It's been 16 years since Cougar Flight 491 crashed in the Atlantic Ocean, killing 17 of the 18 crew members on board. On the anniversary of the fatal flight, John Breen says the families like to gather to remember their loved ones.

The Benevolent Irish Society is marking the end of an era this weekend as they hold their final St. Patrick’s Day celebration at their Irish hall on Harvey Road.

Society president Bob Gillard says that in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, they saw a decline in their catering service and participation in society-sponsored activities.

After a review of their operations, they decided to sell their building and continue operations out of another venue.

They note that the society, which is 219 years old, is no stranger to having to change the way it functions, having to adapt many times over the years to meet its objectives.

Their St. Patrick’s Day celebration is taking place this Saturday on Harvey Road.

Starting in June, some residents in the province will be able to get their shingles shot free of charge.

On June 1, shingles shots will be offered to those 65 to 70 years of age and those over the age of 70 who are classified as immunocompromised.

Before now, many who wanted to get the vaccine to prevent shingles, were forced to pay a hefty fee out of pocket.

Government is also adding coverage of enhanced flu shots for those over the age of 65.

Acting Health Minister John Haggie will be speaking to media about the expansion of the province’s immunization program at 1 p.m. at Confederation Building.

Users of the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, will have noticed an outage earlier this week after the platform was hit by a group of online hackers known as Dark Star.

Tech blogger Kevin Andrews says the group is a pro-Palestinian group known for launching cyberattacks on sites by flooding them with information until they crash.

The group says their latest attack on X was in protest against Elon Musk and President Donald Trump’s “lack of humanity”.

Andrews says the good news for users is that the group wasn’t out to access anyone’s personal data and more or less just wanted to create chaos.

A political scientist at Dalhousie University says no matter who wins the provincial Liberal leadership race, they have to be ready to join the fight against the Trump administration.

Premier Andrew Furey shocked the province last month after announcing his intention to step down once a new leader is chosen in early May.

While it wasn’t the reason for his resignation, Furey admits that dealing with Trump’s tariffs and threats to Canadian sovereignty did impact the timing of his decision.

Furey’s wife, Dr. Allison Furey, and their three children stand behind Furey as announces his intention to step down as premier. (VOCM News)

So far, John Abbott and John Hogan are the only two candidates to throw their hat in the ring to succeed Furey.

Lori Turnbull says whoever the successful candidate ends up being, they’ll have to hit the ground running in joining fellow premiers in the so-called Team Canada approach.

She says it will be important for the new leader to communicate with residents about the impacts of Trump’s plans on the province and to be able to come up with a plan to fight back as a province.

The Bank of Canada has dropped its key interest rate for the seventh consecutive month, bringing the rate to 2.75 per cent.

The drop of 25 basis points comes at a time of economic uncertainty created by the trade war between Canada and the United States.

Although Trump decided to extend a pause on the across the board tariffs on Canada and Mexico, the economy is already feeling the impact with both Canadians and American markets plunging earlier in the week.

Economists are now watching closely at how the central bank chooses to proceed as the tariffs are likely to hamper economic growth and cause a flare in inflation.

Safety NL has renewed its calls for practical training for offroad vehicles in the wake of a fatal side-by-side crash in central earlier this week.

A young person was killed after losing control of the machine on the Newfoundland T’Railway near Gander on Monday.

A passenger, who was also under the age of 16, was sent to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Currently, there is no hands-on training required to operate an off-road vehicle for recreation, and Safety NL is calling on the government to change that.

President Sean Kelly says while training can’t prevent all accidents, it may help to prevent the number of tragic incidents in the province.

He’s calling for the government to bring in a pilot project to address some of the major issues and come up with a plan to address them, eventually leading to mandatory training across the province.

Another thing to take into account, says Kelly, is the number of young people operating offroad vehicles.

Statistics from the Canadian Pediatric Society found young people make up 12 to 15 per cent of ATV riders in Canada but account for 27 to 33 per cent of all fatalities.

Between 2012 and 2022, 6,452 children and teens were hospitalized and 230 died as a result of injuries from ATV accidents. Of those fatalities, 54 per cent were between the ages of 15 and 19. Thirty-seven children under the age of nine were killed, ten of whom were driving the machine at the time of the accident.

A St. John’s charity, which offers services to people with disabilities and prints to the general public, says they were told by Canada Post that a shortage in mail carriers means they’ll have to continue to make do without mail.

