The unit at the James Paton Memorial Hospital has been closed for over a year due to staff shortages. Residents have to travel to Grand Falls-Windsor — nearly 100 kilometres away — for care.

Police are again searching for a 15-year-old boy reported missing in the capital city region.

Zachary Conway is described as five feet, six inches tall with blonde hair and greenish-blue eyes.

He was last seen in the centre area of St. John’s wearing a red hoodie, black pants, black shirt and white sneakers.

Zachary Conway was most recently reported missing, but later found, in October of last year and January of this year.

Anyone with information as to his whereabouts is urged to contact the RNC at 729-8000, or Crime Stoppers: 1-800-222-8477.

Newfoundland Rogues forward Marquis Collins may be modest about his 45 points in a single game, but he’s hungry for more. He tells the CBC's Jeremy Eaton that he credits his lifelong dedication to the sport for his success.

One of the aims of the newly released Tourism Workforce Action Plan is to show that there are careers in the industry, and it is not just a “stepping stone.”

Hospitality NL unveiled the plan at its annual conference in St. John’s earlier this week.

Board Chair Deborah Bourden says there are many different types of careers in the sector—such as in things like food and beverage, and accommodations.

She agrees that there is a misconception out there that workers in the tourism industry are poorly paid.

She says there are some jobs at the bottom of the payscale. But, at the conference for example, they had over 300 people in the room at a variety of paygrades.

Nominations are now open for the Liberal party in the district of Fogo Island-Cape Freels.

The seat was left vacant following the passing of 59-year-old MHA Derrick Bragg who succumbed to cancer last month.

A number of people have already come forward to announce their intention to run in the district under the Liberal banner.

Bragg’s long-time constituency assistant, Dana Blackmore, announced on social media that she intends to seek the nomination in his memory and “with a fierce dedication” to the district.

Today, New-Wes-Valley Mayor Mike Tiller, a paramedic and volunteer firefighter, also announced his intention to seek the nod on VOCM Open Line with Paddy Daly.

Liberal nominations opened today, and will close at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 29th.

A man is in hospital following a collision on Torbay road in St. John’s yesterday afternoon. The road was closed for several hours while police and other first responder attended to the scene.

The cause of the collision is still being investigated.

More money is coming to help residents of Newfoundland and Labrador transition from oil to electric heat. 

Three suspended drivers were recently stopped and ticketed by RCMP NL. At approximately 7:30 a.m. yesterday, RCMP Traffic Services East stopped a speeding vehicle on the Trans-Canada Highway between Makinsons and Whitbourne. The driver, a 53-year-old man, was operating with a suspended licence and was unable to show proof of insurance. The man was ticketed for driving while suspended, speeding and failing to produce proof of insurance.

Later yesterday afternoon, at approximately 1:45 p.m., Harbour Grace RCMP stopped a vehicle on Columbus Drive in Carbonear and determined that the driver, a 27-year-old woman, was driving while suspended. The woman was ticketed for driving while suspended.

On February 21, 2024, while on patrol in Placentia, RCMP Traffic Services East stopped a vehicle operating without a licence plate.  The driver, a 31-year-old man, was suspended from driving and was operating a vehicle without registration or insurance.  He was ticketed for each violation.

All three vehicles were seized and impounded.

RCMP NL continues to fulfill its mandate to protect public safety, enforce the law, and ensure the delivery of priority policing services in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Those interested in making a final RRSP contribution before the end of the tax season are being reminded of a very important change in date this year.

2024 is a leap year and that means instead of the regular March 1 deadline for RRSP contributions, the deadline this year is February 29.

The reason, according to tax specialist Gerry Vittoratos of UFile is because of rules laid out in the Income Tax Act.

He says people are familiar with the marketing literature from financial institutions highlighting the March 1 deadline, but the Income Tax Act rule states that the contribution must be made within the first 60 days of the year and in a leap year, that’s February 29.

A Corner Brook chef says he'll no longer serve ocean-based farmed Atlantic salmon in his restaurant because he doesn't think it's safe or environmentally sustainable. The head of Newfoundland and Labrador's aquaculture industry association says he's mistaken.

An arrest warrant has been issued for a 26-year-old man from Harbour Grace.

Twenty-six year-old Jordan Oliver, who also goes by the name of Jordan Mercer, is wanted in connection with several criminal offences — assault, assaulting causing bodily harm, uttering threats, theft under $5,000, mischief under $5,000, breaching release orders and breaching probation orders.

Anyone with any information about Jordan Oliver’s whereabouts is asked to contact Harbour Grace RCMP at 709-596-5014. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers: #SayItHere 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit www.nlcrimestoppers.com or use the P3Tips app.

