Health unit wants dog bites to stop

The Thunder Bay Health Unit wants to make sure you are safe around animals. Spokesperson Darlene Binette says many people are bitten each year, and some are not reported. Animal Bite prevention week runs from May 28th to June 3rd, and aims to give people ways to be safe with animals.

Graduation day for LU Friday and Saturday

23 hundred students will be graduating from Lakehead University this weekend. Convocation starts Friday and Registrar Brenda Winter says it will include grads from a variety of programs. 26 hundred degrees will be handed out.

Incident raises trespassing issues

CP Rail is using an electrical accident in Northwestern Ontario to show the consequences of trespassing. Spokesperson Mike LoVecchio says people should be aware that entering railway property presents a terrible risk.  A 10 year old girl received a jolt after touching an electric cable located on CP property in Terrace Bay.

Rickford has full plate

Greg Rickford's plate has suddenly become extremely full. The Kenora Conservative MP has been appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, Secretary to Canadian Northern Economic Development and Secretary for FedNor. Rickford says overall he's pleased with the selection of Parliamentary Assistants.

Local road boards get cash

Northwestern Ontario's local road boards will be sharing 25 million dollars in provincial funds. Thunder Bay Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro says the money will be used to fix rural roads across the region.  The funding is part of the 2011 budget.  Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle made the announcement on Thursday.

Raffery/Hyer overlooked for shadow cabinet

Thunder Bay MP John Rafferty isn't upset about being overlooked in the new 39 member NDP shadow cabinet. He says it will give him more freedom to focus on his riding.  Rafferty adds  he didn't even want to be considered for a deputy critics position.   His NDP counterpart in Thunder Bay, Bruce Hyer, was also not chosen for a shadow cabinet position.

Local solar projects get thumbs up

Several solar energy projects in Thunder Bay now have the green light from the provincial government.   They include solar panels for the Port Authority Building and Westgate High School.  It's part of a government program where the province pays for power generated through green energy

Thunder Bay gets a Target

Target will be coming to Thunder Bay.  The American department store chain plans to convert the current Zellers store in the Intercity Mall.  Still no word on what will happen to the other Zellers locations in the city.  The company announced it's plan for the stores that will open in 2013.

Study calls for more north side parking

The city now knows how it can handle parking issues at Marina Park after the waterfront development is complete. Development Services Manager Mark Smith says a new parking study shows how the city can add 900 new spaces by expanding the Pearl Street Parking lot.   The study lands on the laps of councillors Monday evening.

Three funding options for Multi-Plex

City councillors are getting a chance to decide how a proposed new multi-plex centre will be funded. The three options involve either public funding, private and public funding and thirdly, strictly private funding.  They will debate the proposals Monday night.

Local Bombardier workers have new rep

Thunder Bay's Bombardier workers have a new union rep.  Dominic Pasqualino is taking over for Paul Pugh who stepped down after 12 years at the helm of CAW local 1075.  Pasqualino says he has big shoes to fill and hopes to continue to promote the plant.

Explosion causes small scare

A small explosion created a bit of a scene at the Mission Island Scrap Yard this morning.  Officials say just after 9 this morning a propane tank exploded after it was put into a shredder.  No one was hurt and the small fire was out before fire crews arrived.