Springdale RCMP is investigating a suspicious fire that occurred on a residential property on Ocean Drive in Triton on March 18. At approximately 7:45 a.m. on Monday, police received the report. Upon police arrival, the house was fully engulfed in flames. The blaze was extinguished by firefighters.

The investigation is continuing.

Anyone having information about the fire or those responsible are asked to contact Springdale RCMP at 709-673-3864. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers: 1-800-222-8477.

FFAW President Dwan Street is taking several positives away from the Boston Seafood show earlier this week.

Many stakeholders have underscored the importance of attending the event, even with heightened trade tensions with the United States, because of the diversity of vendors at the event.

Street says, perhaps surprisingly, there wasn’t much talk of tariffs at the show.

She expected there to be a “negative cloud” hanging over the event, but that wasn’t the case – she only heard the word “tariff” a handful of times over the course of three days. “I’m taking that as a positive, ” says Street, who notes that there seems to still be “a really strong appetite” for Newfoundland and Labrador’s product.

Gander businesses adapt to changing winters; ensuring products available for every seasons

The Liberal Party of Canada lined up two new candidates in Newfoundland and Labrador yesterday. Tom Osborne won the nominate vote for Cape Spear, and Don Bradshaw was acclaimed as the candidate for the Long Range Mountains.

The executive director of a facility in St. John’s which is a weekend ritual for thousands says it’s more than just a farmer’s market.

The bells rang this morning at 9:00 to open the market on the heels of close to $400,000 in funding from the provincial government over the next three years to diversify revenue streams and build partnerships.

Some 300 businesses operate out of the Freshwater Road building. With 200,000 visitors each year, executive director Pam Anstey says the potential is enormous.

(She says they have a unique and flexible facility that can host a wide range of events from large to small – up to 700 people. They also have a rentable commercial kitchen. Anstey says the money from government will help them move even further as a hub for small business and community events.

Some of the residents at Alderwood Retirement Centre in Witless Bay remember voting in favour of Confederation. Amid all the political unrest with our American neighbours, the proud Canadians gathered for a show of patriotism.

Former federal minister and outgoing MP Seamus O’Regan has joined Stewart McKelvey as a senior business advisor.

O’Regan, who represented St. John’s South-Mount Pearl, held several ministerial roles during his time in office, including Minister of Labour, Natural Resources, and Indigenous Services. He announced in 2024 that he would not seek re-election.

Before entering politics, O’Regan was a journalist and served in various roles with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. At Stewart McKelvey, he will provide strategic advice to clients in areas such as natural resources, Indigenous relations, and public policy.

Three people are vying to replace O’Regan: former provincial minister Tom Osborne for the Liberals, Corey Curtis for the Conservatives and Mike Peach of the Animal Protection Party of Canada. There have been no other confirmed candidates for other parties.

Mount Pearl has announced that nominations are now open for the 35th annual Focus on Youth Awards.

The awards are an opportunity to showcase young individuals who have demonstrated excellence in arts, sports, volunteerism, science, and more.

Nominations will be accepted until April 4. Awards will be presented at the Glacier Arena on May 14

Awards are presented in the categories of Youth of the Year, Youth in Service Award, Youth Volunteer of the Year, Youth Athlete of the Year, Youth Sports Team of the Year, Youth Group of the Year, Performing Arts Recognition – Group, Performing Arts Recognition – Individual, Youth Visual Arts Award, Youth STEM Award, and Youth Literary Arts Award.

A 45-year-old man was arrested and charged with trafficking in cocaine following a traffic stop on the province’s west coast.

RNC stopped the man’s vehicle on the South Shore Highway in Corner Brook on Thursday as part of an ongoing investigation.

Police say the driver was found in possession of approximately two ounces of cocaine.

He was arrested and released to appear on a charge of possession for the purpose of trafficking in cocaine.

RNC say further charges are possible as the investigation continues.

Celebrate a senior in your life or community today by nominating them for a Seniors of Distinction Award.

Nominations are now open for the 2025 Seniors of Distinction Awards, which honours and celebrates the many contributions and achievements of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Whether it be enhancing their community, strengthening the local economy, or lending a helping hand to a neighbour or organization – seniors across the province enrich all aspects of Newfoundland and Labrador.

To be eligible, a senior must be:

• nominated by an individual or group
• 50 years of age or older
• a current or past resident of Newfoundland and Labrador

Nominations will be considered for individuals, for both voluntary and paid work, and posthumous awards may be given. Nominations from previous years can be reconsidered at the request of the nominator or nominee.

