New restrictions on cell phones in schools will come into effect in the new year. As NTV’s Marykate O’Neill reports, the new policy was based on feedback from students, teachers, and other groups in education.

A four-alarm fire in Donovan’s Industrial Park early this morning caused significant damage to a ship repair facility. It also created challenging conditions for firefighters because of the nature of materials inside. NTV’s Jodi Cooke has this report. 

Saturday marks the first day of winter, a cue that the skiing and snowboarding season is just around the corner. Staff at Marble Mountain Ski Resort are getting ready for the season. NTV’s Don Bradshaw reports.

On Jan. 1, municipal governments will get a new set of rules from the province with the introduction of the Towns and Local Service Districts Act. NTV’s Colleen Lewis reports on what it will mean for municipal taxpayers.

NDP leader Jim Dinn weighed in today on plans for a special sitting of the House in January to debate the Churchill Falls MOU. He also believes a snap election could be called in the new year. 

The Town of Conception Bay South is holding the line on taxes as part of its $44.3-million 2025 budget.

The residential mil rate stays at 7.6 while the commercial rate remains 11.5.

Nor is there any increase in the water and sewer tax, which stays at $635 for residents and $930 for businesses.

Other highlights include $300,000 for enhanced operations and planning as the town takes over ownership of the Manuels River Hibernia Interpretation Centre.

Interest-free monthly payment plans and property tax reduction programs also continue for seniors and low-income residents.

There’s also $5 million for road and sidewalk work and $1 million for the new Gateway Drive development.

Newfoundland and Labrador has finalized its policy around the use of cellphones in schools. The education minister says students played a key role in creating the strategy.

A 33-year-old man from Conception Bay South has been charged following the use of a stolen backhoe to rob a Holyrood bank on Monday.

Statistics Canada says Newfoundland and Labrador’s population saw a slight uptick in the last quarter of 2024.

The province recorded just over 600 new residents compared to the previous quarter.

Across the board, Canada’s population grew by more than 176,000 in the last quarter to hit 41.4 million.

Year over year, Newfoundland and Labrador gained nearly 4,000 new residents in 2024.

The RNC has made multiple arrests related to impaired driving in Corner Brook.

On Saturday, police responded to a report that a vehicle had collided with a guardrail on Riverside Drive. Responding officers located the vehicle and operator on scene. Following an investigation, the operator, a 23-year-old man, was charged with impaired operation of a motor vehicle.

On Monday, shortly after 10 a.m., a traffic stop was conducted with a vehicle in the area of University Drive. The patrol officer initiated an investigation in connection with impaired operation. The operator of the vehicle, a 33-year-old man, was charged with impaired driving.

Both accused were issued driving suspensions and had their vehicles seized.

The RNC helped rescue a stranded, injured snowmobiler in Labrador over the weekend. On Saturday, at around 1:15 p.m., police received information that an SOS alert had been received by a third party who contacted 911. The co-ordinates of the alert were obtained and the RNC engaged Labrador West Ground Search and Rescue, and paramedics, who all headed to the area of Shabogamo Lake, approximately 35 kilometers east of Labrador City.

The RNC was first on scene and with hypothermia a serious concern, an officer armed with a first aid kit and emergency blankets headed out onto the lake by snowmobile with a good Samaritan who stopped to offer assistance.

The officer provided first aid to an injured 67-year-old male who struck and ice ridge and had serious injuries. Search and rescue crews and paramedics later removed him from the scene aboard a sled and placed him into the waiting ambulance and transported to hospital for treatment.

RCMP say Jason Weir has been charged in connection with the brazen robbery of the RBC in Holyrood yesterday that rendered a huge portion of the bank building to splinters.

Weir was one of four people arrested in a joint RCMP and RNC operation after a piece of heavy equipment was used to smash through the walls of the bank to get at the ATM inside.

The bank machine was then dropped into a dump truck that was eventually pulled over on the Trans Canada Highway by the RNC.

The bank machine was recovered, a number of vehicles, including the backhoe and dump truck, were seized.

Weir is facing charges of break and enter, property damage over $5000, possession of stolen property and failing to comply with the conditions of a release order.

The three other people arrested were released without charge. The investigation continues.

The provincial government has launched an online survey looking at policing services across the province.

