The Killers will perform as part of the Churchill Park Music Festival in St. John’s, on July 29.

The Killers are a Las Vegas-based four-piece that formed in 2002, featuring singer/keyboardist Brandon Flowers, drummer Ronnie Vannucci, guitarist Dave Keuning and bassist Mark Stoermer.

The band has received multiple Grammy nominations, American Music Award nominations, MTV Video Music Awards, NME Awards and more.

Special guests are The Beaches and Matt Mays.

The general on-sale begins on April 2 at noon and is available online at ChurchillParkMusicFestival.com.

The latest addition to the Churchill Park Music Festival lineup will see The Killers take the stage in St. John’s on Tuesday, July 29.

The Las Vegas-based rock band, known for hits like Mr. Brightside and Somebody Told Me, will be joined by special guests The Beaches and Matt Mays.

Tickets for The Killers go on sale Wednesday, April 2, at noon through ChurchillParkMusicFestival.com.

Meanwhile, tickets are already on sale for the previously announced July 25 show featuring Def Leppard, Sam Roberts Band, and more.

The annual festival, held at Churchill Park, will feature additional acts to be announced in the coming weeks.

The Provincial Government is warning the public about passive investment immigration schemes that are currently being promoted by some entities.

This scheme is an agreement in which a foreign investor provides money for a business proposition in exchange for permanent residence to Canada, without the intention to reside in a jurisdiction or be directly involved in business operations. 

Passive investment immigration schemes may also include requests to hire specific international workers, in exchange for direct investment in a business or economic development project.

This practice is prohibited in the province and most other jurisdictions in Canada.

Newfoundland and Labrador Housing has confirmed that a fire on Livingstone Street early Thursday morning has caused damage to four of their vacant homes.

The scene has been released to NLHC and they are in the process of assessing the damage and determining next steps.

They say the affected homes were barricaded while repair work was ongoing, as “there have been frequent break-ins and vandalism which (have) caused extensive delays to (the) work.”

Housing officials are in “continuous dialogue” with police about the issues with the properties.

Metro police were busy last night in the area of Beothuck Place.

A 26-year-old man, who was injured, bolted just as RNC officers arrived on the scene. They caught up with him after a short foot chase.

The man now faces charges of uttering threats, damaging property and breaching a court order.

He was taken to the lockup for court today.

Roads are bare and wet on the Avalon and Burin Peninsula and snow-covered elsewhere across the Island.

In Labrador, roads are bare and dry, with icy patches and good visibility.

Marine Atlantic and provincial ferries are on time.

At the St. John’s International Airport, Canadian North Flight 5T1584 and Sunwing Flight WG581 are delayed. Flights are on time in Gander and Deer Lake.

The RNC responded to a report of a disturbance on Beothuk Place in St. John’s.

When officers arrived on the scene, an injured male was running from police. After a short foot chase, officers apprehended the 26-year-old male who was taken to the hospital for treatment.

The accused was charged with uttering threats, mischief and one count of breach of a release order.

The man was held for a court appearance.

The Chief Medical Examiner’s Office says 2023 and 2024 were record-breaking years when it came to the number of drug toxicity deaths in Newfoundland and Labrador – with cocaine contributing to most deaths in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The medical examiner’s office says the total number of drug toxicity deaths in the province is rising, driven primarily by accidental deaths.

The number of toxicity deaths that were undetermined or due to suicide have remained stable.

Seventy-four deaths were attributed to drug toxicity in 2023, only to be surpassed by 83 deaths in 2024, and that figure could climb higher as toxicology reports continue to come in.

Stats from CMEO, March 26 2025

Those numbers jumped in 2023 after ranging annually from 41 to 57 deaths per year between 2018 and 2022.

Deaths where stimulants, including cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA were contributing factors, surpassed the number of opioid-related deaths in 2024.

According to the latest figures provided by the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office, cocaine contributed to most deaths in the province, and those numbers are on the rise.

Meanwhile, fentanyl-related deaths also increased in 2023 and 2024. The number of cases involving both cocaine and fentanyl rose in 2023 and 2024, although those number are relatively low.

Stats from CMEO, March 26 2025

The Chief Medical Examiner’s Office says ethanol is often detected in toxicology reports where more than one drug has been used, and the use of Benzodiazepines or “Benzos” is also being seen more frequently in multi-substance drug toxicity deaths. Those numbers rose from two each in 2021 and 2022 to 15 cases in 2023 and 20 in 2024.