Please note, the deadline for submissions is Friday, May 9, 2025.

Nomination packages can be found here. Have a question on how to fill out a form or wondering what to include in your nomination? Please touch base by calling toll-free 1-888-494-2266.

Employees at Memorial University are calling on the provincial government to increase funding following news that MUN is facing a deficit of $8.9 million in their upcoming budget.

CUPE Local 1615 is calling for immediate action to protect the province’s only public university.   

A recent report from the Auditor General identified concerns in a 2014 audit in which recommendations were made to the Province to have a long term plan to address crumbling infrastructure.

CUPE says over ten years later, the same issues not only remain but are increasing in urgency.  

CUPE 1615 represents Administrative, Instructional, Technical, and Technical Support Staff at the St. John’s, Signal Hill, Grenfell, and Labrador campuses.

Police have charged four individuals- 50-year-old Trent Smith, 50-year-old Trevor Smith, 78-year-old Chesley Smith, each of Clarenville, and 54-year-old Shawn Avery of Hillview.

All four recently appeared in court to answer to several charges laid by the RCMP as part of a 2024 contraband tobacco investigation.

On March 2, 2024, Trent Smith was intercepted in a transport truck at the ferry terminal in North Sydney. He was found in possession of 760,000 contraband cigarettes, an estimated tax value of $250,000, approximately $30,000 cash and over 3,000 methamphetamine pills, all of which were destined for this province.

The next day, on March 3, police executed a search warrant at C&D Transport’s warehouse in Deep Bight and seized 1,518,000 contraband cigarettes with estimated tax value of over $493,000, a quantity of methamphetamine pills, cash, a 53-foot commercial trailer, and a 27-foot cargo trailer.

Following an examination of evidence obtained throughout this investigation, formal charges were laid by RCMP against Trent Smith, Trevor Smith, Chesley Smith and Shawn Avery, on Feb. 6, 2025.

Their next court date is scheduled to take place on April 24.

Summer-like temperatures descended on parts of the island yesterday in what was the first full day of spring.

According to Meteorologist Rodney Barney, Lark Harbour in the Bay of Islands was the hot spot at 19.5 degrees. St. Paul’s and Bay Roberts also reached the 19-degree mark, while at St. John’s International, it was 17.6 in the afternoon. That makes March 21st the earliest date ever for a 17-plus temperature at YYT, the previous being March 31st in 1962.

Last year, St. John’s #YYT didn’t see a temperature as warm as today’s 17.6°C until May 21.

Two months earlier this year. #nlwx

— Rodney Barney (@rcbstormpost) March 21, 2025

On the other side of the coin, parts of Labrador, including the Upper Lake Melville region, are in for a heavy snowfall today and tonight. 20-25 cm is in the offing.

Happy Valley-Goose Bay – Photo via NL 511

Fish companies and the union have not been able to hammer out a mutually agreeable price for snow crab, so it’s on to an interventionist situation.

The FFAW and the Association of Seafood Producers rarely reach a deal without some type of third-party dispute resolution.

The fishing season is often delayed for one reason or another, but there’s an urgency to getting on the water as soon as possible this year because of the threat of a 25 per cent tariff on fish exports to the United States April 2.

The St. John’s International Airport is advising the public of a series of concerning break-ins on the public parking lots at the airport.

Authorities have been notified, and the airport has increased security presence and protocols. 

The public is asked to ensure vehicles are locked, valuables are removed, and keys are not left inside vehicles.

Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro filed applications Friday to build two new sources of power to back up what comes to Newfoundland from Muskrat Falls.

The utility readily admits that the oft-troubled Labrador-Island Link needs that critical backup, and they’ve concluded expansions at Holyrood and Bay d’Espoir are the quickest and cheapest way to provide it.

That said, estimates for both projects — adding an eighth turbine at Bay d’Espoir and another combustion turbine at Holyrood — have climbed from about $1.2 billion last summer, to about $2 billion today, with costs continuing to “go through the roof,” Hydro officials told reporters during a briefing yesterday.

Costs should be mitigated by the fact that, if approved by the Public Utilities Board, the projects are additions to existing facilities as opposed to breaking new ground, said Rob Collett, Hydro’s V-P of Engineering.Then there’s the lurking issue of how they will be paid for, and affect power bills.

Collett says Hydro is acutely aware of those concerns.

“The good news is that these projects are going to be a few years before they’re in service, not till the end of the decade, so there will be absolutely no rate impact until then,” he said. “After that, we have a commitment from the provincial government about rate mitigation, that rates will be minimized to keep them as low as possible for customers.”

