U-S ELECTION FIGHT HEATS UP – BIDEN SAYS HE’S EXPECTING TO WIN
Things are looking more and more like Joe Biden and the Democrats will take the U-S Presidency. Biden says he’s on track to do just that, with 264 electoral college votes so far, compared to 214 for Donald Trump. Trump has taken the election results to court, in an effort to stop the early ballots from being counted in several states. Biden says about 78 per cent of the early votes in Pennsylvania are in his favour, and Trump’s people are especially fighting that. The major news networks have called Wisconsin and Michigan in Biden’s favour. Biden says “no one is going to take our democracy away from us, “ and adds that “We the people will not be silenced or bullied.” (Cdn Press Photo)
NEW GLASGOW POLICE CONFIRM THEY’RE NOW PROBING OCTOBER’S TRENTON MUNICIPAL VOTE
Still on the election front, but this time in Pictou County, New Glasgow Regional Police confirm they’re now investigating an official complaint from the Pictou County Returning Officer’s office about the way the municipal vote unfolded last month in Trenton. Constable Ken MacDonald tells us the investigation is just getting underway, and he’s not yet able to put a time-frame on when it might conclude. Meanwhile, Mayor Elect Don Hussher tells our newsroom that he’s ready to be sworn in as mayor this coming Tuesday. Inside sources tell our newsroom the police investigation is connected to accusations that some elderly voters may have been pressured to vote for Hussher, who tells our newsroom he’s willing to wait for things to take their course.
NB GAS PRICES DROP
Gas and diesel prices are both cheaper in New Brunswick this week. Gas prices there dropped by 2.6 cents per litre overnight. And New Brunswick diesel prices are cheaper by 6-tenths of a cent.
LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES TO GET FEDERAL CASH FOR PANDEMIC
The province is forwarding $67.5 million along to municipalities to help lessen the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The McNeil government says the cash is coming through Ottawa’s Safe Restart Agreement. It’s meant to help meet operating costs while municipalities are bringing in lower revenue while also paying for COVID-19 anti-infection services. New Glasgow is set to receive around $504,000, with Pictou slated for around $120,000 and Truro will be able to get its hands on close to $752,000.
A couple of Nova Scotia restaurants are in the news with the COVID-19 case-count rising to 19 in the latest update. Officials say anyone who attended Chrismaria Family Restaurant in New Minas on Saturday October 24th from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. should self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms. And although local M-P Lenore Zann posted on facebook that a restaurant in Glenholme, called Angel’s Petro-Pass Diner was mistakenly the source of a COVID scare last week, it turns out that was a health department warning. But the restaurant’s owner, Crystal Blair, now says business is now back on track, with health inspections this week showing it’s perfectly safe to dine there.
Meanwhile, a worker at the Riverbreeze Corn Maze in Onslow, near Truro has been told he’s tested positive for COVID-19, but the company says it wanted to let people know quickly, so owner Jim Lorraine posted that on facebook this week.
Of the four new cases of COVID announced yesterday, two are in the Central Zone and are people who travelled outside the Atlantic Bubble together. They’re now self-isolating. The other two cases are in the Northern Zone and are household contacts of a previously reported case.
Anyone seated in rows 16 to 23, seats D, E and F on flight AC0622 from Toronto that landed in Halifax at 9:41 p.m. Friday October 30th is asked to call 811 for advice, while the remaining passengers should self-monitor for symptoms up to and including November 13th.
PICTOU LANDING APPROVES ITS OWN LIVELIHOOD FISHERY IN 26A and 26B
Chief Andrea Paul says Pictou Landing has set up its own moderate livelihood lobster fishery. Community members are licensed to operate in lobster fishing areas 26A and 26B within the Gulf of St. Lawrence, with a maximum of 30 traps per person. There are no details in the management plan on the total number of licences, but it does state that conservation practices will be determined by the band council “based on community, science and co-management recommendations.” The plan also says livelihood fishing will be closed “during summer lunar cycles when lobsters molt in coastal waters.” During that summertime break, all Pictou Landing harvesters have agreed to remove all of their lobster traps from local waters in regions 26-A and 26-B. (DFO Image)
ST-FX RESEARCHERS SAY BOAT HARBOUR WILL COME BACK
A group of researchers from St-FX University say Boat Harbour has a chance to come back to life, after taking extensive samples of sediment on the bottom.
The group says that below the sludge dumped on the harbour’s bottom over the years, there is a viable tidal estuary that could support shellfish.
The study was funded by Nova Scotia Lands, which is responsible for the more than $200-million Boat Harbour cleanup. The clean-up aims to dig up, and treat, and in other cases, dispose of close to 200,000 cubic metres of the sludge over the next four years. (with files from Saltwire News, CBC)
MULRONEY TO DO FIRESIDE CHAT ONLINE TONIGHT FOR ST-FX RE U-S ELECTION
St. F-X University is also in the news with former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney doing a fireside chat about the results of the U-S election. That’s tonight at 8:30 and we’ve posted the link to where you can register to join that online event. (Bing Photo)
To register, go to the following link:
https://secureca.imodules.com/s/650/17/interior.aspx?sid=650&gid=1&pgid=3024&cid=6009