One man remains in hospital following a collision on Torbay Road mid-day yesterday that resulted in a lengthy closure of the road.

The road was closed for several hours while police and other emergency responders attended to the scene.

The cause of the collision is under investigation.

Roots and Rhythms: A Black Mutual Aid Gala is happening Sunday in St. John’s. Organizer Kassie Drodge says the money raised will establish a fund to support any issues or concerns of the Black communities. Drodge and musician Helena Elueme spoke with CBC’s Weekend AM host and producer Heather Barrett.

Join host Adam Walsh, host of CBC Radio's The Signal, as he dives into a discussion on accessibility in N.L. during the winter months. Is progress being made in places? What's the reality for folks in the disability community? What needs to change?

The provincial government is providing $175,000 in funding to the Ruah Counselling Centre in St. John’s to provide grief and suicide loss support.

Ruah is a non-profit community counselling agency that provides counselling to individuals, couples and families and educational and supportive groups to people 16 years of age and older. 

Ruah receives thousands of requests for service each year from people seeking assistance through counselling, psychoeducational groups, workshops and community support.

Board members and staff are registered clinicians who provide evidence-based care to people seeking support for a variety of mental health and substance use needs, including anxiety, depression, trauma, suicide loss, stress and anger.

Workshops for schools and community agencies on topics, such as anxiety and conflict resolution, are also provided. The organization regularly accepts referrals from government departments and Newfoundland and Labrador health services’ eastern urban zone through the psychiatric assessment unit at Waterford Hospital and the Doorways program.

“As a non-profit, community counselling agency, Ruah strives to provide accessible, timely, and professional mental health and wellness services to those who need them …” said Amelia O’Dea, executive director of Ruah Counselling Centre. “This funding will help us to continue to be responsive to the needs of the individuals, families and communities we serve in Newfoundland and Labrador.”

RCMP have issued an arrest warrant for 26-year-old Jordan Oliver of Harbour Grace, who also goes by the name of Jordan Mercer.

Oliver is wanted on a number of charges including assault, assault causing bodily harm, uttering threats, failure to comply with the conditions of a release order, theft under $5,000, and damage under $5,000.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Jordan Oliver (Mercer) is asked to contact Harbour Grace RCMP at 709-596-5014 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

A mayor in the District of Fogo-Cape Freels is first out of the gate to try to become a candidate in the byelection.

The seat became vacant following the death of Derrick Bragg. Yesterday, the provincial government renamed a highway in Greenspond in his honour.

New-Wes-Valley Mayor Mike Tiller today announced on VOCM Open Line with Paddy Daly that he will be seeking the Liberal nomination.

Mayor Tiller, a paramedic and volunteer firefighter, says he had a great working relationship with Bragg and the Furey government on heavy issues such as health care and the crab fishery.

He says Bragg and Premier Furey and people in the fishing industry held a roundtable in the area to explore ways to ensure that such a tie-up never happens again. Tiller liked government’s approach and wishes to be part of their team.

Nominations are expected to be called soon.

The province has announced $550,000 in funding for the Provincial Indigenous Women’s Reconciliation Council. 

The funding is provided under the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence, a four-year bilateral agreement the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador signed with Women and Gender Equality Canada, resulting in $13.6 million in new funding to invest in violence prevention initiatives throughout the province.

The formation of the Reconciliation Council was a recommendation of the Hear Our Voices: MMIWG Policy Recommendations of the First Women of Newfoundland and Labrador report.

The goal of the Reconciliation Council is to coordinate and lead meaningful action to address existing challenges and obstacles in the areas of culture, health and wellness, justice, and human security, which impact Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

Newfoundland and Labrador, led by skip Stacie Curtis, failed to secure a playoff spot at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Calgary. The St. John’s-based rink closed out robin-robin play with a 12-4 loss to four-time Canadian champions, Team Canada.

With the loss, Team NL finished with a 2-6 record at the national women’s curling championship. Their wins came against Prince Edward Island and Alberta.

Playoffs get under way today with the final set for Sunday.

Lynx Air has announced that all operations will end on February 26, 2024.

A statement on the company’s website says that tremendous work was put into the launch and expansion of Lynx Air over the past two years. But say the compounding financial pressures associated with inflation, fuel costs and more, was too much for the organization to overcome.

Lynx Air is a Canadian carrier based in Calgary. It previously operated as Enerjet and was rebranded as Lynx Air on Nov. 16, 2021. The first flight under the Lynx Air name took place on April 7, 2022, operating from Calgary to Vancouver.