While the new Holyrood turbine would initially run on diesel, the plan is to eventually switch to renewable fuels, pending availability and feasibility.

Hydro hopes to have both projects completed by the end of this decade and early in the next.

A woman suffered significant lacerations to her face after being pulled and dragged by a man, a possible continuation of an incident which began at about 8:00 Friday morning on New Penneywell Road.

The RNC descended on the area in the morning after reports of a man entering a house with a gun. The information could not be corroborated.

They went back to the same area around lunchtime to find a woman in distress.

The man has been charged with assault with a weapon, aggravated assault, forcible confinement, and breaches of probation and court orders.

He was held overnight.

The RNC have resolved the event in the area of New Pennywell Rd.

There will continue to be a police presence in the area as the investigation continues.

New Pennywell Rd is now open to traffic. There is no further safety concern in connection with this matter. #nltraffic pic.twitter.com/URfJHzVua0

— Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (@RNC_PoliceNL) March 21, 2025

Former longtime provincial cabinet minister Tom Osborne will carry the Liberal banner in the upcoming federal election in Cape Spear.

Osborne won a nomination vote Friday night, according to outgoing Liberal MP Seamus O’Regan. Mount Pearl Deputy Mayor Nicole Kieley and aerospace industry executive Victoria Belbin had also sought the nomination.

The federal election campaign is expected to begin Sunday. Corey Curtis will be running for the Conservatives. The NDP has not yet nominated a candidate.

The Liberals have two candidates in place after nominations for the upcoming federal election.

Don Bradshaw, who was a TV news broadcaster, has been acclaimed in Long Range Mountains on the west coast. Incumbent Gudie Hutchings is stepping away from politics.

Tom Osborne, a long-time provincial MHA, handily won Cape Spear, formerly St. John’s South-Mount Pearl.

Congratulations to my friend Tom Osborne, the federal Liberal candidate for Cape Spear. I know from working alongside you that your calm voice, your experience, and your love of community will make you a great MP. To the others in the nomination race, thank you for stepping up. pic.twitter.com/OZabrZrU5Y

— Andrew Furey (@FureyAndrew) March 22, 2025

People in a St. John’s neighbourhood were awakened early this morning by a loud bang; immediately after, more calls went to the police after a vehicle struck a traffic sign.

Officers say the driver showed signs of gross intoxication.

His vehicle was seized and he was released to appear later on drunk driving charges.

A man who did everything wrong, including becoming aggressive with police, is facing drunk driving charges today.

RNC officers noticed a truck in the centre city area stopped about four lengths from the intersection stop line with no headlights on.

Police say he was leaning forward toward at the steering wheel, then put the truck in gear and proceeded to drive in the wrong lane.

He later failed the roadside test and told police he would provide a breath sample back at headquarters, but that’s when he became aggressive and told the RNC that he was not feeling well as he was a diabetic.

An ambulance was called, but the man refused to authorize a blood sample at the hospital.

Once medically cleared, he was charged with refusing the breathalyzer and breach of a release order.

He was held for court.

Newfoundland Power has issued its review of customer billing, and more specifically, complaints about dramatically higher bills issued for February.

The utility says it was already in the process of reviewing customer billing based on complaints when the Public Utilities Board instructed it to do the same.

Newfoundland Power acknowledges that it received an increase in complaints about billing last month and was aware of public discourse and social media posts about the same.

Newfoundland Power says a number of factors contributed to higher-than-expected bills for February, including a dip in temperature. The utility says 65 per cent of customers experienced a temperature drop of 5 degrees Celsius or more during their February billing period. Winds were also higher in February, which also contributed to higher heating costs.

It also says that the number of billing days was higher in February compared to January, with 80,000 customers seeing a billing period that increased by 3 days or more.

Newfoundland Power says all bills are reviewed for accuracy before being issued to customers, and processes are in place when a bill is flagged as higher than expected based on past use. Over 7,500 customer bills were reviewed this winter through that process. The PUB says it will review the information received.

For years, there was no way for Ukrainians in Newfoundland and Labrador to get vital paperwork without travelling out of province. Embassy staff are coming at the end of the month to cut those costs.

Dr. Angelique Myles writes from the forefront of the Newfoundland and Labrador health-care system, where she works to help some of the most vulnerable people with complex needs.

Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro says the cost of building two proposed expansion projects at Baie D’Espoir and on the Avalon has almost doubled to what was first expected. NTV’s Rosie Mullaley reports.

Veteran journalist Don Bradshaw is throwing his hat into the political ring.

