most important concern for him and ward residents going into the Oct. 28 election.

“Safety and scooters seem to be what I’m hearing at the doors, and that’s the topic that rises to the forefront,” Hildebrand said.

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Yesterday at 10:51 PM CDT

Local

The Brandon Police Service crest. (File)

Girl chased by man with knife during walk home from school

By Tessa Adamski 2 minute read Preview

Girl chased by man with knife during walk home from school

By Tessa Adamski 2 minute read Yesterday at 10:44 PM CDT

Brandon police arrested a suspect on Wednesday after a girl reported she was chased by an unknown man wielding a knife while she was walking home from school.

The incident was one of two reports of suspicious activity involving children walking home near a school in Brandon, the Brandon School Division said in an email sent out to all parents on Thursday morning.

The school division said police investigated both incidents.

In the only incident described by police, a girl and a family member went to the police station around 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, saying she had been chased by an unknown man about 45 minutes earlier.

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Yesterday at 10:44 PM CDT

Local

Tories renew calls for CFS inquiry

By Carol Sanders 4 minute read Preview

Tories renew calls for CFS inquiry

By Carol Sanders 4 minute read Updated: 8:30 AM CDT

WINNIPEG — The Progressive Conservatives renewed calls to put Manitoba’s child and welfare system under the microscope Thursday, tabling a motion that urged the province to appoint a commissioner to lead a public inquiry.

Families critic Jodie Byram’s opposition day motion, which was ultimately defeated by the NDP majority, reiterated demands for an inquiry into the systemic failures of Child and Family Services, more than 20 years after the death of Phoenix Sinclair first prompted demands for answers.

“We have seen far too many children die under the care of CFS, and we need to determine where the gaps are in the system in order to make the system a safer place for children,” Byram, the MLA for Agassiz, told reporters before the motion was defeated in the legislature.

Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine said in an interview that her department, CFS agencies and authorities are “doing good work” and won’t call an inquiry.

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Updated: 8:30 AM CDT

Business

Honda employees work along the vehicle assembly line in Alliston, Ont., on Thursday, April 25, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

September job losses pour cold water on Bank of Canada rate hike chatter

Craig Lord, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

September job losses pour cold water on Bank of Canada rate hike chatter

Craig Lord, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Updated: 12:34 PM CDT

OTTAWA - The labour market stalled for a second month in a row in September, pushing back on calls for interest rate hikes from the Bank of Canada.

Statistics Canada said Friday the economy lost 68,000 positions in September, coming off a loss of 42,000 roles in August. Economists had expected a gain of 9,200 jobs in the month.

StatCan said job losses were nearly evenly split between full- and part-time work and were concentrated in the public sector.

The unemployment rate edged up a tenth of a point to 6.5 per cent last month, back to where it stood at the start of the year in January.

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Updated: 12:34 PM CDT

Local

A flag at half-staff is framed by helmets, rifles and boots at Fort Hood, Texas, in November 2009, prior to a memorial for those killed at the post on Nov. 5 of that year. Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan will be executed by firing squad at Fort Hood, Texas, on Dec. 3, for fatally shooting 13 people and wounding 32. (The New York Times files)

Pentagon says execution will be livestreamed

By Konstantin Toropin, Eric Tucker and Claudia Lauer 7 minute read Preview

Pentagon says execution will be livestreamed

By Konstantin Toropin, Eric Tucker and Claudia Lauer 7 minute read Updated: 8:30 AM CDT

WASHINGTON — The firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan will be livestreamed, the Pentagon said Thursday, a stunning revelation about plans for the first military execution in more than 65 years after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had described it as being “public.”

The Army announced this week that the execution would take place at Fort Hood on Dec. 3 after Hasan was convicted of killing 13 people and injuring 32 others in a shooting at the military base in 2009.

Hegseth, speaking to the conservative TV outlet Real America’s Voice News on Wednesday, said, “We’ll make sure that people are able to watch it, that it’s public.” Officials in the Pentagon clarified Thursday that the execution would be livestreamed and that more details would follow.

