PROMONTORY, Utah (AP) — An explosion at Northrop Grumman’s remote rocket testing site in northern Utah destroyed a building Wednesday.

Officers found no injuries or fatalities in their initial investigation of the wreckage, according to the Box Elder County Sheriff’s Office.

Emergency crews had responded to reports of a loud blast and a dark plume of smoke rising over the rangelands at 7:38 a.m.

It was not immediately clear which building was destroyed and what its purpose was. The aerospace and defense company maintains a large presence in Utah, where it manufactures and tests solid rocket motors.

Northrop Grumman did not immediately release a statement.

The public is advised to avoid the area as officials continue to investigate.

The Associated Press

The United Conservative Party caucus expelled Airdrie-Cochrane MLA Peter Guthrie on Wednesday, following his resignation from cabinet and his outspoken support for a full judicial public inquiry into the provincial government's procurement practices.

A beacon of hope and care — that’s what St. Boniface Hospital staff hope the HealthBox machine becomes.

The HealthBox dispenses free harm reduction supplies and sexual health products, such as HIV self-tests, tampons, food, drinks, and naloxone kits.

“We have what the actual kit is, what the details of it are, available resources in the community, and we digitally have a video that will play for individuals to have more information on how to use a naloxone kit,” said Katarina Lee-Ameduri, director of ethics at Réseau Compassion Network and clinical ethicist at St. Boniface Hospital.

“I can tell you this is going to work. It’s going to reach people; it’s going to help people get what they need to take care of their health in a very non-judgmental and stigma-free way,” said Dr. Sean B. Rourke, director of REACH Nexus at the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions at St. Michael’s Hospital.

“It’s meant to be — a person can come up to the screen, they can choose the products that they want, or you can take products home for a loved one — and you’re not having to interact with a direct person, which may create anxiety or concerns about stigma,” said Lee-Ameduri.

This is the second HealthBox to open in Winnipeg — the first can be found at NorWest Co-op Community Health Clinic on Keewatin Street. However, it’s the first in Canada to find its home in a hospital.

“It’s particularly important because it hopefully will alleviate some of the concerns of why people show up to emergency,” said Lee-Ameduri. “If they’re looking for products and supports, we have this available to them here. And so it hopefully will create [a situation where] emergency is [used] for emergency needs only.”

Stocked with testing kits, it also aims to tackle another problem — the rise of HIV in the province.

Manitoba’s rates tripled from 2019 to 2023, reaching over 20 cases per 100,000 people — three times the national rate.

“They can feel safer to get tested and connected to care and treatment on their own terms,” said Roxanne Ma, VP of National Awareness Programs at the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research.

The HealthBox also acts as a data collection tool. Users fill out a questionnaire that helps researchers identify where the needs in the community are.

Open Gallery 3 items

The post HealthBox launches at Winnipeg’s St. Boniface Hospital appeared first on CityNews Winnipeg.

Members of the Essex County OPP are investigating a sudden death on Pelee Island

On April 15, 2025, around 2:42 a.m., members of the Essex County Detachment of the OPP, Pelee Island Volunteer Fire Department and Essex-Windsor Emergency Medical Services responded to a well-being check at a residence on North Shore Road on Pelee Island.

There was an increased presence of OPP in the area, but they have since departed. There is no threat to public safety.

The investigation is continuing by the Essex County OPP Crime Unit with assistance from the OPP Forensic Identification Services, and in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner and Ontario Forensic Pathology Service.

Further updates will be provided when they become available.

If you have information in relation to this investigation, please contact the Essex OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or *OPP (677) on your mobile device.

Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit a tip online at www.catchcrooks.com where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.

The post OPP Investigating Sudden Death On Pelee Island appeared first on Kingsville Times.

The federal election leaders’ debates happening this week will be available to watch with Inuktitut translation.