The Policing Transformation Working Group developed the survey with feedback from several community and advocacy groups. It is being administered by Quality of Care NL, which operates out of MUN.

The survey is available online until January 22nd.

The community groups consulted: Stella’s Circle, First Light, End Homelessness St John’s, Office of the Seniors’ Advocate, City of St John’s, End Sexual Violence, Public Legal Information Association, Thrive, and Transition House Association of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Anyone with questions should contact: [email protected]

One person has been arrested, and police are looking for a second suspect in connection with a break-in at the Newfoundland Power communications site in Old Perlican this week.

Harbour Grace RCMP say 40-year-old Hope Cox of Carbonear has been charged with break and enter, possession of property obtained by crime, possession of break-in instruments, theft under $5000, damage to property over $5000, and failing to comply with a release order.

The copper wire stolen from the site has been recovered.

Harbour Grace RCMP is continuing its investigation and is looking for a second suspect caught on surveillance camera during the break-in early Thursday morning.

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

Photo via RCMP

The RNC is seeking the public’s help in locating a man who was wanted in connection with an incident on Lemarchant Road in late November.

Police say 26-year-old Adrian Hillier is wanted on charges of dangerous driving and flight from police in connection with an incident on November 20th.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Adrian Hillier is asked to contact the RNC or Crime Stoppers.

The Newfoundland and Labrador government has implemented a new policy when it comes to cellphones in schools. K-6 students are “encouraged” not to bring them and can’t have access to them. Students in Grade 7 and above have to switch off the phones and store them out of sight during teaching time. But with 13,000 comments, one rule was changed.

The province’s Child Death Review Committee is recommending that the Child and Youth Advocate look into a recent report received on the death of a child in the province.

The Department of Justice is bound by legislation to make public any recommendations related to a report received from the Child Death Review Committee within 60 days.

The latest report resulted in a recommendation for the Child and Youth advocate to determine whether the subject of the report received the services and supports needed to meet their mental health, child development and safety needs.

The provincial government’s new cell phone policy is out with a number of changes made from the original draft proposal released late last month.

The new policy, to be implemented when students head back to class following the holiday break on January 6th, will allow students in Grades 7 to 12 to bring their phones to school, but they must be switched off and out of sight during instructional time. Students will be able to access their phones during recess and lunch breaks.

Students in Kindergarten to grade 6, meanwhile, are being encouraged not to bring their phones or electronic devices to school and will not have access during school hours.

Individual exemptions will be provided to students for medical and educational reasons.

Channel-Port aux Basques RCMP is seeking assistance from the public following a report of mischief, damage to property, in the community of Isle aux Morts.

Sometime between Thursday, Dec. 12 and Sunday, Dec. 15, on Water Street, near the government wharf, a parked loader had several windshield sections damaged. The damage is consistent with shots fired from a pellet or BB gun. The investigation is continuing.

Anyone having surveillance footage in the area near the government wharf between December 12th and the 15th, or anyone who has information about this crime, is asked to contact Channel Port aux Basques RCMP at 709-695-2149.  To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers: #SayItHere 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

RCMP in Channel-Port aux Basques are investigating a case of damage caused to a piece of heavy equipment in Isle aux Morts.

Police say the windows of a front-end loader, parked near the government wharf, appear to have been broken out by shots fired from a pellet or BB gun.

Photo via RCMP

The incident is believed to have happened sometime between Thursday, December 12th and Sunday, December 15th.

Anyone with information or surveillance footage is asked to contact Port aux Basques RCMP or crime stoppers.

Photo via RCMP

Political scientists are dissecting the political bombshell dropped on Ottawa yesterday by former finance minister Chrystia Freeland.

Freeland’s resignation triggered a day of chaos on Parliament Hill, as federal officials scrambled to deliver the fall economic statement, and fill the void in cabinet, while the Prime Minister deflected calls for his resignation.

Political science professor at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Lori Turnbull says Freeland delivered a body blow to the Prime Minister.

Turnbull, who never saw Freeland as “having a particularly tightly calibrated political compass,” showed her political acumen yesterday. “She’s a policy person, she’s somebody who cares about the issues, but she’s not really a politician in that kind of way…the timing that could not have been worse for the Prime Minister, so she made her point.”