On the Island, the maximum price for gas rose by up to 4.1 cents per litre, while diesel motor fuel increased by up to 2.9 cents per litre. Furnace oil heating fuel saw an increase of 2.48 cents per litre, whereas propane heating fuel decreased by 0.9 cents per litre.

In Labrador, the adjustments varied by zone, with changes in Zones 13 and 13a influenced by both market fluctuations and modifications from the Petroleum Products Pricing Review. Gasoline prices increased by 1.1 cents per litre in Zones 10, 11, 11c, and 12, while Zones 11a and 14 saw no changes. In Zones 13 and 13a, gasoline prices rose more significantly by 5.3 cents per litre. Diesel fuel prices increased by 1.2 cents per litre in Zones 10, 11, 11a, 11c, 12, and 14, while Zones 13 and 13a experienced a larger increase of 4.0 cents per litre. Stove oil heating fuel rose by 1.0 cent per litre in most zones, except in Zones 13 and 13a, where it increased by 3.5 cents per litre. Propane heating fuel decreased by up to 1.0 cent per litre across all Labrador zones.

The next fuel price adjustment by the Board was scheduled for Tuesday, April 1, to reflect the federal Carbon Tax changes. While the Board’s next regularly scheduled adjustment was set for Friday, April 4, it continued monitoring fuel market fluctuations and remained prepared to implement further adjustments as needed.

Premier Andrew Furey says any promise to eliminate P.E.I. bridge and ferry fees should also apply to Marine Atlantic.

He made the comments during a Board of Trade conference yesterday on navigating the disruption caused largely by the Trump tariffs.

Earlier this week, P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz said he had pledges from the federal Liberals and Conservatives to cut or kill fees on the Confederation Bridge and Wood Islands ferry.

Like this province with the Gulf ferry, P.E.I. has long argued the Confederation Bridge is simply an extension of the Trans-Canada Highway and should be toll-free.

Furey says what’s good for the goose should be good for the gander.

“If there is an offer to the people of P.E.I. — and it should be there by the way, the people of P.E.I. are great people — to eliminate the tolls, then that offer should exist for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador,” he said. “There should be no fees on Marine Atlantic, and that is a resolution that is based on fairness, eliminating internal trade barriers, the cost of living, and of course it’s constitutionally protected in our Terms of Union 75 years ago.”

Newfoundland and Labrador's Department of Education ordered its schools to destroy thousands of books purchased two years ago because they contained 'inaccurate information' about the territories, culture and history of the province's Indigenous peoples. 

Newfoundland's top hockey prize is back up for grabs, as the Clarenville Ford Caribous and Deer Lake Red Wings face off for the 90th Herder Memorial Trophy starting on Friday.

Prom is around the corner, but for many families, it's hard to justify spending hundreds of dollars on dresses and suits for just a few hours. That's what one 'pop-up prom shop' in St. John's is hoping to fix. Volunteers collect used formal wear and give it out for free to students.

A man and a woman in Labrador are facing drug trafficking charges after being pulled over in Sheshatshiu last week.

Forty-two-year-old Nachelle Nuna and 35-year-old Brent Diamond were stopped last Friday.

RCMP seized suspected crack cocaine, cash, and other items consistent with trafficking, inside their car.

Each has been released from custody and will appear in court at a later date to face charges of trafficking in cocaine.

Police were looking for an impaired driver but instead they caught a person who owed a small fortune in fines.

RNC were scouring the east end of St. john’s after calls of a possible impaired driver went in to headquarters, but the 50-year-old woman they pulled over was not impaired. However, she did owe $18,000 in fines and had already been prohibited from driving.

She was taken to the lockup for a court appearance.

Nearly all fuels on the island cost more this morning.

Gasoline is up by 4.1 cents per litre, diesel is up by about 3 cents and furnace oil 2 1/2 cents. There was a slight drop in the price of propane used for home heat.

There are also pricing changes in Labrador with the, most significant being in Lab West. Gasoline, diesel and home heating fuel all went up by between 3 1/2 cents and 5 cents.