The French debate, set for 6 p.m. ET on Wednesday, and the English debate on Thursday, starting at 7 p.m. ET, will be available in Inuktitut and 14 other languages, the Leaders’ Debates Commission announced Tuesday.

The CBC and Société Radio-Canada are producing the debates, which will also be available on networks including CTV, APTN, CP24 and Global, the commission said in its announcement.

The French debate will also be offered in Inuktitut (Nunavik dialect), East Cree (northern and southern dialects) and Innu (eastern and western Innu dialects).

Thursday’s English debate will be available in Inuktitut (South Baffin dialect), Plains Cree (Y dialect) and Ojibwe (western dialect).

In its announcement, the commission said APTN will make all languages, as well as described video, available on YouTube channels for both debates. Those channels will remain available for several days following the debates. Also, the debates with Inuktitut translation will be available on CBC Gem.

Information on where to watch the debates in the various languages will be available on the Leaders’ Debates Commission website, with updates, on the day of each debate.

Leaders included in the debate are Mark Carney for the Liberals, Pierre Poilievre for the Conservatives, the NDP’s Jagmeet Singh and Yves-François Blanchet for the Bloc Québécois.

The federal election is April 28.

Elections Canada has opened special polling stations at universities across Canada in hopes of boosting turnout among young voters. Brett Ruskin has the story.

Johnathan Joseph Trainor, 29, pleaded guilty to eight charges in January and was sentenced last week. All of the charges against him stemmed from incidents in the summer of 2024.

Catch all the live stream action of the inaugural Northern Super League season on CBC Sports and Gem with the first-ever match taking place tonight at 10 p.m. ET between Calgary Wild FC and Vancouver Rise FC at B.C. Place Stadium.

Alberta is reporting six more confirmed cases of measles, bringing the province’s total since the beginning of March to 83.

The province says four of the new cases are in central Alberta, and the other two are in the province’s south.

Nunavut’s Conservative, Liberal and NDP candidates might not agree on a lot, but they all say the Inuit Child First Initiative is top of mind.

“If we’re going to address health issues, we should address it early and the Inuit Child First program, I would start there,” Conservative candidate James T. Arreak said.

“I believe the government must support the [initiative].”

Liberal candidate Kilikvak Kabloona took her support one step further. She told attendees at an April 4 campaign event in Iqaluit that she is running in order to secure funding for the Inuit Child First Initiative in four-year cycles.

“I was asked to put my name forward so I can work for Inuit, with the first objective being to advocate for a long-term Inuit Child First Initiative with permanent funding,” she said.

“I’m meeting people at community events and a lot of people are very concerned about the Inuit Child First Initiative.”

NDP candidate Lori Idlout, the incumbent MP, said she’s also hearing from constituents across the territory that the program is important, and that a lack of information about when funding might flow again is causing some stress.

“I am hearing concerns from the communities that they’re not even sure that it’s been extended at all,” said Idlout.

“At first, when I visited with communities, there was relief that the program was extended. But now here we are, three weeks into the campaign, only to hear that the Liberals have backtracked again.”

The Inuit Child First Initiative is a program that runs in parallel to Jordan’s Principle. It provides funding from Indigenous Services Canada to Inuit children and youths for education, services and food programs.

The program was set to expire March 31.

On March 8, Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree, on behalf of Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu, announced the Inuit Child First Initiative would get a $121.7-million, one-year extension.

At the time, Anandasangaree said he wanted to “make sure that there were no gaps in the services,” while warning the extra money still required parliamentary approval. At the time, Parliament was scheduled to resume March 24.

Prime Minister Mark Carney dissolved Parliament on March 23, though, and called an election for April 28. This means Parliament will not resume — and new Inuit Child First Initiative money will not flow — until after the election.

Meanwhile, non-profit organizations have had to reduce services and child health advocates are concerned a lapse in the Inuit Child First Initiative food voucher program is having an effect in the communities.

The food voucher program provides $500 per month for every Inuit child or youth under 18 for food, with an additional $250 for diapers and baby formula for families with children under the age of four.

