Minimum Wage Debated In Minnesota

The debate continues into Minnesota's minimum wage.

A conference committee reviewing a potential increase to $9.50 an hour heard from more than 50 people yesterday.

Mike Jennings, speaking for the Minnesota License and Beverage Association, says the over $3-dollar jump from the current rate would be detrimental to restaurant owners, forcing hire prices.

The committee continues its hearings today.

Crash Cause Identified

Darkness and low-intensity runway lights have been identified as causes of a deadly plane crash near Pickle Lake.

The Transportation Safety Board says the small private plane came in at 6-times the normal rate of descent and hit the ground on the night of October 16th, 2012.

Two pilots and one of the two passengers onboard died.

Back Is Best

"Back is best" when it come to sleeping babies.

The long-suggested practice is now contained in a guideline put out by the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario.

Nurse practitioner Elyse Maindonald says there are still a lot of myths regarding the best way for a baby to sleep and hopes their guideline puts that debate the rest.

The 'back is best' recommendation applies throughout the first 12 months of a child's life.

Canada Post Needs Walkways Clear

Canada Post says it's having troubles delivering the mail in the Fort Frances area.

Spokesperson John Caines says it's all because of the snow and they're asking homeowners to keep their walkways free of snow as best they can.

Caines says snow on town sidewalks is also causing some difficulty for letter carriers hauling huge bags of mail.

Caines says those not getting mail will have to visit the post office to pick it up.

Two Charged In "Neknomination" Video

OPP are laying charges against two male youth in the Atikokan area after looking into a so-called "Neknomination" video that was recently posted.

The drinking game involves the consumption of large amounts of alcohol and attempting something risky - in this case it involved snowmobiles.

One youth has been charged with failing to wear a helmet on a snowmobile and having an improper tow attachment.

The other is being charged with underage drinking and failing to wear a helmet as well.

Ontario Tackles Invasive Species

Ontario is getting tough on invasive species.

Natural Resources Minister David Orazietti has introduced new legislation that, if passed, would make Ontario the first in Canada to have its own legislation to better deal with things such as zebra mussels, Asian carp and mountain pine beetles.

Orazietti says the province currently relies on a patchwork of federal and provincial laws that don't have enough teeth.

County Set To Help Propane Users

Koochiching County says it's ready to provide some relief to those struggling to pay their heating bills.

It will handle referrals from KOOTASCA after exhausting all other means of relief.

Community Service Manager Terry Murray says they were hoping they get a list in preparation, but privacy rights prohibits that.

The County has put $20-thousand into its assistance fund.

Labour To Battle PC's

Ontario labour movement is uniting in effort to prevent the Progressive Conservatives from forming the government in the next provincial election.

The Ontario Federation of Labour and the Canadian Labour Congress launched its campaign last night in Toronto.

OFL president Sid Ryan says leader Tim Hudak's entire platform is centered on dismantling the labour movement to clear the way for a low-wage economy.

Ryan says Hudak isn't fooling anybody with last week's announcement to drop controversial labour reforms.

Hudak Addresses Candidate Dismissal

Ontario's Conservative leader Tim Hudak is addressing the firing of PC candidate Tamara Johnson in Thunder Bay.

During a media conference in Toronto, Hudak didn't get into the details of the dismissal, but says all candidates have to be on the same page.

Johnson was fired early this week following comments made on social media about businesses in the Fort William First Nation.

Minnesotan "Housing Cost-Burdened"

BLH Photography

The latest analysis finds there are still a lot of folks across Minnesota on the edge financially.

High housing costs are partly to blame.

The Center for Enterprise Development's Kasey Wiedrich says they found that about half the renters in the state are what's called "housing cost-burdened."

For homeowners in Minnesota, the rate is significantly better, with just over one in four considered housing cost-burdened.

Explosion Reported At Mill

Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service were called to an incident at Resolute Forest Products biomass boiler.

Officials say a dust explosion occurred inside the building this morning leading to a small fire that has been extinguished.

It's believed one person may have been taken to hospital with unknown injuries.

Minister Questioned On Winter Road Maintenance

A call to scrap the contracts given out to plow Ontario's highways.

Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Sarah Campbell says Transportation Minister Glen Murray recently talked about putting road maintenance back into the hands of the public sector.

Campbell says given recent fines and complaints from the travelling public it time.

She's also calling on Murray to stand behind a promise he made in the fall to visit if conditions weren't being met.

