Transportation Minister Visits

Ontario's transportation minister visits northwestern Ontario.

Glen Murray will be in Murillo today and Kenora tomorrow.

He's talking with the region's municipal leaders about a new $100 million infrastructure program.

Legislature Could Return In September

Minnesota lawmakers could be back in session shortly after Labour Day.

Talks are currently underway with legislative leaders for a special session to approve a State match for federal disaster aid stemming from June storms that impacted 18 counties.

Governor Wants Drop Out Rates Lowered

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton is challenging school leaders to find ways to lower Minnesota's dropout rates.

Dayton says he wants to focus on ways to keep students engaged through graduation.

Minnesota recently set a goal of a 90 percent graduation rate by 2020.

Curling Club Still Looking for Help

Fort Frances Curling Club is still looking for volunteers for the upcoming Kraft Celebration tour.

People are needed for a variety of jobs including helping with set-up and take down, manning booths and activities

If you can help, contact the club.

Tournament Needs Set Up Help

Atikokan Bass Classic goes next week, but the set up takes place Friday.

Chair Jim Johnson says they can use all the help they can get.


Volunteers are needed to gather at the tent site on Main Street at 3 p.m. Friday to help.

The tournament is full with 110 teams on board and several on a waiting list.

New Mine Program Coming To Confederation College

Some new educational opportunities in mining are opening up at Confederation College.

The College will deliver Timmin's based Northern College's highly successful Haileybury School of Mines program through its Thunder Bay campus.

It allows graduates of Confederation's Mining Techniques certificate program to advance to the third semester of  Northern's diploma program.

The Colleges say it will help meet an expected demand for workers.

Boaters Charged

Some boaters failed to heed police warnings.

OPP's Marine Unit made good on threats to crackdown of boaters who failed to follow the rules of the water during the long weekend, laying several charges while on patrol on Rainy Lake.

Five boaters where charged with various offenses in a span of five hours Sunday, including one who failed to have a proper operators card.

Two others in a boat near Rocky Narrows were charged with consuming liquor on board.

Three Charged In Traffic Stop

Two men from Kitchener are in OPP custody following a weekend adventure near Marathon, Ontario.

Police say the two ran from police after a car they were passengers in was stopped on the Trans Canada Highway near the William's Mine Monday.

One of the men was caught Monday night, the other Tuesday morning and both have been charged.

The car's driver, who is also from Kitchener, is also charged.  

Fire Hazard Remains Low

Cool weather across northwestern Ontario continues to keep the forest fire hazard down to low levels.

Only a handful of new fires were reported over the weekend, mostly in the Kenora and Thunder Bay regions.

There continues to be no fires burning in the Rainy River district.

Health Insurance Rebates Issued

More than 9,000 Minnesotans are line for health insurance rebate checks being sent out as part of the nation's new health care law.

The checks average $300.

Those receiving rebates this year have policies with Preferred One and Connecticut General.

Food Drive Helps Food Banks

The largest annual food drive in Minnesota continues to pay dividends for food banks and the families they service.

Most of the food and monetary donations, totaling 12 million dollars, were made directly to local food shelves with another $775-thousand directly to Minnesota FoodShare.

Coordinator Sarah O'Brien says those funds are now being distributed.

Last year in Minnesota, there were more than three-million visits to food shelves in the state.