“I have family and I have friends that access this program, so I have seen that it’s so meaningful for them. And supporting children is about supporting the future of Nunavummiut,” Arreak said.

This sentiment was echoed by Idlout, who placed blame on the Liberals for making a promise they have not been able, so far, to keep.

“[Inuit] rely on these programs for their well-being, and for them to have to be in limbo because of what’s going on in politics is such an injustice,” she said.

Kabloona, on the other hand, handed the Liberal party credit for introducing the initiative in the first place. She said that’s why her party is the choice for keeping it alive.

“It was the Liberal government that introduced the Inuit Child First Initiative, and we need a Liberal government for the continuation,” Kabloona said.

– With files from Arty Sarkisian and Nehaa Bimal

Bruno-Pierre Godbout of Chandler, Que., is facing a total of 12 charges, including kidnapping, harassment, sexual assault and assault with a weapon. He is alleged to have assaulted three women between 2010 and 2025.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. warned that children in the U.S. are being diagnosed with autism at an “alarming rate,” promising on Wednesday to conduct exhaustive studies to identify any environmental factors that may cause the developmental disorder.

His call comes the day after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report that found an estimated 1 in 31 U.S. children have autism, a marked increase from 2020.

“Autism destroys families,” Kennedy said. “More importantly, it destroys our greatest resource, which is our children. These are children who should not be suffering like this.”

Kennedy described autism as a “preventable disease,” although researchers and scientists have identified genetic factors that are associated with it. Autism is not considered a disease, but a complex disorder that affects the brain. Cases range widely in severity, with symptoms that can include delays in language, learning, and social or emotional skills. Some autistic traits can go unnoticed well into adulthood.

Those who have spent decades researching autism have found no single cause. Besides genetics, scientists have identified various possible factors, including the age of a child’s father, the mother’s weight, and whether she had diabetes or was exposed to certain chemicals.

Kennedy said his wide-ranging plan to determine the cause of autism will look at all of those environmental factors, and others. He had previously set a September deadline for determining what causes autism, but said Wednesday that by then, his department will determine at least “some” of the answers.

The effort will involve issuing grants to universities and researchers, Kennedy said. He said the researchers will be encouraged to “follow the science, no matter what it says.”

The Trump administration has recently canceled billions of dollars in grants for health and science research sent to universities.

The CDC’s latest autism data was from 14 states and Puerto Rico in 2022. The previous estimate — from 2020 — was 1 in 36.

Boys continue to be diagnosed more than girls, and the highest rates are among children who are Asian/Pacific Islander, American Indian/Alaska Native and Black.

To estimate how common autism is, the CDC checked health and school records for 8-year-olds, because most cases are diagnosed by that age. Other researchers have their own estimates, but experts say the CDC’s estimate is the most rigorous and the gold standard.

On Wednesday, Kennedy criticized theories that the rise in autism cases can be attributed to more awareness about the disorder. Autism researchers have cited heightened awareness, as well as medical advancements and increased diagnoses of mild cases.

“The reasons for increases in autism diagnosis come down to scientific and health care progress,” said Annette Estes, director of the autism center at the University of Washington. “It’s hard for many people to understand this because the causes of autism are complex.”

___

Associated Press writers JoNel Aleccia in Temecula, California, and Mike Stobbe in Atlanta contributed to this report.

Amanda Seitz, The Associated Press

A judge dismissed a request to temporarily prevent Frederick Blake Jr from acting as Gwich’in grand chief and following through on some board resolutions.

Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) is once again warning parents and students about the dangers of the ‘Assassins Game’ following a series of reported incidents earlier this week.

The game involves elementary and high school students hunting or ‘assassinating’ one another with water or Nerf-style guns. The ‘assassinations’ can take place in a variety of settings, in public, during daylight and/or evening hours. Some of the guns used have resembled real firearms. In many instances, observers – unaware the game is being played – have contacted police.

