New grant for Research Institute

A federal grant of six hundred thousand dollars is going to the Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute. Michael Wood, the Institute's Vice President of Research, says it will be used for a cancer study which will focus on cervical cancer and involve First Nations women in Northwestern Ontario.  

Accident sends pedestrian to hospital

There is no word on the immediate condition of a man who was taken to hospital after one o'clock Friday afternoon with a serious head injury after being hit by a car on Fort William Road .  They say the man, who is in his 40's,  ran out into traffic near Main Street.  Police say off duty paramedics were there to provide assistance until their on-duty colleagues arrived.

Meet the new boss....

Chuck McPherson has been returned as chief of Couchiching First Nation. McPherson beat out seven other challenges with counting of ballots reportedly going late into the night. Christine Jourdain, Dick Bird, Dan Mainville, Ed Yerxa, Dave Bruyere and Bugsy Morrisseau were elected councillors.

Teen charged in Fort Frances shooting

A Fort Frances teenager is facing several charges including attempted murder following an incident last night at a Trailer Park in that community. OPP were initially called to the area around 6 last night about a missing boy. Family members later informed police he had been located, but was in possession of a gun. It was later determined that a family member was shot at, but was not injured. The 14-year-old was eventually located inside a home at the park and taken into custody without incident.

Detectives facing Police Act charges

Three Thunder Bay Police detectives are remaining on active duty as they face Police Act charges of misconduct and unnecessary exercise of authority.   The three are: Detective William Wowchuck, Detective Constable Ron Popowich and Detective Constable Brad Bernst.   It follows an investigation by the Office of the Independent Police Review Director of an arrest they conducted in September of last year.

Not Guilty!

Andre Wareham is a free man. A jury found him not guilty in the death of William Atkins in 2009. Wareham calls the verdict overwhelming and just wants to put it all behind him saying it's been hard but "you have to walk through it all..stand strong, and just see it to the end". When the verdict was read Wareham  had  an expression of great relief.

Wareham found not guilty

The jury in the Andre Warehem second degree murder trial has come back with a not guilty verdict.  Wareham was facing charges in relation to the 2009 stabbing death of William Atkin.  The verdict came down this morning.

Inflation rate stays the same in T.Bay

Thunder Bay's inflation rate went unchanged last month.  It was 2 percent in December and January.  That's below the national inflation rate of 2.5 percent in January.  Stats Canada released the info this morning.

United Way reaches goal

United Way is pleased as punch after raising it's 2011 fundraising goal. The campaign wrapped up last night revealing they had raised just over 2.5 million dollars. They raised around 200 dollars over their goal.

Bombardier awarded for energy savings

Bombardier is setting a energy saving example in the city.  The facility has been given a Platinum Level Energy Savings Award from Thunder Bay Hydro for saving over 50 kilowatts of electricity.  A Spokesperson with the Utility Bill Willis says Bombardier will hopefully encourage other business to save energy.  Willis says Bombardier changed out old light fixtures for new energy efficient ones. 

Commisso touts centralized bargaining

The city manager could be stirring the labour pot with his reaction to the Drummond report to the provincial government. Tim Commisso says the city is interested in understanding more about the reports proposal for volunteered centralized bargaining with police and firefighters. He says effectively they're already operating under a centralized system in the way they bargain, so it may be the way to go. Meantime Mayor Keith Hobbs goes one step further and says he'd like to see one police force for all of Ontario.

Hobbs goes to bat for Mauro

The Police Services act hearing for Sgt. Jim Mauro is now over.  It ended with surprise witness Mayor Keith Hobbs speaking in defence of Mauro.   Mauro is charged with two counts of misconduct under the act for a letter he presented to an arbitration hearing.  Hobbs testified for about half an hour and called the whole procedure trying to kill a mosquito with an elephant gun .   Meantime Mauro's family has issued a critical statement about the procedure and what they term an abuse of power

DSSAB makes it's move

The District Social Services Board is moving locations this weekend. CAO Melissa Harrison says they'll be in their new building on May Street starting Tuesday. In the meantime, emergency service will be provided Friday and Tuesday out of the Victoriaville Mall.

NOMA has concerns

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association isn't pleased with Don Drummond's report to the Provincial Government.  Vice President Iain Angus says they don't like Drummond's suggestion that the Government delay by two years the planned upload of 1.5 billion in provincial costs from the municipal property tax base.  The Drummond report was released on Wednesday.

Campbell on Drummond Report

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell says the Drummond Report gives Ontario a chance to move forward.  The NDP member says its now up to all parties to ensure that the report is used to lead the Province in the right direction.  Campbell is supporting recommendations to revisit the delivery of health care services, the creation of regional hydro utilities and a push to provide fair funding for First Nations' education. She adds that not all recommendations should be acted on, such as scrapping full-day kindergarten.

Rickford on scrapping gun registry

A feather in the cap for Kenora MP Greg Rickford.  The Conservative is beaming today following a vote to abolish the long gun registry passed in the House of Commons last night.  Rickford says it was a moving experience.  Rickford says the Legislation was misguided from day one as it penalized law-abiding citizens.

Gravelle on Drummond Report

The Drummond report on trimming Ontario's 16-billion dollar deficit is being welcomed by Thunder Bay-Superior North MPP Michael Gravelle.  The Natural Resources Minister says the Government has to sit down and take a close look at the 362-recommendations.  Gravelle believes there are some recommendations on health care and education which aren't possible.

Stabbing on South Side

Police are investigating a stabbing on the South side of town last night. A 24 year old man was walking in a lane way off of May Street near Bethune and Cumming Streets when a second man used an unknown object to cut him. The victim was taken to hospital to get his forearm looked at. Constable Julie Tilbury says the two men were known to each other.

Taxi driver assaulted

Police are asking taxi drivers to not take the law into their own hands after a driver was assaulted over a fare.  Constable Julie Tilbury says this morning a driver was transporting two men and a woman when they tried to flee without paying.  The taxi driver grabbed one of the men and struggled with him.  The second man attempted to choke the driver.  The driver was able to escape unharmed. Police are continuing to investigate.

Hyer and Rafferty to be punished

The Conservative Federal Government has passed its bill to dismantle the national long-gun registry.  The vote was 159 to 130 with Thunder Bay's two New Democrats breaking party ranks to side with the Tory bill.  Interim N-D-P leader Nycole Turmel says John Rafferty and Bruce Hyer will face consequences.  The bill now goes on to the Senate, where a Tory majority ensures passage.  Hyer says frustrating is one of the nice words he'd use to describe Turmel and she's no Jack Layton.  Rafferty says nothing's changed since the first time they voted against party lines and there are no new penalties.