This is Sexual Violence Prevention Week in Newfoundland and Labrador, and organizations across the province are marking its importance. Status of Women Central in Grand Falls-Windsor has been holding its Take Back the Night March for over 20 years, to raise awareness and to support survivors of sexual, domestic, race- and gender-based violence. We spoke with board member Valetta Alcock and Executive Director Jackie Thompson.

Part 1/3 this week: Talk about getting your ducks in a row. And quickly...One of the companies proposing a wind energy project in this province is out ahead on a number of fronts. World Energy GH2 wants to build wind towers in several areas of southwestern Newfoundland, and to produce hydrogen for export. The plan is not yet approved, but in just the past few weeks, the company has submitted its environmental impact statement, and the provincial government has issued a recommendation letter that sets the stage for Crown land approval. Sean Leet is CEO of World Energy GH2. David Pinsent is the company's environmental assessment manager. This is the first of three parts, airing this week on Newfoundland Morning.

There's a new baseball coach in Western Newfoundland, and he's got quite a bit of experience to pass on to young players. Enyelbert Soto, a former professional baseball pitcher, was born in Venezuela and played six years in Japan. Now, Solo is the new head coach at the Corner Brook Minor Baseball Association. Darren Hancock is the Vice-President of the Corner Brook Baseball Association, and the two joined us in the studio.

Part 2/3 this week: World Energy GH2 is one of the companies proposing to build a wind-to-hydrogen project in this province. World Energy GH2 has been out ahead of other companies on a number of fronts, including wind-testing towers and its environmental impact statement. World Energy GH2's plan is not yet approved, and the deadline for public comments on the EIS is October 11. Sean Leet is CEO of World Energy GH2, and David Pinsent is the company's environmental assessment manager.

We're coming up on the one month anniversary of Hurricane Fiona - Post-tropical Storm Fiona, when it hit our shores. Some homeowners on the island's southwest coast are still waiting for answers after their homes were damaged by waves last September. Dozens of houses were destroyed by Fiona, and other homes in vulnerable areas were also later marked for demolition. Yet, two homeowners in Burnt Islands directly affected still don't know what's going to happen for them. Bernice spoke with them and looked into their situation. Afterward, she spoke with local MHA and cabinet minister Andrew Parsons.

Plans are in place for an almost 800-kilometre-long walking and bicycling trail on the Great Northern Peninsula. The province will spend seven-million dollars to build and market the Great Coastal Path as a top adventure tourist destination. Gerry Byrne is the MHA for the district of Corner Brook and the Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills. He spoke with the CBC's Hillary Johnson.

It's been a hot, dry summer across much of Canada, and the Northwest Territories have seen some of the worst of it. Wildfires have been raging across the territory since the spring. Tens of thousands of people have been displaced at various times, including the 20,000 residents of the capital city, Yellowknife. In the midst of it all, you will find firefighters from across the country helping out - including four firefighters from this province. Jason Glode of Newfoundland and Labrador has been incident commander, or I.C, overseeing the firefighting efforts.

People on the Baie Verte Peninsula are in mourning today. A ship carrying four crew members sank off Fleur de Lys last night. The Canadian Coast Guard confirmed the sinking, but didn't provided further details about the type of vessel, what happened to it, or any information about crew members. But people in the community have confirmed to CBC that lives have been lost. Father Camillus Ekodobe was in Fleur de Lys last night to provide support. He's a Roman Catholic parish priest based in Baie Verte.

Part 3/3 this week: Today, we wrap up our conversation with World Energy GH2. CEO Sean Leet and Environmental Assessment Manager David Pinsent have been telling us about the company's proposed wind-to-hydrogen project. The plan by World Energy GH2 to build wind turbines and a hydrogen plant in southwestern Newfoundland is not approved yet. The deadline for public comments on the environmental impact statement is October 11. World Energy GH2 wants to make and export hydrogen fuel - but who's buying? Bernice asked Sean Leet what's happening on the sales end of the company's proposed project.

The Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador has approved the sale of the Rambler gold mine on the Baie Verte Peninsula. The mine employed hundreds of people in the region, but its former owner entered bankruptcy protection last spring. Now, Australian junior mining company Auteco Minerals is taking over. Investors say, unfortunately for them, the sale price doesn't cover the losses shareholders sustained when Rambler went under. Martyn Lewis is one of those investors, and he spoke with CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

This Saturday night, West St. in Corner Brook will be closed to traffic and filled with people. The CB Nuit after dark arts festival is happening. This year's theme is "Illuminate." Layla Radwan is a 10-year-old presenter at CB Nuit and she's creating something called "The Tree of Light." Robin Peters is a theatre student at Grenfell Campus who's presenting "Everyday Beacons." They joined Bernice Hillier on West St. for a chat.

We've heard a lot this year about artificial intelligence software - especially Open A-I's chat bot, Chat GPT. With another school year in full swing, there are a lot of questions about how these types of software will change how people learn and work. A librarian at Grenfell Campus, Memorial University decided to have a conversation with the chat bot -- and she published it, too. It's called: A Human Librarian Interviews Chat G-P-T. CBC's James Grudic went to the Ferriss Hodgett Library to find out why.

The Invictus Games is an international, multi-sporting event that showcases the athletic abilities of wounded and ill military personnel. Athletes compete, and they find support for their recovery and rehabilitation. Events include athletics, swimming, powerlifting and cycling, wheelchair rugby and archery. Scott Snow is originally from Gander and is in Germany, competing at the Invictus Games.

A new program that's about to launch in this province hopes to provide a safe space for people who are exploring gender identity and gender expression. Gender Journeys is a collaboration among NL Health Services, Quadrangle NL and Lifewise NL. Lee Kelly is a program facilitator with Quadrangle NL, and Angel Roberts is a certified peer supporter with Lifewise NL.

Chances are, unless you personally know a diabetic, you'll find it hard to believe how managing the disease affects every aspect of life. Mandi Buckle knows the reality of it all too well. She's been a Type 1 diabetic since the age of two. Her son, Oliver, was diagnosed in June of last year at the age of four. I invited them to our studio for a conversation. Mandi Buckle did most of the talking, but Bernice Hillier started by saying hello to Oliver and asking him to explain what diabetes is.

Grenfell Campus, Memorial University has come a long way from its start as a junior college. It's now a degree-granting institution, with undergraduate and masters degrees, and students enrolled in PhD programs. Budd Tucker was a psychology graduate at Grenfell in 2001 and now holds a PhD in neuroscience. He completed post-doctoral work in ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School and is a professor with the Institute for Vision Research at the University of Iowa. Today, Tucker is the keynote speaker at a celebration of the 30th anniversary of psychology degrees at Grenfell Campus.

Last spring, people on the Baie Verte Peninsula were disappointed to learn that Rambler Metals and Mining was going into bankruptcy protection. The company ran the Ming copper and gold mine on the Peninsula and employed hundreds of people, both directly and indirectly. Now the property has a new owner. AuTECO is an Australian junior mining company with big plans for the region. CEO Darren Cooke spoke with CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

This is one of the best times of the year for hunters in this province, as moose hunters are hoping for a successful season in the woods, Many have already been out a couple of times in pursuit of a trophy animal. But for one man visiting from Ontario, his hunting trip was over almost as soon as it began. Art Jameson spoke to the CBC's David Newell.

There was good news recently for some people who have to travel for medical reasons. People who live in all of the Labrador-Grenfell Health Zone can now benefit from a new Flight Voucher Program if they're flying for specialized medical help covered by MCP. Earlier this year, medical travel assistance was expanded for people on the northern tip of the Northern Peninsula. People there can now get the same reimbursement for medical travel as people in Labrador. Lisa Dempster is Minister of Labrador Affairs.

Those poor insects. The creepy looks or menacing movements of many species can make humans spray, squish or run. But Memorial University and Nature NL are challenging people to get up-close and curious. The "Insect Apocalypse? Citizen Science Insect Monitoring and Outreach" is going on now. Catherine Scott is the project co-ordinator and an honorary post-doctoral scholar in MUN's Faculty of Science. She spoke with Hillary Johnson.

This coming Sunday marks one year since Hurricane Fiona hit Port aux Basques. The storm is still taking a toll on people there. You probably remember seeing pictures of a small blue house, teetering on the water's edge. The sea eventually claimed that house and swept it away. It was home to Peggy Savery and her family, and a year later, they're still living in town. They bought a house up the hill, further away from the water. Peggy Savery sat down with CBC reporter Malone Mullin to talk about the past year:

Last week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the federal government would remove GST from the cost of building new rental units nationwide. The provincial government supported the decision by removing its share of tax as well, so new builders could save fifteen percent on materials. To find out whether the move will help ease pressure on the housing market, CBC's Leigh Anne Power spoke with Alexis Foster, CEO of the Canadian Homebuilders Association of Newfoundland and Labrador.

If you checked the Globe and Mail bestseller list this week, you may have noticed a familiar name at Number Five. The new novel, Rage the Night by Newfoundland and Labrador's Donna Morrissey is flying off the shelves. The book centres on the 1914 Newfoundland sealing disaster, and a lost young man who's caught up in it all. Rage the Night almost didn't happen because Morrissey and her husband have been dealing with serious health problems. CBC's Leigh Anne Power spoke with her.

Taking the "air" out of AirBnB. We'll speak with a host in Catalina who says the company's service fees and bad communication are forcing her to go it on her own.

Everything's coming up roses for a Hampden couple who bought tickets for Come From Away in Gander, but instead of seeing the show, they won a million dollars.

A single father in Pasadena is struggling to give his son the care he needs - while also taking care of himself. Chris Brake has been the sole caregiver for his son for over a year. When he separated from his ex-wife, he thought he'd be able to care for his son with the help of some respite care. That never happened, and he has been struggling. CBC's James Grudic reports.

It's another mega-project, one that will transform the Port aux Port Peninsula and much of western Newfoundland. Three hundred or more wind turbines towering over the landscape, connected by roads and transmission lines. And 140 thousand tonnes of hydrogen produced for export every year. It's no surprise that many residents are worried about what this means for the natural beauty and ecology of the area. But the opposition runs much deeper than that single concern. Jamie Fitzpatrick spoke with several opponents of the World Energy GH2 wind-to-hydrogen proposal.

Kits used to collect evidence after a sexual assault aren't available at all health care facilities in the province, according to a women's group in Western Newfoundland. Find out why the Corner Brook Status of Women Council believes it's vital for that to change.

Come hill or high water, their boots were made for hiking. Hear how a week-long hiking festival in Gros Morne became a point of summit and merrymaking.

Managing diabetes as we age. Hear from two researchers from MUN who have found our ability to cope with life stress generally is a good indicator of how we cope with the disease. Dr. Sahar Iqbal is a researcher and associate professor with the Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University. Cindy Whitten is a clinical research scientist and manager of applied health research with NL Health Services.

It's been a heartbreaking week on the Baie Verte Peninsula. A fishing vessel with four men aboard sank off Fleur de Lys on September 12th. One man managed to make it to shore, the bodies of two men were recovered, and one man is still lost at sea. People deal with their grief in a multitude of ways. For my next two guests, they poured their sense of loss and heartache into a song. We'll hear the song in just a moment. But first, let's hear from the songwriters. Greg Noftall penned the lyrics. Randy Lewis put the words to music.

The province's outfitters association is putting its money where its mouth is. They're offering more cash on top of the government bounty already available to people who hunt coyotes and wolves. Coyotes and wolves are predators that are threatening woodland caribou on the island. The province keeps a close eye on the caribou population. As part of its wildlife research, the province offers a bounty of 25 dollars for every coyote or wolf carcass brought in by licensed hunters. Now the Newfoundland and Labrador Outfitters Association is stepping up to do its share as well. Brad LeDrew is president of the outfitters association.

Jonny Harris is up to 100 shows, and he's "Still Standing." Harris and the crew at the popular CBC show are about to kick off a brand new season, the show's ninth season. The show, of course, takes us to small towns across the country and highlights how diverse we are, while showing us how similar we can be, too. Jonny Harris spoke with Martin Jones.

As we've been hearing, not everyone wants to see hundreds of giant wind turbines in western Newfoundland. Objections to the World Energy GH2 proposal sound familiar, because we have heard them during other large-scale industrial projects. People worry about threats to the natural beauty and ecology of the area. They say it's being rushed through, without enough public consultation. And they don't trust government, or industry. Which raises the question: what would a just and equitable mega-project look like, to these critics? Jamie Fitzpatrick asked them.

How's this for a throwdown? This year, Lee Stewart issued the Riff's Challenge, in which he challenged people to visit every location of the iconic NL department store Riff's - and there are LOTS of them, spread widely all over the province. Think of it as a bucket list item - and you could most likely buy an actual bucket at each stop.

Reading an Environmental Impact Statement, or EIS, sounds simple enough. At heart, it's a document that explains what a proposed project might mean for the environment. Government often requires an EIS to be filed and reviewed before a project can go ahead. But in reality, the document can be long, complex, and full of technical language. A deadline is coming up for public comment on World Energy GH2’s proposed wind project, but the company’s EIS is thousands of pages long. People in St. George’s and Corner Brook can get some advice on that at upcoming public presentations. Camille Ouellet-Dallaire is an assistant professor at Grenfell Campus, Memorial University.

For anyone who lives in Gander, it's not unusual to see people in uniform. Dozens of members of the Canadian Armed Forces live and work in town. This summer, the base at Nine Wing Gander got a new commanding officer. CBC producer David Newell met Lt. Col. Rhea MacLean last week.

The words "wind energy" seem to be on everyone’s lips these days. The province is promoting its potential, and the re-branded Energy NL is talking it up. Across Newfoundland, people either support, or oppose, or are just curious about wind energy. Now, citizens' advocacy group Council of Canadians is adding its voice. Helen Forsey is a member of the Newfoundland and Labrador chapter of the Council.

Restaurants in NL are in trouble. Challenges such as the high cost of ingredients and fuel, as well as a shortage of workers are forcing some owners to increase the price of meals. Many restaurants are just breaking even, and some are closing. Richard Alexander, Atlantic vice- president of Restaurants Canada spoke with the CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

To make a long story short...a new festival is happening in Rocky Harbour this weekend, and it's focused on storytelling. François Trépanier is organizer of the first-ever Rocky Harbour Storytelling Festival. He's also interim chair of the Rocky Harbour Business Association, which is also new.

Lots of people LOVE old photos - the way people dressed, the way communities have changed... it's all so interesting. A Mi'kmaw band in the Bay of Islands looks forward to seeing many old photos this weekend. The Elmastukwek First Nation in Benoit's Cove is doing a photo album project, and they're looking for people's help with it on National Day For Truth and Reconciliation this Saturday. Kathy McCarthy is secretary of the Elmastukwek First Nation band, and Erica Samms-Hurley is a descendant of the band's first chief, Wilson Samms.

NL's housing crisis is devastating for the people most affected. But hotels and private shelter operators are making money off the shortage of housing. These businesses are the only safety net available when someone has nowhere else to go. Through access to information requests, CBC News has obtained some details of how much money the province is spending on temporary housing. And that information is shedding light on the geographic spread of homelessness, which is unlike anything we have seen before. Ariana Kelland was in our St. John's studio.

Picture it: You're standing in the kitchen window with a cup of tea, and suddenly, a bird visits the feeder outside. How often do you know what that bird is? Starling? "Greyjay? Something else? Jared Clarke can help you out with that. He's a full-time birdwatcher and bird expert.

Earlier this week, CBC Newfoundland Morning brought you coverage of the one-year anniversary of post-tropical storm Fiona. Adam Walsh and Bernice Hillier hosted a province-wide morning show from Port aux Basques (hear our full broadcast at cbc.ca/newfoundlandmorning). As extreme weather events become more and more frequent, the Canadian Red Cross says people everywhere should do some basic planning to be ready for a storm or other natural disaster. Bill Lawlor is interim vice president and he spoke with CBC's James Grudic.

One of Corner Brook's newest small businesses is on wheels - literally. It's a coffee shop, that's on a bicycle. The odd-looking vehicle has been around town for the past week or so. The owner set up shop at the Reid Street community garden on Tuesday. CBC's James Grudic went there to check it out. 

Business owners in Lewisporte are feeling frustrated and on edge lately.That's because there have been NINE robberies reported in the Town in the last few weeks. They're not just limited to businesses, either - residents have also reported sheds and properties are also being targeted. Haley Kinden owns Kinden's Bakery and Cafe told us her location was broken into last week.

The term "social enterprise" wasn't used much in 1997, so not everyone immediately understood the idea of the new, not-for-profit group that owned its own shrimp quota and invested all the money back into the community. St. Anthony Basin Resources Incorporated, or SABRI, had to manage the quota for the benefit of 16 Northern Peninsula communities - from Big Brook to Goose Cove. Now, more than 25 years later, SABRI has been honoured with a provincial award for Industry Leadership and Excellence. Wayne Noel is long-time chair of the board.

New research at Memorial University could change the road to recovery for people with neurological disease symptoms. The research uses robotics to help patients recover and measure how well they're doing. Dr. Michelle Ploughman is a professor of biomedical sciences at MUN.

Vehicles pulled off on the side of the Trans Canada with white buckets on their hoods are sure signs that blueberry picking season has arrived. If you're looking to buy blueberries, you can be sure to get some there. Some of you, of course, pick your own. But, this year, many people say that the blueberries were scarce, even in your favorite spots. We thought we'd "pick" an expert to tell us what might be going on. David Percival is director of the Wild Blueberry Research Program and manager of the Wild Blueberry Research Centre at Dalhousie University.