The revelation from Hegseth about the public nature of an execution — let alone one as violent as a firing squad — has raised further questions about how the death penalty is carried out in the United States, especially after the botched lethal injection of Christa Pike in Tennessee.

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Updated: 8:30 AM CDT

Local

The Haunted Forest near Rivers is not for the faint of heart when visitors enter the woods during Scare Time. (Supplied)

Haunted Forest more than just thrills and chills

By Wendy King 5 minute read Preview

Haunted Forest more than just thrills and chills

By Wendy King 5 minute read Yesterday at 10:46 PM CDT

Be prepared to be scared — or not.

It’s entirely up to you as you tread trepidatiously through the Haunted Forest at Lucky Break Ranch and Tack on Mayne Road just off Highway 250 near Rivers this October.

For a few spooky nights ahead of Halloween, the Haunted Forest will be populated with ghoulies, ghosties and other ghastlies all prepared to give thrill-seekers a fright. And since some folks want the fun without the fright, designated scare-free times are offered each night.

But one thing everyone can agree on is supporting the charitable goals of this family-fun event.

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Yesterday at 10:46 PM CDT

Local

Canadian Mennonite University says it was hit by a cyberattack that accessed the personal details of past and current students and employees. A man uses a computer keyboard in Toronto, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023 in this photo illustration. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy

Hackers access decade worth of personal data at Canadian Mennonite University

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Preview

Hackers access decade worth of personal data at Canadian Mennonite University

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Updated: 8:36 AM CDT

WINNIPEG - Canadian Mennonite University says it was hit by a cyberattack that accessed the personal details of employees, as well as past and current students.

The Winnipeg-based university says the compromised data includes social insurance numbers, addresses, earnings, birth dates and more.

It says the cyberattackers were able to access sensitive employee information going back to 2015, and of students going back to 2019.

The university made a public announcement about the breach Friday, two weeks after it says was discovered.

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Updated: 8:36 AM CDT

Local

Republican nominee for U.S. Senate Mike Rogers, right, responds to Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Abdul El-Sayed, during a televised debate at WOOD-TV, on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, in Grand Rapids, Mich. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, Pool)

Michigan Republican faces pressure during heated debate on Trump’s Canada tariffs

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Michigan Republican faces pressure during heated debate on Trump’s Canada tariffs

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Updated: 8:33 AM CDT

GRAND RAPIDS - Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers faced pressure over U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war with Canada during a heated debate that could sway voters in a consequential midterm race where neither candidate ruled out future duties.

Trump's escalating tariffs targeting Canada came up within the first 10 minutes of the debate. Rogers was asked about an advertisement released Wednesday in which he said "Canada is not our enemy," and how he squares that with longstanding support of the duties.

"I would like to see the deal made," Rogers responded. "I have actually called the White House this week, talked to the secretary of Commerce, about getting the deal done."

Rogers said Canada has tariffs on the United States, without providing any details about the levies or the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade, which was negotiated during the first Trump administration.

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Updated: 8:33 AM CDT

Entertainment

FILE - The entrance of the Renoir Museum is pictured after thieves stole four valuable Renoir paintings, in Cagnes-sur-Mer, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni, file)

2 Renoir paintings stolen from a French museum have been found, 6 arrested

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

2 Renoir paintings stolen from a French museum have been found, 6 arrested

The Associated Press 2 minute read Updated: 8:24 AM CDT

PARIS (AP) — Two Renoir paintings stolen from a museum in southern France last month have been found, and six people arrested, local authorities said Friday.

The mayor of the town housing the Renoir Museum, Bryan Masson, issued a statement praising investigators who tracked down the paintings and suspects. The statement did not elaborate on how they did so.

The regional prosecutor's office and police did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The mayor announced a news conference for later Friday.

The two missing paintings were “Portrait of Madame Colonna Romano” and “Young Woman at the Well.”

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Updated: 8:24 AM CDT