Tom Badcock, executive director of The Hub, says they haven’t gotten letter mail to their door since late February, and when they called Canada Post, they told the group they have to go to the Kenmount Road depot if they would like to get their mail faster.

He says their group is waiting on much-needed cheques to keep their business afloat.

“In our particular case, we had product that we had ordered for our business, and we get a notification that the product is on the way,” he said.

“In one particular case, it was actually on the mail truck to be delivered to us, and they turned around and brought it back to the warehouse. So not only did we would out the product for a customer, we had to reorder that product, have it delivered by a private courier.”

VOCM News has reached out to Canada Post.

Junior Achievement Newfoundland and Labrador has announced its 2025 business hall of fame inductees.

The awards have been handed out since 1990 to recognize business excellence in the province.

The event also serves as a fundraiser for the organization, which is a registered charity that helps prepare young people for the business world.

This year four people are being inducted:

• Frank Howard – the president and founder of Capital Auto Group and The Howard Group
• Barry Perry – former president and CEO of Fortis
• Ruth Roberts-Tetford -president of Dorman Roberts ltd
• John Williams – founder and CEO of Nutra holdings.

The inductees will be honoured during a ceremony on May 15th at the Delta Hotel.

A woman is facing a handful of charges after an incident at a home in the capital city’s west end yesterday morning.

Police were called to unknown trouble at the home around 8:15 and arrested a 36-year-old woman after she went after someone with a weapon.

She was taken to the lockup to appear on charges of assault with a weapon, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and uttering threats.

PC MHA Lela Evans defied protocol in the House of Assembly yesterday while delivering an impassioned statement on the way the provincial government handles Indigenous issues.

Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation Minister Scott Reid had just read a ministerial statement talking about steps government has taken to respect and promote Indigenous cultures, including various training, education, and art initiatives.

In response to Reid’s statement, Evans, who is the representative for Torngat Mountains, says she respects how government speaks of the issues, but the realities faced by Innu and Innuit communities of northern Labrador paint a “stark, different picture.”

Evans argues that essential services such as housing and healthcare have been “neglected” for years, and the “shocking” realities have become “old news.”

During her speech Evans was told that her speaking time had expired, but she pressed on.

Evans’ microphone was turned off, but, despite reminders from the speaker that her time had expired and to take her seat, she continued. Even with her mic off, Evans’ voice echoed through the chamber for about another 30 seconds, her voice cracking with emotion at times. Her PC colleagues banged on their desks in support for a prolonged period after she had concluded.

At Tuesday’s Council Meeting in St. John’s, the council approved over $1.8 million for Community and Capital Grants.

Grants total $1,312,500 and capital grants total $489,630 plus $43,127 in waived permit and development fees.

This year, the Community Grant program will assist 113 community organizations and 76 individual artists, with 38 new recipients.

For 2025, 11 organizations received Capital Grants, which are awarded to eligible applicants for capital purchases, such as building repairs or construction.

A list of Community and Capital Grant Recipients for this year can be found here.

St. John’s city council solemnly celebrated Debbie Hanlon at the end of their public meeting yesterday.

It was just over a year ago that the longtime councilor stepped aside after being diagnosed with cancer.

Thus began a very difficult and public journey for the fiery real estate agent and everyone who knew and loved her.

Hanlon passed away last week at the age of 60, with a celebration of her extraordinary life held this past Sunday.

Then yesterday, her council colleagues were greeted by her photo, a yellow rose and cup and saucer in her place, as they arrived for their weekly meeting.

Each shared thoughts of Hanlon, including Maggie Burton who read the obituary aloud, and summed up the overall sentiment.

“It was all about the other person … all about ‘you’ll be OK, you’ll get through this, you’ve got this,’ and Debbie I think received that same amount of love back as she fought her courageous battle,” said Burton. “And I can’t help but smile thinking about all the times she’s had other people’s backs. But I really hope that Debbie went out of this world feeling as loved as she was.”

Premier Andrew Furey along with Minister for Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation Scott Reid and representatives of the Nunatsiavut Government will unveil artwork in the East Block Lobby of the Confederation Building today.

The event will begin at 11:00 a.m. and will showcase the original work of artist Bronson Jacque.

The provincial government worked with Indigenous Governments and Organizations to procure six pieces of Indigenous artwork – one for each of the five Indigenous Governments and Organizations and a sixth to honour the culture of the Beothuk.