This IS the season for all things pumpkin, and, today, there's a special meal being served up in Corner Brook that is making full use of some locally-grown pumpkins. We're talking giant pumpkins -- 450 pounds each -- grown by Joie de Vivre farm in Irishtown. Adrian Reid is one of the farm's owners. Madison's Restaurant in Steady Brook is turning the pumpkins into a hearty pumpkin soup. Erica Park is food and beverage manager at Madison's. Virender Singh, known to most people as Viru, is executive chef at Madison's.

You can play it year-round, and it gives you a healthy and inexpensive option for recreation. More and more players are taking part in disc golf, and courses are available in Corner Brook, Stephenville and St. Johns. Johnston Miller, president of Corner Brook Disc Golf and events director for Disc Golf NL met up with CBC's Alex Kennedy, to teach him a thing or two about disc golf.

There's a lot to know to be a moose hunter. Of course, you need to do a Hunter Education course and a Firearms Safety course. That's before you even apply for a license. But what about once you've got a moose down? Kaleb Nieuwenhuis is giving a seminar in Corner Brook tonight (Wednesday), on field dressing a moose. He's a former butcher, now a college instructor, in the agriculture technician program at College of the North Atlantic.

It's not every day that people in Newfoundland and Labrador watch closely for a decision by the federal environment minister. But members of the Environmental Transparency Committee were doing that last week, and they didn't get the answer they'd hoped for. The committee is concerned about a proposed wind energy project in Western Newfoundland. World Energy GH2 wants to build hundreds of wind turbines and a hydrogen/ammonia plant. The committee had asked the federal environment minister to give the wind energy project extra scrutiny, in the form of a federal impact assessment. But the Minister said no. Duran Felix is with the Environmental Transparency Committee.

When you turn on your taps, the last thing you want to see is murky, discoloured water. But poor water quality is the reality for many communities across the province. One affected community is Irishtown-Summerside, on the north shore of the Bay of Islands. Peter Parsons is the mayor.

A Grade Three class in North West River, Labrador is gearing up to explore other parts of the province - without leaving their own classroom. Laura Pittman has been teaching at Lake Melville School for four years and wanted to try something new with her students. But she needs the help of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to do it. Pittman is asking people across the province to send postcards to her students, to help them learn more about Newfoundland and Labrador. She spoke with the CBC's Hillary Johnson.

Last year, the provincial government announced community health hubs in Gander and Grand Falls-Windsor. They were supposed to provide primary care for the thousands of patients who are without a family doctor, and to reduce the demand on emergency rooms. Doctors at the hubs have no overhead expenses, but they do have nursing support and they work limited hours. Dr. Sarah Clancy has been running her own practice in Grand Falls-Windsor for ten years, but now, she's had enough of government delays on promised supports. She's closing up her practice in December. She spoke with CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

This province's highest honour, the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador, was presented this week to seven people. One of them, artist Jean Claude Roy, should be even better known to all of us than he is. That's because he has visited more communities in this province than most Newfoundlanders and Labradorians ever will. Roy has painted harbours and hillsides from Harbour Le Cou to Happy Valley, and just every other nook and cranny He emigrated from France in 1971, and still divides his time between this province and France. Bernice Hiller asked Jean Claude Roy how he decided to visit every community in the province.

One of Corner Brook's youngest competitive martial artists has just returned from a national competition with a gold medal. She's just 12 years old, but this is her fourth competitive win in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. She's so advanced that she can roll with other players who are MUCH older than she is - including her dad. CBC's James Grudic went to Anchor Combat Academy in Corner Brook to talk to them.

ICYMI: If you could ask cats around the province what they're grateful for this Thanksgiving, Mission Kitty would be at the top of their list. The non-profit organization in Labrador West has helped cat rescue groups all over Newfoundland and Labrador - and it all started because of one very special cat, Jingles. His passing in 2016 initially inspired a small online fundraising effort, which led to the startup of a thrift store in Wabush last year, and now an upcoming expansion. Colette Beals is the founder of Mission Kitty.

You may have heard a few stories from the most recent Gull Island Gathering in Labrador. Hundreds of Innu came together to pitch traditional tents, play games, and just spend time with loved ones on the land. And 95-year-old Mary Odele Penashue wouldn't miss it for the world. She's the oldest Innu elder in her community of Sheshatshiu, and at the Gathering this year, she was giving thanks for her many, many children and grandchildren -- including her great-great-great-GREAT-grandchildren. With translation help from her granddaughter, Florence Penashue, Mary Odele spoke with CBC's Andrea McGuire in Innu-Aimun.

Corner Brook writer Heather Huybregts always thought she was destined for greatness. But, as you'll hear, awkwardly handling a puppy in her arms has left her still waiting for her moment.

When you think of Thanksgiving dinner, there's the turkey, of course. And, in Newfoundland, there's probably salt beef and pease pudding, as well. But many people would say it's not a full, traditional meal without the cranberries. Corey Reid has been growing them on his farm near Botwood for nearly15 years. The CBC's Leigh Anne Power dropped by to talk to him at this year's harvest.

Andrew Thornley of Campbellton put a message in a bottle, threw it into the ocean and hoped and dreamed that someone would find it. He was a Grade 5 student at Greenwood Academy. On the note, he wrote about living on a farm and about all the animals that surrounded him. Nearly three decades later, Andrew Park of Scotland tracked him down to say he had found his message-in-bottle. Thornley is not in Grade Five anymore, but he still lives on a farm. And CBC surprised Andrew Thornley by having Andrew Park secretly listening to the interview!

Imagine a woman whose broken jaw was wired shut for so long that she now has trouble speaking. But in order to win a one-way trip to colonize Mars, she has to tape a 60-second video on why it would be her ultimate escape. That's the premise of a new novel called Jawbone, by acclaimed Newfoundland and Labrador writer Meghan Greeley.

Eelgrass grows on the seabed, 40 metres under the water. it's home to numerous species of fish and other creatures, and it helps the planet's marine ecosystem. Researchers in Gros Morne will be learning a whole lot more about eelgrass over the next three years. The Atlantic Healthy Oceans Initiative and the Ecology Action Centre are doing the work, along with Grenfell Campus, Memorial University. CBC producer Hillary Johnson reached two people involved with the project.

This province's highest honour, the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador, was presented last week to seven people. On our program, we've already heard from two of the recipients who are connected to our area, Dave Elms and Jean Claude Roy. We caught up with the third inductee who's rooted in our Newfoundland Morning region. Andrus Voitk has a passion for natural history, and he's done a great deal to promote an understanding of and appreciation for the many species of mushroom that grow naturally in this province. Voitk wrote the first field guide to the fungi of Newfoundland and Labrador, and he's even had two species of fungi named after him.

Back in 2012, a wildlife fence stretching over 16 kilometres was installed on the Trans Canada Highway between Gallants and Barachois. It's just one of many attempts to keep moose off the province's highways. Of course, there's still work to be done. Just last week, a 54-year-old man died after hitting a moose on the highway near Birchy Narrows. We spoke with John Abbott, NL's Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.

The thing about artists is that they see the world with different eyes than most of us. Take Alli Johnston, for example. She took notice of what was left of an old bridge that used to connect Exploits Islands in Central Newfoundland. And, where most of us might see only rusty old rebar, she drew inspiration for art. The result is an installation of textile art called "The Bridge." It opened at the Craft Council gallery in St. John's last week.

Grand Falls-Windsor is focused on the fabric of the community -- literally. Hear how the town's sewing and quilting lessons are helping people find their happy place.

She got her moose and she got it in style. Meet the young hunter who won an all-inclusive guided hunting trip in the province.

The Gander Tombolo Multicultural Expo is back for another exciting weekend. The event celebrates cultural diversity in our community and has something for the entire family. Zainab Jerrett is the executive director of Tombolo Multicultural Festival Newfoundland and Labrador.

Enamored with mega-projects. A political scientist looks at wind/hydrogen projects proposed for this province, and weighs in how politicians are approaching the idea of this brand new industry.

The RCMP often warn people about scammers out to steal their money. Last week in Gander, several seniors were targeted in the so-called "grandparent scam." Thanks to police warnings though, one of the victims recognized the ploy and reported the thief.

A case of animal hoarding has the Corner Brook SPCA overwhelmed. Find out what's happening with the abundance of animals. CBC's James Grudic reports.

Moose on our highways are no joke. Hear from a man who really wants to reduce moose collisions in the province. Eugene Nippard is the founder of the Save Our People Action Committee.

This week, in an unexpected move, the NHL has banned the use of "pride tape;" a rainbow hockey tape some players have used to express inclusion. Kurt Weaver is with the You Can Play Project, which advocates for LGBTQ+ people to be welcome in sports. Kristopher Wells is a co-creator of Pride Tape. They speak with CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

For several years now, if you were pregnant and in the Gander catchment area, you were likely diverted to Grand Falls-Windsor to deliver your baby. James Paton Memorial Hospital had a chronic problem in recruiting and keeping obstetrical staff. Eight months ago, the provincial government announced that it plans to fix the problem and permanently reopen the Gander OBS unit. To find out how much longer people will have to wait for that, the CBC's Leigh Anne Power called Joanne Pelley, the health services vice president for Central Newfoundland region of NL Health.

Tony Wakeham is the new leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador. He captured the victory by a narrow margin over Eugene Manning -- on the second ballot. Wakeham is the MHA for Stephenville-Port-au-Port.

Protecting our natural environment. Sounds like a good thing to do, right? But proposals for a protected area are sometimes met with mixed reaction. People might be worried that the way they use the land will have to change. It's interesting then that a proposed protected area now being considered in Central Newfoundland was an idea that came from local people. Indian Arm Brook is near Campbellton in Central Newfoundland. Consultations start this week on the idea of a protected area there. Graham Wood is co-chair of the Wilderness and Ecological Reserves Advisory Council, or WERAC.

October is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and unfortunately, the number of child abuse cases across the country and the province continues to rise. The Miles for Smiles Foundation is a non-profit group dedicated to eliminating child abuse. The group is highlighting the number of child abuse cases in Newfoundland and Labrador to help people understand how serious and widespread they are. The CBC's Hillary Johnson spoke with Bev Moore Davis, the founder of Miles for Smiles Foundation.

Clean Harbours Initiative is a group out of Twillingate that cleans up along shorelines and under the ocean's surface. A lot of the focus is on so-called "ghost gear," fishing gear that's been lost or abandoned that ends up as a hazard to marine life or to boats. A severe weather event usually means that more fishing gear and other items will be washed out to sea. So, even before post-tropical storm Fiona hit last year, Shawn Bath of Clean Harbours Initiative made plans to be on the ground in southwestern Newfoundland, ready to help. Now, more than a year later, he's back. Bernice reached him in Port aux Basques.

It's been more than eight years since RNC officers knocked on Andrew Abbass's door, read from a piece of paper that he was being detained under the Mental Health Care and Treatment Act, and took him to the hospital in Corner Brook. He stayed there for six days, without medical diagnosis - or criminal charge. But the officer involved in instructing that detainment - and another who called Abbass a "loser,' have yet to go to a public police hearing. Andrew Abbass lives in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Recently, CBC Investigates reporter Ariana Kelland visited Abbass as part of the series, Police and Public Trust.

The lack of affordable housing is a problem right across this country. We've heard a lot about it in recent days in this province. In Corner Brook, some residents of the city recently brought forward their concerns about the housing shortage. Members of the "community partners advisory committee" were looking for the city's help. The housing crisis has been on the council's radar for quite some time. Mayor Jim Parsons joined us in our studio.

It's been a busy first few days of the fall session at the House of Assembly. A tent city is still standing across the street from Confederation Building . Inside, the government rolled out a new five-point plan with incentives for the private sector to build more affordable housing in the province. And there were tough questions about whether they have done enough to address the crisis. Our CBC Investigates producer Rob Antle gave us a reality check about how they've answered some of those questions.

We're all aware of the high cost of groceries, housing, and everything else these days. Some advocates say seniors are feeling the impact of the high cost of living even more than most people But there are resources to help. Connections for Seniors provides emergency accommodations and other services to adults across the province who are aged 55 and older. Mohamed Abdallah is the organization's executive director.

We reported last week on another case of animal hoarding, where 30 animals were found in a Corner Brook house. It's not the first reported case of animal hoarding in the city, and we often hear of animal shelters in the province working at capacity. Heather Ballard spends a lot of time advocating for animals in our province, and she's even drafted up a list of proposed changes to the province's Animal Protection Act, which was amended in 2012. Ballard is with an animal rescue called Rescue NL.

On Tuesday's show, we heard from Joanne Pelley, vice president of Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services for the Central zone. She told us that the obstetrics unit at James Paton Memorial Health Centre in Gander should be open by the end of the fall season. Shauna Adams lives in Gander, she is a mother of one, and is expecting her second child in April. She spoke with The CBC's Troy Turner.

If you'd like to help people in your community, and you have some time to spare, we might have just the opportunity for you today. Laubach Literacy is looking for people across Newfoundland and Labrador to take some free training and to become volunteer tutors. The idea is that having tutors around the province will make it easier for people to get help to improve their literacy skills. And there's a great need for that. Kelly Taylor-Hulan is a literacy consultant and an ESL instructor who is also a coordinator with Laubach Literacy.

Award-winning musician and composer Paul Pike is having a pretty good week. He's just been nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award. The category is Instrumental Solo Artist of the Year, for his album Echoes of Our Ancestors. The album features the beautiful sounds of the Native American Flute played in a way only Paul Pike can.

Fall in Newfoundland and Labrador means you could head out in just a heavy sweater or you may need full on snow gear. We have to be prepared for all of it. That may come as a surprise to newcomers to the province who haven't had to think about winter coats and snow pants before. To help out, the Association for New Canadians in Gander is holding a coat drive. Martin Jones went to speak with Susan Watkins at the ANC's Gander office.

Food First NL is looking for a School Food Program Coordinator. The position will focus on coordinating school food advocacy here at home and across the country. It's designed to help facilitate important conversations about food policies in efforts to improve school food environments. Josh Smee is the CEO of Food First NL.

A show that's scheduled to be onstage in King's Point this weekend is putting a spotlight on songs from the local area - and it's part of a bigger project to develop a theatre production for the Rattling Brook Falls trail. The King's Point Theatre Project is gathering music and stories. And some of the songs that are on the list are brand new to most audience members. Jim Card is a local history buff and songwriter who's contributed to the production, and he's also singing in it. Rory Lambert is the artistic director behind the show, which is called "The Far End of Summer."

UPDATE: Last week, we spoke with Heather Ballard, an animal rescuer and activist for animal rights. She's with a non-profit organization called Rescue NL. Ballard talked about changes she'd hoped would be made to the province's Animal Health and Protection Act. She had communicated about those changes during a meeting last year with the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture. CBC asked for an interview with the minister, but we got a written response from the department instead.

Affordable housing has moved to the top of the list of issues concerning people nationwide. Inflation and a shortage of homes have combined to push thousands of people onto the streets and into tents. Jim Case is a retired architect and author, and he's been thinking about how his profession can help solve the problem. Case spoke with CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

A report from the International Energy Agency predicts that, by 2030, there will be ten times as many electric cars as there are now on the road worldwide. The appeal of EVs has certainly increased in recent years. In fact, more than half of the electric cars on the road worldwide have been sold since 2021. By 2035, all new passenger vehicles and light trucks sold in Canada will have to have zero emissions.Tara Champion and Mike Goodyear of Grand Falls-Windsor own some of the 800 electric vehicles registered with the province.

An animal lover from this province is back in Ukraine. For the past few weeks, Duane Taylor has been bringing pet food and veterinary supplies into the country with his charity, Impact Express. This is Taylor's second time in Ukraine since the start of the war. The CBC's Hillary Johnson reached him in Moldova.

This week on Newfoundland Morning, we talked about scary movies, about what films would be okay to show children around Halloween, and which ones definitely would not. But, if you're a grown-up, you may absolutely love a good creepy film. Film buff and theatre teacher Scott Simms talked about why we love being frightened and recommended some his favourite frightening films.

WARNING - DISTURBING CONTENT: A Corner Brook woman is trying to move on with her life after suffering horrific abuse at the hands of a man wo had been trusted to protect her. But she can't get him off her birth certificate. CBC reporter Ryan Cooke joined us to discuss the story of Cynthia Webb, the woman fighting to reverse her own adoption. (WARNING: This story contains details of sexual abuse.)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau came to Stephenville last year, putting his stamp of approval on a new industry for Newfoundland and Labrador. As of today, four proposals for wind-to-hydrogen projects are on the table. Each of them would see hundreds of wind turbines pumping electricity through water, to make hydrogen and ammonia. The product would be shipped overseas to markets like Germany, where energy needs are urgent. But there are hydrogen skeptics in the renewable energy community. The CBC's Jamie Fitzpatrick has been speaking with one of them.

Last week, three caribou wowed the residents of Aspen Cove by swimming there from Fogo Island, a distance of about forty kilometres. Local woman Lorna Coles took video of the animals, as they fought high seas and strong winds in their struggle to come ashore. That video came to the attention of Quinn Webber, a behavioral ecologist at the University of Guelph. He's been studying Fogo Island caribou for years. Quinn Webber spoke with the CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

The Town of Gander wants to see more affordable housing in the community. To do that, it wants to rezone some of the town's green spaces as residential lots. But council met with a lot of opposition at a public meeting on Tuesday. Gander resident Glenn Blandford and Mayor Percy Farwell were among the people at the meeting, and they spoke with the CBC's Troy Turner.

