Gravelle likes energy rebates

It's official, the McGuinty Government will give residents a 10 percent rebate on electricity bills in 2011. Minister of Northern Development Michael Gravelle says it will start in January. Gravelle adds if companies are unable to provide the rebate on the bills in January, the rebate will be retroactive to January on future bills. The opposition parties say the Liberals are trying to buy voter support, but Gravelle says that's not the case.

More snow in the forecast

It's going to be another snowy evening in Thunder Bay.  The forecast is calling for a significant snowfall overnight according to meteorologist Bill Laidlaw.  He says 5 cm should fall in the city and up to 10 cm outside the city. Laidlaw says watch for winds to pick up as well.

Kettle Appeal kicks off

It just isn't Christmas without the Salvation Army's Kettle Appeal.   The fundraising goal this year is 130 thousand dollars.  The kettles will be located at various city locations.

Housing market to cool

The housing market in Thunder Bay will cool a bit next year.    Canada Mortgage and Housing says activity will be slightly slower in several areas according to analyst Warren Philp. He says sales of existing houses will drop slightly and there'll be about a 7 per cent drop in the number of new houses that are started. 

Alzheimer's benefits from cash

Thunder Bay's Alzheimer's Society has benefited from money from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.  The OTF provided enough cash for a three year pilot project.  Spokesperson Jason Rasevych says they used the money to improve their fundraising techniques.  Rasevych says donations increased quite a bit from 2007 as well, going from 40 thousand to 90 thousand a year.  Rasevych adds more people know about the local branch now than they did at the start of the project in 2003.

Not too late to start new career

It's not too late to change careers.  That's the message of the North Superior Workforce Planning Board.  Keynote Speaker Julia Moulden says if your in your fifties and out of work don't give up.  The motivational speaker and author says it's never to late to start a new business or switch careers.  Moulden says there's plenty of programs and resources to help experienced workers re-enter the workforce in Thunder Bay.

HRC to review haircutting incident

hThe Ontario Human Rights Commission is looking into an incident in Thunder Bay.  The family of the aboriginal boy who had his hair cut by a teacher's assistant at McKellar Park School last year is complaining the incident was racial discrimination.  The complaint names the teacher's assistant involved, the Lakehead public school board, Thunder Bay Police and the Ministry of the Attorney General. 

Court Street Standoff costs $46,000

The cost of the standoff on court street is nearly 50 thousand dollars.  Police say the 27 hour standoff that happened two weeks ago involved nearly 40 officers on scene.  Deputy Chief JP Levesque says despite the extra costs he believes it was money well spent.  The money adds to budget problems with the police force which is already looking at over 400 thousand dollars in the red.

Man robbed at knife point

A man was robbed at knife point in the city last night.  Thunder Bay Police say the victim was walking in the Norah and Cameron Street area when a man assaulted him and held him for 30 minutes before making off with his iPod and Blackberry.  There were no injuries in the incident that happened just before 10:30 last night.