The Nunatsiavut Government, Innu Nation, NunatuKavut Community Council, Qalipu First Nation and Miawpukek First Nation were invited to develop their own process for selecting an artist and procuring the artwork.

Despite a post-collapse high for the capelin stock last year, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans is predicting the biomass will return to average levels this year.

DFO released its annual stock assessment yesterday.

Dr. Ron Lewis, a fisheries stock assessment biologist, says there were several factors that lead to the biomass high last year.

That includes a high fish condition in 2021 and 2022 – which would have been the fish whose spawning lead to the 2024 biomass, and a maximal date for sea ice retreat.

He says the “stars aligned” for a high biomass value last year. However, numbers for those same factors this year are much more “average,” which lead them to their conclusion.

Meanwhile, the FFAW says the stock assessment fails to reflect what harvesters are seeing on the water.

They say the numbers presented in the update do not add up to a biomass decrease, especially considering that 97 per cent of the total allowable catch was landed last year, and the quota for many bays was achieved in only a couple of days.

FFAW-Unifor Inshore Director Sherry Glynn calls it “unfortunate” that there is such a wide disconnect between what folks are seeing on the water, and what DFO reports.

U.S. President Donald Trump pushed through with his plans to slap 25 per cent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports, but held back on raising the levy to 50 per cent on Canadian imports.

Steel and aluminum entering the United States from any country are subject to the 25 per cent tariff that came into effect at midnight.

That said, it could have been a much stiffer penalty for this country as Trump planned to double the tariff on imports from Canada, but the president changed his tune after a phone call with Ontario premier Doug Ford.

Ford, who was ready to hit the U.S. with a retaliatory surcharge on all electricity exports from his province, put a pause on that plan in exchange for the tariff reduction.

Speaking with reporters yesterday evening, Trump spoke highly of his conversation with Ford, calling him a gentleman.

However, he reiterated his claims that the U.S. doesn’t need Canada and we should become the 51st state.

Trump says his country has everything from lumber to electricity and does not need Canada to provide. The president once again claimed the United States spends $200 billion a year subsidizing Canada, which “could be solved” if Canada joins the U.S.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford (CPAC)

Ford, who will meet with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick tomorrow, told NBC News that cooler heads need to prevail in the best interest of both countries.

He says both countries need to be protected before Trump’s tariffs and other tactics end up tanking the economy in both Canada and America.

Across the island, roads are bare and dry with some icy patches. In Labrador, there are a few snow-covered icy and slushy sections.

The M/V Terra Nova will depart Rencontre for Bay L’Argent at 7:00 a.m. Anyone wishing to travel may do so. Other ferries are on time.

At the St. John’s International Airport, Air Canada flights 692 and 697 are cancelled. Flights are on time in Gander and Deer Lake.

Memorial University says it has no problem with students protesting on campus – but it does not allow such activity when it results in ’round-the-clock occupation of a building.

Charges laid against three MUN students following pro-Palestinian protests on their St. John’s campus have been dropped. The three women were arrested following demonstrations that began outside and later moved inside the Arts and Administration Building last year. MUN contests their interpretation that protests are not allowed on campus.

MUN says it called police when three students refused to leave the Arts and Admin Building after closing hours. That was when RNC laid the charge of trespassing. The institution adds that the lawyer for the students was informed that they could not continue living in a building or camping on grounds meant meant for work and study.

MUN adds that it fully supports the rights of students to protest on campus, and that they did so from May 21st and through the summer.

But it draws the line during the after-hours for reasons of health, safety and security, and the privacy of materials in labs, offices and classrooms.

Good morning!

A weak area of low pressure will move through the Province today, bringing rain and snow. The forecast is easiest in Labrador, where snow will fall for areas east of Churchill Falls, ending this evening. I am expecting a widespread 5 to 10 cm.

On the Island, some warmer air is around, and the forecast is more challenging. Rain and snow are about to arrive on the West Coast at this early hour. This is a narrow area of precipitation and will not last long in any particular area of the Island as it moves from west to east today, reaching the Burin Penisula by late afternoon. Snowfall rates will not be intense for most. The exception is the South Coast, where computer guidance suggests areas from Port aux Basques to the western side of the Connaigre Peninsula will see 10 to 15 cm of snowfall throughout the day. Occasionally, the forecast for this area is overdone due to the mixing of rain along the coast, so I’ll be watching the reports and webcams closely.

