Three Vehicle Mishap Sends One To Hospital

An 80 year old man is recovering from minor injuries after a three vehicle collision at Red River Road and the Thunder Bay Expressway.   Police say it happened late Monday morning and involved a mini-van, a pick up truck and a car.   The light pole was demolished.  The driver of the pick up is charged with failing to stop for a red light.

Hobbs Glad Gravelle's Back In Cabinet

No complaints from Mayor Keith Hobbs to the new Kathleen Wynne cabinet.   Hobbs is especially please the Thunder Bay has a voice at the cabinet table once again with Michael Gravelle as Minister of Northern Development and Mines. Hobbs is also confident new Energy Minister Bob Chiraelli will be up to speed on the Mission Island power plant conversion quickly.

Webber Sentenced To 10 Years

A Thunder Bay man will be doing hard time for a 2011 home invasion and death.   20 year old Nicholas Webber has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for his part in the 2011 stabbing death of 54 year old Robert Topping at his Minnesota Street home.  The defense tried to portray Webber, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter, as a follower not a leader.  Justice Douglas Shaw didn't buy it,  calling it an especially violent home invasion calling it reprehensible and that Webber did nothing to help the victim.  With time already served,  Webber will spend about 8 years behind bars.

Horwath Has Plans For In-Home Health Care

N.D.P. Leader Andrea Horwath is out with a new proposal to help eliminate wait times for in-home care in Ontario. Horwath is in Thunder Bay today to speak about the issue and introduce a plan that would eliminate wait times especially for those in need of care in the North. She says her proposal would cost 30 million dollars and they've identified potential savings to help cover their proposal. Horwath says in some cases people are waiting more than 250 days for in-home care.

Gravelle Could Get New Job As Cabinet Minister

Incoming Premier Kathleen Wynne will name her new Cabinet today when she is sworn in as Ontario's first female Premier. Speculation has it that M.P.P. Michael Gravelle may be moving jobs and be named as the new Minister of Northern Development and Mines, a post that Rick Bartolucci from Sudbury resigned on Friday. Gravelle is currently the Minister of Natural Resources.The announcement is expected to officially be made later this afternoon.

17 Year Old Charged With Drunk Driving A Stolen Car

A 17 year old boy is in trouble with the law. Police were called to Redwood Park Church at 8:30 p.m. last night. It is alleged that a 17 year old stole a vehicle in the church parking lot and smashed into seven other vehicles. Parishioners apprehended the suspect and held him until police arrived. Police say the 17 year old was intoxicated at the time of the arrest. He was taken into custody and will appear in court today facing charges of drunk driving, theft of a vehicle and three counts of breach of probation. 

Mauro Hoping For Cabinet Post

Thunder Bay MPP Bill Mauro is hoping for recognition from Kathleen Wynne when she unveils her new cabinet this afternoon. Mauro doesn't believe his support for Sandra Pupetello in the leadership race will play a role in whether he gets a cabinet post or not. Kathleen Wynne will be sworn in as Ontario's first woman premier at 3 o'clock this afternoon.

St. John's Ambulance Difficulties

The St. John Ambulance remains in a bind this morning.  It doesn't have an amublance of its own anymore ever since one caught fire and another broke down.   Executive Director  Diana Sustawenko says it's difficult to properly deliver first aid since they only have a van now. Sustawenko says they are going to the community for help in raising the money needed for another pair of ambulances.

Hold & Secure Pattern Lifted At Two Schools

The Hold and Secure status at both Kakabeka Falls District Public School and C.D. Howe is now being lifted. Both schools had been under a Hold and Secure mode as a precautionary measure since monday of last week because of a domestic dispute that related to both schools. Meanwhile, city police say an arrest was made on Saturday in Moosomin, Saskatchewan by the RCMP on the warrants from the Thunder Bay Police Service in relation to the domestic investigation that was being conducted last week. The Thunder Bay man will be held in custody and returned to Thunder Bay to deal with the charges in this incident.

Outlying Areas Hit Hard By Overnight Snow

Travel on rural roads this morning could be difficult. Reports into our newsroom say snow in the outlying areas are knee deep and only main arteries are accessible right now. So far the school boards have not said anything with regards to rural bus transportation but we will keep you posted.