A new report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information shows that while the primary health workforce has shown signs of growth, the rate of family physician growth across Canada has slowed.

The rate of growth in family physicians in Canada has dropped from nearly three per cent between 2015 and 2017 to just one per cent between 2021 and 2023.

The CIHI report also shows that family physicians across the country are seeing fewer patients on average, representing an 18 per cent decline over nearly 10 years.

The number of health care workers delivering primary care in a community setting who are not family physicians is expanding. As of 2023, the number of physiotherapists had increased by 15 percentage points over the last decade.

CIHI says one in three nurse practitioners were working in community-based location last year, an increase of three per cent over the last decade.

The Department of Education has released a new NLSchools Responsible Student Use of Personal Electronic Devices Policy.

The policy will come into effect when students return from holiday break on January 6.

Under the policy, students in grades K-6 are encouraged not to bring personal electronic devices to school and will not have access to devices during school hours.

Students in Grade 7 to Level 4 who bring a personal electronic device to school must switch it off and store it out of sight during instructional hours. Students can access their devices during recess and lunch breaks.

There will be individual exemptions to the policy for medical and educational reasons.

The department provided consultation options before implementing the policy. There was engagement and feedback from over 13,000 participants, of which over 40 per cent were students, as well as the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association and other educational partners.

The City of St. John’s has announced a donation of over $105,000 from the Alex Newhook and Friends Charity Golf Classic to the REAL Program.

The REAL Program is a nonprofit program dedicated to providing children and youth in financial need with access to sports, arts, and extracurricular activities.

Montreal Canadiens forward and St. John’s native Alex Newhook hosted the inaugural event in August of this year. Funds raised went to several charities, including the REAL Program.

This donation will enable the REAL Program to place over 400 children and youth into activities that foster both personal growth and community connection. This includes sports teams, dance classes, and music lessons.

A fire broke out at a building in Mount Pearl’s main industrial park early Tuesday. Platoon chief Derek Hunt asked the public to stay away from the fire as crews fought it.

A serious collision has closed a portion of the Trans Canada Highway on the southwest coast.

The roadway is impassable at the Jefferys turnoff, with a detour in place between Jefferys and Robinsons.

RCMP will provide updates as they become available.

Bay St. George RCMP advises motorists that the TCH at Jeffreys turn off is impassable due to a serious collision. Traffic can detour on Route 404 between Jeffreys and Robinsons. Updates to follow. pic.twitter.com/93jQqmN9d4

— RCMP Newfoundland and Labrador (@RCMPNL) December 17, 2024

The RCMP in Bay St. George RCMP is advising motorists that the Trans-Canada-Highway at Jeffreys turn-off is impassable at this hour due to a serious collision.

Traffic can detour on Route 404 between Jeffreys and Robinsons.

Angry Canada Post employees in St. John's maintained their picket line Tuesday morning until precisely the moment they were ordered to return to work.

Premier Andrew Furey says securing the borders with the United States is a good idea. Not because of the threat of US tariffs, but because it will benefit the security of all Canadians.

US President-elect Donald Trump’s threat of imposing 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian exports was top of the agenda at a meeting of Canada’s Premier’s in Toronto yesterday.

Furey says people “shouldn’t subscribe to the Trump narrative” that border security is a “uni-directional problem.”

Furey says the borders should be strengthened, but not just because Trump is calling for it. He says there are far more drugs coming into Canada from the United States than the other way around. “It is important that we secure the borders for the protection, the security, and the sovereignty of a proud and strong Canada.”

Repairs have been ongoing overnight and this morning for a break in the transmission water main in the Town of Conception Bay South.

The break occurred yesterday around 1:00 p.m. resulting in an emergency water disruption.

Areas affected remain without water, and some higher elevation areas throughout the town are still impacted.

Town facilities are not impacted and will be open today.

Around 2:30 a.m. this morning, RNC officers in the downtown area of St. John’s were arresting a 38-year-old male when a 40-year-old female interfered with the arrest and attempted to disarm one of the officers.

There were no injuries as a result of the incident.

The female was immediately arrested and charged with obstructing a peace officer and attempting to disarm a police officer.

She was held to appear in court in the morning.

