Another NDP Leadership hopeful comes to the city

NDP Leadership hopeful Paul Dewar is hoping to gain support for his bid in the city.  Dewar spoke to students at Lakehead University today and says he thinks the way MP's Bruce Hyer and John Rafferty were treated for voting down the Gun Registry was wrong.  Dewar says at the end of the day its a members job to represent the will of their constituents.

New concussion app is coming our way

Concussion prevention is the goal of a new mobile app being developed by Hockey Canada.  Hockey Northwestern Ontario Director Trevor Hosanna says the app will give information to coaches, athletes and parents about head injuries in kids sports.  Hosanna says Hockey Canada is partnering with several groups and is being funded to the tune of 1.5 million from the Federal Government.

Man airlifted to Thunder Bay after collision with train

OPP says one man suffered non life threatening injuries after a vehicle train collision near Upsala.  The man was airlifted to the Thunder Bay Health Sciences Centre just before noon.

Arrest made in Thursday night robbery

A 27 year old woman is behind bars in connection to last night's convenience store robbery.  Police say the woman was picked up this afternoon and was wanted for a number of outstanding charges. 

No injuries in Lappe fire

No one was injured during a 3 alarm barn fire in Lappe today.  Fire crews from 3 stations were called to the blaze that started this morning and brought the inferno under control before noon.  The cause is not yet known. 

TBSO volunteer honoured

A long time volunteer with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra is getting the province's highest honour. Catherine Colquhoun is one of 27 appointees to the Order of Ontario.  Colquhoun says she is delighted to be recognized and adds it acknowledges the importance of volunteering in a community.  Colquhoun has been with the symphony for 50 years helping with it's founding and development

DSSAB steps up security

There will be beefed up security at two city apartment blocks run by social housing. Melissa Harrison of the District Social Services Administration Board says it's because of the amount of police calls to the two locations. She says it amounts to 150 thousand dollars a year to pay for the services of security guards at Andras Court and Limbrick Place. Harrison says the board turned down the more expensive option of having a paid police presence.

Inflation drops in Thunder Bay

Inflation in Thunder Bay is showing signs of easing.  Last month the rate droped to 2 per cent from just over 2 and a half per cent in November.  Across Canada government figures show the rate fell to 2.3 per cent in December

All in a night's work for fire crews

City fire crews were busy last night at a couple of incidents. Platoon Chief Dave Long says during the supper hour they were called to Keefer Terminal. It was a medical call that involved using a aerial ladder to get a crew member from a ship. As well Long says they had to race to a chimney fire on Melbourne Road around 9:30.  No one was injured.

Police search for robbery suspect

City police are looking for a woman who robbed a southside convenience store last night.   They say she walked in at around 8:30 and reached over and grabbed money from the till and ran off.   Police were seen with their K-9 unit in the James and Redwood area but they didn't find anyone.  The owner of the store was taken to the hospital after being assaulted in the incident.

Ring of Fire development to cost big bucks

How much will it cost Cliffs Natural Resources to develop a mine in the Ring of Fire?  Well according to the company's 2012 Capital investment plan it will be over 2 billion dollars.  The company estimates mine development to come in around 150 million dollars, 800 million for a concentrating plant and 1.8 billion for a processing plant.  The company is in a pre-feasibility stage of development and doesn't anticipate any capital investment until 2014.

James Street bridge closed for repairs

The northbound lane of the James Street Swing Bridge is closed for the rest of the day.  Thunder Bay Police say a collision caused some damage to the bridge and CP is on scene conducting repairs.  Officers say the repairs will last for at least the rest of the day and maybe into tomorrow.

Accountability on Wall Street is rising

A Thunder Bay born Investment Banker on a quest to bring transparency to Wall Street is encouraged with some signs of progress.  Keith McCullough says up until recently a lot of deals on Wall Street were done behind closed doors and without transparency.  McCullough says yesterday's arrest of 4 high profile investors on Wall Street points towards increased accountability.

Cancer Prevelancy rates are on the rise

The rate of people living with Cancer is on the rise in Canada and it is no different here.  Cancer Centre Vice President Michael Power says Northwestern Ontario is in the same boat.  He says the good news is people are living longer with cancer, but the bad news is cancer rates are also rising.

Angus steps aside

Iain Angus says 5 years is enough. He's decided not to seek re-election as chair of the District Social Services Administration Board, but will continue to sit as a board member.   Angus says he's overseen a number of changes while he was chair.  He says his proudest accomplishment is overseeing the establishment of a new strategic plan for social housing. The new chair is Bob Katajamaki. 

HIV program good to go

The District Health Unit's anonymous HIV testing program is operating for another year. Spokesperson Maureen Twig says the budget is a modest 57 thousand dollars, unchanged from last year.  Twig says the board's approval is essentially a rubber stamp.

Former Greenstone Mayor passes away

Former Mayor of Greenstone Michael Power has passed away.  Power was a champion for Northwestern Ontario and was a main stay in the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association.  Funeral arrangements are still pending.

Dewar visiting Thunder Bay

NDP Leadership hopeful Paul Dewar is in the City Friday.  MP Bruce Hyer says Dewar is one of the candidates he likes for the top NDP job.  Dewar is at Lakehead University at 12:30 and at Ruby Moon at 4.

Hyer on MP pensions underfunded

The C-D Howe Institute says the pension plan for members of Parliament and Senators is underfunded to the tune of one-billion dollars.  MP Bruce Hyer says that doesn't surprise him.  The C-D Howe report says the MP pension plan has no assets set aside to pay for those future benefits.

Winter road money rolled out

The Provincial Government is spending 4.7-million dollars on the winter road network in the Far North this year.  Minister of Northern Development and Mines Rick Bartolucci says over 3-thousand kilometres of road will connect 29-First Nation communities.  Individuals and businesses will be able to use the roads until the Spring thaw, usually in mid-March.