People in St. George's are excited about prospects for a salt mine in the area. Atlas Salt Inc. held a public meeting in the community on Wednesday night, to talk about it plans. The CBC's Colleen Connors spoke with the vice-president of corporate affairs, Alasdair Federico, about the proposed project and what it might mean for the area.

The new report from the province's Citizens' Representative is called "By a Thread," so you can probably guess at some of its findings. The report finds that parents who look after children with medically complex needs are struggling to hang on - and the caregiving role the report talks about continues even throughout an adult child's life. Citizens' Representative Bradley Moss has some strong words about the challenges those families face and the supports they need.

Food bank use in NL went up by 12 percent from March of 2022 to March of this year. A major reason is the cost of groceries, which increased by an average of 10 percent each year since the pandemic began. Food security advocates say the best way to fix the problem is by having more local food made available to more people. Dan Rubin is founding chair of the Food Producers Forum, which is responsible for a provincial food network project. Philip Thornley owns the Campbellton Berry U-Pick.

The RCMP in NL made a bold claim this week: that they've officially driven the Vikings Motorcycle Club, closely tied to the Hell's Angels, out of the province. Project Bombard started back in 2014 and has now wrapped up with a final couple of convictions. Inspector Stefan Thoms is with the RCMP's Federal, Serious and Organized Crime division.

Last week, the Newfoundland and Labrador government announced its intention to spend money on carbon capture technology. The goal is to trap and store carbon from offshore oil before it gets into the atmosphere. It's part of the province's plan to meet its emission reduction goals, but not everyone thinks it's a good idea. Julia Levin is associate director with Environmental Defence Canada, and she spoke with the CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

A public library in the Humber Valley has re-opened after a controversial decision by the Pasadena town council earlier this year. The library is located in the town hall. The municipal council needed to make space for the Town's family resource centre, so it downsized the public library to make room. At the time, a library board volunteer said that it was sad that the library had to give up about half of its floor space and that the decision was pitting user groups against each other. Now, the renovations are done, and the new, smaller library is open. Bernice Hillier went there to speak with Terry Randell, chair of the library board in Pasadena.

Getting long-term treatment for mental health issues can be a challenge for people in this province - and that includes people who suffer from eating disorders. But the head of the Eating Disorder Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador says his organization can help. Paul Thomey came to Corner Brook to help spread awareness of his group's work, and he joined us in our studio.

A church on the Port au Port Peninsula is getting a bit of a makeover this fall. Our Lady of Mercy Heritage Church is no longer used as a place of worship. Construction on the building was completed nearly 100 years ago, making it one of the province's oldest wooden structures. In recent years, the paint has been peeling, and the church building was looking worse for wear. Now, the committee that owns the property is fixing it up. Joanne Rose is vice-chair of the Our Lady of Mercy Complex Committee.

We often hear about big clean-up efforts in the spring after the snow is gone. But some members of a volunteer organization pitched in this past weekend, just ahead of our first snowfall. The focus of their efforts was the lookout near the Trans Canada at Birchy Lake. What they found in a small area is a bit shocking. Bruce Armstrong is with the Pasadena Lions Club. He had help from Lions Club members from Pasadena, Baie Verte and Springdale, along with some other people who pitched in.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced last week that his government would pause the carbon tax on home heating oil for three years in Atlantic Canada. Trudeau also announced new incentives for people in Atlantic Canada to switch to heat pumps. It's welcome news to many, and Conservative MPs have been calling for it for months. Conservative Clifford Small is the MP for Coast of Bays-Central-Notre Dame. The CBC's Leigh Anne Power called him to find out how satisfied he is with the Prime Minister's concessions.

The provincial government wants to know more before it will decide whether to accept an Environmental Impact Statement from World Energy GH2. The company wants to build a massive wind-to-hydrogen project in southwestern Newfoundland. The provincial environment department said yesterday it needs more information on a number of topics related to such things as water use and monitoring, assessment of potential environmental effects, and emergency response and contingency plans. The company will gather and provide that information, and there will then be another public consultation period. Duran Felix is with The Environmental Transparency Committee, made up of residents of the Port au Port Peninsula, as well as other concerned people. Tom Rose is the mayor of Stephenville, the town whose economy stands to gain the most from the wind-to-hydrogen project.

The newly re-opened Tree House Family Resource Centre in Pasadena had its grand opening yesterday. Earlier this year, the centre had to move out of its former location, to make space for a family medical centre. CBC's James Grudic was at the opening party yesterday,

Children and their parents have a new place to play in Massey Drive - and it's different from a regular playground. The play area that just opened has a mud kitchen, a big board full of words and symbols, and much more. It's all designed for sensory play. CBC's James Grudic went there and met up with a mother and her daughter.

From St. John's, all the way to St. Anthony, Alice Aubertin took a journey she won't forget. The 62-year-old woman from Sudbury, Ontario, decided to start tackling her bucket list last year. After selling her home and buying a three-wheeled motorcycle, Aubertin set off with her furry companion to explore Newfoundland. CBC's Hillary Johnson caught up with Alice to learn about her travels.

We've been hearing a lot about the shortage of affordable housing in this province and across the country. Last week, CBC Newfoundland Morning brought you a story about the Town of Gander's plan to rezone some of its green spaces for residential housing. Some residents of the town are opposed to the idea, because they say the green space is needed for recreation and play. Marc Eady owns a property management company in Gander His company does not have plans that involve the land proposed for rezoning, but he says the community is in dire need of affordable housing. He spoke to the CBC's Troy Turner.

The puck is set to drop on another senior hockey season in central and western Newfoundland — and to say preparations were anything less than chaotic would be an understatement. Some teams had a league, but no players. Other teams had players, but no league. The CBC's Alex Kennedy has been following the story and breaks it all down for us.

Many of us have been to summer camp as children, or we've sent our kids to camp. But there's a camp that happens every summer in the province, and the people involved probably wish it didn't have to exist. Camp Delight is for children who've had or who are still battling cancer. It's run by the Candlelighters Association, and this weekend, there's a big event in St. John's to raise money for the camp's expenses. Paul Heppleston of Pasadena, whose family has been affected by childhood cancer, is helping with the effort, and Josh Skinner, a cancer survivor from Massey Drive, is also volunteering with the Candlelighters Association.

Tackling food insecurity in the province is no small task, but a project on the Bonavista Peninsula hopes to make a difference. The Saltwater Community Association and the Northpine Foundation are putting $400,000 into it. The plan is to develop an indoor hydroponic farm at the College of the North Atlantic's Bonavista campus. The foundation's Mark Lane spoke with CBC producer Hillary Johnson.

It's flu season, but are people getting vaccinated? We'll take a shot at that question with a pharmacist on the West coast.

Will a wilderness area pay your bills? That's a question posed by the province's prospectors' association. Hear why that group is objecting to proposed protected areas. Norm Mercer is president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Prospectors Association

Making a change for the better. Hear how MUN's Sexual Harassment Office is holding training sessions for bystanders if they witness sexual harassment. Amnesty Rose is an adviser with the office.

The band Green Day helped bring punk rock into the mainstream in the 1990s. And a Broadway stage musical based on one of the band's albums won two Tony awards. Now, the Off-Broadway Players are bringing that musical, "American Idiot," to Corner Brook audiences.

Students say they are paying the price, for Memorial University's overspending. Hear about a Day of Action for post-secondary students, not just in this province, but nation-wide.

Alberta's government wants to remove itself from the Canada Pension Plan and start its own instead. We ask an expert what that could mean for the rest of us, and the future of the CPP. Sebastien Betermier is a finance professor at McGill University.

A story of struggle and immense pride - A Queer History of Newfoundland. St. John's-based writer and Journalist Rhea Rollmann has spent many years compiling interviews and archival material. Hear her conversation on Newfoundland morning.

Tony O'Driscoll and his wife stopped using the water in their home a few weeks ago. The George's Brook-Milton couple had their well water tested for pollutants and were shocked at what they found. The problem is even though the community is building a new water system, there are more than a hundred homes yet to be connected.

The town of George's Brook-Milton is hoping to be approved for gas tax money because there are a hundred homes that need to be hooked up to the town's water system, including one with e-coli in its well.

Union House Arts in Port Union are winners of the prestigious Lacey Prize… and 50 thousand dollars! Bethany MacKenzie is their programming director

When the kindness of strangers is better than a tailwind. A Newfoundland man cycling for charity says the people of Labrador have been so good to him. Hear from Mark Clench as he gets set to cross Newfoundland to the Bonavista Peninsula.

We will remember them. It will be a memorable Remembrance Day in Corner Brook this year. Both battalions of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment will be part of the parade to the cenotaph. We'll speak with a commanding officer of the Regiment.

When singer/songwriter Jason Gill sat down to write a song about the Newfoundland Regiment in the First World War, he couldn't help thinking about how very young some of the soldiers who went "over the top" actually were. Picturing teenagers in uniform, living in muddy trenches and dying too young, the song "When We Were Only Boys" was born.

Where you're going and how to get there: hear about a new snowmobile trail app that will guide you through Newfoundland and Labrador's groomed trail network.

Attending post-secondary can be a challenging endeavour without having to worry about suitable housing. Memorial University student Rebecca Morgan, who is originally from Baytona, is in her third year studying linguistics. This semester, Morgan looked forward to her new accommodations at MUNs Burton's Pond apartment in St. Johns before bed bugs drove her out. Bruce Belbin responds - he is the director of MUN's residences and ancillary services.

It's been 16 years this fall since the provincial government first announced plans for a new Western Memorial Regional Hospital. It's hard to think of a building project in this province that has been the subject of so many announcements, sod-turnings and updates. On Friday, there was another: Construction is completed. The building won't have its first patients until sometime next year. But, late last week, people got their first look inside the seven-story building in Corner Brook. Teara Freake, vice president and chief operating officer for the Western Zone with NL Health Services, spoke with reporters in a scrum.

Last Thursday, the RCMP responded to a call at Lewisporte Intermediate School. The police say there was an incident between two students and one of them is now charged with assault. But there's another layer to the story. The victim's father is a family doctor in the community and he says the alleged assault was racially motivated...which is making him think twice about staying in Lewisporte. CBC's Leigh Anne Power went to the community to investigate.

ICYMI: This is the time of year when community groups come together to make Christmas merry for all, with food drives, toy drives, and all sorts of fundraisers. In Corner Brook, firefighters collect donations of toys. But, last week, a disappointing incident of vandalism set them back. We spoke with Greg Dinney of the Corner Brook Firefighters toy drive.

A student from western Newfoundland has used her competitive nature and determination to achieve her dream. Sylvie Lemoine, who attends Corner Brook Regional High and has a passion for volleyball, was recently recruited by Lakehead University in Ontario and offered a scholarship to play the sport. CBC's Alex Kennedy sat down with Sylvie and her coach, Mellissa Oates, to talk about the achievement.

It was not welcome news yesterday morning. The company that owns the Corner Brook paper mill sent out a news release to announce publicly that a shutdown is coming. It’s a one-week temporary shutdown. But the release from Kruger says there could be more shutdowns to come. The reason given? "The difficult business environment in the newsprint sector." Jim Parsons is mayor of Corner Brook (interview starts at 0:32) and Ray Brake is the president of the Greater Corner Brook Board of Trade (starts at 9:22). Kruger declined our request for an interview.

Back in 2019, Air Canada and Westjet cancelled their direct flights between St.John's and Europe. Ever since then, people who want to cross the Atlantic have had to go through Halifax or Toronto, which added hours to the trip. Now Westjet is bringing back its St.John's-London route, three times a week from May to October. Steve Crocker is the provincial minister of tourism.

Last week, the provincial government announced some details of its new poverty-reduction plan. They include extra job support, and more access to better food for young children. Seniors' advocates were expecting to see how the new plan will help them too, but they were disappointed. Sharron Callahan is executive director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Public Sector Pensioners' Association, and she spoke with the CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

Allan Kitonsa says he didn’t know where to turn when his landlord and two men arrived at his St. John's rental home unannounced one day in August. They began packing up his things in garbage bags, putting them in a truck, and driving them away. Kitonsa later won compensation at a landlord-tenant hearing, but asked for fines to be imposed on top of that. The answer he got has sparked questions about who, if anyone, is responsible for moving the process forward, to enforce those penalties - and whether changes made to the Residential Tenancies Act in 2018 are actually working as they were intended. Our CBC Investigates producer Rob Antle joined us to break all this down.

About one in five couples in Newfoundland and Labrador are in common-law relationships. That, of course, means they haven't been married in a civil or church ceremony. And, while most of us may assume it doesn't make a whole lot of difference, that isn't actually true. Sara Hawkins gave a talk about recently. She's an access to justice coordinator with the Public Legal Information Association of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Last week, an incident between two students at Lewisporte Intermediate School ended with the RCMP charging one of them with assault. The parents of the victim in the alleged assault are both family doctors in the area. Her father says he feels the incident was racially motivated - and the whole ordeal has him questioning whether he and his family will stay in the town. Dr. Bolu Ogunyemi is a physician in St. John's and a lecturer at Memorial University's 's School of Medicine.

Earlier this week, the Valley Mall in Corner Brook opened its annual Gingerbread House. The mall and the Salvation Army are asking people to bring a gift, to to help out with the fire department's toy drive. Somebody recently destroyed half the toys that had been collected and stored at another place, so the need is even greater this year, The CBC’s Amy Feehan was at the opening of the Gingerbread House.

It'll have a big impact on Western Newfoundland. The Corner Brook newsprint mill will be shut down for a week, starting on Monday, November 20. The mill's owner, Kruger, says it's because of "the difficult business environment in the newsprint sector." The company also says more shutdowns are possible. Kevin Mason is a forest industry analyst and managing director of ERA Forest Products Research.

Brendan Mitchell is well-known to many people across our Newfoundland Morning region. He, of course, has been chief of the Qalipu First Nation since 2015. Now, he's officially taken on a new role: to represent Newfoundland as the province's first regional chief at the Assembly of First Nations in Canada. Mitchell has been serving in that role on an interim basis. He spoke with Bernice in our Corner Brook studio.

When you come to the end of a long day, you expect your home to be a refuge from the stresses of the outside world. But Health Canada is warning about a silent danger that may be lurking there - radon gas. Kelley Bush is Manager of Radon Outreach and Stakeholder Engagement at Health Canada.

Ready for some trivia? What do Bristol, England, Oliveri, Italy, Kyiv, Ukraine - and Dover, Newfoundland have in common? Most days...not a whole lot. But right now, each of their mayors is a finalist for the top mayor on the planet. Tony Keats is the mayor of Dover.

Today is National Child Day in Canada. To mark the occasion, thousands of young people from across the country were expected to gather and protest a lack of government support for their basic rights. 17-year-old Katie Foley Tremblett of Grand Falls-Windsor was planning to take part in the event. She's a member of the Young Canadians Parliament and Children First Canada’s Youth Advisory Council.

For years, people in the medical field have been exploring how to streamline our healthcare system - to help attract and keep staff, connect more of us with family doctors, and do it all for less money. The goal seems impossible at times, but researchers believe Artificial Intelligence - or so-called "large language models" - might be a way to do it. Randy Giffen is a solutions architect with IBM and a former physician. This week he'll be part of a webinar called "Large Language Models and Their Potential Role in a Learning Health System."

The paper mill in Corner Brook is now on the third day of a week-long shutdown. That's put about 300 people off the job. Kruger said last Wednesday that the shutdown is because of the "difficult business environment in the newsprint sector." The company, which owns Corner Brook Pulp and Paper, says there could be more shutdowns in the coming weeks. Kruger also says repair work required on the mill's main boiler will be done during this current shutdown. Monty Fudge is a national staff rep with Unifor in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Recent stats show Newfoundland and Labrador writes the most prescriptions of any province. Six years ago, Dr. Peter Daley, an infectious disease specialist at MUN, sounded the alarm about it. He said if something wasn't done to reduce the number of prescriptions, there would be disastrous consequences. This week is World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, and Dr. Daley gave us an update on what's been done since his warning.

Today is the National Day of Housing, and with the increase of homelessness across the province, a Corner Brook organization is highlighting the crisis in the region with an awareness walk. Paula Sheppard is the co-chair of the Community Coalition on Housing and Homelessness.

What you are allowed to do in wilderness areas is a hot topic. The Wilderness and Ecological Reserves Advisory Council (WERAC), which advises the government on protected areas, is holding meetings in Lewisporte and Norris Arm this week. The province is looking at ten proposed areas right now. The Newfoundland and Labrador Prospectors Association recently told us why it's concerned about the setting aside of land for conservation. Evan Edinger is a member of WERAC and a professor of geography, biology and earth sciences at Memorial University.

In the last year, communities from Bonavista to Baie Verte have protested the repeated closures of their local emergency rooms. Rural ERs have been plagued by a lack of doctors and nurses, which prevents the hospitals from seeing patients. Now the provincial department of health has signed an 11-million-dollar contract with Teladoc, a U.S.-based virtual care company. Tom Osborne, minister of health, spoke with the CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

When Progressive Conservative Jim McKenna won the Fogo Island-Cape Freels by-election this week, it flipped a district that had been Liberal since it was created in 2015. McKenna took the district by more than a thousand votes over the Liberal candidate. He says important issues for rural voters, such as ferry service and the inshore fishery, have been ignored by the Furey government. To find out whether McKenna's election is a one-off, or could be an indication of more change to come, we reached political psychologist Amanda Bittner. at Memorial University.

It’s a big day for Conne River. People in the community are rolling out the red carpet for the premiere of a new documentary called Forgotten Warriors, which makes its premiere in the community tonight. It takes a look at the hunger strike that happened in the 1980s against the provincial government and paved the way for a brighter future in Miawpukek. Chief Misel Joe led the nine-day protest. He and the CBC’s Jessica Singer were in the community for the big event.