The Department of Health and Human Services plans to cut 10,000 employees in compliance with President Trump's order to downsize federal agencies, aiming for a total workforce reduction from 82,000 to 62,000. The move is expected to save $1.8 billion annually, streamline operations, and maintain essential health services. (UPI)

The Congressional Budget Office predicts slower economic growth over the next 30 years due to lower birth rates and huge government spending. Publicly held debt is projected to reach 156% of GDP by 2055. The lower birth rates necessitate immigrant labor for growth. Treasury Secretary Bessent criticized the CBO predictions as "crazy." (AP)

President Trump announced 25% tariffs on imported cars and parts, with global trading partners criticizing the move. He admits that there will be a "transition period" that could frustrate Americans, but insists the country will reap long term benefits. However, the new tariffs are further straining relations with many U.S. trade allies. (CBS News)

A tourism submarine accident in the Red Sea off Egypt's coast resulted in multiple deaths and injuries. Six Russians, including two children, died, while 23 others were injured during an underwater excursion. The cause is under investigation, with Russian authorities launching a criminal probe. The area is known for diving and snorkeling. (ABC News)

After an Atlanta man died in a scuba diving accident in Hawaii, his family found the skeletal remains of his missing son in a backyard tree house. The son, who had been missing for four years, was discovered at the man's home in Decatur, Georgia. The cause of the son's death is still unknown, as investigations are ongoing. (NBC News)

The snow over central, western and northwestern Newfoundland will end overnight for most areas. The exception will be Central and the northeast coast, where flurries will linger into Friday morning. Beyond that, the weather looks relatively quiet for the next few days. Get ALL the details in my forecast from Thursday’s NTV Evening News Hour!

What songs do you play when you are feeling sad? A show opening tonight at the LSPU Hall takes a look at why and how that music affects us. NTV’s Amanda Mews has the details in Your Community.

With less than 5 weeks to go until Canada votes, many local organizations and industries writing to the federal leaders asking for their positions on dropping inter-provincial trade barriers. NTV’s Jodi Cooke has this report.

Liberal leadership candidate John Abbott says if he becomes premier, the province will need something in return for dropping inter-provincial trade barriers in response to the Trump tariffs. He pointed to Marine Atlantic fees as one example.

It’s a big opportunity for a new business, or for an existing one hoping to expand. Canadian-owned, Placentia Bay holdings has a state-of-the art facility in Argentia that could help. 

Here is NTV’s Ross Tilley.

Doctors at the Janeway have reached out to the NDP with concerns about the plans to move the adult gynaecology unit to the children’s hospital. As NTV’s Beth Penney tells us, the health authority says nothing is set in stone at this time. 

Premier Andrew Furey is taking aim at Marine Atlantic fees in the national discussions on internal trade barriers. He says if the province is going to drop its trade barriers, the federal government should eliminate fees for the ferry service. NTV’s Ben Cleary reports.

When Leo Van Ulden’s mother first opened Wallnuts in 1995, the local climbing community had fewer than 20 members. Now, hundreds of people in the province have joined the indoor climbing gym. The St. John’s Morning Show’s Jonny Hodder stopped by the centre to hear about its upcoming two-day competition.

The RCMP arrested two people at a traffic stop Thursday and found suspected cocaine, cash and “other items consistent with possession for the purpose of trafficking," police said Thursday.

A Newfoundland-based trucking company says a good place to start reducing trade barriers within Canada would be his industry where rules and regulations are all over the place.

Chris Hollett, the owner of Akita Equipment, says he got a call from one of his drivers in Quebec this week who was cited for a violation. His rig was a half-metre too long, a ticket which cost the company over $700.

Trouble is, says Hollett, the transport truck is well within the limitations of every other jurisdiction in Canada.

He says that’s not the only aspect of trucking in which the provinces should put their heads together and develop a unified system.

He might need to have a different revolving light in Quebec than in Nova Scotia; maximum weight might vary from province to province and all that makes it more expensive and difficult for companies to operate, he says.

A man and a woman in Labrador are facing drug trafficking charges after being pulled over in Sheshatshiu last week.

Forty-two-year-old Nachelle Nuna and 35-year-old Brent Diamond were pulled over on March 21st.

The RCMP allege that inside the vehicle they located and seized suspected crack cocaine, cash, and other items consistent with possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Both of the accused have been released from custody and will appear in court at a later date to face charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine and possession of cocaine.

Police in Clarenville are investigating after they say up to $3,000 worth of cosmetics was stolen from a Shoppers Drug Mart in the town.

