Mauro on energy tax credit for seniors

Thunder Bay Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro is defending his government's decision to implement the HST. The NDP have launched a campaign calling on the Provincial Government to exempt energy from the HST.  Mauro says the NDP's numbers weren't accurate and only told half of the story.  The government announced a tax exemption today for Seniors for their energy costs.

OPP investigate murder in Fort Hope

OPP are investigating a murder in Fort Hope First Nation.  Police were called out to the community north of Sioux Lookout on Monday.  The deceased is 38 year old James Wasawa. 27 year old William Oskineegish is in custody, and has been charged with second degree murder, and breach of probation.  He'll be in Thunder Bay court on October 4th.

Breast screening program tests thousands

The Regional Cancer Centre is celebrating a milestone.  It's operated the Breast Screening Program in Northwestern Ontario for 20 years.    Cancer Care Director Alison McMullen says over 32 thousand women have been given mammograms, but more needs to be done.McMullen says the goal is to have 90 per cent of women screened by 2020.

OPP honor local police

Several Thunder Bay Police Officers are being honored by the Ontario Provincial Police.  Det. Sgt. Ken Davis and Det. Constable Justin Dubuc won the Officer of the Year Award.  Constable James Laton of the Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau also was honored as an officer of the year.

NOSM heads back to bargaining table Thursday

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine is going back to the bargaining table with its OPSEU union employees.  Another round of talks are scheduled for Thursday and Friday in Sudbury.  Meanwhile, a Lakehead University Student is holding her own protest because she's frustrated with NOSM picketers at the school's entrances.  The rally is being held at the campus' Balmoral Street entrance at 1 on Friday.

Hotel and Condominiums start in June

The City of Thunder Bay is just weeks away from signing the waterfront development agreement for the proposed Hotel and Condominiums. Developer Gisele Mac Donald says they're on track.  Meanwhile, Councillor Larry Hebert says they'll be starting the project much earlier than expected.  The start date for the construction is June 30th, 2011.  Council approved the changes to the development agreement at their meeting Monday night.

ER at patient gridlock

Thunder Bay's Health Sciences Center is experiencing patient gridlock.  The emergency department is overwhelmed with in patients waiting for care in another part of the hospital. Alternate level care patients; those who are too sick to stay at home but don't need to be in the hospital are taking up beds that are needed for other patients.  Hospital CEO Ron Saddington says this crisis will mean an increase in wait times in the ER.

More details about the Mafia in Thunder Bay have surfaced

More details surrounding the mafia cell reportedly operating in Thunder Bay has come out.  The National Post says information from investigations in Italy say the Ndrangheta has ramped up recruitment in Thunder Bay and is planning on becoming active again.  The probe says members from Thunder Bay met with the organizations top boss Giuseppe Commisso recently in Siderno Italy.  The reports say prosecutors have named several members in Thunder Bay ranging from 53 to 73 years old.  All were born in Siderno and at this point are not facing charges.  Recorded discussion with Commisso say the Thunder Bay Chapter has done nothing for decades but want to become active in the community again.  Thunder Bay police are investigating the reports and spokesperson Chris Adams says considering the secretive nature of the Ndrangheta it isn't surprising they have been able to keep a low profile.  Adams also says this is the first large scale overseas crime organization to be found operating in Thunder Bay.

Tony Villeneuve Memorial Auto Rally a complete success

The Auto Rally brought in just over 61 thousand dollars for lung cancer research at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. Thirty one teams took in the 380 rally organizers are very happy with the results. Terri Hrkac says they passed last years total by over a thousand dollars.