When fewer and fewer young people were registering a few years for minor hockey, one of the reasons was the number of parents worried about concussions. Science has proven multiple hits to the head over time can lead to a brain condition called CTE. Those who suffer from it have many of the same symptoms as people with early-onset dementia. Scientist Adam Bartsch invented the "smart" mouthguard, which is now in use for all players in the World Rugby Association. He spoke with the CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

Ed Fewer is an avid traveller with a passion for world history, especially that of the First World War. The 66-year-old from Grand Falls-Windsor has been touring Europe since the 1980s, and has just returned from his 33rd trip there. CBC's Hillary Johnson called him up to ask about his experiences and to find out what keeps him going.

Gander International Airport once had a bustling passenger terminal, but it's struggled, especially since Covid, to keep flight routes. Since then, the airport authority has invested in diversifying the terminal and its services. Now, thanks to a ten-million-dollar investment, the airport will also soon be home to a cold storage facility for fresh fish and seafood products. Reg Wright is the CEO of the Gander International Airport Authority.

The provincial government has entered into a contract with Teladoc Health to provide virtual health care in Newfoundland and Labrador. The contract is for two years, at 11 million dollars a year. That's got nurse practitioners in the province wondering why government is hiring a U.S.-based company to do work they can do right here. Travis Sheppard is president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Nurse Practitioner Association.

An immersive art experience with a strong message. That's how visual artist Lori Deeley describes her latest exhibit, "Sacrificial Landscapes: Gone With The Wind." The inspiration for her artwork stems from World Energy GH2's proposed wind-to-hydrogen project on the Port Au Port Peninsula. CBC's Hillary Johnson toured the exhibition at the Grenfell Art Gallery in Corner Brook.

Canada is hosting a meeting in St. John's this week, with representatives of the European Union. Danita Burke thinks it's the perfect time for the EU to apologize for its seal products ban. She also believes sealers in this province are dealing with cultural violence because of the EU's stance on the hunt. Burke is originally from Bishop's Falls, but now works in the political science department at the University of Denmark, and she spoke with the CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

A few weeks ago, the Gander SPCA took in a stray kitten which likely wouldn't have survived - if it wasn’t for a young boy's determination. The kitten's two siblings were brought into the SPCA, and some people believed a third was still out there somewhere. 11-year-old Grayson Penney heard about this and started a search. Grayson and his mom, April, came to our Gander studio.

ICYMI: Canada hosted a meeting in St. John's last week, with representatives of the European Union. Danita Burke thinks it would have been the perfect time for the EU to apologize for its seal products ban. She also believes sealers in this province are dealing with cultural violence because of the EU's stance on the hunt. Burke works in the political science department at the University of Denmark, and she spoke with the CBC's Leigh Anne Power

A rally was held in Stephenville this past Saturday. Over a thousand people showed up to display their support of World Energy GH2’s proposed wind-to-hydrogen project in western Newfoundland. The CBC’s Amy Feehan got to see the crowd, and heard from some of the people speaking at the event.

It's been more than three months since Food First NL relaunched its western Newfoundland food network in Corner Brook. The Food Hub offers locally produced, affordable food in an effort to ensure a dependable supply. Now they're expanding the program. The CBC's Alex Kennedy stopped by the food hub and spoke with program coordinator Richard Butt to get an update.

A doctor in Central Newfoundland is questioning how the province plans to offer virtual health care. Dr. Todd Young has a company called Medicuro, which promotes itself as "Newfoundland and Labrador's First Virtual Health Clinic." MCP will pay for patients to see a doctor through the company's service. Medicuro put in a bid for a contract to provide government with a virtual care solution, but it was not the successful bidder.

There's a new cookbook out that tells an important story. It's the story of young people who grew up in the care of the child welfare system. One of the young people featured is from this province. Jessie-Lynn Cross grew up in foster care on the Baie Verte Peninsula. She's now pursuing a Master's degree in Public Policy and Administration at Carleton University in Ottawa. Valerie McMurtry is president and CEO of the Children's Aid Foundation of Canada.

As the concentration of media ownership in Canada tightens, small, local outlets often struggle to compete against corporate giants. When those outlets close down, people can lose touch with their communities and the news that really matters to them. That's why local journalists across Canada are banding together to form "Unrigged DOT ca", a brand-new news collective. Christopher Curtis used to work for the Montreal Gazette, but he was drawn to local coverage and launched his publication called The Rover a few years ago. It will now be part of the new collective, along with a dozen others, including Newfoundland and Labrador's "Independent." The CBC's Leigh Anne Power reached Christopher Curtis in Montreal.

People and communities affected by post-tropical storm Fiona have now received all the money from one special fund. The pot of money in question was made up of donations that came directly into the affected area after the storm. A committee set up to distribute the money has finished its work. It handed out a total of nearly 1.1 million dollars. Edwina Bateman is the coordinator of the Hurricane Fiona Donations Management Committee.

Last year, Scotiabank closed its branch on Fogo Island, as well as two others in rural communities. This year it's planning to close eight more, including those in Bonavista, Twillingate and Lewisporte. The Bank of Montreal is closing its Botwood branch in the new year. The disappearance of local banking is worrying for those communities, and may open the door for other options. The CBC's Leigh Anne Power looked into the story.

An environmental group in the province is taking issue with something MP Seamus O'Regan said last week. The federal cabinet minister used the words "red tape" when talking about wind energy projects proposed for the province. O'Regan was answering questions from reporters during the Canada-EU Summit in St. John's. Tara Manuel is a co-chair of Enviro Watch NL, a citizen-based environmental group.

While you're booking your annual flu shot or your Covid booster, you might want to think about getting your dog vaccinated, too. Dogs can catch an illness called kennel cough that can make them really sick. It's making the rounds in the Gander area, sending lots of pets to the doctor. Dr. Maggie Brown-Bury is past-president of the provincial veterinarians' association.

Nowadays it seems there are all kinds of Christmas trees - real ones, fake ones, big ones, even those pencil-thin ones. But have you ever heard of a CROCHETED Christmas tree? The Coaker Foundation in Port Union recently started a project that asks people to donate granny squares they’ve crocheted. Then, they stitch all of them together to make one big Christmas tree. Edith Sampson is with the Coaker Foundation.

A medical clinic in Corner Brook is stepping in to help Santa again this year. For the past ten years, Veitch Wellness Centre has partnered with a local school to make a happier Christmas for students and families. This year, the need is greater than ever - and you can help. Jennifer Veitch is owner of Veitch Wellness Centre.

Nine wards, made up of more than 60 communities. That's the area of Newfoundland covered by the Qalipu First Nation. This fall, the Indigenous band has been getting out to meet more people in more of those places. Staff from Qalipu have been holding Community Conversations. The next one is in Badger next Wednesday. Charles Pender is band manager with Qalipu.

The holidays are a time for family - that's something we often hear. But for some people - including members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community - it can be anything BUT a celebration. That's why Quadrangle NL is hosting a Chosen Family Dinner for the holidays. Charlie Murphy is the executive director of Quadrangle NL.

The United Nations climate change conference - COP 28 - started yesterday in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. Representatives from nearly 200 countries are meeting at this year's conference. They'll be talking about reducing carbon emissions and limiting global warming. Angela Carter is in Dubai. She's an associate professor of political science and geography at Memorial University

Santa is paying a visit to several towns in our region this weekend, as Christmas parades are taking place. In Clarenville, Santa's sleigh will have special access to a brand new bridge. The new Shoal Harbour Causeway Bridge will open to traffic next week - and it's been a long time coming. Safety concerns about the old bridge there were first raised in 2018, so the new bridge comes as good news to not just Santa, but also to Clarenville.Mayor John Pickett.

Helping people in this province live independently in their homes - that's one of the goals of the Provincial Home Support Program. It offers non-professional assistance for home and personal care. Right now, researchers from the University of Manitoba are looking at that program. Christine Kelly is an associate professor and heads up that research team.

It's a historic time for Qalipu First Nation. For the first time, the Indigenous band has a woman carrying out the responsibilities of chief. Jenny Brake was selected on the weekend as acting chief of Qalipu. The position was left vacant when Brendan Mitchell became regional chief for Newfoundland with the Assembly of First Nations. It's less than a year until the next Qalipu band council elections, so an election is not required. Brake has been the Western vice-chief since the fall of 2021, and the band council chose her to be the acting chief.

ICYMI: Right now, LIFE is expensive. Paying for food, fuel, heat and medication is getting harder every day for many of us. In the holiday season, people need help and hope. Enter: Cortney Barber - one of the people behind the Facebook group Neighbours in Need. They help people year-round, but during the holidays, they write up the "Christmas Miracles 2023" list, including people who need a little extra assistance. This year, the "Miracles" list is longer than ever.

A search and rescue group in Western Newfoundland is getting an early Christmas present this year. It's a new rescue sleigh, and it comes just in time for winter. Western Sno-riders raised money for the equipment, and the snowmobile group is giving the sleigh to the Bay of Islands Search and Rescue organization. Glenn Green is president of Western Sno-riders, and Shawn Street is with Bay of Islands Search and Rescue.

This year, food bank use in Newfoundland and Labrador is up more than 12 percent over last year...and has nearly doubled since 2019. The charities are a vital life line for hungry families, but struggling people often need more than boxes of pasta or cans of soup. That's why food banks keep so-called "extras" on hand. Raelene White is a volunteer at the Gander and Area Food Bank.

The need for federal/provincial funding for capital works, and a need for provincial help with housing... Those were two of the broader issues referenced in the municipal budget in Corner Brook this week. The City delivered a budget of more than 39 million dollars, that included new spending and, yet, an effort to minimize the impact on taxpayers. There is also a 50-dollar increase in the city's water levy. Jim Parsons is mayor of Corner Brook.

The holidays have always been stressful, and the rising cost of living has made things even more challenging. Helping hands have always been available for those in need, thanks to organizations such as the Salvation Army. But Maj. Brian Wheeler, Community and Family Services Director for the Salvation Army in Corner Brook, says the organization finds it harder and harder to meet those needs, due to the rise in demand for their services.

We often joke that the young people in our lives are the most tech savvy. But teaching them to use that tech properly and safely is the key. The Newfoundland and Labrador English School District's Safe and Inclusive Schools program has released a series of Safe Tech Tips on social media. Gwen Carroll is a Safe and Inclusive Schools Itinerant with the NLESD.

Alan MacDonald of Massey Drive will never forget being injured in a snowmobile ride last January and needing to be rescued by volunteers from Bay of Islands Search and Rescue. But the sleigh they used to bring MacDonald to an ambulance was an open sleigh, which gave him a cold, bumpy ride. MacDonald was pleased last evening to see the search and rescue group's new rescue sleigh. He spoke with the CBC's Alex Kennedy.

International Human Rights Day (Dec. 10) commemorates the day in 1948 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Human Rights Commission in NL was scheduled to present the 2023 Human Rights Awards today. Nine people made the shortlist, and about half of that list were noted for the work to promote the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. Sarah Worthman, executive director of the NL Queer Research Initiative, and Emile Sopkowe, an educator who helped create the Gender and Sexual Diversity Special Interest Council of the NLTA, were nominees.

*Warning: This story includes discussions of suicide and self-harm.* No parent ever wants to get the phone call Angela Power received seven years ago. The Bishop's Falls mom had recently sent her teen daughter off to university. Laura Power was bright and beautiful...and suffering from depression. She died by suicide while she was away from home. Now, Laura's mother has started a support group for other moms in the region who are suffering through the same thing. CBC's Leigh Anne Power visited her, and brings us her story.

Kittiwake Dance Theatre is doing its annual performance of the Nutcracker across the island this month. The show is at the Corner Brook Arts and Culture Centre this weekend, and the CBC’s Amy Feehan met up with the group during a rehearsal yesterday.

This province is seeing a record number of immigrants making Newfoundland and Labrador their home. They all moved here to start a new life. But, for some, it’s also a chance to start their own business. Over the next few weeks, CBC will be profiling some of these entrepreneurs, starting with one in L’anse au Loup. He's a chocolate maker who sells gourmet sweets from his home, but a few weeks ago, he headed to Corner Brook for a pop-up sale. That’s where the CBC’s Amy Feehan caught up with him.

It's been 85 years since Gander Radio hit the airwaves. But don't expect any of the latest tunes or news headlines on their frequency. "Gander Radio" is another name for the Gander International Flight Service Station, or I.F.S.S.. They're the team that ensure thousands of flights operate safely each day. Alexa Osmond is a flight service specialist for NAV Canada at Gander International Flight Service Station.

Christmas came early for one fire department in the province last week. The Harbour Breton Fire Department has received a gift of better breathing gear. That's vital for firefighters because it's what they use to breathe when training or fighting fires. The used, good-quality equipment was a generous donation from the Massey Drive Fire Department. Dan Taylor is a fire captain with the Harbour Breton Fire Department.Wayne Giles is fire chief with the Massey Drive Fire Department.

From tent cities in St. John's to waiting lists in Corner Brook, signs of the housing crisis are all around us. When the provincial government attempted to address the shortage of health care workers by bringing in locum doctors and travel nurses, it added to the problem. The province's health authority is paying top dollar for rentals to house temporary staff. Meanwhile, families and people on low incomes say they are being priced out of the market. The CBC's Leigh Anne Power has been looking into the story.

For 50 years, Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries has offered a home reading service. The program has reached Corner Brook, Gander, Grand Falls-Windsor and St John's. It has connected many people with their local library - seniors, people with disabilities and those living in long-term care facilities. Sandra Harnum is Regional Librarian for the Western Division of Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries.

Some homes have a daily visitor this time of year. In the lead-up to Christmas, some families have an elf on the shelf who shows up daily, and helps build the excitement for the holidays. CC Loughlin Elementary in Corner Brook also has an elf who visits from time to time. But this one is life-sized - and it's hard to say where he'll show up next.

There is a big gap between the minimum wage and the liveble wage in this province. That's according to a new report released yesterday by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. NL's minimum wage is currently 15 dollars an hour, but the report found the livable wage is actually about 9 to 11 dollars more than that. And that means people on minimum wage are not making enough money to meet even their basic living expenses. Russell Williams is co-author of "Newfoundland and Labrador's 2023 Living Wages."

If the sky is clear tonight, you can look up and marvel at the sight. The Geminid meteor shower peaks this week, and if you're lucky, you might see some of those shooting stars. Hilding Neilson is a professor and astronomer at Memorial University.

The wind-to-hydrogen proposal from World Energy GH2 on Newfoundland's west coast may be a give-and-take arrangement... or, rather, a buy-and-sell deal. The company is hoping to sell any excess power it generates to the provincial grid in the winter, but will buy power from Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro in the summer. CBC's Ryan Cooke has been following the story.

Talk about sweat equity in a business. Pollard's Point in White Bay might become a hot place to be in the next few years. It’s the home of Arc Saunas, a company that designs and builds them. CBC’s Amy Feehan visited the owners in Pollard's Point, to hear about their dedication to their business -- and to their community.

Friday is Feed NL Day, where CBC helps raise money for food banks in the province by contributing what we can. In the spirit of giving, we received an early donation of 500 dollars from the 2022-2023 Corner Brook Royals executive, to pass along to the food bank. But the organization's executive didn't stop with Feed NL. Tony Buckle was president of the 2022-2023 Corner Brook Royals executive. He told us about the charities they are supporting this holiday season.

Helping to control the population of strays one dog at a time is a work of passion. Ayudog is a non-profit association created to sterilize the largest population of stray animals in Valle de Bravo, Mexico. Clara Möller started the charity in 2018, after she noticed an increase in abandoned, abused and injured dogs roaming the streets. Moller has lived in Corner Brook since 2020, working with her team back in Mexico to continue the effort and grow the charity.

Victoria Thornley of Campbellton has a condition called Lupus Milliaris Disseminatus Faciei (LMDF), a variant of Rosacea that can leave her face red, swollen and very sore. The mother of two is also pregnant, which can often make flare-ups worse. Negative comments about her face and her condition left her so frustrated and self-conscious, she fought back with a series of Facebook posts about her Rosacea.

A Facebook group that works to help people in this province has won a national award. Neighbours in Need works to provide basics like food and clothing. Their work has just been recognized nationally by the group Turkey Farmers of Canada with the first ever Wishbone Awards. The award is given to people who help put holiday meals on tables across Canada. Cortney Barber and Peggy Terry are with Neighbours in Need.

Start dusting off your skis and snowboarding gear. Marble Mountain Ski Resort in Steady Brook is gearing up for another season of winter fun. CBC's Colleen Connors spoke with the people who run the ski hill -- including Richard Wells, general manager, and Bruce Hollett, the executive chair of the board of Marble Mountain Development Corporation.

A Corner Brook woman is putting her focus on others this holiday season in spite of what she's going through herself. Amy Tiller is a mother of three. The oldest is 15, and for nearly five years, Amy has been battling cancer. Nevertheless, for the past three Christmases, Tiller has been coordinating an effort to help people who are alone or in need.

Some big changes are on the horizon for the Airport Nordic Ski Club in Gander. They just announced a partnership with the province and ACOA that would see close to a half-million dollars for upgrades to the facility. Dale Foote and Robert Mackenzie are both with the club, and the CBC's Martin Jones drove there to talk to them.

The daughter of Jennifer Hillier-Penney is hoping for justice, now that her father has been charged with murder. Marina Goodyear was in court in Corner Brook yesterday when Dean Penney made his first appearance. He's charged with first-degree murder after the disappearance of his estranged wife seven years ago. Goodyear sat silently in court along with members of her family. Afterwards, she spoke with CBC's Colleen Connors.