The RCMP say the items were taken on Tuesday when a woman entered the store and left without paying.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the RCMP at 709-466-3211 or Crime Stoppers.

Eric Grenier, who oversees CBC’s Poll Tracker, is projecting that if a federal election were held today, the Liberals would win. Conservatives are projected to make a few gains, while the NDP appears to be in freefall. Grenier explains why every seat could count come election day.

The Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of St. John's is turning to the courts for help in a bid to gain access to — and sell — a small, rural church on the southern Avalon Peninsula.

A former president of the NLTA is using his family’s previous struggle to fuel his efforts in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Visionaries of the Year campaign.

The campaign spans ten weeks, and is a friendly competition to see which team can raise the most money for the society.

Dean Ingram says his involvement in the initiative is “very much a personal thing.”

In December 2001, Ingram says he received the life-changing news that he had being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease, and at the same time his mom was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

“So me and mom were actually taking chemo on alternate weeks.” Ingram says it was a difficult winter, and that his family was able to get through it because of the supports available to them. He states “I will never live long enough, it is impossible for me to live long enough to repay what was done with me during that time.”

A coffee shop in Gander received a surprise donation earlier this week from an American man who wanted to thank people in the town for their kindness during the 9/11 Terrorist attacks.

Jumping Bean Coffee received a call recently from a military veteran in Seattle.

He had seen Prime Minister Mark Carney’s campaign stop in the town, and that got him thinking about the way Gander helped in the aftermath of 9/11.

Eventually, the business agreed to take a $125 donation, which was used to treat customers to a free cup of coffee on Wednesday.

Mackenzie Randell is the supervisor who took the call.

She says the man was great to speak with, and praises his kindness – noting that when the exchange rate dropped his donation down to $69, he ensured that the company received the full $125.

She says he wanted people to know that, given the current political climate, not everyone is of the same mindset in the United States and there is support for Canada.

Musicians in Newfoundland and Labrador have grown tired of swirling controversy ahead of the East Coast Music Awards, and say they're feeling like they’re taking the hit as calls for boycotts continue.

Eddy St. Coeur wants the next prime minister to make a commitment to the 2SLGBTQ+ community, at a time when it's seeing a rise in hatred. Ahead of the federal election, CBC Newfoundland and Labrador is asking individuals and organizations what they’re looking for in Canada’s next leader.

Provincial Liberal leadership candidate John Abbott has announced a plan to introduce a targeted basic income for seniors aged 65 and older.

Abbott says seniors are especially vulnerable to the high cost of living, and he says introducing a basic income for senior Newfoundlanders and Labradorians is one way to ensure that poverty among the older population is addressed.

He intends to ensure that low income seniors will have a targeted income to cover basic, food, light and heat. “We’ve got to make sure it doesn’t have an adverse impact on any other benefits, so we’ve just got to work out those mechanics after May 3rd.”

Abbott is one of two people vying for the leadership of the party. The other candidate is John Hogan.

The Registered Nurses Union and the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions want to see greater nurse-to-patient ratios in response to what they say are rising rates of violence in hospitals.

There has been a notable security presence in metro area emergency rooms in recent months, and similar security measures have been added in the Labrador-Grenfell zone.

Even with the added security measures, RNU President Yvette Coffey says violent incidents persist, despite the fact that the concern has been in the fore for more than a decade.

(RNU President Yvette Coffey)

“In 2019, we brought together everyone for a forum on violence, (and) that report still sits on the desk of someone in government collecting dust,” Coffey told the Tim Powers Show.

Coffey says violence and staffing are affecting recruitment and retention.

“Retention is the biggest aspect, even we’re hearing recruitment because we’re hearing student nurses. They’re going in to do their clinicals, and we’ve had some quit after being exposed, or (having) seen the violence and the disrespect shown towards staff, and overall, the working conditions.” -Yvette Coffey

PC Health Critic Barry Petten (VOCM News)

Meanwhile, Opposition health critic Barry Petten is accusing the provincial government of not listening to the RNU on the state of nursing in the province.

Petten says anyone who has visited an emergency room knows how nurses are stretched thin, and how they’re facing violence and burnout.

Petten references a recent CBC report which indicates that eleven registered nurses recently left a surgical unit at St. Clare’s because of working conditions, only to be replaced by private agency nurses.

Petten wants to know how many more nurses will retire or resign before the provincial government takes action.

