News roundup, 16 Aug 2023

- Earlier this month a Toronto man came across a group of people surrounding a man on the ground, and went up to see what was going on. Unfortunately, the people turned out to be plainclothes cops arresting a suspected fentanyl dealer, and one of them shoved him violently, causing him to strike his head on the pavement. For their part, the police are doubling down, charging the victim with somehow "obstructing" the people that he had no reason to believe were peace officers. One might think they'd have a better sense of public relations than to charge the victim, but that only applies if you assume they want to be loved rather than feared; perhaps most cops would prefer the latter.

- Ukraine's military has reportedly captured the town of Sudzha in Russia's Kursk Oblast, the largest centre so far taken in the recent invasion. Russia is downplaying the situation, saying that this is merely "the incursion of terrorist sabotage groups" and that "there is no front line as such".

- IDF soldiers blew up a water facility in southern Gaza last month. Their leadership is claiming that this was a rogue action not sanctioned by them; nonetheless the Canadian government is calling for an investigation (at least so long as said investigation doesn't lead to anything of substance).

- Manitoba is banning the use of cellphones in schools for K-8 students and restricting it to lunch and other breaks for grades 9-12. Some divisions had already introduced restrictions, but limiting such devices province-wide will come as a welcome move to most adults (helicopter parents excepted).

- An investigation into the cyberattack at the University of Winnipeg has confirmed that banking information of people employed at the university as far back as 2015, and other information including social insurance numbers going back to 2003, was taken. Some stolen information goes back as far as 1987.

- A Missouri woman who spent 43 years in prison for murder was released last month after a judge found that "clear and convincing evidence of actual innocence" had been presented. Despite this, the state's Republican attorney general refused to release her until the judge threatened to hold him in contempt of court.

- A restaurant owner in Owen Sound, Ontario was killed last year after following three patrons out of the restaurant after they left without paying. Police now say they made some arrests at the end of July but have released no details about the case so far.

- After the body of a man from Pimicikamak Cree Nation who drowned last month was sent to Winnipeg for an autopsy, remains were sent to a funeral home and sent back in a sealed coffin. Unfortunately, they sent the wrong body.