NL Health Services has named Dr. Fred Paulin as the Clinical Chief for the Provincial Cardiovascular and Stroke Program “on a temporary basis.”

The health authority is not offering any information on the current status of Dr. Sean Connors, who served as Clinical Chief for years and was front-and-centre in political announcements regarding a new cardiovascular and stroke institute for the capital city.

At the time, Dr. Connors indicated that a new facility dedicated to heart and stroke care would make a dramatic difference, and extend his reach in terms of cardiac care beyond the overpass.

NL Health Services says it “cannot provide any additional information” on the matter, except to say that “all physicians and employees of NL Health Services are entitled to privacy” under their privacy policy.

There are some icy sections on the Avalon Peninsula in the Metro area and near Whitbourne. Salmonier Line to Roaches Line and Holyrood to Roaches Line is also icy. Roads in the Harbour Breton area are partially ice-covered. Roads in western Labrador are partly snow-covered with icy and slushy patches. Elsewhere, roads are bare and dry with good visibility.

Marine Atlantic has cancelled crossings for this morning and anticipates impacts to tonight’s crossings. The MV Kamutik W will arrive in Natuashish at 8:00 a.m. and is on a load and go schedule.

At the St. John’s International Airport, WestJet flights 264 and 265 are delayed and Air Canada flights 688 and 692 are delayed. In Deer Lake, Air Canada Flight 7946 is late. Flights are on time in Gander.

It’s still unclear whether Justin Trudeau will stay on as prime minister.

Calls for Trudeau’s resignation intensified following deputy PM Chrystia Freeland’s resignation yesterday, hours before a Liberal caucus meeting and the fall economic statement.

The House of Commons sits today but will shut down for the holidays once the bell sounds later this afternoon.

Few expect that Trudeau will be left standing for much longer.

Fire crews from the St. John’s Regional Fire Department are currently on the scene of a commercial structure fire on Dundee Avenue in Mount Pearl.

The call came in at 4:45 a.m.

Fire crews from Mount Pearl, Paradise, and Kenmount stations responded to the blaze.

RCMP are investigating a break-in at the Pizza Delight on Commerce Street in Deer Lake sometime last week.

The crime occurred sometime between the evening of Thursday, December 12 and the morning of Friday, December 13.

The culprit or culprits entered through a side door and made off with a quantity of liquor and beer.

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

POST 1 | 6:23 AM NST (4:53 AM AST)

FIRST… TODAY’S FORECAST

Quiet weather today across the Island initially, but rain will arrive on the west and southwest coast this afternoon and spread north and east this evening and overnight. Meanwhile… snow will spread into Labrador West this morning and spread east throughout the day. The snow will ease off overnight with most areas seeing 5 to 10 cm. There will be lesser amounts in the southeast, where rain will prevent snow from accumulating.

LOOK AT EARLY AM WEATHER

The weather across the Island is starting off on the quiet and calm side this morning, with just various amounts of cloud cover and some reasonably cool temperatures for the time of today. Here are some readings as of 5:30 AM NST.

Meanwhile, in Labrador, temperatures are a bit cooler but still well above where they should be for the time of year. The coolest readings are in the west, where its a “mild” -5º in Labrador City and Wabush as of 5 AM AST.

Snow is expected to move throughout the Big Land today, and road conditions on 511nl.ca show the TLH from Wabush through most of the Churchill Valley as being partly covered with snow. Webcams in the area aren’t showing a lot, but it should show snow on the roads once the day breaks. The images below should be automatically updated to the latest image from the respective webcam.

Wabush

Churchill Falls

Happy Valley-Goose Bay

Crook’s Lake

An animal rescue organization in the metro region which relies solely on the kindness of community has launched its Christmas Pet Food and Donation Drive.

Heavenly Creatures on LeMarchant Road also operates a food bank for people who are unable to afford food for their pets, a real issue for some in these times of skyrocketing costs for virtually everything involved with having a pet.

Executive Director Jessica Rendell says they hear some pretty rough stories from people who find themselves in need of help.

“We’re seeing more and more people showing up looking for food for their pets, so we try to do what we can so that people don’t end up having to make impossible choices,” says Rendell.

Rendell says they can use everything: wet food, dry food, treats, etc. Heavenly Creatures’ campaign goes until Christmas Eve.