A local tech company is looking to unlock the potential of 3D printing for the health care sector.

PolyUnity, which is based in St. John’s, was founded in 2018.

They are using 3D printing to create medical supplies with the aim of making health care more efficient and sustainable.

Co-founder and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Stephen Ryan, says they have been working on their technology for about a decade. It combines sophisticated software and advanced manufacturing techniques.

He says their printing “farm” is active for about 20 hours a day. Demand has been “surging” over the last few months and they are producing more parts than ever.

Ryan says they have “answered the call every time” that there have been disruptions in the supply chain.

He says their production usually goes in “spikes,” but it has become more consistent over the last little while. He says they make things like replacement parts for basic hospital equipment, lab racks, and laboratory services equipment.

The St. John’s Regional Fire department responded to a call shortly before 1:00 a.m. Thursday after smoke was spotted coming from a vacant residence on Livingstone Street in downtown St. John’s. Police say the residence was extensively damaged, along with a second vacant attached unit. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

On Friday afternoon the RNC and Memorial University’s School of Pharmacy will be hosting a community pill drop.

The public with unused or expired medications is invited to bring them to RNC Headquarters, in St. John’s. The pill drop will be set up between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

The medications will be disposed of properly.

Accepted medications include; all types of prescriptions, vitamins, antibiotics, epi-pens and narcotics. They could be in the form of capsules and tablets, vials, creams and ointments, sachets, or bottles.

A well-known Mount Pearl businessman is on the road to recovery after undergoing grueling treatment for an aggressive, and rare, form of cancer.

“The doctors had said to me, basically…that they were going to kill me, and bring me back to life.”

Scott Hillier of Coffee Matters credits his cancer care team for helping him through his treatment and recovery. The process started with a very aggressive surgical procedure that removed tissue and lymph nodes

He says undergoing the surgery alone was very hard and required a great deal of adjustment, but even then the cancer remained, and he entered into an aggressive round of chemotherapy.

Scott Hillier during Chemo Therapy (submitted photo)

He says the chemo he underwent was a type of treatment medical professionals no longer like to use.

“It’s a very harsh chemo,” says Hillier, “so much so..that I couldn’t take the chemo and go home.” He says in order to take the treatment he had to be admitted to hospital 24 hours in advance to get his body ready, undergo the treatment, resulting in five days in hospital, with another two days to recover, and then back home for 14 days before entering hospital for another seven-day ordeal. “That continued for a three month period.”

Hillier says the hardest part was being laid up and so sick that he couldn’t do anything. He thanks his husband for “being through more than I did” and running the business in Hillier’s absence. He also credits the support of his three children, and his staff for “being more like family.”

Listen to the full interview with Your VOCM Mornings Here:

The City of St. John’s is reminding residents that garbage put out at the curb for collection must be completely covered from April 1 through November 30. 

Acceptable methods of covering garbage include using nets or containers with a closed lid. City garbage cart lids must also be completely closed.

Waste is not permitted at the curb before 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled collection day. This helps to reduce the amount of litter in your neighbourhood and on city streets, parks and open spaces.

A new study from Leger Marketing indicates that many Atlantic Canadians are not in a good mindset when it comes to their finances.

The study indicates that 60 per cent of people in the region say they don’t have enough money left to save, invest, or pay down debt, and more than half of respondents say money is their biggest stressor.

Wendy Brookhouse, CEO with Black Star Wealth, says there are several factors coming together that create the increased stress and strain on people’s finances.

She calls it a “tsunami” or “perfect storm” of things like inflation and high interest that are coming together to put stress on people’s discretionary income.

The following schools are closed all day due to weather:
Brian Peckford Primary
Dorset Collegiate
Green Bay South Academy

The following schools are closed for the morning with an update to follow regarding afternoon classes:
Cape John Collegiate
Copper Ridge Academy
Hillside Elementary
Indian River Academy
Indian River High School
M.S.B. Regional Academy
Valmont Academy

Roads across Newfoundland are bare this morning but many areas will see snow move in as the day progresses. The snow has already started in the Port aux Basques area. There is some fog on the Heart’s Content Barrens and Paddy’s Pond.

In Labrador, roads are primarily bare except for southeastern areas where roads are partially snow-covered.

The 11:45 a.m. crossing from Port aux Basques to North Sydney on the Ala’suinu has been rescheduled to depart at 11:00 a.m.

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