On the Avalon, rain and snow will arrive this evening and change to snow overnight. The narrow band of snow that most areas only see for a short bit will stick around much longer on the Avalon late tonight and Thursday as its forward speed slows thanks to a low-pressure center well offshore. This slow movement of the narrow band will lead to a small area of heavy snowfall over the Avalon from late tonight into Thursday. This includes the St. John’s Metro and Southern Shore. At the moment, it looks like 5-15 cm will fall by the time the snow ends Thursday afternoon, but there is some uncertainty on just how quickly or slowly the snow ends, which will have implications on the forecast.

Full details are coming up on the news this evening starting at 5:30 PM on NTV! See you then!

/Eddie

On Tuesday evening RNC officers responded to a report of unknown trouble in progress at a house in the west end of St. John’s.

Officers arrested a 36-year-old female and charged her with assault with a weapon, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and uttering threats.

She was taken to the city lockup to appear in Provincial Court.

A man who tried to cash in on the five-finger-discount at a shop in Galway didn’t get too far.

Police were called to the store just before 9:00 last night to reports of a man shoplifting.

The 43-year-old was arrested and charged with theft under $5,000. He was released to appear in court at a later date.

Premier Andrew Furey will address delegates at the 2025 Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador Conference and Trade Show luncheon today in St. John’s.

The event will begin at 12:30 p.m. at the JAG Hotel.

Furey will be joined by Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation Steve Crocker who will present two awards at the luncheon: the Cultural Tourism Award and the Tourism Achievement Award.

It was sixteen years today that a Cougar helicopter crashed in the Atlantic Ocean off St. John’s, taking the lives of 17 of the 18 people on board.

The crash prompted a provincial inquiry and an investigation by the Transportation Safety Board, each resulting in numerous recommendations to improve safety in the offshore oil industry.

Eastern Chaplaincy will join families, friends and co-workers for the annual memorial service, which is open to the general public. The service begins at 7:00 at Elim Pentecostal Tabernacle on Kenmount Road.

The Fisheries Council of Canada says tariffs on Canadian seafood entering China spells disaster for the seafood industry — including in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Newfoundland and Labrador's Progressive Conservatives are sounding the alarm over what they say is Liberal favouritism in the way the government funds firefighting equipment.

The U.S. imports oil, minerals, and seafood from Newfoundland and Labrador, but Americans also have a taste for Screech rum and Iceberg vodka. About 50,000 cases of spirits from this province are shipped south each year. But tariffs could cause that demand to dry up.

Canada’s Circus Spectacular will be at the Mary Brown’s Centre late this spring as part of its provincial tour.

The 90-minute show, scheduled for June 8, will feature clowns, daring motorcyclists and aerialists, and entertainment for all ages according to organizers.

There will be two performances on June 8th at 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Tickets go on sale today at 10 a.m. at the Mary Brown’s Centre Box Office.

For more information, visit circusspectacular.com.

Southwest Airlines will introduce fees for checked luggage on May 28, except for A-List loyalty members and business fare flyers. The company also announced the introduction of "basic economy" fares. These changes coincide with a recent layoff of 1,750 employees, but CEO Bob Jordan expressed optimism about restoring profitability. (UPI)

Los Angeles ranked with the lowest air quality in the U.S. in 2024, according to the latest World Air Quality Report from IQAir. The countries with the worst air quality were Chad, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and India. Seattle, Washington was the major city with the cleanest air in the U.S. (CBS News)

U.S. stocks fell on Tuesday due to concerns over a potential recession and new tariffs on Canada. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.15%, the S&P 500 fell 0.75%, and the Nasdaq declined 0.15%. President Trump announced increased tariffs on steel and aluminum, escalating trade tensions and impacting global markets. (ABC News)

Tiger Woods underwent a less invasive surgery for a ruptured Achilles tendon, raising doubts about his participation in the Masters and other major championships. Recovery from such surgery typically takes around a month, and Woods is focusing on rehab and recovery without specifying a return timeline. (NBC News)

The Trump administration is initiating job cuts at The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, planning to lay off 1,000 employees, about 10% of its workforce. These cuts come amid concerns about their impact on the agency's ability to fulfill its critical roles in monitoring weather, oceans, fisheries, and disaster response. (AP)

Political leaders in Newfoundland and Labrador are sharing mixed reviews over the federal Liberal Party's newest head.

The high cost of power bills, groceries, and rent. it’s something just about everyone in the province can relate to.

Now, the federal NDP want to hear from families struggling with the rising cost of living. NTV’s Beth Penney reports. 

