Newfoundland and Labrador has seen a surge in cases of influenza in recent weeks.

According to the province’s respiratory activity dashboard, between February 23 and March 1, two people died from influenza and there were 51 more in hospital—including seven in critical care.

Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald and Acting Health Minister John Haggie (VOCM News)

While Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald admits that they have been seeing a spike in cases, they’re hoping the situation will soon start to improve.

She says they are crossing their fingers that the number of cases has peaked. She notes that it is not unusual to see cases of influenza this time of year as other jurisdictions are also seeing a spike. Fitzgerald reminds that it is not too late to get a flu shot. Appointments for vaccines can be booked online, through your primary care provider, or at your local pharmacy.

Provincial cabinet minister Lisa Dempster has officially ruled out taking a stab at the Liberal leadership, but is still contemplating a federal run.

Dempster, who is the MHA for Cartwright – L’Anse au Clair, hinted last week that she was considering the options for her political future.

Speaking with reporters outside the House of Assembly, Dempster said she has not yet made a decision on whether she will run federally, only to say that she is still contemplating it and speaking with family and friends.

The Canadian Coast Guard Ship Ann Harvey will be icebreaking in the area of Botwood today.

During icebreaking operations, it can be dangerous to venture onto the ice. Broken and fragmented ice tracks and ridging left behind by passing icebreakers or commercial vessels may not freeze over immediately. This can result in hazardous conditions for ice users. In addition, newly fallen snow will obscure ship tracks. Unsafe ice conditions can persist long after icebreakers have left the area.

Depending on conditions, the ice can be pushed instead of broken and ice can crack or break far away from the location where the icebreaker is working.

Both the RCMP and the RNC are receiving transferred 911 calls for service that do not require an emergency response.

Operators at the 911 call centres regularly receive 911 calls where they are unable to confirm with a caller if an emergency service is needed, such as a hang-up or a call with no voice on the other end.  In these circumstances, 911 Call Takers are required to notify police of the call received by 911.

These calls for service are unnecessarily utilizing police resources and may prevent those who are dealing with an actual emergency from receiving the immediate assistance they require.

Calls involving background noises are immediately transferred to the appropriate police service for further action.  In cases of a hang-up, 911 Call Takers will call the number back.  If the call back is unanswered, police will be notified for further action.

If you initiate an accidental call to 911, do not hang up.  Stay on the line and report that the call was placed accidentally. If you’ve hung up, answer a returned call so the matter can be resolved. If police or other emergency responders attend your home, answer your door.

The provincial government has confirmed that the original owners of the former Comfort Inn, now Horizons 106, have sold the building.

The province announced in January 2024 that it would be leasing the former hotel for three years, at a total cost of $21-million, to provide transitional housing supports for those who need it in partnership with End Homelessness St. John’s.

In a statement to VOCM News, the housing department says the new owners have indicated that they “intend to maintain the facility for its existing purpose,” and note that Horizons 106 remains a temporary measure while more permanent solutions are put in place.

Mark Carney will officially become Canada’s 24th prime minister today.

Carney, who secured the Liberal leadership by a landslide victory this past Sunday, will be sworn in at Rideau Hall at 12:30 NST.

The question now is who will make up Carney’s cabinet, which is expected to be smaller than Justin Trudeau’s cabinet—which consists of 37 members, including himself.

That means several ministers are expected to be doing double-duty with more than one portfolio to carry.

An election call is expected before the House of Commons returns from prorogation on March 24.

The Town of Gander in mourning the death of a Grade 9 student who was killed in an ATV crash on Monday.

A week of long days and almost around the clock negotiations has left the Fish, Food and Allied Workers union and the Association of Seafood Producers optimistic that a snow crab harvest will happen this year.

Michelle Lidstone says a Japanese friend taught her how to make sushi. She’s been serving up meals at her gas station in Roddickton-Bide Arm, along with cold plates and coffee.

