Blues Festival line-up announced

The acts for the annual Thunder Bay Blues Festival are now confirmed. Organizer Trevor Hurtig says it's going to be one of the best line-ups yet. He says it includes the 2012 Grammy Award winning Tedeschi Trucks Band, .38 Special, Jonny Lang and Sass Jordan. Hurtig says tickets go on sale on Saturday morning at 9:30. The festival takes place the weekend of July 6th.

Clement is coming to town

A Federal Cabinet Minister is making a stop in Thunder Bay.  Minister Responsible for Fednor Tony Clement will arriving in the City Monday Morning.  Members of his staff say he will be making a few announcements, including some through Fednor. 

Fire Marshal looking into fatal Kenora fire

The Ontario Fire Marshal's Office is in Kenora looking into a fatal fire.  The Blaze happened at a house early yesterday morning and fire crews located a 56 year old man inside the residence.  James Rutherford has been identified as the deceased.

Elections Canada stays tight lipped

Elections Canada says it will not comment on news that its investigators will be in the city next week as part of the so called robocalls scandal.  Reports indicate that they will be questioning staffers at a Thunder Bay call centre operated by Responsive Marketing Group which was hired by the Conservatives during the last federal election.  There are accusations that automated phone calls went out to Liberal supporters in various ridings announcing what,  in some cases were,  phony polling locations.

Premier would be open to events centre request

Premier Dalton McGuinty isn't closing the door to possible future funding for an events centre in Thunder Bay. Speaking in the city today McGuinty said his government will be open to any request and has a responsibility to give it careful consideration.  McGuinty says even in tough times the government plans to continue with infrastructure funding.  On other topics the premier said the government wants to continue to work with First Nations communities over Oxycontin withdrawal.  On the subject of a proposed two year wage freeze for the province's teachers, he hopes they will give it consideration at the bargaining table for the sake of saving jobs.

Hobbs in Toronto

Mayor Keith Hobbs is in Toronto today talking with the Toronto Transit Commission's Karen Stintz.  Thunder Bay's Mayor plans to tell the TTC Chair thank you for listening to the City's concerns over the Bombardier light rail vehicle contract with Toronto.  He's also taking part in an International mining conference with Mining Services Manager John Mason.

Red Cross needs more volunteers

The Red Cross is expanding in Thunder Bay and Shuniah.  14 people were recently trained to work in emergency situations in the two communities and Spokesperson Rob Kilgour says more people are needed in Thunder Bay.  There are over 20 volunteers and at least 80 are needed to deal with the volume of calls the Red Cross receives.  Kilgour points to the recent fires in Shuniah township as to why there is a great need for the Red Cross and it's volunteers.

City and Fort William ready themselves for Ring of Fire

The City and Fort William First Nation are teaming up to create an action plan on how to take advantage of the Ring of Fire.  The plan encompasses the community's need for more industrial land, better infrastructure, and a workforce for future mining projects. Councillor Joe Virdiramo is defending their joint meeting with cabinet ministers at the Good Roads Conference saying money will eventually flow.  Virdiramo feels they had the Cabinet Ministers' ears and funding will eventually come to help with the Ring of Fire project.

Calls for CAO's firing

Thunder Bay's Rick Potter is in the hot seat. As the CAO of the province's air ambulance service, ORNGE, Potter has reportedly admitted he lied about his university credentials. Progressive Conservative critic Frank Klees says it's clear Potter must be fired. Klees also says it was a mistake for Thunder Bay's Pat Lang to be appointed to the board at ORNGE since she has a past connection to Potter when she was Confederation College President and he was head of the College's Aviation Centre.

Two assaults one night

Police are looking into two separate cases of assault on the City's south side last night.  In one situation, an 18 year old man is charged with aggravated assault after a 24 year old man was sent to the hospital with injuries to his face.  Earlier in the evening, a 49 year old man defended himself from a woman with a knife and was sent to the hospital with cuts to his hand.  The man and woman knew each other and she is charged with assault with a weapon.