They say life is about the journey and not the destination. But a man from the Bonavista Peninsula sure was glad to reach his destination this week. Mark Clench had been fat biking across Labrador and the island since October 4. He's raising money for an organization called Can'd Aid, a group which provides bicycles and guitars for children. Clench made it home to Princeton on Monday.

ICYMI: As the rain continued to pour and wind speeds reached up to 140 kilometres an hour in some parts of the province on Wednesday, travelling became hazardous. For truck drivers like Stanley Reid, risky road conditions are a part of his day-to-day considerations. He joined us enroute, from Deer Lake, to give us some insight into tricky weather and driving conditions.

A courier in Glovertown ended up receiving a special delivery of his own on Wednesday. Scott Jewison. was making his deliveries, and a whole bunch of his clients were waiting for him in one spot. But instead of asking for their packages...they had had a surprise for HIM instead: 50 boxes of dog treats and a major Christmas bonus! We spoke with Scott and with Lesley Sheppard, one of the people behind the surprise.

The provincial government says it must return to square one in its plans to replace Her Majesty's Penitentiary in St. John's. The money it budgeted for the project is no longer enough, because labour and materials costs have ballooned in the last two years. Now, the union representing corrections workers is concerned its members will have to continue working in what it calls unsafe conditions. Jerry Earle is the president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE).

The artwork of Bride Field Locke WILL catch your eye when you see it - and the exhibit she has on now in Corner Brook highlights some of her most interesting work.The textile art on display at the Rotary Arts Centre was inspired by a book of sketches You can see them -- and Locke's colourful interpretations -- side by side. Bernice Hillier met up with Bride Field Locke to take a look.

Imagine your family is so big that you need a Town Hall rather than a dining table to fit everyone in for Christmas meals. That's exactly what happens whenever the Gillinghams of Glenwood get together on Boxing Day. Luckily, they don't have far to travel for the meal - since they all live in Glenwood year round. Ivy Gillingham is the head of the family, and Perry Gillingham is one of her sons.

Most food banks across the province have started handing out their Christmas hampers. These are boxes of food with everything you need for a Christmas dinner. Putting those kits together takes a lot of co-ordination, but for volunteers with the Gander and Area Food Bank, it's one of the most rewarding days of the year. The CBC's Cherie Wheeler stopped by to check it out.

The weather system bringing snow and rain to much of the island is worrying officials at Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro. The utility released a statement last night, saying that despite the corporation's best efforts to manage water levels at Beothuk Lake in Central Newfoundland, flooding could happen in cabin areas in the coming days. The lake serves as a water reservoir for an NL Hydro power generation system. Fiona Humber is the mayor of the nearby community of Millertown.

It's the last weekend before Christmas Day, and if you’re scrambling to find that final gift on your list, why not look for a book? But with so many to choose from, we thought it would be nice to help you narrow down your options. The CBC’s Amy Feehan headed over to Coles in Corner Brook to ask some employees what they think would make the perfect gift.

The Keats family in Glovertown is coming out of the worst Christmas season you could possibly imagine. Jason Keats died three days before Christmas Day, just months after he was diagnosed with cancer. Then, on Boxing Day, his wife, Robyn, died unexpectedly from a heart attack. Their only child, fourteen- year-old Simon, lost both of his parents in less than a week. Martin Keats is Jason Keats' older brother.

Class is back in session at most campuses of Memorial University, but students and faculty at Grenfell Campus in Corner Brook are still waiting to head back to the classroom. On Monday, the university announced that there had been a cybersecurity incident over the weekend. That has led to a delayed start to the winter semester at Grenfell Campus. MUN administration held a meeting with faculty representatives Wednesday morning. Josh Lepawsky is the president of the Faculty Association, and he spoke with the CBC’s Elizabeth Whitten.

Students at Grenfell Campus, Memorial University weren't headed to classes today. They were supposed to be back yesterday, but a cybersecurity incident last weekend, affecting the campus, has delayed the start of classes until Monday. E-mail and other computer services were still unavailable to students and faculty today. Saif Sayeedi is the Vice-president, Academic of the Grenfell Campus Student Union.

Today was scheduled to be another busy day of curling at the Bruce II Sports Centre in Port aux Basques. The provincial Mixed Doubles championships are underway. But one team has already experienced what is likely to be the highlight of the event for them. David Thomas and his daughter, Sarah Thomas had the chance on Wednesday to play against Brad Gushue and his daughter, Marissa. David Thomas is also president of the Gateway Curling Club and president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Curling Association.

You get to see the true meaning of the word "community" in action in times of need. Many people saw it happen with a story last week in Clarenville, when Dave and Marie Ingram's home burned down. After it happened, the people of the town showed up to help. John Blundon, the couple's nephew, spoke with CBC's Gavin Simms.

NL's provincial department of Immigration and Multiculturalism says thousands of permanent residents have moved into the province in the last few years. Among them is Cesar Ambrocio, from the Philippines, who immigrated to Gander a little more than four years ago. The first step for him and his wife in building a new life in the town was to start a Shawarma restaurant. CBC's Cherie Wheeler stopped by to check it out.

The province is handing out big bucks to help towns big and small tackle the issue of affordable housing. They’ve earmarked 80-million-dollars for affordable rental projects in 51 communities across NL. One of the towns happy to be on the list of recipients is Port Saunders, on the Northern Peninsula. They’ve just received 1.5 million dollars to build 10 affordable rental units in the community. Chris Biggin is a town councillor and Chair of the town's local Development Committee.

People who respond to emergencies in this province can add something new to their skill sets this week. Training is available for first responders so they can better understand how to help people with dementia. The Alzheimer Society is offering the session. Shirley Lucas is CEO of the Alzheimer Society of Newfoundland and Labrador. Duane Antle is president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Fire Services.

The Central-West Senior Hockey League season has been in full swing for quite some time now. But yesterday was extra special for the Corner Brook Royals. It was the first Sunday game they played at the Corner Brook Civic Centre in nearly a decade, as they battled it out against the Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts. CBC’s Amy Feehan headed over to the civic centre to chat with some of the Royals.

A wellness organization on the Bonavista Peninsula just got a big boost. The charitable Northpine Foundation is giving the Tip-A-Vista Wellness Foundation more than a half-million dollars. Tip-A-Vista is made up of volunteers who are dedicated to improving the mental, emotional and physical wellbeing of people in the region. Eliza Swyers, coordinator with Tip-A-Vista, spoke with the CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

The Professional Women's Hockey League is bringing in the crowds since its official start on January 1. Last Saturday, Montreal faced off against Minnesota, with a record-breaking attendance of more than 13-thousand fans. As the number of devotees keeps growing, so do the dreams of young players.Toronto forward and Newfoundlander Maggie Connors is making headlines, and some female athletes in this province might want to follow in her footsteps. CBC's Amy Feehan met up with the female under-18 Triple A team in Corner Brook, to hear what the PWHL means to them.

Students at Grenfell Campus, Memorial University are back in classrooms again today. They resumed in-person sessions yesterday, after an extended break last week. A cybersecurity incident over Christmas delayed the start of the winter semester. Ian Sutherland is vice-president of Grenfell Campus (interview starts at 0:32 mark), and Vicky Quao is vice-president, external with the Grenfell Campus Student Union (starts at 10:35 mark).

Some minor hockey teams in western Newfoundland have gone against a directive from Hockey NL. The organization eliminated the traditional post-game handshakes in boys' minor hockey late last month. The handshake is supposed to be a show of sportsmanship, but it has devolved into fights and insults several times. Switching to a pre-game handshake or fist bump was meant to stop those incidents. But a couple of teams in the Port aux Basques Minor Hockey Association decided to shake hands anyway after some games on the weekend. Brock Seaward is the president of that group.

Musicians across Canada are still waiting for Ottawa to keep its promise, so some of them want to make some noise. Back in the 2021 federal election campaign, the Liberal Party pledged to increase the Canada Music Fund to 50 million dollars a year. But it hasn't happened yet, so music industry groups across Canada are taking part in an online campaign for a call to action. Rhonda Tulk-Lane is the CEO of MusicNL.

An animal rescue group in Western Newfoundland could use a little help from some friends. The NL West SPCA is working hard to help animals from a hoarding situation that was discovered last fall. Cats, rabbits and guinea pigs were rescued from a residence in Corner Brook, and most of them are still in the care of the SPCA. Frances Drover is president of the NL West SPCA.

It's been nearly two weeks since a cybersecurity incident that has affected IT services at Grenfell Campus, Memorial University. That led to a delay in the start of in-person classes for the winter semester at the campus. Memorial University has released very little information about the exact nature of the cybersecurity incident. Josh Lepawsky, president of the Memorial University Faculty Association says it's also been excluded from decision making in response to the breach.

The provincial government is making it a bit easier for people to travel for medical reasons. The out-of-pocket cost for some flights, mileage allowances and per diem rates are leaving more money in the public's pocket. Lisa Dempster is the Minister of Labrador Affairs and the Minister Responsible for Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation. She's also responsible for The Medical Transportation Assistance program.

The snow that many Newfoundlanders have had lately might make them eager to hit the slopes. The folks at White Hills Resort in Clarenville are working hard to make that happen. Marke Dickson is the new general manager at White Hills.

The back and forth about proposals to develop a wind industry in this province is ongoing. Some people in the Codroy Valley are adding their voices to the public debate. The group calls itself Codroy Valley United and it is opposed to the wind project proposed by World Energy GH2. People just a bit further north, on the Port au Port Peninsula, have been vocal for more than a year now about wind turbines for their area. But Codroy Valley's inclusion in the project has received much less attention. Claudelle Devoe is with Codroy Valley United.

Mi'kmaq in this province are working hard to reclaim their cultural heritage. For decades, many of them hid their identities to avoid racism and discrimination. Now they're proud to identify as Indigenous and re-learn traditional skills, knowledge and - perhaps most importantly - their language. Dean Simon of Bay St. George is a Mi'kmaq teacher who's behind the first online school that offers language instruction.

It's been weeks since the cyberattack on Grenfell Campus in Corner Brook, but little is known yet about how bad and widespread it was. The attack forced the university to delay the start of the semester and shut down IT services. The lack of information is similar to what happened after the cyber attack on the health care system back in 2021. So why the secrecy and lack of specifics? Sheldon Handcock owns IT Security NL - a tech company based in Gander joined us this morning to help us understand.

A writer from Lewisporte has been paying close attention to the fate of the Peregrine Moon lander this weekend. That's because her book is actually on the spacecraft. Carolyn Parsons was one of 125 writers worldwide whose work was saved on a digital storage card destined for the moon. Unfortunately, that's not exactly how it played out. Peregrine One had a fuel leak in space, making a successful moon landing nearly impossible. And while all this has been unfolding over the past few days, Carolyn Parsons has been watching from home.

People across Canada are sharing their memories of Ed Broadbent. The former NDP leader died last week at the age of 87. Broadbent led the federal New Democrats from 1975 to 1989, and although his party didn't form the government, he is widely considered as being influential. Fonse Faour of Corner Brook benefited from the influence of Ed Broadbent. Faour was a young lawyer when he was first elected as an NDP MP, the first ever from this province. He's been a Justice of the Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court for more than 20 years.

The Stanley Cup is one of the newest trends. No, not the hockey trophy - the Stanley-brand line of stainless steel travel mugs and cups. They're so popular, some people are even willing to fight for them in stores. But what makes these thermal mugs such a hot item? CBC’s Amy Feehan hit the streets of Corner Brook to ask people.

Fevers, coughs, and sore throats have been running rampant lately - and there's been no let-up. It seems just about everyone is catching SOMETHING this winter. So... what's on the go? Dr. Nazlee Ogunyemi is the Medical Officer of Health with NL Health Services.

He’s been the leader of his community for five decades, and he says now’s the time to step down. Chief Mi’sel Joe is retiring as administrative chief of Newfoundland’s Miawpukek First Nation. He announced his retirement yesterday, and his last day on the job will be tomorrow. We asked him to look back at his long career and tell us what’s to come.

With the winter weather settling in, many of us are getting ready to head out on the snowmobile trails for some outdoor fun. An event was scheduled for Corner Brook tonight (Wednesday), reminding us to be safe while we're at it. Craig Borden is a director at the Snowmobile Federation of Newfoundland and Labrador. He also owns Rugged Edge, a powersports dealership in Corner Brook,

It's time for young musicians to sign up for the most exciting event of the year. The 57th Annual Central Newfoundland Kiwanis Music Festival in Grand Falls-Windsor is coming up in March, but preparations are already well underway. David Oxford is the chair of the festival's organizing committee.

Finding an affordable rental property to call home is tough in NL right now. Between the lack of availability and the rising costs of rent, competition is fierce. All the more reason to know exactly what you - as a tenant - are getting into before you search or sign a lease. Sherwin Flight is a renters' rights advocate who oversees the Facebook group Newfoundland Tenant and Landlord Support Group. He helped us understand what sorts of questions we should be asking landlords and ourselves.

The province still has a dire shortage of social workers. That's how it was in 2020, when CBC reported that there were too few of them right across Newfoundland and Labrador. Back then, the government promised it would hire more people, but four years later the situation has actually worsened. Jerry Earle is the president of NAPE, the union representing social workers.

Yesterday, we spoke with Sherwin Flight, a renters' rights advocate here in NL. We talked about things renters should consider before they start looking for a place to live - and before signing a lease. Today, we flipped things around. If you're considering becoming a landlord, what should you consider before drafting a lease - and what are you expected to do to make sure the rights of your tenants and you are maintained? Sherwin was back with us this morning, to answer all of our landlord-related questions.

Five years ago, College of the North Atlantic and Qalipu First Nation signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding. One of the goals was to help Qalipu members further their education and improve their chances to get jobs. The project was so successful, they've just signed on for another five years. Charles Pender is Band Manager with Qalipu First Nation, and Heidi Staeben-Simmons is the associate VP of Public Affairs and Advancement with CNA.

Plans to change the province's air ambulance service aren't flying with the MP representing Gander. Right now, the province uses several airports for the service, but the new plan will see it all based in St. John's and Happy Valley Goose-Bay. And the dispatching which all comes from Gander right now will be moving to the capital as well. Clifford Small is the MP for Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame.

The weather in Corner Brook yesterday was so stormy, the RCMP was asking people to stay off the roads. So when parents learned partway through the day that schools in Corner Brook were closing and it wasn't safe to send the kids home on buses ...well, that caused panic. We heard from Angela Aultman, who has two children attending school in Corner Brook (0:00 mark of podcast) and from Trent Langdon, president of the the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association (7:53 mark of podcast).

The deadline for repaying the Canada Emergency Business Account has passed. Thousands of businesses and not-for-profits took out loans of up $60,000. They were originally interest-free...and meant to help during the Covid lockdowns. But as of yesterday, that loan is due...and collecting interest. Some business owners are speaking out about the federal government's decision NOT to extend the deadline. Rebecca LeRiche (0:00 mark of podcast) owns Starboard Side Guest House in Port aux Basques. Federic Gionet (8:14 mark of podcast) is a senior policy analyst for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business in the Atlantic Region.

People in Central and Western Newfoundland have a chance this week to learn about something new to help students -- and seniors. It's an online platform called SpacesShared, and it's been operating in parts of Ontario since last April. Now, it has teamed up with post-secondary institutions in Newfoundland and Labrador. SpacesShared is doing a community engagement tour in our region this week. Rylan Kinnon is CEO of SpacesShared, and Colin Burridge is principal of Academy Canada's Corner Brook campus.

When you live in this province, especially in winter, your daily activities are often determined by the weather. For students, it can make the difference between classes as normal, or getting the ever-incredible snow day! And as we saw last week in the Corner Brook area, there can often be confusion about the decisions to close schools. Terry Hall, the Assistant Deputy Minister of Education Operations, and he explained what actually goes into that big decision.

The Association of Allied Health Professionals in the province is inching nearer to a strike. The association represents physiotherapists, dietitians, psychologists, social workers, audiologists and a multitude of other medical professionals - 800 of them in all in Newfoundland and Labrador. Last week they walked away from conciliation talks with government, saying the two sides are so far apart, it's pointless to go on. Gordon Piercey is president of the Association.

Most of us have been fooled by something we saw or read on the internet. From doctored photos, to fake videos. to political lying, it can be really tough to know what's true and what's not. The Canadian group Media Smarts is hoping to curb the spread of false information by teaching teens how to fact-check online. Kathryn Hill, the executive director of Media Smarts, spoke with the CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

It takes dedication, grace and many hours of practice to perfect the art of figure skating -- a commitment 13-year-old Beau Callahan knows very well. After coaches chose Beau for her talent and potential, the family decided to move to Quebec from Stephenville in 2020 to further her career. Since then, the young skater has excelled in single and pair skating competitions. CBC's Hillary Johnson spoke with Beau's mom, Shantelle Lasaga and with Beau.

The Shorefast Foundation on Fogo Island has borrowed a familiar idea to create something new. The Foundation has developed what it calls "Economic Nutrition Labels," designed to work like the food nutrition labels you're probably familiar with. You look at the labels and use them to guide your decisions about what to buy. Economic Nutrition labels are meant to inform your spending choices, too. Diane Hodgins is the executive vice president of Shorefast, and she spoke with CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

Friends and colleagues of Derrick Bragg are paying tribute to him this week. The Liberal MHA for Fogo Island-Cape Freels died on Monday at the age of 59, having been diagnosed with tongue cancer last spring. When he was elected to the House of Assembly for the first time, Bragg sat next to another political newbie: Terra Nova MHA Colin Holloway. He joined us on the show to pay tribute to the late MHA.

