Mauro accepts nomination

The Premier attracted protestors to Bill Mauro's nomination meeting.  Members of the Ontario Public Service Employee Union picketed outside of the Da Vinci centre last night.  Spokesperson Sandra Snider says they're taking a stand against the Province's tax cuts.  Meanwhile, the Thunder Bay MPP defended the cuts saying they won't result in service cuts.  Mauro accepted the nomination and will carry the Liberal banner in the provincial election.

Search ends with no sign of missing teen

Police are trying to decide their next step in the search for 15 year old Jordan Wabasse.   Police spokesperson Chris Adams says the underwater search of the Kam River by the OPP dive team is over.  He says the search will continue in some form. Meantime Adams says a ball cap was found in the area of the search...it's similar to the one Jordan had on the night he disappeared.

Agent Orange revelations concern premier

Premier Dalton McGuinty is trying to reassure retired government forestry workers.  It comes after a report that says they may have been exposed to the cancer causing chemical Agent Orange during their work years.  McGuinty says the government is interested in getting information. He says if they feel their health has been affected they should contact the Ministry of Natural Resources.  Speaking in Thunder Bay Premier McGuinty says he was only recently made aware of the issue

McGuinty says talking is the answer

The Ring of Fire mining development is still causing a rift between First Nations and the Ontario government.  Natives want  guarantees they'll benefit from the proposed chromite mine. Premier Dalton McGuinty says his government won't stop talking until an agreement is reached.  He says it's important to find the goodwill to conduct what he calls a positive and constructive dialogue.

No one hurt in school fire

It's back to school as usual tomorrow for Churchill High School students as someone lit a fire in the boys washroom on the second floor over the noon hour. The school was evacuated as a result. Nobody was hurt and damage was confined to the washroom itself. Fire officials say they'll let the school deal with whomever was responsible.

Rafferty's bill to head back to House of Commons

An altered version of John Rafferty's pension bill is facing its final hurdle. The Thunder Bay Rainy River MP will see his bill head back to the House of Commons for a final vote sometime this Spring. A different version of the private members bill was already voted down once before.

Pikangikum stand off ends peacefully

OPP are reporting a peaceful ending to a stand off in Pikangikum. A man had fired his gun in his home after arguing with his partner. No one was injured. Police officials surrounded the building. After 10 hours the man came out of the house and was taken into police custody.

N-D-P calling for more Ontario food

The N-D-P is calling for more Ontario produced food to be purchased by government departments and agencies. Kenora-Rainy River M-P-P Howard Hampton says his party has put forward a private members bill that would require any government funded facilities be required to purchase at least 20 per cent of their food from local growers. The bill was given first reading last September, but has yet to be scheduled for further debate in the Legislature.

NOMA discusses important issues

The region's municipal lobbying group plans to bring up a host of issues during upcoming meetings with provincial cabinet ministers. NOMA will attend the Ontario Good Roads Conference next week in Toronto. President Ron Nelson says they've set up a meeting with the Social Services Minister. Nelson says they also plan to speak with the MNR about the caribou habitat legislation.

Hampton not happy

The McGuinty Liberals are keeping tight lipped on which forestry companies recieved part of the governments promised $500 million, and it's not sitting well with NDP Natural Resources critic Howard Hampton. In 2006, the government committed $500 million in grant and loan guarantees for the struggling forestry sector, but according to documents recently obtained through a freedom-of-information request $270 million dollars of it remains unused.

Fender Bender ends in charges

A 23 year old Thunder Bay driver is charged with following too close after a fender bender on Wednesday.  OPP investigated a two vehicle collision on Highway 61, just south of Boundary Drive.  Police say an east bound vehicle was stopped behind a school bus that was stopped, when an east bound Chevrolet cavalier collided with the rear of the Ford Edge.

Crowe to seek NDP nomination

An unsuccessful candidate in the civic election is now trying to get into provincial politics. Cindy Crowe says she is seeking the NDP nomination in the Thunder Bay-Superior North riding. Crowe says she would like to voice the concerns of the average person. The nomination meeting takes place April 2nd.

Regional Curlers come to Thunder Bay

The Shoppers Home Health Care Wheelchair Curling Provincials will be taking place in Thunder Bay from February 25th-27th.  Teams from across the region will be competing for a birth in the National Championships in March of this year. All of the curling action will take place at the Fort William Curling Club.

Police officers hearing have started

There is a link between two city police officers who are facing charges in connection with the way they did their jobs.  A hearing at the Balmoral Police station has heard that Inspector Dan Taddeo is facing Police Service Act charges in connection with the way he supervised Constable Toni Grann.  The 43 year old Grann is facing 12 charges which police say involved falsified local records in the Ontario Sex Offender Registry.

McGuinty in town today

We'll be getting a visit from the Premier today.  Dalton McGuinty is in town to speak at a chamber of commerce luncheon and will also be attending MPP Bill Mauro's nomination meeting.

OPP dive team back to work this morning

There will be another day of searching today by the OPP dive team.  Searchers were unable to locate Jordan Wabasse yesterday and again were forced to suspend the search last night due to a lack of light.

Police make small drug bust

The Thunder Bay Drug Unit has taken over 13 thousand dollars worth of drugs off the streets.  Officers searched a house on Piccadilly Avenue Tuesday and found the drugs, mainly cocaine and just under 5 thousand dollars in cash. Two men were arrested and are facing several charges.