Notwithstanding the fear and elevated emergency response the game can cause, there is the potential for participants to face a number of consequences – up to and including criminal charges.

To ensure the safety of members of the public and to eliminate the risk of an unnecessary and serious encounter with officers, the HRPS discourages youth from participating in this game and encourages parents and guardians to speak to their children about its potential risks

ST. JOHN’S — Authorities in Newfoundland and Labrador say highly potent cocaine is circulating in the province, and killing more people than fentanyl.

Figures supplied today by the province’s chief medical examiner’s office show 43 people died of cocaine toxicity last year compared with 20 from fentanyl and eight from a combination of the drugs.

RCMP Insp. David Emberley says cocaine recently seized in the province was found to be more than 90 per cent pure — a potency he described as “alarming and highly toxic.”

Emberley says cocaine that pure is typically sold by the kilogram and diluted with other substances before it is consumed.

He says that until two or three years ago, purity rates for street-level cocaine seized in the province were typically between 15 and 20 per cent.

Dr. Nash Denic, the province’s chief medical examiner, says three teenagers have died from drug toxicity so far this year in confirmed or suspected cases of Xanax or Dilaudid contaminated with protonitazene, a synthetic opioid.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 16, 2025.

The Canadian Press

Historians have deciphered a 1,900-year-old papyrus discovered in the Judean desert that details an elaborate tax evasion scheme, forgery and fraudulent sale and manumission of slaves by two men.

The GNWT's first big assessment of flood risk this spring suggested average conditions around Nahanni Butte and Fort McPherson and low river flows elsewhere.

A student from the NunatuKavut Community Council has written an open letter to the Chair of Memorial University’s Board of Regents taking exception to MUN’s Indigenous Verification Draft Policy.

The policy is being brought in to address questions and concerns raised at academic institutions across the country about people falsely claiming to be Indigenous in order to avail of programs specifically aimed at Indigenous students and researchers.

Keona Russell, who is pursuing a bachelor degree in behavioural neuroscience, says she went to MUN not to debate her identity, but to learn and grow. She says the new draft verification policy has left her shaken and feeling like her voice, and history, don’t matter.

She asks Justin Ladha whether Memorial sees the harm and the exclusion because “some of us are not Indigenous enough to count?”

MUN is accepting feedback on the draft policy until May 2nd.

Montréal is known for many things, including its historic sites, art, and culinary experiences, but one of its most renowned aspects is its thrilling nightlife. The city is teeming with bars, nightclubs, concert venues, and sports complexes offering diverse options for staying entertained, whether you’re a local or a tourist. 

Among these entertainment avenues, people will find myriad opportunities to test their luck, from one of Canada’s largest casinos, Casino de Montréal, to online betting options. Here we’ll explore eight ways locals and visitors can legally participate in this long-standing pastime, and more importantly, where they can partake in them.

Legal Ways to Gamble in Montréal

Gambling in Canada is controlled at the provincial and territorial level. This means that the province of Québec regulates gambling in Montréal. Québec has a progressive attitude towards gambling, allowing most forms, including online versions of popular games. 

Legal in-person and online gambling activities consist of diverse options that cater to various interests and preferences, including:

1. Casino Games – roulette, blackjack, craps, keno, baccarat, and other table games are among the casino games that can be legally played in Québec. Live dealer and virtual versions of these games are also included in legal gaming options.

2. Poker Games – while poker games are often included at casinos, it’s not uncommon in Québec to find poker rooms where the primary gambling activity is poker.

3. Slot Games – these randomized games with entertaining themes appeal to many people and often come with a vast range of options, making them fun and engaging, whether playing at a casino or online.

4. Lottery Games – from jackpots to charitable lotteries, Québec has different lottery options for those hoping for a substantial financial windfall.

