Long term care workers at Valley View Villa in Pictou County hit the picket line Thursday morning, joining 24 other long term care homes province wide. They have formed picket lines with Maritime Odd Fellows workers.  Affected workers in the strike include continuing-care assistants and licensed practical nurses, housekeeping staff and physiotherapists.  The Canadian Union of Public Employees says employees at four more homes could join the labour action next week.  The government has said it’s offering wage increases of 12 per cent over four years, with higher raises for some workers.

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Police have charged two people with first-degree murder in the shooting death of a man found wounded on a street in Amherst on Monday night. The Amherst Police Department says a third suspect, who is also facing a first-degree murder charge, remains at large.  The police department says 34-year-old Michael James Ryan of Springhill should not be approached.  Meanwhile, investigators confirmed two people from Moncton were arrested in Moncton and charged with the killing of 41-year-old Chris Leggett of Amherst.

 

 

There was a slight drop in diesel prices overnight in Nova Scotia, but no change in gasoline prices.  Diesel prices went down by 1.1 cents per litre, leaving the minimum pump price for self-serve diesel at $2.12 per litre in the local area.  The minimum pump price for regular self-serve gasoline is still $1.79 per litre locally.

 

 

Halifax’s I-W-K Health Centre is launching a study to better understand women’s health across the Maritimes.  The study will gather input from women and gender diverse people across the region as well as caregivers and health-care providers about the experience accessing health care.  The study is set to run for about six weeks, and participants must be over the age of 18 and live in New Brunswick, P-E-I or Nova Scotia.  The project aims to establish a list of top women’s health research priorities that will inform future studies.