Murray says the province has added more plows on the roads and the word he's getting from Mayors he's spoken with is that winter road maintenance is getting better.

Distracted Driving Fine Going Up

You may want to think twice now when talking on your cell phone or fiddling with that MP3 player while behind the wheel.

The Province has increased the fine for distracted driving from $150 to $280.

OPP Sergeant Shelly Garr says it's become a huge problem in northwestern Ontario.

The higher fine comes into effect March 18th.

OFAH Rallying Support For Modified Bear Hunt

The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters wants residents to speak up about plans to bring back the spring bear hunt.

The Liberals are proposing a partial return with the hunt to take place in eight wildlife management units this year.

OFAH's Mark Ryckman says animal rights activists are ramping their efforts to oppose the hunt, so they've decided to do the same to drum up support..

Comment to the Environmental Bill of Rights Registry must be made before March 7.

Moose Numbers Down

The number of moose in northeastern Minnesota continues to be on a downward spiral.

The Department of Natural Resources says an estimated 43-hundred animal were spotted in an aerial survey in January - close to last year's number, but more than half that identified in 2006.

A number of studies are currently underway to understand the reasons behind the decline, looking at such things as wolf predation, habitat, disease and climate change.

Fuel Tax Concerns

Concern is being expressed in Koochiching County about a plan aimed at raising money for road improvements in Minnesota.

 

A coalition wants the State to add a 5 per cent tax on the wholesale price of fuel.

 

County Commissioner Wade Pavleck sees it only being passed onto the consumers already struggling.

 

The County intends to write the Governor and its State reps to show its opposition to the proposal.

Fuel Tax Increase Concerns

 

Salad Recall

There's been recall a bagged salad sold at Safeway stores across northwestern Ontario.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says Signature Cafe, Fresh 'n Delicious and Nester's Own Brand Caesar Salad products have been recalled by the company due to a possible Listeria contamination.

Currently, there have been no reported illnesses associated with the recall.

Recalled products

Brand	Product	Size	UPC	Codes
Signature Cafe	Chicken Caesar Salad	140 g	0 58200 13145 1	Best Before dates up to and including MR01
Signature Cafe	Chicken Caesar Salad	300 g	0 58200 13119 2	Best Before dates up to and including MR01
Fresh 'n Delicious	Ceasar Salad	100 g	Starts with 2 06430	Best Before Dates up to and including FEB 28/14
Fresh 'n Delicious	Ceasar Salad	205 g	Starts with 2 06419	Best Before Dates up to and including FEB 28/14
Fresh 'n Delicious	Chicken Ceasar Salad	280 g	Starts with 2 06422	Best Before Dates up to and including FEB 28/14
Nester's Own	Ceasar Salad	100 g	Starts with 2 06430	Best Before Dates up to and including FEB 28/14
Nester's Own	Ceasar Salad	205 g	Starts with 2 06419	Best Before Dates up to and including FEB 28/14
Nester's Own	Chicken Ceasar Salad	280 g	Starts with 2 06422	Best Before Dates up to and including FEB 28/14

Solar Project Eyed In Koochiching County

Koochiching County is going ahead with at least the application process for a solar project of its own.

It's looking for State help to install solar panels on the roof of the Forestland Annex building.

If approved, the bulk of the project's costs would come from the Made in Minnesota Solar Incentive program, but the County would still have to contribute $45-thousand.

School Bus Cancellations

BUS CANCELATIONS

Here is a list of school bus cancellations

MM230 - Murray McDonald

SM235 - Shane McDonald

BN245 - Bruce Neilson

MN 250 - Darryl Dyck

MN 251 - Maury Neilson

KJ220 - Keith Jolicoeur

Northwest Bay elementary and secondary buses

Dimit Bus Line routes DB100, DB101, DB102, DB103, DB104, DB105, DB106, DB107, DB110, DB111 and DB 112

DB108 & DB109 (Kindergarten buses) are running

Iron Range routes

IR302 Herman Rodriques

IR 304 - Stacy Bragg

IR 306 - Nancy Allen

IR 308 - Karen Kellar

IR 312 - Michelle Brusven

IR 307 - Reef Point portion only

Stanjikoming F.N. - Brian Wayash

Red Gut Bay buses

Big Grassy to Rainy River H.S. - Jodi Goliquer

BJ 215 - Bob Johnson

BJ 216 - Kaylene Johnson

Seine River handicap bus

BR 260 - Bill Romyn

FK 2225 - Fred Kropelin - is running two hours late