President Trump asked the Supreme Court to narrow the scope of three lower court orders blocking his executive order to end birthright citizenship, seeking to limit enforcement to those directly involved in the cases. The administration emphasized the constitutional significance of the case. (CBS News)

Democratic-led states are suing the Trump administration, arguing that extensive layoffs at the Education Department are unlawful and will impair its ability to fulfill statutory obligations. The lawsuit contests the administration's efforts to dismantle the agency created by Congress. (AP)

A storm system across the U.S. is expected to bring various extreme weather conditions, from wildfires and blizzards to flash flooding and severe thunderstorms with multiple strong tornadoes, spanning across multiple states and lasting through the weekend, posing significant risks of power outages, travel disruptions, and property damage. (UPI)

The FBI warns against responding to scam road toll collection texts, which aim to extract financial information via smishing, a form of phishing through SMS. These texts are moving across states, falsely claiming unpaid tolls with potential penalties. Recipients are urged to report the scams to the FBI and delete the messages. (ABC News)

Comcast and the International Olympic Committee have struck a new $3 billion deal, extending Comcast's media rights and positioning it as a strategic partner through 2036. The partnership will focus on broadcast infrastructure, in-venue distribution, and digital advertising. (NBC News)

Cybersecurity expert David Shipley says Canada needs privacy legislation with teeth to protect the country against hostile actors.

They play an integral role in knowledge sharing and land protection. The Canadian Rangers are no stranger to this province, a self-sufficient mobile team that lends its support to the Canadian forces.

They play a significant role in the arctic too. In part three of our series We the North, NTV’s Jodi Cooke explores the important relationship between local knowledge keepers and military operations.

With the official start of spring just over a week away, management at Marble Mountain want to extend the downhill season well beyond the end of winter.

As NTV’s Don Bradshaw tells us, if the weather co-operates, it could be one of the latest endings to the ski season in years.

With an aging population, Newfoundland and Labrador faces unique health care obstacles compared to other provinces. As NTV’s Ryan Harding reports, a new plan to vaccinate seniors for shingles has been rolled out.

Some of Canada’s best figure skaters competed for a national title earlier this month at the Skate Canada Cup. As NTV’s Marykate O’Neill tells us, one team from this province returned as Canadian champions. here’s the inspiring story. 

A total lunar eclipse will occur during the early morning hours of Friday over most of North America, including Newfoundland and Labrador. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth completely blocks the Sun’s light from reaching the Moon. This happens when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are perfectly aligned, with the Earth in between. As a result, the Moon moves into the Earth’s full shadow, called the umbra.

During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon can take on a reddish color. This happens because the Earth’s atmosphere bends and filters the sunlight, allowing only the red part of the light spectrum to reach the Moon. This effect is why a total lunar eclipse is sometimes called a “blood moon.”

A total lunar eclipse lasts longer than other types of lunar eclipses, and it’s completely safe to watch with the naked eye. It’s a rare and stunning event that showcases the incredible cosmic alignment between the Earth, Moon, and Sun.

Over much of the Province, the eclipse will peak around 4:28 AM NDT. The exact time may vary a bit from place to place, so you can find out the exact time at your location by visiting timeanddate.com/eclipse!

Viewing conditions for the eclipse look pretty good across the bulk of Newfoundland and the southeast Corner of Labrador. The animated GIF below should give you a good idea of what to expect in your particular area of the Province.

via GIPHY

New, Indigenous artwork was unveiled at Confederation Building this week.

Inuit artist Bronson Jacque was commissioned to create a nearly four-foot-long mural depicting Indigenous culture, which was presented to the government this week.

Titled “The Journey,” the painting features the colors of the Northern Lights along with representations of Indigenous dancers and native animals.

Jacque says the piece, which was completed over the course of five years, reflects his early memories of Postville, Labrador.

“The way I built it, it was very circular, as if you were being embraced by all of the symbolism and all of the imagery in the painting,” he said. “So there’s a lot of wildlife in a circular formation that’s meant to evoke the feeling of being embraced by nature.”

The artwork will be installed and on display for the public to see in the lobby of the East Block of Confederation Building at a later date.

A pillar of Newfoundland and Labrador's musical landscape is at risk of collapsing.  The Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Arts Society launched a "Save our Festival" campaign Thursday, appealing to corporations and the public for donations to help keep it and its annual folk festival running.

The Public Utilities Board is making changes to its pricing model for fuel in Labrador, allowing higher wholesale and retail markups on gas, diesel, stove oil and propane.

The minister responsible for Indigenous Affairs says the provincial government is moving toward better housing and health care despite calls for more resources from the Opposition.

Earlier this week, PC MHA Lela Evans defied protocol in the House of Assembly, saying essential services such as housing and health care have been “neglected” for years, adding that the “shocking” realities have become “old news.”

When asked for specific examples of what the government is doing, Minister Scott Reid stopped short of providing them, saying he’s going to continue to consult with Indigenous organizations.

“I think there are some things happening,” he said. “When I talk to officials in the various departments, I think there’s … it’s a societal thing. There’s a realization that we have to move forward with these issues and with reconciliation. And these important sort of real, very real personal cases are a measure that we should have.”