There was an extreme cold warning in parts of the province today, and in some places, such as the Northern Peninsula, it was expected to go down to minus-35 with the wind-chill. But we got some perspective when we spoke with Hafeeza Pathan. She lives in Labrador West, where it was expected to reach a -45 wind chill today.

It's been a BIG couple of weeks for our CBC colleague William Ping. He's been named to the longlist for the Dublin Literary Award, one of the most valuable fiction prizes in the world, for his first novel, Hollow Bamboo. It was published last year by Harper Collins and is based on the experiences of Chinese immigrants to Newfoundland - including William's own grandfather - in the 1930s. William is also being paired with one of the shortlisted authors for this year's Giller Prize - for the Giller Book Club.

Groups of people are building and strengthening a national network of living labs, to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. That's the idea behind a185-million-dollar project. Each lab collaborates with farmers, scientists and others in the agricultural sector to tackle climate issues. The NL Living Lab has been hard at work since it was launched in 2021. Representatives were scheduled to discuss its work at the Agricultural Industry Symposium in Grand Falls-Windsor today. Rodney Reid is the Project Lead and Knowledge Technology Transfer with the NL Living Lab.

While the provincial government tries to work out a deal to bring the first ride-sharing service to the island, Nain's Amber Vincent is way ahead of the game. She and her snowmobile provide a ride-share service in her northern community. CBC's Leigh Anne Power spoke with Vincent about her service...Skiduber! (pronounced "Skee-DOO-ber"!)

Back in November, Chief Peggy White of the Three Rivers Mi'kmaw Band in Bay St. George South and Chief Joanne Miles of the Flat Bay Band travelled to Tasmania, Australia. Scholars recognize Tasmania as a "mirror island" to Newfoundland. The Chiefs' visit was meant to observe and learn how Indigenous people in Tasmania deal with reconciliation, identity and development for the future.

For so many Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, getting out in the woods is a great way to spent the day. And no matter the season, there's always something to turn your attention to. For Charlie White of Cold Brook, being outside is the best way to spend any day. He runs the YouTube channel "NL Ghost Wolf", and posts about his adventures out on the land. This winter, he'll be our guide to outdoor life in our series "Chase the Seasons with Charlie."

Heritage NL has added several new locations to their Registered Heritage Structure list. One of them is a 1940s one-storey schoolhouse in the resettled community of Indian Cove, on Great Caribou Island in Southern Labrador. Heritage status is generally given to buildings that play a significant role in preserving the cultural fabric of Newfoundland and Labrador. Dale Jarvis, executive director of Heritage NL, told us about the importance of Indian Cove School..

Newfoundland and Labrador is getting the recognition it deserves at this year’s East Coast Music Awards, with a whopping 52 nominations. Among the nominees is West Coast musician Jason Benoit, who’s up for “Country Recording of the Year” - for his album Time Traveller - as well as “Indigenous Artist of the Year.”

On Wednesday's show, a dermatologist told us about the growing trend of children using anti-aging skin care products. Teens, tweens and even younger children are buying products usually intended for adults, sometimes promoted by social media influencers. It's a troubling trend, and we wondered how parents are dealing with it. Laura Casey-Foss is a registered psychologist based in Corner Brook.

Members of a high school basketball team in Middle Arm on the Baie Verte Peninsula are rallying around their coach after he suffered a brain injury earlier this month. Burlington resident Justin Newbury is known for his community involvement and passion for teaching basketball to young people. Now, his team and community members are giving back to help ease the financial burden of his recovery. The CBC's Colleen Connors spoke with Mayor Rudy Norman. She also spoke with brothers Aiden and Carter Goudie, who are on the team.

An Indigenous resident of the Codroy Valley with a keen interest in environmental issues says an open dialogue on wind energy is badly needed. Megan Samms is an interdisciplinary artist and farmer in Millville. Over the past year or so, Samms has attended many meetings about the wind project proposed for the Codroy Valley. She's not in support of nor against the wind-to-hydrogen project at the moment, but she IS concerned that there is no safe arena for open public discourse on the issue.

Four high school students from this province are in the running for the prestigious Loran Award. All 90 finalists across the country will receive $6,000 to put toward their post-secondary studies. BUT 36 of those will get a scholarship valued at $100.000. Hannah Moores is a graduating student at Exploits Valley High in Grand Falls-Windsor, and she's a Loran finalist.

So far this winter, the white stuff has not been falling evenly over the province. Parts of the West Coast have lots of snow to play with, while in the rest of the island and parts of Labrador, there's way less than we're used to. But our outdoor columnist, Charlie White, has a suggestion for something to do all winter long, regardless of how much snow you have. This morning, we got a jump on rabbit snaring in "Chase the Seasons with Charlie."

The Millbrook Mall in Corner Brook was closed again this morning, as a result of a waterline break. That waterline was NOT on City property, but another waterline break on Saturday evening WAS the City's responsibility. The two waterline breaks in a short timeframe led to a flooded road and a flooded parking lot. Jim Parsons is mayor of Corner Brook.

It was a close election, but Brad Benoit emerged on the weekend as the new chief of the Miawpukek First Nation in Conne River. Benoit received 114 votes, just five votes more than his closest rival, Harvey Drew. Another candidate, Mike Drew, was only slightly behind, with 100 votes. Now the hard work begins, as Benoit takes over from long-time Chief Mi'sel Joe. Chief Joe retired earlier this month, and has taken a role as traditional chief. Miawpukek administrative chief Brad Benoit spoke with us..

The shortage of affordable housing as rents continue to climb is causing policy makers to get creative. In the town of Grand Falls-Windsor, the council is looking at a couple of new options that could increase the number of homes available. Amy Coady is the chair of public works and development with the council.

A woman in Bay St. George South is scheduled to appear in court February 5 on charges related to the treatment of animals. The charges against the woman from Heatherton go back a couple of years to a report received by the RCMP in April of 2022. Corporal Jolene Garland is media relations officer with the RCMP in this province.

This next story is proof that just because a town is small in size doesn't mean it can't make a BIG impact. Back in November, we chatted with Tony Keats, the mayor of the Town of Dover. He had been nominated for a 2023 World Mayor Award and had just made the shortlist - the Final 9. That's a global competition that singles out mayors who have shown integrity, courage and imagination. Keats won The Community Award.

If you ask your children about school, they might tell you it stinks. They don't mean it literally, of course, but Hope MacDonald's children mean it. MacDonald has two children attending E.A. Butler All Grade School at McKay's, in Bay St. George South. She says sewer backups and the odours that come with them are a major concern. MacDonald spoke last week with CBC producer David Newell.

Students and administrators at post-secondary institutions are still trying to figure out what a new cap on study permits will mean for them. The federal government announced the two-year cap last week. Ottawa says about 360,000 undergraduate study permits will be approved for 2024, which is a 35-percent reduction from last year. There's no word yet on how the cap will affect this province, but it has left international students feeling uneasy. One of those students is Vicky Quao, Vice-President External of Grenfell Campus’ Student Union.

2024 is shaping up to be a big year for women in hockey in this province. We don’t only have players like Maggie Connors making big moves in the Professional Women's Hockey League - we also have referees making history. Over the weekend, Danielle Mills of Grand Falls-Windsor was the first woman to ever ref a game in the Newfoundland Senior Hockey League.

A group of women in Corner Brook have found a way to beat the winter blues. More than 50 of them show up at the city's Civic Centre twice a week for an older-adult fitness class. The workout means a whole lot more than just cardio and weights. As the CBC's Colleen Connors found out, it's a way for these seniors to get out and socialize.

Stanley Mugs are all the rage and have been featured on social media platforms by many users. The gigantic travel mug was on many Christmas wish lists in 2023 - and even caused fights in some stores. But why is everyone getting so worked up over these insulated mugs?! Newfoundland Morning reporter Amy Feehan looked into it.

We have a birthday to celebrate today. And it's a big one. Louise Pelley of Harcourt turns 104 years old. This year, Louise is asking for one-hundred-and-four birthday cards. Today's the big day but, last week, Newfoundland Morning’s Gavin Simms called up Louise Pelley. Joining her on the call were staff workers Selina Kendall and Bonita Taylor.

People in two West Coast communities who make a 911 call today will notice a difference in who responds. The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary is taking over policing in the towns of Massey Drive and Mount Moriah. Those communities have been in RCMP jurisdiction until now. John Hogan is the Minister of justice and public safety.

Things are getting back to normal at the Millbrook Mall in Corner Brook. The mall was shut down from Saturday until Tuesday after a waterline on the mall property broke. Perhaps the place people were most eager to see re-open was the pharmacy at Shoppers Drug Mart. During the three days that the mall was closed, some people scrambled to figure out how to get prescriptions filled or whether they even could. Noelle Patten is the registrar and CEO of the Newfoundland and Labrador Pharmacy Board.

The news of Rick Boland’s passing led to a wave of tributes across the province on Wednesday, The beloved actor was a pillar of the province's theatre community, and co-founder of Rising Tide Theatre in Trinity. His talents were featured in countless movies and TV shows - including "Hatching, Matching & Dispatching," and "Republic of Doyle." Rick Boland died this week at the age of 70. Although his career took him to the east coast of the island, Rick was born and raised in the Curling area of Corner Brook. HIs sister, Bobbie-Ann Boland, joined us to talk about those earlier days and beyond.

The Mayor of Port Aux Basques was in the nation's capital this week, speaking about post-tropical storm Fiona and the immense impact it had on his town in 2022. He even found himself in a one-on-one meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The Gut Bridge near Stephenville Crossing is getting loads of attention this week. The now-abandoned bridge has spanned Main Gut for more than 80 years. But it's deteriorated so much that it needed to be removed. That demolition and removal is now underway, and that work is attracting spectators. Lisa Lucas is the Mayor of Stephenville Crossing.

The community of Barachois Brook hasn't had running water for more than a week - and some people there are asking for a state of emergency to be declared. Tiffany Parsons lives in the community (interview starts at beginning of podcast), and Gerard Lee is the chair of the Local Service District of Barachois Brook (interview starts at 6:47 mark).

Talk about making a splash…The remains of an old shipwreck at Cape Ray nearly broke the internet this week. The giant wooden wreckage washed up along the shore last week, and since then, it's captured the imaginations of people all over the world. Not long after the wreck's discovery, workers tried to secure the vessel, to keep it from disappearing for perhaps another hundred years. Divers with Clean Harbours Initiative just so happened to be working in nearby Port Aux Basques this week, so they switched gears to help out. Trevor Croft is the manager of Clean Harbours Initiative.

Calling all movie lovers! PictureNL has some big plans for fans of the big screen on the west coast of the Island. To celebrate the Year of the Arts, the agency has organized monthly film screenings. The best part is that the screenings feature some of the best films produced in this province. Jennifer Hawley is the industry development manager with Picture NL.

We're at peak winter here in Newfoundland and Labrador...which for a lot of people means it's time to break out the skates. There hasn't been a public rink in ages In the town of Change Islands, but this winter, resident Dennis Flood decided to remedy that. And now the whole community has a pretty unique place for to go for a skate.

A man who used to be caught up in conspiracy theories himself is now helping others distinguish between fact and fiction - and Bryan Bakker is using humor to do that. Bakker's experience with conspiracy theories goes back to 2007. Like many of us, he was getting his news on the internet, and much of what he read and heard made him fear for his safety. Bakker eventually learned how to tell the truth from lies online, and now he wants to help others do the same. He founded Newsload.ca, which gives the news of the day a comic twist, which he hopes will make people more open to looking for the truth.

Police say a violent act happened INSIDE a school in Corner Brook last week. Two young people are facing charges after an assault at Corner Brook Intermediate on Thursday. A 14-year-old male student at the school was seriously injured during the incident. A 15-year-old male youth is charged with assault causing bodily harm, and a 14-year-old female youth is charged with assault. Constable James Cadigan is spokesperson for the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary.

The new owners of an old church camp near Glenwood are looking for your help to preserve a bit of history. Raleigh Drilling owns the former Twin Ponds camp, now the Twin Ponds Wilderness Lodge. The company's workers stay in some of the bunkhouses, but the Lodge also has other rooms to rent to visitors. As the property looks forward to a new future, one of its staff is also trying to pay tribute to the past. Danielle Coates is with Twin Ponds Wilderness Lodge.

Julia and John Breckenridge, a couple from Ontario, fell in love with an historic church in Petites on Newfoundland's south coast during a holiday here years ago. They decided to restore Bethany United Church. The couple bought the building and had nearly finished the roof restoration, when post-tropical storm Fiona struck - and that's when their plans went off the rails. Now, the Breckenridges say they're looking for someone else to take the reins on the project.

Bird scientists are worried about a decline in bird populations, even common ones, like crows. They seem to be everywhere, from the smallest island to the biggest city, so it's concerning that crow populations and other species are dropping. Allison Binley is an ornithologist at the Cornell Ornithology Lab monitoring Canadian bird populations. She spoke with CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

A half-dozen triple-A teams from Newfoundland and Labrador were in Prince Edward Island for The Spud hockey tournament, when a big snowstorm hit. It left them stranded at their hotel with roads blocked, the Confederation Bridge closed and the Gulf ferries cancelled. Rodney George is coach of the Western Crushers Under 16 triple-A team. He spoke with CBC News literally minutes after getting off the ferry in Port aux Basques, two days later than planned.

We all have hobbies we enjoy. Some people like to garden, some like to paint, and Dave Murphy builds model boats. The Pasadena man has been lucky enough to devote time to his hobby for nearly 50 years now, and he says he's built enough models to fill a museum. Newfoundland Morning's Amy Feehan went to visit him.

If you've ever been without a family doctor, you know how stressful that can be. Depending on where you live in the province, there might be walk-in clinics, health hubs, or virtual care services that you can use. In the Western region, the health authority has a regional virtual care clinic that it's getting the word out about. Erica Parsons is regional director of primary health care with the health authority and talks about the service you can access by phone.

There are hundreds of moose-vehicle collisions in Newfoundland and Labrador every year. But in Banff National Park in Alberta, ecologists have managed to cut crashes by more than 95-percent. Jesse Whittington is an ecologist and team lead at Banff. He spoke with the CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

Understanding our thoughts, feelings and actions is the very foundation of the science of psychology. February is Psychology Month in Canada, to highlight the contributions of Canadian psychologists and the crucial work they do. Every Thursday this month, we'll focus on psychology in THIS province. In Part One, Dr. Sheila Garland, director of clinical training for the Doctor of Psychology program at Memorial University told us what psychologists do and how they're trained.

Many people who hear the term "eating disorder" might THINK they know a lot about anorexia or bulimia, but they may have misconceptions, rather than real knowledge. We might think that eating disorders are rare, when, in fact, they are not. They affect a million Canadians, and the death rate due to anorexia is higher than that of any other mental illness. This is Eating Disorder Awareness Week and we spoke with Paul Thomey, executive director of the Eating Disorder Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Lucy Maud Montgomery's classic Emily of New Moon was first published in 1923. Back then, as it is now, the craft of embroidery was a great pastime for people who loved stitching. The Corner Brook Public Library is inviting you to come and embroider scenes from the novel, and the CBC’s Amy Feehan dropped by the library earlier this week.

Marine Atlantic's newest ferry will soon be taking passengers and freight between Newfoundland and Nova Scotia - and from all reports, it will be a pretty impressive ride. This week, the corporation took official possession of the Ala'suinu. Darrell Mercer is a spokesperson for Marine Atlantic.

We don't usually mention birthdays on CBC Radio, But we couldn't let this one go by without marking it in some way. In Pasadena on Saturday, there's a very special birthday party. They'll be wishing happy birthday... to Happy, the town's winter carnival mascot. Wanda Wight is the recreation director in Pasadena, and told us what's in store.

This is the opening weekend for White Hills in Clarenville. And even if you don't ski yourself, you'll want to be there for a pretty incredible event. It's called The Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race, and involves hundreds of students from more than a dozen universities nationwide. Regan Hogan is one of the organizers of this year's race.

A new music and art festival is happening tomorrow in Corner Brook. It's an immersive experience showcasing local artists and musicians. Organizers are calling it Freeze Brain, and it's the winter counterpart to Wash Brain, a popular event held last summer in the city. 62 Broadway is the arts venue hosting the event. CBC's Amy Feehan met up with an event coordinator and two musicians performing at the festival.

A man on the Northern Peninsula is thrilled with the interest so far in a big event he's planned. Danny Pond of Gunners Cove created the Food, Fibs and Fiddles festival last summer. His idea was to grow the festival as the years went by, And he sure has done that. This year, he has Blue Rodeo as the headline act.

Three town councillors in Stephenville have resigned since the beginning of the year. One of them is now accusing the mayor of bullying, and says that what he calls the “toxic culture” on council played a major part in his decision to step down. Our colleague at Radio-Canada, Patrick Butler, was in Stephenville last week.

Residents of Cape Ray hope the mysterious appearance of a shipwreck on their shores will increase tourism for the community. But before that happens, they must get the wreck on dry land. Anne Osmond is the chair of the local service district in Cape Ray, and spoke with the CBC's Colleen Connors.

When you go to a hair salon, you're usually looking for a great haircut or maybe a new colour. You're probably not thinking of adopting a cat, but the owners of the Strand Salon in Gander are. Co-owners Amber Hanlon and Amy Cheeks run the successful salon, which has now fostered 16 cats. Hanlon and Cheeks spoke with the CBC's Martin Jones.

