Shaw to fight for Minneapolis TV

Shaw Cable says it supports the concerns of it's Thunder Bay subscribers who want to get back the Minneapolis TV stations. Spokesperson Greg Pultz says that's why they're applying to the Canadian Radio and Telecommunications Commission to get them back. Pultz says the CRTC forced them to take the stations off in the first place.

Tory hopeful emerges in Kenora-RR

The manager of the Kenora Forest Products Mill in Kenora is looking at a shift in career to provincial politics. Rod McKay has indicated he plans to run for the Conservatives in the upcoming Provincial election.

McKay says the decision by Howard Hampton not to run again, didn't really affect his decision. McKay is also a member of Kenora City council.

Communities in NWO get NOHF grants

Nine communities in Northwestern Ontario are sharing 5.4-million provincial dollars.  The Minister responsible for the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, Michael Gravelle says these projects are deserving of the funding.The money will be used for projects ranging from a sawmill to a recreation centre

MNR flies band members over fire

It appears the concerns of Whitewater Lake First Nation residents may have been premature.  Their Chief was complaining that they were ignored by the Ministry of Natural Resources during forest fire evacuations.  However ministry staff flew some band members over the fire near their community and they were satisfied the MNR acted properly.

Williams returns to old position

It's deja vu all over again for Dr. David Williams.   He is returning to Thunder Bay to become the new Medical Officer of Health, a position he held for many years before heading to Toronto to take up a senior public health position there.   Dr. Williams will be joined by Dr. Janet DeMille who will be the Associate M-O-H.

Woman seriously injured in bear attack

A woman from Michigan is suffering serious wounds after being attacked by a bear in Pukaskwa National Park this morning. The woman was part of a group of boaters who stepped on shore, which is where the attack took place. Erin Vincent of the rescue centre in Trenton says it was park staff that handled the incident.  She says they took the patient to the hospital where she is recovering.

Heat, winds and lightning an MNR concern

Eight new forest fires in Northwestern Ontario are now under control according to the Ministry of Natural Resources.  Spokesperson Art Osbourne says it's fortunate that those were the only new blazes reported and says wind and possible lightning could keep firefighters busy today.

Chill take on Kitsap Pumas in PDL Semi's

The Thunder Bay Chill will try to take another step towards a second PDL championship tonight when they take on the Kitsap Pumas. Head Coach Tony Colistro says a well balanced style of play will help them tonight.  The winner will move on to the final.

Shelter House adding addiction beds

The Shelter House is expanding to help people addicted to alcohol. Executive Director Cal Rankin says its a vital service that needs to be provided and 15 beds will be added to help those people. Rankin says he hopes to have all the renovations complete by November.

Damaged vehicles at airport removed

All the vehicles that were heavily damaged in last month's wind storm in the Thunder Bay Airport parking lot are accounted for and removed. Airport Manager Scott McFadden says for the most part owners were understanding, except in one instance where an owner's vehicle had to be towed away for safety reasons.  When the owner returned,  the car wasn't there which McFadden called a "difficult situation". As for repairs to the roof of the terminal building, McFadden hopes that can be completed by the end of the month.

Jobless rate falls

It appears to have been a good July for hiring in Thunder Bay.  Our jobless rate went from 6.7 percent in June to 6.2 percent last month.  That followed the trends nationally and provincially which fell to 7.2 and 7.5 respectively.

Ministry allows bridge work to resume

Work has now resumed at the site of the MacKenzie Bridge, the first time that's happened since the death of a worker at the construction site in June. Matt Blajer of the Ministry of Labour says that Ministry officials are giving the company the green light.  He says that means the company involved has complied with all the work orders it was given.

Advisory back up at Boulevard Lake

The hot weather is causing problems for people who want to cool off at the local beaches.  The Health Unit already has a swimming advisory up at the main beach at Chippewa Park and has now posted one at Sunnyside Beach at Boulevard Lake due to high bacteria levels.

High price of gold affects jewellery demand

The talk at next week's jewellery show in Toronto will be the price of gold which is over 16 hundred dollars an ounce. Thunder Bay's Dave Douglas says that price is causing many consumers to buy products made of something else adding that silver has taken the place of gold as far as jewellery goes.  Douglas says with the price of gold predicted to go higher, buying gold now is the wise choice

Weather not cooperating with MNR

The heat is on as firefighters in Northwestern Ontario continue to battle over a hundred wildfires in the region. Annemarie Piscopo of the Ministry of Natural Resource says mother nature isn't helping as there has been a minimal amount of rain this week.  Piscopo adds, the fire hazard is high to extreme at the west end of the region and moderate closer to Thunder Bay.

Syrian people won't get help from the West

Despite widespread violence in Syria, western powers are unlikely to intervene.  That's the feeling of Lakehead University Political Science Expert Laure Paquette who says there is no economic benefit for Western Powers to intervene which means the people in Syria are on their own.  There has been an increase in reports about violence, torture and imprisonment in the country over the last few days.

Environment Canada cuts could affect local weather services

Proposed personnel cuts at Environment Canada could impact local weather predicting.  The Federal Government wants to layoff 700 people at the crown agency and our Meteorologist Bill Laidlaw says cuts to radar or weather modelling services will make predicting weather in Northwestern Ontario far more difficult.

Sharp cements relationship with Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks and Patrick Sharp will be partners for the next 5 years.    The Thunder Bay native has received a nearly 30 million dollar contract extension from the NHL club.  General manager Stan Bowman calls the 29 year old Sharp one of the hockey's elite players as well as a fixture in Chicago

RFDA gets 150 K

The organization which makes sure 28 food banks in Northwestern Ontario are stocked is getting 150 thousand dollars from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Regional Food Distribution Association will use the money over one year to make necessary roof repairs and add insulation at it's Thunder Bay headquarters. The foundation says it will help to ensure the RFDA is able to continue its work.

Liberals in Kenora-Rainy River choose Leek

Liberals in Kenora-Rainy River have their candidate the October provincial election.  Emo township councillor Anthony Leek says he's ready to begin the campaign.  Leek was unopposed at last night's nomination meeting in Fort Frances