Investigation into Beardmore blast underway

It could take weeks before the cause of the Beardmore Pipeline explosion to be known. Trans-Canada Corporation spokesperson James Millar says its a very remote area and will take a while to survey because the site is only accessible by snowmobile. Millar says two similar incidents happened in Ontario in 2009.

Libyan situation continues to escalate

It looks like the end of the line is nearing for the Libyan government. LU's Political Science Expert Laure Paquette says the escalating situation in Libya is showing no signs of stopping meaning Moammar Gadhafi has very little choice other than to resign from power. However Paquette says if it happens it is still a very long road to democracy.  Paquette says Libya's situation is making Egypt look like a cake walk.

Spring is still playing hard to get

It may seem warmer over the next couple of days but spring is still a ways away. Our Meteorologist Bill Laidlaw says some warmer air is moving into the area and will bring about 2 to 4 centimetres tomorrow but will drop again by the weekend.  Laidlaw says it'll likely be next month sometime before we see this weather pattern break.

Hundreds join Wabasse Facebook page

The search for Jordan Wabasse has made it to Facebook.  Friends and family of the missing Webequie teen have set up the page called "Help Find Jordan".   On the site, a person who identifies herself has his grandmother,  says the search will continue until Jordan is found "even if I'm the only one left."   The site has attracted over 24 hundred people.

Still no sign of Wabasse

Another weekend of searching and still no sign of Jordon Wabasse.  An Aerial search of the Kam River was conducted yesterday and it turned up nothing.  Today a meeting will be held where Thunder Bay Police will decide the next step in the search.

Fatal collision closes Trans Canada

A 51 year old Marathon man is dead after a fatal collision on Highway 17.  The collision happened Sunday morning just east of Marathon when a transport truck lost control and hit an SUV head on.  The driver of the transport has been charged with dangerous driving causing death.

High Speed Chase

Thunder Bay police were involved in a high speed chase late last night. Police were finally able to stop a 53 year old man in the South side of Thunder Bay. He was charged with impaired driving, dangerous driving and flight from an officer. He will be held in custody until his video court date later today.

Jordan Wabasse search continues

The search for Jordan Wabasse continues. The Anishinabek Police Service searched the woods near City Road with the help of volunteers on Friday. Thunder Bay Police are now focusing on the banks of the Kaministiquia River. The OPP helicopter that was going to aid the search Saturday got held up by weather during it's trip from southern Ontario. It should be in the sky this afternoon.

Urban Boutique vandalized

Police are investigating an act of vandalism that happened early Saturday morning. A window was smashed at the Urban Boutique on Memorial Avenue. Paint pellets were then fired at the store's merchandise through the broken window.

Pipeline explosion in Northwestern Ontario

A gas pipeline has exploded near Beardmore. No one was hurt in the blast. Staff-Sergeant Carl Pettigrew of the Greenstone Provincial Police says that witnesses saw a huge fireball and felt the heat of the explosion. Pettigrew says the fire is now under control. Beardmore is about 170 kilometers north of Thunder Bay.

Helicopter Contract helps Northwest

A Dryden based company has signed a 1.5 million dollar contract with the Ministry of Natural Resources. Superior Helicopters was awarded the two year forest fire contract and Spokesperson John Curran says they'll transport crews to forest fires and dump water on blazes.  The contract will span two fire seasons.  Curran says the new contract means they're looking to hire more staff.  Superior Helicopters is owned by Discovery Air.

Horwath turns her attention to Pellican Falls road

A Northwestern Ontario road is garnering the attention of the Province's NDP Leader. Andrea Horwath toured the Pellican Falls road after the Northern Anishinabe Education Council raised concerns about it's condition. The road falls under the jurisdiction of both the Federal and Provincial Governments.

No end in sight for Mideast unrest

There appears to be no immediate end to the wave of uprisings in the Middle East. Right now protests have been taking place in Yemen, Bahrain and Libya. Lakehead University's Laure Paquette says it's hard to predict what will happen next in those countries. Paquette says the length of any protests will depend on the diversity of support.

Hillier blames Green Energy Act

The PC party's critic for Northern Development is attacking the McGuinty Government's energy policies. The Premier won't committ to providing the region a seperate electricity price. Randy Hillier puts the blame on the Green Energy Act. Hillier says it's wreaking havoc on the north.

Bisson calls for toxic herbicide disclosure

If it happened in Northeastern Ontario, you can bet it probably occured in the Northwest as well. That's the feeling of Timmins James Bay MPP Gilles Bisson on the revelation that the MNR sprayed toxic herbicide on Crown land from the 1950s to 1970s. Bisson says forestry workers were exposed to the toxins but many others were as well. Bisson is calling for the forestry companies and MNR to release all of the information they have on the spraying program.

AbitibiBowater transactions still need approval

The NDP says it wants to know what the provincial government is going to do about the sale of the AbitibiBowater Hydro dams in Ontario. Abitibi announced the sale to an unnamed buyer last week, but the transaction still needs the approval from the Ministry of Natural Resources. Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Howard Hampton doesn't think the provincial government will try to intervene in the sale. The dams up for sale include the hydro assets in Kenora, Fort Frances and Iroquois Falls.

Wabasse search continues

City police are expected to release details about the ongoing search for Jordan Wabasse.  Officials say the Anishinabek Police are conducting a snowmobile search of the wooded area near the THP Gas Bar on City Road.  The 15 year old has been missing since February 7th.  The underwater search on the Kam river has been called off. 

One man hurt in hit and run

Thunder Bay police are looking for the driver of a vehicle involved in a hit and run with a pedestrian. Thunder Bay Traffic Sergeant Glen Porter says the collision happened yesterday morning at around 3 o'clock. Porter says the pedestrian was walking across the intersection at Royal and Pringle Streets.  He was taken to hospital with non life threatening injuries and released.

Justice Pelletier takes issue with legal rep

A routine court appearance for Christian Hernandez turned into a slap on the wrist for his former lawyer.  In court today Justice Joyce Pelletier noticed that Hernandez's Toronto Lawyer wasn't present. She also noted that a representative from Chris Watkin's office was there. Pelletier said she had some concern with that after she specifically ruled last month Watkins was to have nothing to do with the case. Pelletier said she would "let it go" for now, but left it clear she wasn't pleased. The 26 year old Hernandez is charged with impaired driving causing death. He is due back in court March 28

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.