Teachers In Legal Strike Position This Month

Elementary and High School teachers in the Rainy River District will be in a legal strike position November 22.

This after their unions and the Rainy River District District School Board recommended a Ministry of Labour conciliator issue a no-board report in their contract talks.

Board chair Mike Lewis says its was really no surprise.

Lewis says while Bill 115 takes the right to strike away, teachers are still permitted to set up pickets under the Labour Relations Act.

The board is now preparing for the possibility of those pickets being set up in front of schools.

Teacher Job Action Cancelled

Job action planned today by some high school teachers in the province has been cancelled.

Members of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation had been instructed to skip staff meetings and forgo standardized tests starting today.

The union says it plans to meet with government officials today to "fast track to potential resolutions'' to its labour dispute.

Obama Back For Four More Years

Democrat Barack Obama has been re-elected to a second four-year term as president of the United States, beating out Republican rival Mitt Romney.

In his victory speech, Obama says he's "more inspired than ever'' to tackle the big problems facing the country.

Democrats also took control of the Senate, but Republicans held onto the House.

Minnesota Election Winners

There's a new mayor for the city of International Falls.

Bob Anderson, a former mayor, returns after defeating councillor Paul Eklund.

Pete Kalar was voted to serve as councillor at large.

Wayne Skoe was elected to represent District 5 on the Koochiching County Board of Commissioners.

Board chair Brian McBride was unopposed in his return as District 3 commissioner.

Michael Holden, Michelle Hebner and Gordy Dault won the three seats up for grabs on the Independent School District 361's board.

Dennis Wagner was elected Mayor of Ranier.

Democrats took control of the Minnesota Legislature with top Republicans conceding the loss of both the Senate and House.

Democrat Rick Nolan beat Republican Rep. Chip Cravaack to recapture the 8th district U.S. congressional seat, a northeastern Minnesota seat long considered Democratic turf.

Senator Amy Klobuchar regained her seat for the Democrats in Washington.

Minnesota rejected constitutional amendments that proposed to ban gay marriage and one requiring photo I.D to vote.

Open House on Rainy River Resources Project Today

First the of two open houses on Rainy River Resources gold project goes this afternoon in Nestor Falls.

It's intended to give the public a say as the project north of Barwick undergoes environment assessments by both the provincial and federal governments.

The open house at the Nestor Falls Community Centre goes from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. with another tomorrow at the Emo Legion.

Stuff A Cruiser Meeting

Ontario Provincial Police are preparing to stuff-a-cruiser or two.

The annual event aimed at gathering non-perishable food items for area agencies and their food banks goes in Atikokan November 24 and Fort Frances December 8.

Acting Sergeant Anne McCoy says a planning session for the Fort Frances event goes today, 1:30 p.m. at the Fort Frances Public Library.

Twenty-seven cruisers were filled at events across the district last year.

Property Assessment Changes In Rainy River District

Property values are increasing in parts of the Rainy River district.

The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation says the assessed values of homes has increased an average of 1.66 per cent in Atikokan to over 8 per cent in Lake of the Woods township since 2008.

Assessments of homes in Fort Frances is up 2.72 per cent.

Decreases are seen in the townships of Chapple, Morley and Dawson and the town of Rainy River.

I. Falls Council Supports Main Street Fairness Act

International Falls City Council is giving its support to proposed legislation that would allow States to collect taxes from purchases made by consumers over the Internet.

Proponents says the "Main Street Fairness Act" levels the playing field between on-line retailers and store-front businesses.

Fall City Councillor Cynthia Jacksa says the proposed bill will bring additional revenue to the State which in turn helps maintain funding the city receives.