The obstetrics unit at James Paton Memorial Hospital in Gander has still not reopened for deliveries. The provincial health minister announced last February that the unit will reopen, but locals want to know what's taking so long. Hear from N.L. Health Services CEO David Diamond, and maternity services advocate Samantha Abbott.

A town councillor in Grand Falls-Windsor wants to hear from you. But don't call his cell depending on where he is, because he might not get your call thanks to the town's spotty service. Dave Noel is a town councillor in Grand Falls-Windsor.

The Exploits Valley SPCA wants to help you combine the joy of helping a deserving cat with cold, hard revenge! Ok, there's nothing too sinister here - just a bit of fun - but it IS the idea behind the shelters latest fundraiser. It's called Neuter Your Ex for Valentine's Day. Sarah McLeod is the social media liaison with the Exploits Valley SPCA in Grand Falls-Windsor.

A pilot with Provincial Airlines has been getting lots of views on social media, of HER view from above. Wanda Clarke has been flying for more than a decade, with her trusty camera in tow. She takes photos and videos of cities and towns, and all sorts of natural wonders. She posts them online for everyone to enjoy, and spoke with CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

A commercial for the vacation rental site VRBO might have caught your eye (or ear) over the past week or so. Some people from this province are calling it out as offensive while airing at the Grammys and the Super Bowl. Now, the province's tourism industry association says it wants the commercial changed. Host Bernice Hillier has been looking into it.

It was a homeowner's worst fear realized on Saturday in Conche when a woman ran out to do an errand and returned to her home, and her possessions burned to the ground. Glenn Symmonds is the Chief of the Conche Volunteer Fire Department. He spoke to Morning Show producer David Newell.

Some relationships don’t last very long, while other can last for decades. Either way things aren’t always easy, but how do you keep a love that lasts? CBC’s Amy Feehan got to visit Mountain View Retirement Home in Corner Brook and chatted with some residents about the key to having a long lasting relationship.

Two communities in the Humber Valley are exploring the idea of a new, long-term relationship. The Town of Pasadena is looking at extending its boundaries to take in the nearby local service district of Little Rapids, about eight kilometres down the highway. Darren Gardner is Pasadena's mayor.

Back in 1794, Scots poet Robert Burns wrote, "My love is like a red, red rose." Ever since, red roses have represented passion and romance. But roses aren't the only flowers you can use to send a loving message...or a not so loving one. Jessica Roux is the author of "Floriography: An Illustrated Guide to the Victorian Language of Flowers. She speaks with CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

Spencer Fitzgerald and Sarah Newell were both music students, but they didn't really talk. That is until Sarah's friend took her to a show where Spencer's band was playing. They talked that night, he asked for her number... And now, six years later, they're engaged AND they have a band of their own -- With Violet. They spoke with the CBC's Sarah Antle.

February is Psychology Month in Canada, highlighting the contributions of Canadian psychologists and the crucial work they do. Every Thursday throughout the month, we'll be focusing on psychology in this province. This morning we'll look at Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, or DBT. It's a model of therapy that helps people learn and use new skills and strategies so that they build lives they feel are worth living. Dr. Jodi Spiegel is a registered psychologist in this province and offers DBT.

Seal harvesters in this province are getting ready to head out to the ice next month. In the United Kingdom, seals are drawing interest as well...but not for their meat or skins. The Manx Wildlife Trust on the Isle of Man is looking for volunteers to babysit seal pups. Lara Howe is a marine wildlife officer there, and she speaks with CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

Warming shelters like the Shiver Shack in Corner Brook are essential for any snowmobile rider during a long day of travel or to use in emergencies. Unfortunately, some locations in Western and Central Newfoundland have been subjected to vandalism. Glenn Green is president of Western Sno-riders, and spoke with host Martin Jones.

A non-profit enterprise on the Northern Peninsula wants to get in on wind power. But if you're imagining hundreds of turbines dotting the landscape, that is NOT what this is about. St. Anthony Basin Resources Incorporated, or SABRI, is interested in a small-scale wind development - and it's already started the legwork. Christopher Mitchelmore is executive director of SABRI.

Shift Recovery is a group based in Grand Falls-Windsor that offers peer-support for those dealing with addiction. They say concerns of overdose and addiction are serious in Central Newfoundland, and the need for programming like the ones they offer is essential right now. Despite this, the group says its facing major red tape in getting funding from the provincial department of health. Without that money, they say they face the possibility of reducing or eliminating their services. Fred Habib is the chairman of that group and Mark Gray is a facilitator.

Last spring's crab fishery started six weeks late after a price dispute, and ended with low pay and little satisfaction for harvesters. The best way to determine the value of a pound of crab has been an issue for years, and after last season, the province set up a price-setting review panel to fix the problem. The government wanted to see a new pricing formula in place by the end of January. But that hasn't happened, and fishermen like Bay Bulls' Jason Sullivan are getting worried.

Corner Brook Winter Carnival starts today, the fifty-first winter carnival in the city. Over the next ten days, people will take part in fun activities, and there will be no end to the the breakfast, lunch and supper meals you can eat. This Sunday, the Leifling gala will be taking place. Leif the Lucky himself, David Elms, joined us this morning.

It's one thing to take pictures of practically anything when you're out and about, but it's another when you do that week after week for 23 years simply because you want to put your community and its story on the map for all to see, enjoy, and hopefully visit. Folk artist Neal Tucker manages the Town of Elliston and Root Cellars website. The CBC's Nabila Qureshi called him up in Elliston to learn more about building community through photography.

Former politician Ryan Cleary has been trying to improve the fishery for years now. First, it was FISH-NL, which attempted to replace the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union. After that, Cleary launched SEA-NL, which united individual harvesters in a single voice. He left that group in January, and now he's launching FPC - the Fisheries Protective Co-operative.

Gander lost a very special resident last week. Dr. Peter Blackie was the first baby born in Gander when it was a brand new town in 1940. He grew up to be the first Gander native to graduate from medical school and contributed greatly to preserving the town's history. His son, Rob Blackie, shared memories of his dad with Host Martin Jones.

The topic of medical care for trans people has been in the news lately. That is, of course, because of a recent announcement from the provincial government in Alberta. The Alberta government plans to restrict access to gender-affirming care for young people in particular. If you don't know much about gender-affirming care, it may be hard to understand Alberta's policy direction and why some are critical of it. Dr. Mari Lynne Sinnott is a family physician in St. John's who has hundreds of gender-diverse patients, including some in Central Newfoundland.

A plan to restrict medical care for trans youth is unfolding in Alberta, but that policy direction is having an impact on people in this province. The Alberta government has said it will restrict access to gender-affirming care, for young people in particular. On Monday, we started a conversation with a medical doctor in THIS province who has hundreds of gender diverse patients. Dr. Mari Lynne Sinnott is a family physician who told us about the evidence to support gender-affirming care for trans youth. Here's part two of Bernice Hillier's interview with Dr. Sinnott.

Things are getting pretty exciting around Gander this week. In just a few days, 1,800 athletes and coaches will descend on the town for the Newfoundland and Labrador Winter Games. Of course, with an event this size, it takes many hands to lighten the work load. Bettina Ford is the director of volunteers for the games.

People in Port aux Basques continue to rebuild their community, almost 17 months after post-tropical storm Fiona smashed into the town. On September 24th, 2022, it killed a woman and destroyed more than a hundred houses. Dozens of other homes were seriously damaged. Now, the Goverment of Canada's Housing Accelerator Fund will help speed up the rebuild. Gudie Hutchings is the MP for Long Range Mountains, and the federal minister of rural economic development.

Starting today, Fogo Island will have its own Chamber of Commerce presence. There will be a chapter of the Gander and Area Chamber of Commerce, and it will work to build closer relationships with businesses in the area. Jonathan Dalton will be the chair of the Fogo Island Chapter.

If you love to fish, you don't have to hang up your hook and rod for winter. February is the start of the ice fishing season in Newfoundland and Labrador, and for our outdoor columnist, Charlie White, that means smelt fishing!He has all the tips for us in the latest Chase the Seasons With Charlie feature.

The old saying, "Beauty is only skin-deep" means a person's intellectual, emotional, and spiritual qualities are more important than how they look. But the message probably doesn't get through to many young people because social media floods them with body images they can never live up to. Hillary Johnson's new, three-part series, "Skin Deep, " tells how the toxic influences of diet culture, body trends and more cause teens to struggle for impossible standards, In Part One, Hillary speaks with Chelsea Hudson, a registered psychologist in NL.

If people in this province want to put an end to homelessness, they might want to look to Finland. A not-for-profit group in that country is -- with government support -- reducing homelessness by giving people a place to live. But the Y-Foundation ALSO gives people support to become more self-sufficient. Juha Kahila, head of international affairs, spoke with the CBC's Bernice Hillier.

The province is spending millions and millions of dollars on travel nurses. An investigative story by the Globe and Mail is outlining just how some of that money is being spent......and it has outraged the nurses union, the opposition and others. The Globe and Mail says the province spent 35 million dollars on nurses from private agencies between April and August of 2023, and the provincial government paid more than 300 dollars an hour for some travel nurses.. The province paid out millions in other expenses, too... from travel, to meal allowances, furniture, cab rides - even cable bills. The report also says the private nursing firm the province hired charged nearly DOUBLE the rate of similar agencies in Canada. Jerry Earle is president of NAPE - which represents almost ten-thousand workers in the health care system.

Last week, CSIS - Canada's national intelligence agency - issued a warning for people in the 2SLGBTQ+ community. The notice says extremists could "inspire and encourage" serious violence against the community, and will almost certainly continue to do that over the coming year. A CSIS spokesperson says "the ecosystem of violent rhetoric within the anti-gender movement, compounded with other extreme worldviews, can lead to serious violence." Gemma Hickey is a human rights and 2SLGBTQ+ advocate.

We've been hearing a lot of fallout this week over a Globe and Mail report. It revealed that the provincial government spent more than 35 million dollars, from April to August last year, on travel nurses. Other expenses for those nurses - everything from cab rides to an air fryer - totaled millions more. Tony Wakeham is the member of the House of Assembly for Stephenville-Port au Port, and the Leader of the Official Opposition.

Residents of Point Leamington and the surrounding area met last night to talk about wind. Their area is slated for the construction of a large number of wind turbines and an ammonia plant. Wind energy is widely touted as a greener alternative to fossil fuels, but not everyone is buying that. Robert Loder and Leanna Paul organized Wednesday night's meeting.

We've been hearing a lot this week about the high cost of bringing in travel nurses to work in this province. A recent Globe and Mail report revealed that the Newfoundland and Labrador government had spent more than thirty-five million dollars between April and August of 2023. Lela Evans is NDP Health Critic.

The world is constantly changing, but it seems that one thing stays the same: It is not easy to be a teenager. We've all been there, but for today's younger generations, growing up with technology and having access to social media have led to a whole slew of other issues. 16-year-old Amy Dwyer describes being a teenager as complex,... with social media driving unrealistic expectations. In part two of our series, Skin Deep, the CBC's Hillary Johnson spoke with Amy about how the diet culture and body trends reflected in social media are affecting teens.

The Provincial government is casting a wide net in search of nurses to work here in Newfoundland and Labrador. Efforts are underway o fill positions in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, St. Anthony and Gander, using trained nurses from India. There are also Come Home Incentives of up to 50-thousand dollars, being offered to nurses who have been living outside the province for six months. We' also heard this week about millions being paid to agencies providing travel nurses to this province. It's all an effort to fill about 700 vacant nursing positions. Chloe George and Hayley Cheeseman are fourth-year nursing students at the Centre for Nursing Studies in St. John's. They say they're confused with the effort and money spent on recruiting nurses -while the majority of their graduating class aren't even being offered full-time permanent positions.

February is Psychology Month in Canada, as people highlight the contributions of Canadian psychologists and the crucial work they do. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT is a type of therapy that helps people learn NOT to avoid negative emotions, but rather live a good life in the face of them. Dr. Sarah Pegrum is a registered psychologist in this province and offers ACT.

An Artist in Residence program in rural Newfoundland is once again offering up space to create. Union House Arts in Port Union has been a home to many artists over the years, and it's already looking for artists to visit in 2025. Bethany Mackenzie is programming director of Union House Arts.

On Thursday, two fourth-year nursing students at the Centre for Nursing Studies - Chloe George and Hayley Cheeseman - said they were surprised and frustrated at receiving only temporary job offers, rather than permanent positions. It turns out that only 23 of their graduating class of 103 had landed permanent jobs in this province. Nurses are interviewed and they provide their top three preferences for job location and department.We spoke with Debbie Molloy, vice-president of human resources with NL Health Services (interview starts.at beginning of podcast), then with Barry Petten, the Progressive Conservative Shadow Minister of Health (interview starts at 7:57).

A young musician from Pasadena is doing his first solo show this weekend. If you love folk music, and Stan Rogers in particular, you will want to be there.17-year-old Jay Adey-Rideout has been performing with his dad for many years, but his current obsession with the music of Stan Rogers led him to decide that his first solo show would be a Stan Rogers tribute. It's happening Saturday night at the Rotary Arts Centre in Corner Brook.

The sport of curling is in the spotlight right now as the Scotties Tournament of Hearts continues in Calgary. According to the internet, today also happens to be "Curling Is Cool Day." CBC’s Amy Feehan hit the streets of Corner Brook to ask people the burning question: Is curling really cool?

Hundreds of young athletes are making their way to Gander today for the Newfoundland and Labrador Winter Games. That brings back a lot of memories for Blair Sparkes. He's an ambassador for boys' basketball this Games, but back in 1982, he was competing in the Games himself. 16-year-old Grace Whalen is an ambassador for girls' hockey, in which she'll also compete with the host team.

The body-positive social movement is all about accepting people of all body types, no matter their size, shape, skin tone or gender. In 2023, the Facebook group "Fat Babes of Newfoundland" was created to provide a safe space for gender-diverse people with marginalized body types to share experiences and develop friendships. In part three of our series, Skin Deep, the CBC's Hillary Johnson spoke with Sarah Murphy, the co-facilitator and co-creator of "Fat Babes of Newfoundland."

The ski hill in Western Newfoundland was hit hard by flooding on the weekend. Heavy rain led to water pouring down over the hillside at Marble Mountain. Marble Mountain Richard Wells spoke this morning with Bernice Hillier (interview at start of podcast), and Steady Brook Mayor Bill Dawson spoke on Sunday with the CBC's William Ping (starts at 7:00 mark).

Sunday was the first day of competition for athletes competing in the Newfoundland and Labrador Winter Games in Gander. Unfortunately, some people say they had a rocky start because of issues with sleeping arrangements at the athletes' village. Arch Pardy is a parent from Happy Valley-Goose Bay, whose son plays with Team Indigenous (interview is at the start of the podcast). Tara Pollett and Geoff Goldsworthy are co-chairs of the Gander host committee for the Games (interview starts at 4:17).

This past weekend marked two years since Russia launched a full-on invasion of Ukraine. Tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians and soldiers have died or been wounded in the attacks. The bombs have turned towns and cities to rubble, and have led many people to flee the country. Canadian retired General Rick Hillier of Campbellton is doing what he can to help the Ukrainian military. The former Chief of Defense Staff is also urging Canadian governments to do more to help re-settle the flood of refugees who have come here. Hillier is chair of the Strategic Advisory Council that provides support and advice to the Ukrainian World Congress.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Winter Games are in full swing in Gander this week, and hundreds of athletes from across the province are competing for a spot on the podium. But, during Saturday's opening ceremonies, it was all about celebrating together. The CBC's Cherie Wheeler was there for it.

A transgender man from Central Newfoundland is keeping a close eye on policy changes that affect trans people in parts of Canada. Alberta has announced plans to restrict medical care for trans youth in that province. The plan would limit access to puberty-blocking medications and gender-affirming surgery.20-year-old Elliott Blackmore grew up in Grand Falls-Windsor and now lives in St. John's. He says turning medical care for trans people into a political issue is wrong.

All this week on Newfoundland Morning, we've been hearing from athletes, coaches and volunteers at the Newfoundland and Labrador Winter Games. Gander has been buzzing since Saturday, and people taking photos with cell phones are everywhere. But, now and then, you'll see someone wearing a bright green volunteer shirt. A team of photographers, using professional-grade cameras, are documenting the Games. Scott Cook and Sandra Mills are two of those photographers,

Today is the last day of competition for half of the athletes at the provincial winter games in Gander this week. Tomorrow, they'll head back home and the next set of competitors will take their place. Win or lose, table tennis player Divine Aseo will be leaving with a smile. At 18 years old, this will be her last provincial games - but it was the first one for her sister, Courtney. The two members of team St. John's North spoke with CBC's Cherie Wheeler yesterday.

ICYMI: Marble Mountain now has a ski trail named in memory of a person - and It's the first time it's been done. "Drew's Drop" was named on February 18 to honour Andrew Jesso - a ski instructor, DJ, fitness coach, and member of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. He was nearly 20 years old when he died in a car accident in 2022. A charity in his name - the Andrew Jesso Foundation - helps provide children with the chance to learn to ski and snowboard. Andrew's family and co-workers gathered at Marble Mountain on February 18 to honour him. CBC's Sarah Antle spoke with Andrew's mother, Laura Jesso.

An animal most of us have never seen is making a comeback. The Newfoundland pine marten is one of only 14 mammals native to the island. It's been on the province's endangered species list since the list was created in 2002. Now, more than two decades later, the risk to the pine marten's population has been downgraded to "vulnerable." Brian Hearn is chair of the Newfoundland Marten Recovery Team.