It was back in 2022 that St. John’s International Airport announced Lynx Air as its new airline partner, and had launched a new route to Montreal from St. John’s back in June of 2023.

The Health Care Foundation’s Row 4 Heart event returns this weekend to raise funds for the province’s Cardiovascular and Stroke Program.

February is Heart Month, and one in three people living in Newfoundland and Labrador will be impacted by cardiac illness in their lifetime.

Dr. Sean Connors, Clinical Chief of the Cardiac Care Program, explains that all proceeds from the Row 4 Heart event are used to assist the Health Care Foundation in purchasing top-notch equipment and providing the highest quality of care to local patients.

He’s proud of what he calls the world-class treatment they offer, stressing that such a standard of care is unattainable without the necessary resources, including state-of-the-art equipment that often comes with a significant cost.

Dr. Connors says that delivering the best care is their utmost priority, and the Row 4 Heart fundraiser allows them to achieve that.

There are already some 40 teams registered for Sunday, but Dr. Connors says there is still time to sign up.

He’s encouraging people to go to www.healthcarefoundation.ca to register a team and donate.

Row 4 Heart is happening at Capital Hyundai on Kenmount Road on Sunday, February 25.

A new scam is circulating and has targeted one person in Newfoundland and Labrador already — using a fake RCMP email.

A discount airline which recently expanded to St. John’s is putting a halt to operations and has filed for creditor protection.

Lynx Air offered several flights a week between St. John’s and Toronto, but all planes will be grounded as of Monday.

The air carrier says customers with bookings should seek refunds from their credit card companies.

The airline did not say how many customers would be left in the lurch but did say anyone whose flight is being cancelled will be notified via email.

On Monday there will be a federal housing announcement in Mount Pearl.

Minister of Labour and Seniors Member of Parliament for St. John’s South-Mount Pearl Seamus O’Regan and Mount Pearl Mayor Dave Aker will be there for the announcement.

The announcement will take place at 11:00 am at Mount Pearl City Hall.

Over the next week, there will be several virtual ERs operating around the province.

At the Connaigre Peninsula Health Centre in Harbour Breton, there will be a Virtual ER today from 8:00 a.m. until Tuesday at 8:00 a.m., and from February 28 at 8:00 a.m. until Thursday at 8:00 a.m.

There will also be a virtual ER at the Dr. Y.K. Jeon Kittiwake Health Centre in New-Wes-Valley from Sunday, February 25 at 8:00 a.m. until Friday, March 1 at 8:00 a.m.

There will also be a virtual ER at the Baie Verte Peninsula Health Centre from Sunday at 8:00 a.m. until Monday at 8:00 a.m., Tuesday at 8:00 a.m. until Wednesday at 8:00 a.m., and Thursday from 8:00 a.m. until Friday at 8:00 a.m.

At the A.M. Guy Memorial Health Centre in Buchans, there will be a virtual ER from today at 8:00 a.m. until Monday, February 26 at 6:00 p.m.

Stephen Hopkins stunned the courtroom yesterday by agreeing with all the Crown’s reasons for wanting him declared a dangerous offender.

It marked yet another bizarre turn in the case as the repeat sex offender continues to represent himself.

Hopkins has already been convicted of attacking a 17-year-old girl in her Cowan Heights home in 2020.

He got close by asking for a glass of water, then pushed her inside and carried her to a bedroom where he assaulted her physically and sexually, then threatened to kill her if she told anyone.

Hopkins was a registered sex offender at the time and had just served a sentence for assaulting female joggers on the Long Pond trail.

But rather than a straight sentencing, the Crown sought to have Hopkins declared a dangerous offender, citing several other incidents, and his high risk to attack again.

The finding could see the 33-year-old St. John’s man spend the rest of his life in jail or on probation.

Yet when given the chance to speak in his own defence yesterday, Hopkins declined, quietly stating: “I accept the Crown’s submissions to the court.”

The response stunned even the lawyer appointed to help him navigate the legal system.

“I have concerns about what Mr. Hopkins just told the court,” said the lawyer, asking the judge to disregard what he said.

But Justice Peter O’Flaherty refused, stating, “I heard what he said and I will take it into account.”

The last person deemed a dangerous offender in this province was serial rapist Sofyan Boalag in 2017.

Hopkins will learn his fate on April 12.

Braya Renewable Fuels has announced it has achieved commercial operations making the completion of the refinery conversion project.

The company is not beginning to provide reliable renewable fuel for the energy transition.

