Jets’ seventh straight loss, Council turnover & Vaval’s CFL history — Winnipeg Thursday

🏈 Sports

1. Jets lose seventh straight, fall to 4-6-3 after 6-4 defeat by Tampa Bay. Winnipeg allowed a four-goal second-period surge and trailed 5-1 after two periods before a late third-period push; coach Scott Arniel split top forwards Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele and blamed defensive lapses that produced three goals in about three minutes. The loss extends Winnipeg’s skid to seven games and leaves the club 4-6-3 on the season.

2. Trey Vaval becomes first player to win back-to-back CFL top special-teams awards. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers returner led the CFL with 2,868 total kick return yards and averaged 13.8 yards per punt return and 24.2 yards per kickoff return, with two return touchdowns (an 88-yard kickoff and a 129-yard missed-field-goal return); he earned 133 votes from the Football Reporters of Canada.

3. Zach Collaros’ status remains uncertain for Saturday’s East semifinal after missing two practices. Blue Bombers coach Mike O’Shea said Collaros did not practise yet following a rib injury sustained late in the win over B.C.; Dru Brown started after Collaros’ injury and led a 34-10 victory that clinched a playoff spot for Winnipeg (9-9).

🏛️ Government & Politics

1. Winnipeg elects nine new councillors; Scott Gillingham re-elected as mayor. More than half of ward representatives are first-time councillors after incumbents in Old Kildonan, St. James, Transcona and Mynarski were defeated and several incumbents chose not to run; Mayor Gillingham said he will meet the 15-member council to set priorities and help new members adjust.

2. Russ Wyatt defeated in Transcona; Lora Meseman wins seat by 460 votes. Wyatt, who faced multiple sexual-assault charges, finished with just under 11 per cent of the vote; Meseman unseated Wyatt’s incumbency and said she will prioritise communication and presence in the ward as the new councillor.

3. Manitoba now has 235 physicians per 100,000 residents, a 4.5% increase year-over-year. Doctors Manitoba reports the province remains short 225 specialists—about 90% of the overall physician shortfall—and says specialist shortages contribute to longer waits for consultations, tests and surgeries across the province.

📰 Also Today

• High-risk sex offender released, expected to live in Winnipeg.
• Inquests called into deaths of 3 men in custody in Manitoba jails.
• Municipal election turnout among lowest in 42 years in Winnipeg.
• St. Clements selects new mayor in municipal vote.
• Jeff Fawcett wins another term as mayor of Brandon.
• Incumbent councillors sent packing across Winnipeg as voters choose change.
• Town of Virden sues waste management firm over uncompleted work.
• Scott Gillingham survives to be mayor for another term.
• More Canadian provinces are ending time changes, story examines health effects.
• Mayoral election results reported across Manitoba.
• Nine new councillors headed to Winnipeg city hall, biggest turnover in decades.
• Lora Meseman headed to city council as Transcona votes out Russ Wyatt.
• Incumbent mayor Colleen Smook defeated in Thompson.
• Toronto’s aerial attack vs. Winnipeg ground game previewed for CFL East semifinal.
• Powwow and events teach Winnipeg newcomers about Indigenous culture.
• Lawyer says Canada not a bystander on First Nations housing and water in appeal.