The Corner Brook native, who spent 24 years as NTV’s west coast reporter, was confirmed Friday evening on the federal Liberal party’s web site as the nominee in Long Range Mountains. Bradshaw had already formally ended his employment with NTV.

The seat is currently held by cabinet minister Gudie Hutchings. She confirmed earlier this year that she wouldn’t be seeking re-election.

Carol Anstey is running for the Conservatives in Long Range Mountains. The NDP do not yet have a candidate.

Newfoundland Power has submitted a report to the PUB on February’s higher-than-expected power bills. The company attributed the increases to colder temperatures, higher wind speeds, and recent rate hikes. The company will hold a news conference on Monday.

Joanne Thompson spoke to reporters in Newfoundland and Labrador Friday for the first time since being named federal fisheries minister in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s cabinet. NTV’s Ben Cleary reports.

A local software company received some major funding to grow artificial intelligence in the province. CoLab Software got over $5 million from the Hibernia and Hebron projects. NTV’s Marykate O’Neill has more.

It’s one act designed to swindle somebody out of their money that just won’t go away.

The “grandparents scam” surfaced again yesterday with the caller informing the target that he was their oldest grandson and in need of help. Another man then came on the line, identifying himself as the detective, and that before they could proceed to help, he would need money from them.

Constable James Cadigan of the RNC says no legal official would demand money through a phone call. Luckily, in the latest case, no money exchanged hands.

“We want the community to remain aware of this particular scam, and stress the importance of people speaking with family members so that they are aware that fraudsters are among us,” says Cadigan.

Memorial University researchers are developing a new technology that uses artificial intelligence to power prosthetics for amputees. Xianta Jiang, an associate professor in computer science, has developed an early-stage prototype of an artificial hand that uses A.I.

The work and stories from a number of seniors will be featured in a show at the St. John’s Arts and Culture Centre this weekend.

The show’s host, Aiden Flynn, notes working in the arts professionally doesn’t come with a set retirement age, nor does it come with a pension, adding artists’ incomes can fluctuate significantly.

That means a lot of older artists continue to work well into their senior years, and it’s not always easy, says Flynn.

He says artists work “almost as independent contractors, essentially they’re freelancers.”

Flynn says as artists get older, the pressures of work are still there and “the resources that are required to get you through are difficult to come by when you’re in your mid-career or your emerging career. So you can imagine the added responsibility, the added pressure of having those resources at your fingertips when you’re older.”

Newfoundland Stories Woven Through the Lens of Seniors Artists takes place in the Barbara Barrett Theatre at the Arts and Culture Centre on Saturday and Sunday. It will feature the works of Geoff Adams, Lawrence Barry, Helena Eleume, George Masswohl, Jillian Rees-Brown and Bernie Stapleton.

Proceeds from the show will go toward the formation of a local chapter of the PAL Canada Foundation, a national charitable organization dedicated to support older and disadvantaged members of the arts and entertainment community.

Statistics Canada reports that as of Jan.1, Newfoundland and Labrador’s population had decreased by 0.1 per cent — a loss of 301 people — following several years of growth.

The Farmers’ Market in St. John’s is getting close to $400,000 from the provincial government to diversify revenue streams and support its role as a hub for small businesses and community events.

Some 300 commercial entities operate out of the market each week, with over 200,000 visitors annually. The market also has rental space for large and small venues, and a commercial kitchen.

The minister of immigration, population growth and skills says the initiative also supports the Buy Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada campaign by helping to ensure the availability of market and event space.

Minister Sarah Stoodley says the market is one of her favourite places.

They will “ring the bell” to open the market at 9:00 tomorrow morning. Stoodley looks forward to some of her favourite artisans including Harricott Farms, Oliver’s Farm, the Jewish Deli, Fatima’s Indian Food, the Ukrainian Bakery”

Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro says it's moving forward on proposed plans to expand its resources as power demand grows, pitching nearly $2 billion in developments to the Public Utilities Board.

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives has released a new report detailing the decline in local news media over the last 16 years, indicating Newfoundland and Labrador has seen the worst of it.

The report, which tracked changes to 2,900 news outlets across the country since 2008, says this province has seen “cataclysmic losses of local print outlets.”

Outside St. John’s, they say the province lost three quarters of its news sources in the last 16 years.

The fact many small towns and rural areas have a single, local outlet, typically a newspaper, translates into a 100 per cent decline in print outlets for those communities, said the report.

Meanwhile, based on an index that the centre has created, they say St. John’s has seen some of the least news deprivation out of larger cities across the country.

