Prairie Post

5 things you absolutely must know today

Spelling errors a child would make found in Winnipeg Regional Health Authority health bulletin 

An immunization-information letter sent to schools by the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority contained enough spelling errors for Winnipeg’s Belinda Bigold to question the organization’s legitimacy. She said the short letter contained 10 spelling errors. “It just begs the question, you know, would you trust your child’s health to the person who wrote a completely incompetent, half illegible and unprofessional letter?” Bigold told CBC News. “Students is spelled i-n-t-s. You’re kind of like, oops, someone’s asleep at the wheel, right? And you keep reading: sheets is spelled wrong, wish is spelled wrong.” The health authority has since apologized. [Source: CBC Manitoba]

Hurricane Odile hits western Mexico

The category three Hurricane Odile hit western Mexico Monday. The storm with winds of up to 200 km/h has ripped out trees and forced thousands in the resort community of Las Cabos to stay indoors. Officials in the area have prepared emergency shelter for 30,000 people, fearing storm surges, landslides, and flooding, according to the BBC. Power is expected to be cut during the storm in case the lines come down. It’s reportedly the most powerful hurricane to hit the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula since Hurrican Kiko in 1989. So far no injuries have been reported. [Source: BBC]

To land on a comet

It’s 10-billion tonne mass of ice and dust sauntering through space some 400-million kilometres from Earth. And the European Space Agency is going to try to land on it. Details of where on that mass they will attempt to do was released Monday: The smaller of the comet’s two smooth lobes. The space agency’s probe, Rosetta, has been stationed near the comet since early August. Scientists and engineers have been puzzling over where on this comet the probe Rosetta will send down should land. This decision is paramount, as the probe and comet are so far from the possibility of real-time communication that the coordinates have to be programmed days in advance. The comet’s bumpy, irregular surface makes this decision one worth puzzling over. Once the spider-like probe has found footing, it will anchor itself. The launch is schedule for Nov. 11. The purpose of this mission is to study the comet while it’s in orbit. [Source: BBC]

 Hundreds die fleeing war-torn Africa

A boat carrying up to 250 African emigrants fleeing attempting to reach Europe sank near the Libyan community of Tajoura, located east of Tripoli. Only 26 people have been rescued, so far. And rescue attempts are slow due to an under-equipped coast guard consisting of borrowed tug and fishing boats.  According to Reuters, many North African migrants, many from war-torn Libya, are trying to reach Europe in boats not solid enough for the journey. In 2014, more than 100,000 people have made land in Italy, according to its government. Since Gaddafi was ousted in 2011, the area has seen an increase in human traffickers, taking advantage of the country’s instability and “political chaos.” [Source: Reuters]

 Cameron to give final speech before Scotland vote

British Prime Minister David Cameron will make what some are calling the most important speech of his career today in Aberdeen, three days ahead of Scotland’s independence vote. Rumours are surfacing that Cameron will be pressure to resign if the historic, too-close-to-call vote tips to yes. According to the Globe and Mail, the most recent numbers show pro-union support at 51 per cent, and pro-independence at 49 per cent. Cameron has steered clear of the campaign, for the most part, this changing over a week ago when the yes side began picking up steam. Aberdeen is a key riding and its oil and gas sectors make it a huge economic driver for Scotland. Some political analysts weighing in on Scottish independence say it may not be a bad thing, and that Scotland has the potential to be a prosperous, independent country. But the Queen reportedly told someone on Sunday that she hopes “People will think carefully about the future.” No doubt they will. Self-preservation seems germane to us all. [Source: Globe and Mail]

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Toban Dyck is on Twitter @tobandyck

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