CBC meteorologist Ashley Brauweiler says skies should be clear for most of the province early Friday morning for those hoping to see the lunar eclipse. The next one won’t roll around for another four years.

Police are once again reminding the public of the serious problems associated with unnecessary 911 calls, whether accidental or not.

Such calls put 911 operators in a tough spot when every second counts.

A hangup, background noise or silence leaves them unable to confirm if it’s a real emergency or not.

Operators will call the number back but if there’s no answer the police are dispatched — often taking away valuable resources that could be needed for a legitimate crisis.

And it’s becoming a bigger issue with the proliferation of cellphones.

Police acknowledge accidents happen, but say when they do, don’t hang up, and instead explain what happened; otherwise, answer the return call, or the door if police show up.

Cellphone users are also urged to review settings for Emergency SOS or crash detection features, which can trigger accidental 911 calls for things such as off-road vehicle use — and to store phones safely to avoid pocket-dialling.

Parents can also help by showing their kids how to make or avoid making 911 calls that are not an emergency.

Land & Sea’s final episode of the season is all about a good old hockey game in Isle aux Morts. The annual Winter Classic brings the community together for a weekend of fun, games and gathering.

The Canadian Coast Guard vessel Ann Harvey is scheduled to conduct icebreaking operations in the Botwood area over the next day or two.

The Coast Guard warns the public that conditions around the icebreaker can be dangerous.

They note broken and fragmented ice, along with ridges left behind by vessels, may not re-freeze immediately and can pose risks for those venturing onto the ice.

Snowfall can further obscure those hazards, officials say, creating unsafe conditions long after the icebreaker has passed through an area.

Residents are urged to remove mobile equipment from the ice in advance of the ship’s arrival and to secure permanent property.

The Coast Guard also cautions that ice can crack or shift unexpectedly, even far from the vessel’s location.

Those using the ice for recreational or work purposes are advised to take appropriate precautions in light of the icebreaking activity.

The mayor of Lewisporte is offering her thanks to the local volunteer fire department for its quick response to a fire Wednesday night that destroyed a home in the town.

Videos posted to social media show bright flames lighting up the night sky from across the harbor.

Mayor Krista Freake says fortunately no one was in the house at the time of the blaze.

She explains that the volunteer fire department was doing some training when the call came in, thus a full crew of about 30 firefighters was able to respond immediately.

Freake says they worked “tirelessly and endlessly” to keep the fire from spreading.

She notes another call of a motor vehicle accident came in around the same time, forcing half the crew to leave the fire scene.

Freake says she’s “very grateful” for the volunteer firefighters, adding it was “amazing” to see them in action.

Lewisporte Mayor Krista Freake

John Abbott may not have the Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal Party machinery in his corner as he contends for the leadership, but the St. John's East-Quidi Vidi MHA proved this week that his competitor, John Hogan, is not the only one with high-profile support.

Five Liberal MHAs, including three cabinet ministers, have thrown their support behind John Abbott for leadership of the provincial party.

There was a stark difference in the campaign announcements of Abbott and his cabinet colleague and opponent John Hogan.

Abbott announced his candidacy in the lobby of Confederation Building with no supporters from within the party in tow. Hogan, meanwhile, had all the bells and whistles at his campaign launch at the Hampton Inn & Suites, with several caucus colleagues and party executives there in support or attendance.

Hogan is shown with his family during launch of his leadership bid. (VOCM News)

Since then, cabinet ministers Lisa Dempster, Sarah Stoodley and Scott Reid, along with MHAs Perry Trimper and Lucy Stoyles, have all publicly declared they’ll be backing Abbott in the race.

Trimper says he has known Abbott for a decade through his time as a senior civil servant and as an elected official, adding he has watched him balance both of those aspects to provide “great depth.”

Stoodley described choosing who to support in the race as one of the “most emotionally difficult decisions” she has had to make as an MHA.

But she says she’s been impressed by Abbott’s policy work, fiscal restraint and problem-solving abilities.

“He’s helped me as an MHA, and my constituents of Mount Scio, as well as residents across the province with very unique solutions to challenging, complicated problems,” said Stoodley. “And he just cuts through the noise and works towards a solution. So I’ve been very impressed.”

Despite economic threats from the United States, the tourism industry in Newfoundland and Labrador industry says it's remaining optimistic for the summer ahead.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Arts Society says the annual folk festival’s days may be numbered due to “serious financial challenges.”