They say that’s because the capital city is a “regional hub” that produces broadcast content that serves the rest of the province.

On a national scale, the centre says the country has lost 11 per cent of print media outlets since 2008, including newspapers and online, and a loss of nine per cent of broadcast media outlets in the same timeframe.

The overall result of the changes, according to the report, is that 2.5 million Canadians now live in a postal code with only one, or no, local news outlets. It says that accounts for seven per cent of the total population, up from three per cent 15 years ago.

The fisheries union and processing companies have failed to reach an agreement on snow crab prices, the union announced on social media Friday.

The FFAW and Association of Seafood Producers had been trying to negotiate a price amid the added threat of tariffs from the United States. The FFAW says the matter will now go to the price-setting panel on Sunday.

“The parties have failed to reach an agreement on crab and are proceeding to the Panel on Sunday morning at 9:30 in St. John’s,” the FFAW posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “A further update will provided following Panel submissions.”

A former MP and long-time provincial cabinet minister is calling on the Liberal Party of Canada to call for nominations in the riding of Long Range Mountains.

It’s widely believed that the writ will be dropped this Sunday, yet, despite an active nomination process in a number of provincial ridings, the party has yet to open nominations in Long Range Mountains.

Gerry Byrne, says he’s aware of a number of candidates interested in the nomination and he wants to know; why the delay?

“There’s no reason why Long Range Mountains cannot or should not have a nomination, an open party nomination to get the best to come forward” says Byrne. “Let’s get one happening here on the west coast.”

The RNC made an arrest in connection with an ongoing investigation in to drug trafficking in downtown St. John’s. On Thursday, just before midnight, police arrested 30-year-old Daniel Gordon of St. John’s on George Street in St. John’s. The accused has been held in custody to appear in provincial court in relation to charges of trafficking in cocaine and possession of property obtained by crime.

The RNC WDEU are actively investigating weapons offences and drug trafficking activity at establishments in the area of George Street, with support from the Tactics and Rescue Unit (TRU), Operational Patrol Services (OPS), and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police of Newfoundland and Labrador (RCMP NL).

This investigation is ongoing, and the RNC requests that anyone with information connected to this activity reach out to the police service at 709-729-8000.

The RNC has arrested a St. John’s man for cocaine trafficking as part of an ongoing drug trafficking investigation focused on the capital city’s downtown.

The Constabulary says 30-year-old Daniel Gordon was arrested on George Street yesterday.

Gordon was held in custody to appear in court on charges of trafficking in cocaine and possession of property obtained by crime.

The RNC’s Weapons and Drug Enforcement Unit is actively investigating weapons offences and drug trafficking activity at establishments in the area of George Street.

A coalition of unions representing workers at Memorial University is calling on the provincial government for an increase in funding as MUN stares down a nearly $9-million budgetary deficit.

The province began the process years ago to make the university more autonomous of government.

Bill Kavanaugh, the president of CUPE Local 1615, is leading a coalition of close to 20 unions and campus associations calling for government to restore funding to MUN.

He says they’ve reached out to the premier on the issue, but have yet to hear back as a coalition.

Kavanagh says worker morale at the university is being affected, and the infrastructure is “crumbling.”

He says the level of disrepair at the university is symbolic of the issues at other levels of the institution, including labour, curriculum, student services, cuts to courses and understaffing.

Some 200 harvesters rallied outside the DFO office in Grand Falls-Windsor today to protest proposed cuts to the snow crab quota in area 3K.

The stock is not doing well in the zone, according to the latest stock assessment, and harvesters are fearful that quota cuts of up to 50 per cent are coming.

FFAW spokesman Jason Spingle says a drastic cut will have a dramatic impact on the livelihoods of hundreds of harvesters and local businesses.

Jason Spingle

He says the union requested a review of the results of trawl and trap surveys of the stock conducted by DFO.

Spingle says the variance is more than 50 per cent, when it’s usually only 10 or 15 per cent, “and that can happen.”

He says with DFO’s new vessel, and the trawl and trap surveys, “there’s nowhere near a significant cut” required, “maybe not even any cut, really.”

Police seized a quantity of cocaine at a recent traffic stop in Corner Brook.  One man was arrested.

As part of an ongoing investigation, on March 20, JFO West, with the assistance of RCMP NL’s General Investigation Section and the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary’s Patrol Services, stopped the vehicle on Route 450, the South Shore Highway. The driver, a 45-year-old-man, was found in possession of approximately two ounces of cocaine. He was arrested and was released from custody with a future court date for a charge of possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine.

The investigation is continuing with further charges possible.