Thunderwolves Head Into Playoffs

The Lakehead University men's hockey team will play Waterloo in the opening round of playoffs. Lakehead finished 3rd in the O.U.A. West standings and were 2-1-1 against the Warriors during the regular season. The Thunderwolves will play game 1 in Waterloo on Wednesday before returning to the Fort William Gardens for games 2 and, if necessary, 3 on Friday and Saturday. Meanwhile, the L.U. women's volleyball team posted their biggest win in team history by beating the #4 ranked team in the country Ottawa yesterday at the Thunderdome before losing the second game of a double-header in the afternoon. The resurgent volleyball team finished with a record of 9-9 and will play the York Lions on the road next Saturday.

Jacobs Claims Brier Berth

Sault Ste. Marie's Brad Jacobs will represent Northern Ontario at this year's Brier in Edmonton. He won his 4th consecutive Northern Ontario Tankard with a 6-5 win over Sudbury's Rob Gordon in yesterday's final in Nipigon. A Thunder Bay rink has not represented Northern Ontario at the national championship since 2003.

Crime Of The Week

The recent allegation of an abduction and sexual assault in Thunder Bay has affected the community greatly over the last month. The fact that the incident has elements of racism magnifies its impact with many who live here. As a result a concerned citizen approached Thunder Bay district Crime Stoppers who wanted to help bring attention to hate or bias motivated crimes. Donations have been made to Crime Stoppers specifically for this campaign. Crime Stoppers is hoping to bring awareness to these types of crimes and the far reaching affect that this type of behaviour has on the victims, their families and our community as a whole. If you would like to make a donation to this campaign, you're asked to call 684-1309 or email them at: info@thunderbaydistrictcrimestoppers.com. Anyone with further information about this horrific crime is also asked to call 1-800-222-8477 or 623-8477.

OSSTF Releases Aboriginal Curriculum Resource

The Director of Education with the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board is tipping his hat to the Ontario Secondary School Teacher's Federation. The OSSTF has released a new curriculum resource called "Full Circle: First Nations, Métis and Inuit Ways of Knowing". Jack McMaster says it's a great thing for area schools, considering there is a large number of Aboriginal students. McMaster says the curriculum will be able to be infused into all classrooms.

MP Rafferty Says EI Complaints More Frequent

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty believes too many people are being denied employment insurance benefits. Rafferty says complaints to his office have been more frequent since the federal government made recent changes to the E-I system. Rafferty says many of the complaints have come from workers employed on a seasonal basis.

Provincial NDP Leader in Town

 The leader of the provincial NDP is making another visit to the city, the first of 2013.   Andrea Horwath is going to be in Current River at 2 o'clock this afternoon to attend a winter carnival and then meet with young people later on at the Victoria Avenue Youth Centre.

Entrepreneurial Hopefuls Audition for Dragon's Den

Entrepreneurial hopefuls in the city are crossing their fingers for a callback for CBC's Dragon's Den following auditions in the city yesterday. Sam Alexander, a business student at LU, volunteered to man the sign-up table as well as pitch an idea. Alexander thinks it's a great advertising opportunity whether or not you make it to the top. Associate Producers for the show are touring 40 Canadian cities ahead of the next season.

Dragon's Den Auditions Today at LU

Auditions for CBC's hit show Dragons Den are in Thunder Bay today. Local entrepreneurs are invited to pitch their ideas at Lakehead Unviersity from 10 until 5. You need to be able to pitch your idea in less than five minutes.

Drug Bust in City

50 thousand dollars worth of cocaine is off the streets because of a recent drug bust in the city.   Police say it followed the search of a car that they stopped recently on John Street. A 51 year old Beardmore man is charged.

Police Search for Man Following School Procedures

City police say they are looking for a local man whom they claim  is connected to this week's safety procedures at two public schools. Police say the schools had a safety concern relating to an alleged domestic violence incident involving parents of students who attended the schools. Police say they will not release the identity of the man even though it is making the rounds on social media.