In a surprise announcement this morning, organizers say the end could be near without more donations and volunteer support.

As a result, they’ve launched the Save Our Festival campaign to solicit help from the public.

“For nearly 50 years, this festival has been a celebration of the music, stories and traditions that define who we are as a people,” said Julie Vogt, a representative with the Folk Arts Society. “We need immediate action to ensure that this beloved event continues for generations to come.”

Folk Arts Society representative Julie Vogt. (Submitted)

The annual festival, which turns 49 this year, is a staple of the summer concert season in the metro region, with this year’s event still scheduled for July 11-13 in Bannerman Park.

Last year, organizers landed their biggest acts to date, including Emmy Lou Harris and Steve Earle, and expanded the licensed area to generate more revenue.

But they still lost more than $100,000 and say the festival is in deep trouble, not unlike the Regina Folk Festival which is shutting down after a 55-year run.

“We know how much this festival means to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Vogt. “We are asking the community to stand with us now and ensure that folk traditions continue to thrive.”

Those wishing to help can visit the folk arts society site for contact and other information.

Gas prices dropped across some parts of Newfoundland and Labrador by as much as 4.8 cents per litre Thursday, marking the largest price decrease for fuel in nearly five months.

While many businesses will be hoping to pack the pubs with people this St. Patrick’s Day weekend, VOCM and the Newfoundland Embassy are hoping to pack the pub with donations of non-perishable food items.

VOCM will be at the Embassy on Sunday from 12-4 p.m. for the Pack the Pub event, collecting both monetary and food donations in support of the Community Food Sharing Association.

During the winter months, shelves tend to look a little bare for the association which distributes items to several local food banks.

That’s why events like Pack the Pub are important, says food sharing association general manager Tina Bishop.

She says they are in need of a number of staples most people have in their cupboards including canned goods such as soup, beans, tuna and juice, just to name a few.

Monetary donations are also being accepted at the Embassy on Sunday or online.

Police are asking the public to avoid the area of Old Pennywell Road in St. John’s, following a report of an assault early this morning.

Officers have contained a residence and closed Old Pennywell Road, from Baccalieu Street to Lynch Place, in connection with the investigation.

The City of St. John’s has approved three more housing applications with fewer parking spaces than required.

Requests for so-called “parking relief” have ramped up in the rush to create much-needed housing through the feds’ accelerator fund.

The latest approvals involve single spaces as residents convert to apartments and other add-on units.

That’s led to concerns about a parking crunch in driveways, forcing some to eventually park illegally on roads and front lawns.

But relief has also been sought and rejected for much larger developments.

That doesn’t sit well with Councillor Ron Ellsworth.

“We as council supported parking relief as a general statement and in the last few weeks we’ve used it as an excuse not to approve some projects because we’re getting pushback from the immediate neighbourhood,” he said. “I understand the frustrations but we do have regulatory pieces in place to protect property owners … (and) to enforce illegal parking, or parking on lawns.”

The city is encouraging residents to report incidents of illegal parking, such as parking on lawns, which all agreed is not only an eyesore, but can also impede snowclearing operations.

Residents of the province between the ages of 65 and 70 years and immunocompromised residents over the age of 70 will be able to receive the shingles vaccine as of June 1.

Acting Minister of Health and Community Services John Haggie said, “Shingles can be a painful virus that affects the quality of life for people living with it. By making the vaccine available through the program, we can help seniors and immunocompromised residents reduce the risk of getting shingles, ensure they have a better quality of life, and eliminate the need for other pain management treatments.”

Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, which remains dormant after an individual has had chickenpox and can lead to postherpetic neuralgia in some people, a condition that causes long-lasting nerve pain and can significantly affect an individual’s quality of life. Currently, antiviral treatments can reduce the pain of acute shingles if administered early.

Police have shut down a section of Old Pennywell Road in St. John’s as they investigate an alleged assault in the area this morning.

In a post on X, the RNC say they’ve surrounded a home between Baccalieu Street and Lynch Place, and closed off that stretch of Pennywell Road.

They say they’re trying to make contact with anyone inside the house as part of their investigation.

Police say they’ll provide more information as the situation evolves.

The province’s Chief Medical Officer of Health is defending the decision to only cover the cost of shingles vaccines for people over the age of 70 if they are immunocompromised.

The vaccines will be available as of June 1. Anyone aged 65 to 70 can get their vaccine covered, but government is only going to foot the bill for people above that age if they are deemed immunocompromised.

Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says when they are looking at publicly funded vaccine programs they are always looking at a cost-benefit scenario to ensure they are responsibly providing the best protection they can.

She says the 65+ cohort is really large, and the risk of hospitalization from shingles increases after that age. She says they need to balance the best immune response they can get with protection, noting that those with compromised immune systems can get the vaccine covered.

PC Health Critic Barry Petten (VOCM News)

PC Health critic Barry Petten doesn’t understand why government is providing limited coverage after 70, but believes cost may be a factor.

Petten says the pain from shingles is the same at 80 as it is at 70, so he is “at a loss” for the different rules for the two age groups.

The Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly has shut down for the next couple of weeks, and will reconvene once government is ready to table its budget.

The closure comes after only seven days of the spring sitting.

While government house leader Lisa Dempster defends the move as “business as usual” for the budget-focused spring sitting, PC Leader Tony Wakeham and NDP Leader Jim Dinn disagree.

Wakeham says he doesn’t know what the Liberals are doing, not that “shutting down the house after only seven days—that’s what the people want to see.”

Dinn calls it “shameful” and argues that what dictates the Liberal agenda as their own agenda, and not what the people want.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Siobhan Coady says exactly when the House will be reconvened to table a budget is still up in the air.

She says she will be announcing a budget date “in short order,” and it will likely be before the Liberal leadership is decided.

The RNC were called to a report of a weapons offence at a residence in St. John’s around 1:20 a.m. this morning.

When officers arrived, a 59-year-old male confronted officers with two knives.

He threw one knife at the officers.

He was arrested and held to appear in court on charges of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, uttering threats, and assault with a weapon.

Roads across Newfoundland are snow-covered on the Burin Peninsula and portions of the west coast. On the Avalon Peninsula, roads will become snow-covered as the day progresses.

In Labrador, roads are snow-covered with icy and slushy patches there are areas of drifting snow and visibility is fair.

The MV Qajaq W is in service but off schedule. All other ferries are operating on schedule.

Flights are on time in St. John’s, Gander, and Deer Lake.

A Transportation Safety Board investigation into one of the most miraculous at-sea survivals off Newfoundland last summer has found that the captain and crew did everything right.

The seven members of the Elite Navigator spent just over 48 hours in a lifeboat after their vessel burned and sank. Heavy fog prevented rescuers from spotting the life raft but the men never gave up hope—telling jokes and singing songs to keep up their spirits.

The board says that “weak safety cultures” are often aboard fishing vessels, but that was not the case with the crew of the Elite Navigator.

The report found that the ill-fated boat had far exceeded safety measures, saying that the crew had talked over safety regulations regularly.

Photo via Transportation Safety Board

The report did recommended “having emergency equipment available, and ensuring that the crew are familiar with its use.”

The board did not find the cause of the fire.

They have become affectionately known as “The Lucky Seven,” a story which will forever become etched in the maritime history of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The following schools are closed for the morning with an update to follow on afternoon classes:
Acreman Elementary
All Hallows Elementary
Amalgamated Academy
Ascension Collegiate
Baccalieu Collegiate
Bay Roberts Primary
Cabot Academy
Carbonear Academy
Carbonear Collegiate
Crescent Collegiate
Fatima Academy
Holy Family Elementary (Chapel Arm)
Holy Redeemer Elementary
Laval High School
Perlwin Elementary
Persalvic School Complex
St. Annes Academy
St. Francis School
St. Peters Elementary (UIC)
Tricon Elementary
Whitbourne Elementary
Woodland Elementary

On the Island, gasoline motor fuel prices decreased between 3.7 cents and 4.8 cents per litre. Diesel motor fuel saw a reduction ranging from 3.5 cents to 4.7 cents. Furnace oil heating fuel prices dropped between 3.10 cents and 4.10 cents per litre, while propane heating fuel decreased by 1.4 cents.

In Labrador, gas in Zones 13 and 13a decreased by 4.8 cents, diesel motor fuel in the same zones went down by 4.7 cents per litre, and stove oil heating fuel fell by 3.85 cents per litre. Propane heating fuel across all Labrador zones declined by 1.4 cents.

The Board’s next regularly scheduled price adjustment is on Friday, March 21.

A man has been charged after throwing a knife at a police officer at a home in the capital city.

RNC were called to an incident involving weapons just before 1:30 this morning. When police walked in, they were met by a man with two knives in his hands, one of which was flung at an officer.

The 59-year-old was arrested on charges of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, uttering threats, and assault with a weapon.

He was held for court.