5. Instant Games – these lottery-style games, like scratch cards, are another type of gambling you’ll find in Québec. 

6. Sports Betting – in Québec, sports betting includes everything from live sports events to fantasy sports, esports, and motorsports. This creates a huge range of betting options for various interests, allowing people to add a layer of excitement to an activity they already enjoy.

7. Horse Racing Betting – across Canada, horse racing betting is one of the longest-standing legal forms of gambling. Montréal has several places where people can watch horses and jockeys take to the tracks and several venues just beyond the city that are worth the excursion.

8. Bingo – the classic game is a legal way to participate in low-risk gambling and a fun way to stay entertained. 

Gambling in Québec is controlled through Loto-Québec, which licenses land-based gambling venues and offers an online platform with plenty of gaming options. The organisation was created in 1969 to mitigate risks such as money laundering, which are often linked to illegal operators. For this reason, and to protect players, online gambling in Québec is only legal through the Loto-Québec platform. Loto-Québec’s profits are returned to the province to fund socially responsible government initiatives. 

Where to Test Your Luck in Montréal

Now that we understand the legal framework of gambling in Québec, you may wonder where to participate in these activities in Montréal. Fortunately, the city has no shortage of options; these four are among the most popular gaming destinations.

Casino de Montréal

The Casino de Montréal was once the largest casino in Canada, and while it no longer holds this title, it still offers a host of ways to test your luck. You’ll find classic casino games like table games and slots, as well as an arcade where you can have immersive gaming experiences without placing wagers. In addition, you’ll also find a huge range of entertainment options at the facility, from comedians and musicians to themed nights and dancing. From its attention-grabbing facade to its countless offers, this casino will undoubtedly deliver if you crave a fun night out.

Playground Casino

With 44 poker tables, the Playground Casino is a prime place to test your ability to read opponents, bluff, and try new strategies. If you’re intimidated by the table, you can try out one of the thousands of gaming machines, which allow you to play poker, baccarat, and more, without the pressure of a live dealer and other players. The Playground Casino is known for hosting major poker events, including the World Poker Tour and World Series of Poker Circuit. It’s garnered a reputation for being a place where serious poker players and novices can test their skills and enjoy a bite to eat at several onsite restaurants and lounges. 

Paris Courses de Montréal

Montréal was once home to the Hippodrome racetracks, a historic site that had been operating since 1872, but the tracks were closed in 2009, leaving Montréal without a live horse racing destination. However, the Paris Courses de Montréal offers an alternative for those who miss the experience of live horse racing. The site lets visitors watch live races on big screens while placing bets and enjoying food and drinks. It delivers the excitement and social elements of a day at the races, even if horses aren’t on site.

Loto-Québec Online

Online gambling holds a unique allure that differentiates it from in-person options like the Casino de Montréal and the Playground Casino. It allows players to indulge in their favourite gambling activities in a more relaxed and casual way.

Sites like Megaways slots, BetMGM, and DraftKings are popular ways to play slots, poker, and other games online in other areas of Canada. However, in Montréal, these games are reserved for the Loto-Québec platform. The platform provides virtual versions of all legal gambling options in Québec. This means you can indulge in sports betting, slot games, table games, lotteries, and more from your devices, making it a popular online destination. Whether you’re visiting the city or living there, the wide array of options is sure to keep you entertained.

The post 8 Ways You Can Try Your Luck in Montréal appeared first on Cult MTL.

The path through the NHL Western Conference is a brutal one, though the tests along the way could be fit for a champion. The Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets have the chance to end Canada's Stanley Cup drought that dates to 1993.

Heritage permitting in Saint Andrews will now be handled by the Southwest New Brunswick Service Commission (SNBSC). 

The municipal council handed over the process during a recent council meeting. 

Mayor Brad Henderson said SNBSC already handles the permitting, with some items required to come before the planning advisory committee and the council. 

“They have our planning officers,” he said during an interview with reporters. “They have the trained professionals, and it just makes sense to extend that partnership.” 

