Modest increase in housing starts

The new year is starting out slowly for housing starts in Thunder Bay. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation reports there were four starts last month...that is up only slightly from the two at the same time last year. CMHC's Warren Philp admits its a modest start, but in keeping with the ten year average. Philp says the creation of some new subdivisions in the city holds promised for additional housing starts this year.

Weekend robbery concerns cabbies

Cab drivers in the city are on edge after a weekend robbery. Early Saturday morning police say a Roach's Taxi driver picked up two male passengers in the Westfort Area. The two sat in the back seat and they asked to be taken to the Limbrick street area. When they got there the driver had a sharped edged object placed at the back of his neck and was robbed of an undetermined amount of money. The driver was shaken but not hurt. The culprits ran away and are still at large.

My Home Town causes sensation

The good fortune continues for Thunder Bay's Jordan Burnell. His music video My Home Town remains an internet sensation. The rap song has garnered 140 thousand views since it was posted on Thursday. The song is about Burnell's pride in Thunder Bay and all the things the city is about and what it offers.

Police probe bat attack and armed robbery

One man is in custody and another is being sought after a baseball bat attack Sunday afternoon. Police say a male victim says he was assaulted and then pushed down some stairs. Then early Monday morning a male, his face covered with a balaclava, and carrying a knife entered a north May street convenience store and stole some items. No one was hurt.

Waterfront project over budget

Waterfront manager Katherine Dugmore has now updated city councillors on the waterfront development. She says the project at Prince Arthur's Landing has run 5 million dollars over budget. 2.2 million of that will have to be taken from phase two of the project. Dugmore says it's too early to say what buget cuts will be necessary to make up for that 2.2 million dollar shortfall for phase two.

Haitian relief dollars still coming in

Thunder Bay residents continue to give generously to the efforts for Haitian earthquake relief. Red Cross Spokesperson Rob Zuback says since the appeal went out over 150 thousand dollars has been collected through various means.Zuback says that Thunder Bay residents have raised about 33 per cent of the total raised in northern Ontario.

PARO gets Trillium grant

Getting women more meaningful job placements is one of the goals of a local government funded project. The PARO Centre for Women's Enterprise has received a 330 thousand dollar grant from the Trillium Foundation. PARO's Executive Director Rosalind Lockyer says the various projects will be funded for three years with the goal of getting women their own businesses