Weather warnings issued for all of N.S. ahead of storm
Several weather warnings are in place for Pictou County with another storm on the way. Environment Canada has issued rainfall, wind and flash-freeze warnings across Nova Scotia this morning. The national forecaster is calling for 25 to 60 mm of rain by Friday afternoon, with the heaviest rain in the local area expected tomorrow. Strong winds gusting from 90 to 110 km/h are expected to develop over western Nova Scotia tonight, spreading across the province on Friday morning. And there’s a flash-freeze warning in effect. That warning advises temperatures will drop to well below zero starting on Friday afternoon, making surfaces icy after the rain.
Canada wins Olympic hockey gold after defeating rival U.S.
Photo credit: The Canadian Press
Canada reclaimed Olympic women’s hockey gold with a 3-2 win over the United States early this morning. Captain Marie-Philip Poulin scored twice, Sarah Nurse added one more and goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens made 38 saves. Hilary Knight scored a short-handed goal for the U.S. It is a triumphant return to the top of the podium for Canada, after losing to the Americans 3-2 in a shootout for gold four years ago in Pyeongchang, South Korea, which snapped a run of four straight Olympic titles by Canadian women.
Nova Scotia post-secondary students get $875 grants to help pay bills during pandemic
Nova Scotia’s government on Wednesday said it would offer one-time grants of $875 to thousands of post-secondary students to help them pay their bills during the COVID-19 pandemic. The government said about 11,000 students qualify for the $9.8-million grant program. Eligible students must be Nova Scotia residents, be already receiving financial assistance from the province for school, and be enrolled in a university, at Nova Scotia Community College or in a private career college. Advanced Education Minister Brian Wong said in a news release many students haven’t been able to find part-time work during the pandemic to help pay for school. Students do not have to apply for the grant and won’t have to repay it. The grant money will be automatically deposited into eligible students’ bank accounts in March.
Meanwhile, health officials reported three more deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus on Wednesday. They said a woman in her 50s, a woman in her 60s and a man in his 70s died between Feb. 6 and Feb. 12. Officials also reported four new COVID-19 hospitalizations and nine discharges. They said 66 people were in hospital due to COVID-19 receiving care in a specialized unit. Officials said two other groups of people were also in hospital with the disease: 131 people who were admitted for other reasons and tested positive upon arrival, and 164 people who contracted the virus while in hospital.
The federal government has tabled motions in the House of Commons on the specific powers in the Emergencies Act and the invoking of the act itself. Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino says the legislation prohibits public assembly that could be reasonably be expected to disrupt the movement of people or goods, interfere with trade or critical infrastructure, or support the threat or use of violence against people or property. The motions are to be debated today and will take precedence over all other business.
Westville Police investigate incident in town on Wednesday afternoon
Westville Police say they will be issuing a statement regarding an incident that occurred on Wednesday in the Town of Westville. Police provided few details about the incident in the area of South Main Street and Munro Street, saying only that there was no danger to the general public. Police did have road closures set up in the areas of South Main, Munro and surrounding streets, but those sections of roadway were reopened early Wednesday night.
Nova Scotia’s union for paramedics says higher pay needed to help retain workers
Nova Scotia paramedics say it’s not just long-term care workers who need pay hikes if the province wants to shore up its health network. In an appearance before a legislature committee Wednesday, an official with the union representing more than 1,100 paramedics in the province said a pay increase similar to the 23 per cent bump given last week to continuing care workers would help with ongoing retention issues.
Search effort ended with 21 crew from Spanish fishing boat dead or missing off N.L.
Photo credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre
The search for 12 crew members lost after a Spanish fishing boat sank off the coast of Newfoundland Tuesday has been called off. A spokesperson for the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Halifax said on Wednesday that all search and rescue assets were returning to base. A total of 21 crew members are either confirmed dead or missing at sea. The boat sank in the dark early Tuesday with 24 crew members. Three men were rescued and the bodies of nine others have been found in the debris site.
Fuel prices up again in N.B.
Another increase in fuel prices overnight in New Brunswick. Gas prices in New Brunswick went up 1.4 cents per litre putting the cost of regular self-serve gas at a maximum of 160.3 cents per litre. Diesel is up 1.6 cents per litre to a maximum of 176.2 cents per litre. Nova Scotia sets its fuel prices at midnight.
Local sports note:
Hockey is back at the Pictou County Wellness Centre tonight when the Pictou County Weeks Junior A Crushers host Yarmouth. Puck drop is at 7:00 pm.