Saint Andrews has a unique history, with its downtown being designated a national historic district. It maintains the loyalist grid design, as well. The ‘town plat’ received that designation in 1995. 

In December, the council passed a heritage bylaw after three full readings and vote. It establishes heritage conservation zones, identifying more than 80 properties that fall under the bylaw. 

Those properties were identified through three criteria: 

• The building was constructed prior to 1924
• The building is registered as a local historic place on the New Brunswick Register of Historic Places on the day this bylaw was passed.
• The building is located within the town plat or Historic Business District. 

“We do have a heritage board that is local residents that are appointed to a board,” Henderson said. “So, you still get that local voice in the community that will be weighing in on issues.” 

Henderson said handing over the process will likely come with a learning process, but it did look at heritage bylaws in other areas and the best practices associated with the application. 

He said during the meeting this was something that was “long overdue in the community.”

Alexander Gopen, the senior planner with the SNBSC, was appointed the heritage inspector. He said his role will be to triage the requests for properties that fit under the bylaw. 

If a building requires a permit, he would write a report, which would be presented to the board. 

“This process is administered by the heritage board, appointed by council,” he said. “Given how the by-law is structured, I expect the board will only need to meet to issue permits a few times a year.”

Gopen explained prior to the creation of the new bylaw, there was no restriction on property owners from demolishing or altering those heritage buildings. 

“Some have been lost over time,” he said. “Architectural heritage is one of, but certainly not the only, defining features that gives Saint Andrews, its residents, and visitors a strong and tangible sense of place.” 

He said those provide the community with a strong sense of place. 

“Physical connections to history and a sense of community are the bedrock of society,” he said.

Four city-owned golf courses are set to open April 19, but tee time reservations are already in full swing.

Hamilton Staff have been given the go ahead to proceed with the environmental assessment considering the expansion of the LINC-Red Hill to six lanes. Staff had submitted a feasibility report earlier that indicated the expansion could take place by adding two lanes in the centre median rather than going outside the existing paved limits. The debate became bogged down on the issue of indigenous consultation. The city is obliged to consult with a Joint Stewardship Board on any changes related to the Red Hill portion of the parkway system. This board was established to satisfy indigenous concerns about the construction of the Red Hill prior to work commencing. The parkway was opened in 2007.

What wasn’t openly discussed at the meeting is that the Joint Stewardship Board, which has equal representation from Hamilton Council and Indigenous communities (3 members each)  has become dysfunctional. Councillors Brad Clark and Matt Francis recently resigned from the Board because it had become impossible to agree even on an agenda for a meeting. That left as Hamilton’s only representative, Councilor Tammi Hwang and Aaron Detlor of the Haudenosaunee Development Institute, who led the blockade of the Chedoke Creek Cleanup in 2023 until a cash settlement was paid to HDI.

HDI has raised concerns over several other prominent land development efforts, including the Waterdown Bypass Project in Waterdown, Enbridge’s Hamilton Reinforcement Project, Volkswagen Group’s Battery Cell Gigafactory in St. Thomas, and the Ontario Place redevelopment initiative in Toronto.

Despite his resignation from the Board, Councillor Clark nonetheless warned colleagues about taking any action related to the Red Hill without consulting with the Board, reminding them of an earlier incident where actions were taken without consulting with the Board.

The city is attempting to reconstruct the Joint Stewardship Board by adding Councillor Cameron Kroetsch and City Manager Marnie Cluckie as new members. A motion by Councillor Craig Cassar to add additional terms of reference to the environmental assessment process was defeated after a lengthy debate. Several mountain Councillors reminded colleagues the Red Hill-LINC combination was a major contributor for reducing truck traffic on city streets, not only on the mountain but also it made possible the city’s Truck policy in the lower city that diverted traffic away from residential streets.

The post ‘What can we do to empower and unlock more capital?’: Three takeaways from RBC’s Chinyere Eni discussing why Indigenous collaboration is smart economics appeared first on The Hub.