Shipping traffic will be congested in the Bay of Islands after a cargo ship recently ran aground. The Canadian Coast Guard is preparing for how to handle the start of the crab fishery. NTV’s Don Bradshaw reports.

Residents of Trepassey are hoping for a permanent solution to an ongoing problem with their breakwater, which is reaching the bursting point once again. NTV’s Marykate O’Neill reports.

For many troops from this province, it was a first, settling in the arctic for a significant northern security operation. Some, reservists, some regular force members, all playing a key role in the nations defence strategy.

In part one of this special series, NTV’s Jodi Cooke takes us to the Northwest Territories to share their stories, and why this operation comes with significant importance in a challenging climate.

There’s another tariff threat on Canadian products, except this one coming from China. 

The country intends to slap a 25 per cent tariff on seafood products, leaving the industry here with another layer of uncertainty. NTV’s Becky Daley reports.

CBC Radio’s The Signal spoke with experienced tech founders who want to establish Newfoundland and Labrador as a worldwide leader in health-care innovation.

Three student protesters arrested and charged with trespassing for occupying a Memorial University lobby, say they're asking for a judicial review of what happened.

DFO scientists are predicting the capelin stock will be lower in 2025 than it was in 2024 when it was close to its post collapse high.

Parents in Newfoundland and Labrador can breathe a sigh of relief as the province signs a deal that will extend the federal child-care program.

The provincial Fisheries Minister is defending the government’s decision to go to the Boston Seafood Show next week, despite the threat of 25 per cent tariffs on exports hitting next month.

Being the topic of the VOCM Question of the Day, most respondents believe the exercise is a waste of time and money as Donald Trump’s mind is already made up.

Minister Gerry Byrne says there’s a reason why seafood companies from Newfoundland and Labrador choose to focus on the United States market. He notes that Boston is the largest seafood show in the world, with 176 countries in attendance.

Byrne says the buyers they want to connect with to help diversify the province’s markets will be at that event.

Police in Holyrood are seeking the public’s help after a vehicle was stolen from a home in Chapel’s Cove sometime over the weekend.

The RCMP say the white, four-door Jeep Grand Cherokee was stolen from the property sometime between Friday, March 7th, and Sunday, March 9th.

It has an NL License plate, JMJ 544.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

Holyrood RCMP is seeking the public’s assistance in relation to a vehicle stolen from Chapels Cove between Friday, March 7 and Sunday, March 9.

Over the weekend, the white, four door 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, NL license plate JMJ 544, was stolen from a residential property.

Anyone with any information about this crime, the identity of the person(s) responsible or the current location of the vehicle is asked to contact Holyrood RCMP at 709-229-3892. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477.

In a news release, the RCMP said it received a report of a crash at approximately 5:30 p.m. NT on Monday that involved two people under the age of 16 along the Newfoundland T'Railway.

Charges laid against three MUN students following pro-Palestinian protests on their St. John’s campus have been dropped.

But they’re not content to leave it there.

The three women were arrested following demonstrations that began outside and later moved inside the Arts and Administration Building last spring and summer.

It was in response to what they deemed as the continuing genocide in Gaza following the Hamas attack on Israel the previous October, and a demand that MUN reveal and divest itself of any interest in the manufacture of Israeli weapons.

Protesters inside the Arts and Administration Building last July. (VOCM News)

During the protest, students thought they had an OK to stay on campus overnight, but later got legal word that they had to vacate the premises, leading to confusion and ultimately the arrests.

But in provincial court this morning, Crown prosecutor Richard Deveau said while he believed he had a case and convictions were possible, “it was not in the public interest to proceed,” and the charges were dropped.

And while that clears the students criminally, their lawyer Kyle Rees noted there’s still the larger unsettled issue of their right to protest on campus again.

That question might’ve been settled last year had MUN sought an injunction instead of charges and arrests.

But it will be dealt with now, after the students filed an application with the Supreme Court to review MUN’s decision to evict and arrest the students in the first place, and decide whether that was a breach of their Charter rights.

Defence lawyer Kyle Rees. (VOCM News)

RCMP in Happy Valley-Goose Bay are looking for a man wanted on some serious charges.

An arrest warrant has been issued for 38-year-old Duane Piwas who is facing charges of sexual assault and failing to comply with a release order.

It is believed that Piwas may be in Nutuashish.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Piwas is asked to contact Happy Valley-Goose Bay RCMP (709-896-3383) or Natuashish RCMP (709-478-8900).