Canada Post is restarting operations today. Stabilizing operations will take time and the company is asking for patience.

Parcels, lettermail and direct marketing mail will be on a first-in, first-out basis, Canada Post will start working through the mail and parcels trapped in the system since the strike began on November 15, 2024.

New commercial volumes will not be accepted into the network until Thursday.

Service guarantees are suspended as the company ramps up operations.

Delays through the remainder of 2024 and into January 2025. Post office hours of operation may vary as the company works to stabilize operations.

For international mail and parcels, Canada Post will work to process a significant accumulation of international mail and parcels currently queued up to enter the postal system. Delays are expected into the new year.  The postal system will start accepting new international mail on December 23.

A woman who tried to get too involved in the RNC’s work is in the lockup this morning.

Police in downtown St. John’s were in the middle of arresting a 38-year-old man around 2:30 a.m. when the woman got in the way and attempted to disarm an officer.

There were no injuries. The 40-year-old was then taken into custody and charged with obstructing a peace officer and attempting to disarm a police officer.

She was held for court.

Ron Penney, a former deputy minister and a longtime Muskrat Falls critic, says he wants the new Churchill Falls hydro deal to face a referendum.

Parks Canada is proposing to expand the size of Gros Morne National Park by moving its boundary northward. The mayor of Daniel's Harbour says a park official told community leaders that the idea of an expansion came from the office of Long Range Mountains MP Gudie Hutchings.

An ad hoc committee formed to discuss the removal of the Ode to Newfoundland from Memorial University's convocation ceremonies has been meeting for a full year and no decision has been made yet. Some alumni and students are concerned and think the university may be overusing resources on the issue.

Crews with St. John’s Regional are currently on the scene of a fire in Donovan’s Industrial Park.

The blaze broke out at the commercial property on Dundee Avenue just before 5 a.m.

Plumes of black smoke can be seen billowing from the area.

VOCM News is following the story and will have more information as it becomes available.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau topped off a chaotic day in Ottawa today by addressing a group of Liberals at a holiday fundraiser in which he acknowledged an eventful day that was not easy.

It was eventful to say the least, starting with the surprise resignation of Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland just hours before the fall economic statement.

Trudeau addressed the Laurier Club in Gatineau just after 9:30 following a long day of cabinet and caucus meetings, fending off calls from the opposition parties and even fellow Liberals, for his resignation.

In a speech that lasted 10 minutes, Trudeau offered no immediate hints that he plans to step down, telling fellow Liberals he will continue to fight for Canadians.

He called it a privilege to be able to serve his country.

“There is no place I’d rather be than Canada, and it is the absolute privilege of my life to serve as your Prime Minister. Now Canada is the best country on earth, but it’s not perfect. That’s why I wake up every single day thinking about how to make this nation work better for all Canadians,” he said.

Western nations criticized North Korea for sending troops to fight alongside Russia in Ukraine, calling it a dangerous escalation. Ukraine reported dozens of North Korean casualties and vowed to defend against them with international support. UK, US, and other nations issued a joint statement condemning the DPRK-Russia military cooperation. (UPI)

Seven foreign tourists, including an American, fell ill after drinking pina coladas at a Fiji resort, displaying symptoms like nausea and vomiting. Four Australians, one American, and two others were hospitalized. Authorities are investigating the cause, ruling out methanol poisoning. Most patients were discharged, with two in stable condition. (CBS News)

A shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, resulted in the deaths of a teacher, a teenage student, and the teen suspect. Six others were injured, with two students in critical condition. The motive is unclear, and the suspect used a handgun. Police are investigating the incident. (ABC News)

A New York judge denied Donald Trump’s request to dismiss his guilty verdict on presidential immunity grounds, stating that he is not protected by immunity due to his election win. "This court does not agree," the judge wrote. The ruling involves Trump's conviction related to hush money payments made by his lawyer before the 2016 election. (NBC News)

TikTok asked the Supreme Court to block the federal law threatening to ban the app unless its parent company sells it by January 19th. Content creators and users support the plea. President-elect Trump is also seemingly showing support for TikTok, reportedly meeting with CEO Shou Zi Chew at Mar-a-Lago on Monday. (AP)