“We are incredibly grateful for all of the hard work and dedication of the Braya team that has allowed us to achieve commercial operations at the refinery,” said Todd O’Malley, Braya’s Chief Executive Officer. 

Braya anticipates an initial production capacity of 18,000 barrels per day of renewable diesel, with plans to expand production capacity, add sustainable aviation fuel production capabilities and explore green hydrogen production.

St. John’s Mayor Danny Breen is looking forward to better days ahead with increased production in oil and gas and green energy opportunities on the horizon.

Breen delivered his annual State of the City Address to St. John’s Rotary yesterday.

While the St. John’s Census Metropolitan Area saw modest economic growth, excluding the oil and gas industry, real GDP was down due to lower oil production.

Breen admits that oil and gas is still a major economic driver in the province and with increased production in 2024 they’re also looking ahead to green energy opportunities.

“You never want to be too reliant on one sector,” says Breen, “but the oil industry here is strong, and we also have great opportunities in the province through hydrogen and wind energy…so our job is to capitalize on those opportunities.”

Most roads on the Avalon and Burin up through Clarenville and the Bonavista Peninsula are ice-covered with slushy sections with areas of poor visibility.

Travel is not recommended from Trans Canada Highway to Green’s Harbour, Trans Canada Highway to Markland, Southern Bay to Catalina, Catalina to Bonavista, Open Hall to Bonavista, Intersection Route 60 to Harbour Grace, Tilton to New Harbour, Intersection Route 360 to Seal Cove, Intersection Route 360 to Belleoram, Intersection Route 362 to Harbour Breton, Berry Hill Brook to Intersection Route 362, Intersection Route 360 to St. Alban’s, and Intersection Route 360 to Conne River.

Roads in most of central and along the west coast are snow-covered.

Across Labrador, roads are snow-covered from Wabush to Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Roads from Kenamu River to Cartwright Junction are bare and dry. Southeastern areas are partly snow-covered.

Marine Atlantic anticipates impacts to crossings this evening and tomorrow morning. The MV Qajaq W is in service but off schedule. The ship is awaiting an icebreaker assessment.

There are several delays and cancellations at the St. John’s International Airport and Deer Lake Regional Airport. Flights are on time at the Gander International Airport.

A man has been charged after a hit and run in Conception Bay South.

The incident happened around 7:30 yesterday evening on the main highway.

The RNC say they got a lot of help from the public in tracking down the driver a short distance from the scene.

The 41-year-old man, who was released, has been charged with impaired driving and hit and run.

It’s been a rough road, but Braya Renewable Fuels has achieved commercial operation.

The company has converted the old Come By Chance oil refinery to producing renewal diesel.

Work has been ongoing since Cresta Fund Management acquired majority ownership of the refinery from Silverpeak back in 2021 and rebranded as Braya.

Conversion operations hit a tragic setback with a flash fire in September of 2022 that claimed one worker’s life and sent seven others to hospital, some with serious injuries.

CEO Todd O’Malley acknowledges, it’s been tough getting to this stage.

“You know obviously we had a very difficult time for the refinery staff and their families around the…flash fire…but our job is to run the plant safely reliably and environmentally responsibly.”

O’Malley says feedstock was fed into the system last week for the first time “…and ultimately we have produced on spec renewable diesel.” He calls it a momentous day for the company and its hard-working employees.

The company expects initial production capacity of 18,000 barrels per day.

The following schools are closed for the morning with an update coming later this morning regarding afternoon classes:
Anthony Paddon Elementary
Baccalieu Collegiate
Bishop White School
Cabot Academy
Carbonear Academy
Carbonear Collegiate
Catalina Elementary
Centreville Academy
Clarenville High School
Clarenville Middle School
Discovery Collegiate
Fitzgerald Academy
Glovertown Academy
Heritage Collegiate
Holy Cross Elementary (Holyrood)
Holy Cross School Complex
Jane Collins Academy
John Burke High School
Lake Academy
Lumsden Academy
Matthew Elementary
Pearson Academy
Perlwin Elementary
Persalvic School Complex
Random Island Academy
Riverside Elementary
Smallwood Academy
Southwest Arm Academy
St. Augustines Elementary
St. Francis School
St. Mark’s School
St. Michaels Regional High
St. Peter’s All Grade
Swift Current Academy S
Tricentia Academy
Tricon Elementary
William Mercer Academy

The following schools have a delayed opening:
All Hallows Elementary
Amalgamated Academy
Ascension Collegiate
Bay Roberts Primary
Christ the King School
Fortune Bay Academy
J.M. Olds Collegiate
Mobile Central High School
Riverwood Academy
St. Bernard’s Elementary
St. Catherine’s Academy
St. Joseph’s Academy
St. Peters Elementary (UIC)
Twillingate Island Elementary

CNA campuses in Bonavista and Carbonear will be closed for the morning with an update by 11:00 a.m. regarding afternoon classes. Online classes continue as scheduled.

There will be a joint provincial and federal announcement today on a federal investment to support household energy-saving climate action in the province.

Minister of Labour and Seniors Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister Responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Gudie Hutchings and Provincial Minister of Environment and Climate Change Bernard Davis will make the announcement.

The event takes place at Paul Reynolds Community Centre at 11:00 a.m.

PC Leader Tony Wakeham wants the RCMP to investigate potential fraudulent activity when it comes to the procurement of travel nurses, but Health Minister Tom Osborne isn’t rushing to conclusions.

The call comes after a Globe and Mail article revealed that the province gave more than $35 million over a five-month period to a private company for travel nurses to fill health care vacancies.

Tom Osborne

When asked about Wakeham’s calls for a police investigation, Osborne said he wants to see what proof the PC leader has indicating fraud.

Osborne says he has asked the health authority for details about the transactions.

If the contracts were followed, Osborne states the story is how expensive agency nursing is. If they weren’t followed, he says other issues are at play. But, he believes it would be premature to say something is wrong before receiving information from the health authority.

Tacora Resources has a group of investors waiting to inject cash into its Scully Mine in Wabush and ending its creditor protection, but part-owner Cargill has raised objections to the deal.

It can be a cold job, but that’s not the primary concern for Craig Tarrant, who’s been a crosswalk guard for seven years at Gander Elementary. As he tells the CBC’s Troy Turner, many drivers are so ignorant of the surroundings, he fears there could be serious consequences.

Ocean Choice International has sold off its offshore Nova Scotia scallop quotas to three area companies and is reinvesting the money in local operations.

In turn, OCI has bought up the Greenland halibut, cod and redfish quotas off Newfoundland previously belonging to Mersey, LaHave, and Comeau’s seafood companies.

The company lost its scallop vessel the Atlantic Destiny off Nova Scotia back in March of 2021, fortunately there was no loss of life, but CEO Martin Sullivan says investing in a new boat proved challenging in the current fiscal climate.

“They’re quite expensive now,” says Sullivan, “and with (the) high interest rate environment it’s not something we thought was in the best long-term interest of the business.”

Sullivan calls the deal “win-win.”

A new study out of Dalhousie University is highlighting changes in consumer habits and the lengths people will go to to get a discount on their groceries.

Public backlash recently forced Loblaws to backtrack on its decision to cut its 50 per cent discount on items nearing expiry, to 30 per cent.

That controversy inspired the Agri-Food Analytics Lab to look into the concept of “food rescuing,” which involves buying nearly-expired foods.

(Sylvain Charlebois)

Sylvain Charlebois says some of the results shocked their team.

He says they found that 62 per cent of Canadians, or three out of every five people, switched grocery stores because they weren’t finding good deals.

Charlebois says the frequency of visits to the grocery store has increased by 32 per cent in the last six years, because people are going more often to try to find deals.

Housing, tourism and regional economic development were just some of the topics covered by Mayor Danny Breen during his annual address to Rotary St. John’s today. NTV’s Bailey Howard reports.

Winter tourism in this province pales in comparison to the busy summer season, but statistics show more people are taking advantage of winter travel options.

As NTV’s Don Bradshaw tells us, one group on the west coast is making the most of it.

Calibre Mining acquired Marathon Gold and the Valentine Lake Gold Project last fall.

Today, the company is sharing tests results that indicate the mine’s life is likely to go beyond the current estimates.

NTV’s Colleen Lewis has more.

Should the police step in to investigate the province’s contract for private travel nurses? The leader of the opposition thinks so.

But Health Minister Tom Osborne says it’s too early for that, because the health authority is still reviewing the situation. NTV’s Beth Penney reports.

A fisheries advocate is speaking out against price-setting legislation in the province.

That’s after the FFAW lost an arbitration over last year’s crab fishery protest.

NTV’s David Salter has more.

Often when tourists come to St. John's, travelling the hilly and winding, road to Cape Spear is a must-see for its Atlantic ocean views, restored lighthouse and the first sunrise every day in Canada.

Convicted sex offender Stephen Hopkins, who is representing himself in a hearing that could see him imprisoned indefinitely, remained uncharacteristically quiet during final arguments on his sentence.

The Association for New Canadians in Newfoundland and Labrador hosted a summit Thursday to highlight what human trafficking looks like in the province.