Some residents of Change Islands were left feeling confused at a recent change to their ferry schedule.The Kamutik W is in service among Change Islands, Fogo and Farewell, while their usual vessel - the Veteran - is having a refit. The recently updated schedule sees a reduction in the number of crossings to Change Islands.The fewer trips are only believed to be a temporary measure, but the residents say it's much more than a simple inconvenience. Dennis Flood is a councillor for the community of Change Islands and the chair for their transportation committee.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Winter Games continue to entertain sports fans in Gander and area today, and the St. John's North Boys' hockey team went for gold at the Steele Community Centre. Connor Donaghey is one of their coaches. Ben Yabsley and Ben Veitch are players.

It was quite a moment on Tuesday at the Newfoundland and Labrador Winter Games in Gander. As the first racers crossed the finish line in the Girls' 5K Cross Country Skiing race, three competitors from different teams decided to cross the line together - in fact, they came in arm in arm. Juliette Colbourne and Georgia Wiseman are from Team Western, and Jocelyn Coates was racing for Team Eastern. They spoke with CBC's Cherie Wheeler.

if you attended a badminton match at the provincial winter games in Gander this week, you probably saw at least one member of the King family keeping score. Or, if you picked up a snack at the athlete's village, it might have been the King family feeding you. The family love to volunteer, and they love to do it together. Tara King and her daughter Sara were in our studio. Engin Diraman, the family's Turkish exchange student, was there, too. He takes part in the volunteer effort, as well.

It's Day Five of the Newfoundland Winter Games, and there is a pause in the action as athletes head out and move into the athlete's village. There are still a lot of events to look forward to, but if you missed any of the action, you can always get caught up on social media. Content Creator Abby Moss has diligently posted on the NL Games Facebook page. She joined us in the studio to tell us more about her role and the work of the communications committee.

St. Anthony and surrounding areas are about to get a new public transit system. The Northpine Foundation and St. Anthony Basin Resources Inc. announced the investment on Wednesday. SABRI Transit Solutions will receive $250,000 over the next two years for the project. The system will connect about 600 residents living and working in St. Anthony and the surrounding region, Chris Mitchelmore is the Executive Director of St. Anthony Basin Resources Inc.

The federal government is giving a 128-million-dollar loan to a company that wants to generate wind power in Western Newfoundland. World Energy GH2 has an agreement with Export Development Canada for a loan of up to 128-million dollars. The announcement was made yesterday. The loan is meant to support the development of one of Canada's first commercial scale wind-to-hydrogen facilities, proposed for Stephenville. It will be powered by wind turbines on the Port au Port Peninsula and the Codroy Valley. Federal minister and Newfoundland and Labrador MP Seamus O'Regan made the loan announcement yesterday. Nick Mercer is an expert on renewable energy and is on the executive of Enviro Watch NL. The group that has been urging caution throughout the approval process for wind energy in this province.

We're now into the second half of the provincial Winter Games, and over the next couple of days girls hockey, wrestling, figure skating and basketball will be in full swing. That brings a lot of excitement to the town of Gander and especially Percy Farwell, the mayor. He's a former Winter Games athlete himself.

A disease most of us haven't thought about in years is back in the news. Measles cases have been popping up across North America and Europe. There's a vaccine against it, so most people have been immunized. But for some of us, it's been many decades since our last shot. So how might a measles outbreak affect us? Dr. Janice Fitzgerald is Newfoundland and Labrador's chief medical officer of health.

February is Psychology Month in Canada, which highlights the contributions of Canadian psychologists and the crucial work they do. Every Thursday this month, we've been focusing on psychology in THIS province, discussing a specific form of therapy and meeting a psychologist who provides it. Today in the final part of our series, we looked at Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR. This therapy helps people ease the distressing symptoms associated with trauma. Laura Casey Foss is a registered psychologist who is trained in EMDR.

Some nurses in Corner Brook had to work extra-long shifts this week, after a contract with a private company came to an end. The contract with Canadian Health Labs was to supply travel nurses to work in the Western region. The arrangement was for a one-year term, starting on February 27 of 2023. But, instead of there being a plan to ensure nursing shifts would be covered when the contract ended, this week, some local nurses were mandated to work 21 out of 24 hours. Yvette Coffey is president of the Registered Nurses Union of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Athletes are into the final push of the provincial winter games, and no matter where you go in Gander, there's so much support for those young competitors. But two characters keep stealing the show. Commander Gander and Blaze the Torch are mascots for the Town of Gander and the provincial games. CBC's Cherie Wheeler caught up with the two 11th graders under the costume.

The company that wants to develop wind energy in Western Newfoundland received a big boost this week. World Energy GH2 is getting a loan of 128 million dollars from the federal government. The company is proposing to build a wind-to-hydrogen plant in Stephenville, powered by wind turbines on the Port au Port Peninsula and the Codroy Valley. The company had said in the past that it wouldn't require government money for the five BILLION dollar project. Sean Leet is CEO of World Energy GH2.

Medical students at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City got some fantastic news this week: Their tuition will be free later this year. The announcement came from former professor Ruth Gottesman, who donated one billion dollars. While free tuition doesn't go into full effect until later this year, all fourth-year students will be reimbursed for their current semester. That made the CBC's Amy Feehan wonder: What if something like this happened here? She headed up to Grenfell Campus, Memorial University in Corner Brook, to see what students had to say.

Lewisporte was one of the two alternative sites for competition in the provincial Winter Games, along with Glovertown. The Mike Austin Arena is where many of the figure skaters showed their hours of practice. Leila and Payton Mercer from Team Labrador and coach Alice Peddle spoke with the CBC's Martin Jones.

All this week, we brought you stories from the Newfoundland and Labrador Winter Games in Gander. But Lewisporte was part of all the excitement, too. That's where the figure skating competitions took place. Susan Dean was the convener of the events there, and she spoke with Martin Jones now, at the Mike Austin Arena in Lewisporte.

There are 253 schools in the province, and the provincial government says more than half of them - 156 - have no school lunch program. In Tuesday's federal budget, the Liberal government confirmed it will spend a billion dollars in the next five years to feed more kids better food at school. Emily Doyle has a PhD in the study of Newfoundland and Labrador's school food program, and she has ideas about how that federal money should be put to work in this province. Doyle spoke with the CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

Elks Canada has served across the country since 1912. They volunteer their time on their own projects and on those arranged by other people in their communities. This year, they've organized The NL Provincial Elks convention in Corner Brook. The two-day conference starts this evening, and the CBC's Hillary Johnson spoke with two members of Elks Canada.

Team Canada; Olympics and Paralympics; athletes struggle to live and train on federal grants; Athletic Assistance Program; new money; Liberals announced an extra 35-million dollars over the next five years for elite athletes; Katarina Roxon of Kippens; hoping to make it to her fourth Paralympic Games; in Paris this summer;CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

It's a tidy little town with the most amazing views, but Trout River is also dealing with an unexpected hazard.The Town issued a warning last week about used needles being discovered as snow began to melt. Natalia Crocker is mayor of Trout River.

When the Professional Women's Hockey League launched in January, the whole country...including women who never played the game...took notice. In Lewisporte, they were inspired. Two local female players decided to put out a call for women to come out and play recreationally. They had no idea what would happen.The CBC's Leigh Anne Power visited the Mike Austin Arena to find out.

Last week was an exciting one for young athletes across the province, as Gander hosted the Newfoundland and Labrador Winter Games. Not only was it the first Winter Games since the pandemic, it was only the second one ever for Team Indigenous. Port au Port's Candice Simon was the manager with the Team Indigenous female hockey team. Keira Evans-Rice of Makkovik and Lacie Bennett of St. George's played on the team. The CBC's David Newell spoke with them before they hit the ice Friday afternoon.

There were a lot of smiling faces and some sad goodbyes in Gander on Saturday, as the 2024 Newfoundland and Labrador Winter Games came to a close. About 12-hundred athletes, coaches and officials took part in the week-long event. CBC's David Newell brought us some of the voices and sounds from the show.

It's a great honour to be inducted into the Newfoundland and Labrador Hockey Hall of Fame, but if you ask Andy Brake and Ivan Hapgood, it was never their goal. The two men are being recognized for their dedication to hockey and their communities. Hockey NL will induct them into the Hall in June, at a ceremony in Gander. Brake has been the backbone of Deer Lake Red Wings hockey for more than three decades, Hapgood, who's originally from Arnold's Cove - has devoted more than fifty years to hockey in Clarenville. The two joined us by phone this morning.

Lewisporte is about to have a new tourism strategy....one that organizers think will make the town a hub for visitors to the area and connect all of the surrounding communities. Lewisporte is growing, with bakeries, cafes, shops, restaurants, and Airbnbs. Haley Kinden is one of the people spearheading the Tourism Association. She owns Kinden's Bakery and Cafe, and spoke with the CBC's Leigh Anne Power..

The province's arts community will see new and returning faces at the helm of Theatre Newfoundland Labrador this year. The organization recently announced it has put a new leadership team in place for the 2024 season. Denise Dolliver has been with TNL for the past 24 seasons as a designer and administrator as well as a stage production and company manager. She is now general manager. Nicholas Leno is the new artistic producer, bringing his experience as a festival and artistic director in Ontario.

Corner Brook Pulp and Paper wants to cut wood near the city's water supply. The paper company has made the request to the City of Corner Brook, and the deadline for public comment is coming up this Thursday. We spoke with Corner Brook Mayor Jim Parsons and read a written response from Kruger Inc.

There goes that "beep" again...the sound your appliances make when they come back on after a power outage. Now, imagine hearing it again - and again - and again, dozens of times while you're in bed, or in the middle of the day. That's what's happening to Keith Ryan in O' Regans in the Codroy Valley. He's counted hundreds of short power interruptions over the years. The CBC's Colleen Connors went to O' Regans to learn more.

Students at Grenfell Campus, Memorial University want their money back. They started off the winter semester with no internet service, after a cybersecurity incident affected the campus. But the students had paid their usual fees for the term, including a student services fee. Now, they say they deserve to be reimbursed for that, as compensation for the inconvenience. Vicky Quao is vice-president external for the Grenfell Campus Student Union.

It's that time of year when we start to hear about polar bear sightings, even here on the island of Newfoundland. Just last week, there was an unconfirmed report of polar bear tracks on the Northern Peninsula. Duane Collins of Hare Bay is a certified polar bear guard and has extensive experience living and working in polar bear country in northern Manitoba. He'll be doing an information session in St. Anthony later this month, with a date to be announced. Bernice Hillier spoke with Duane Collins a few weeks ago, just before he left for another trip to work with an outdoor adventure company in Manitoba.

To some Canadians, the crime of human trafficking may sound like a problem that only happens in faraway parts of the world,  But Jennifer Holleman of Nova Scotia will tell you the real story. In 2012, her daughter, Maddison Fraser was living in Alberta and was lured into prostitution. She was 19 years old. Maddison died in a car crash in Edmonton in 2015. She was in a vehicle with a a man believed to be her "john." Ever since the tragedy, Holleman has been telling Maddison's story and speaking out against human trafficking. She spoke at a school in Port Aux Basques on Tuesday and was guest speaker at the Gateway Status of Women Council last night.

Even with some snow in the forecast, most winter activities in the province have been hampered lately by the lack of the white stuff. Skiers, snowshoers and snowmobilers are getting frustrated, as days pass without enough on the ground - and temperatures are getting milder as spring approaches. The popular Mid-Winter Bivver in Grand Falls-Windsor is one of the latest casualties of the weather. We spoke with the Town's deputy mayor, Mike Browne

Last week on our show, we heard from concerned citizens in the Point Leamington area. They held a public meeting to discuss the possible environmental and tourism impacts of hundreds of wind turbines and an proposed ammonia plant for their region. Now the town council is responding to those concerns. Wilf Mercer is Point Leamington's mayor, and Denny Andrews is the deputy mayor.

It seems like every few weeks, we hear about a new way crooks are scamming us out of our hard-earned money - grandparents scams, CRA scams, and a host of other sophisticated rackets. Add these kinds of deception, though they're not necessarily new. Investment scams, including those targeting cryptocurrency, have become the riskiest in this country. That's according to a warning from the Better Business Bureau. Julia Lewis is the interim CEO for the organization's Atlantic Provinces division.

Most of us don't go out of our way to talk about death and grief, but author Leanne Friesen doesn't shy away from the topic. She's starting a tour across Newfoundland with her new book about grief. Friesen grew up in Dildo and is now a pastor in Ontario. She lost her sister to cancer in 2013, and she says her only goal is to help people who grieve and to tell them it's okay to make room for their grief. The title of Friesen's book is "Grieving Room."

Stephenville's town council is back to a full lineup again. Voters picked three new councillors:in a byelection. Former Mayor Tom O'Brien had 1,083 votes, Maurice Hynes got 804, and Darren Roberts attracted 784. Twelve people were on the ballot after Tracy Boland, Tristan Hulan, and Lenny Tiller resigned in January. Roberts wasn't available today, but we spoke with O'Brien and Hynes.

Snowmobile enthusiasts from across Canada are in Corner Brook this weekend for a meeting of the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations. March is usually prime time for snowmobiling in Western Newfoundland, but there's not as much snow on the trails or backcountry as in a typical year. The snowmobilers came, anyway and, yes, they WILL be riding. Bob Blundon is chair of the Newfoundland and Labrador Snowmobile Federation, as well as vice-president of the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations.

It's been a tough winter for snow lovers in parts of Newfoundland. The freeze/thaw, snow/rain cycle hasn't done any favours for people who love winter outdoor activities. The snowmobile club in the Corner Brook area has cancelled two major events this winter, and it's disappointing to people who look forward to the winter fun. Glenn Green is president of the Western Sno-Riders snowmobile club.

Each year, UNESCO, .the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, looks at worldwide parity in education between boys and girls. Studies have shown that countries where girls and boys have equal access to quality education have stronger economies and better social systems. This year, the report shows that fewer girls are leaving the education system before they finish...but there's still a long way to go. Manos Antoninis is UNESCO's Director of the Global Education Monitoring Report, and he spoke with the CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

Millions of people will tune in to see the Academy Awards this Sunday night. A select few hundred will get to actually be there in person...including Michael Schulman. He's a huge Oscars fan, and the author of Oscar Wars: A History of Hollywood in Gold, Sweat, and Tears.

More than half of 2SLGBTQIA+ and gender-diverse people in this province say their mental health is poor or very poor. Over 73 percent say they needed mental health care services but never got them. That's according to a research project by Quadrangle NL, funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada. The report considers all health care services in this province, and the results are anything but optimistic. Charlie Murphy is the executive director of Quadrangle NL. Ainsley Hawthorn is the project's research manager.

In February, a group of film students and instructors from College of the North Atlantic decided to take in a movie. But not the latest offering at the local movie theatre. Nope! They hopped on a flight to Germany for the 75th Berlin International Film Festival. They experienced the red carpet, rubbed elbows with major industry players, were invited to an event at the Canadian Embassy - and, oh yeah. and saw a few films. too. Ben Smith is an instructor with CNA's TV and Film department. Oliver Bartlett is a student currently studying TV and Film Technical Production.

Last year, the provincial government overhauled its municipalities act. The new Towns and Local Services Act gives community governments more power to deal with their own issues as they see fit. The Town of Harbour Grace, supported by many other councils around the province, led the way in lobbying for one particular addition to the new law. The towns want to have the right to demolish derelict buildings that are either dangerous or have become eyesores. Don Coombs is the mayor of Harbour Grace.

It takes time to fulfil a dream, but chef Colleen Hiscock's vision for her business has grown by leaps and bounds in just the past few years. Hiscock has been owner of Java Jack's Restaurant in Rocky Harbour since 2016. Since then, she's added a line of retail products, so you can enjoy the taste of Java Jack's right in your own home. You may have seen her preserves and bakery mixes in your local grocery store. Last week, Atlantic grocery store chain Sobeys featured her in their flyer as a way to mark International Women's Day.

If you live on Newfoundland's west coast, it helps if you can learn how to love winter. There are loads of options to get you out there -- snowmobiling, skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing. But when snow is in short supply, businesses and organizations that rely on it have to find a way to make do. The CBC’s Amy Feehan headed to Blow Me Down Trails cross country ski park in Corner Brook. She hopped aboard their trail groomer to learn how they keep their trails in tip top shape.

One in five Canadians lives with arthritis and its many forms, and people with the condition are twice as likely to have mental health issues. NL has had the highest incidence of arthritis in the country. The Arthritis Society of Canada recently released its Top 10 List of Research Advancements for 2023, and it cited work done by a team of researchers at Memorial University. Dr. Christie Costello is part of that MUN research team.

A provincial women's organization in Newfoundland and Labrador wants to see an end to gender-based violence, and it's asking for action that people can see. The Provincial Action Network on the Status of Women has released a report that includes 88 calls to action. The main call is for a task force on gender-based violence to be put in place. Sharon Williston is a co-chair of the organization.

Black Students at College of the North Atlantic in Grand Falls-Windsor are upset at the lack of recognition for Black History Month. Every February since 1995, events and festivities have been held across the country ro honour the legacy of Black people in Canada and their communities. Johnny Alubu Selemani is the International Students’ Representative for the Grand Falls-Windsor campus of CNA, and the incoming International Students' Representative with the Canadian Federation of Students for NL. Martin Jones went to the Grand Falls-Windsor campus to speak with Seleman.

More land in Newfoundland and Labrador has been set aside for protection. More than 26-hundred hectares of public land were officially recognized as protected areas earlier this month. It's in four municipalities: Indian Bay, Corner Brook, Elliston, and Whitbourne. The recognition is the result of a partnership between the Nature Conservancy of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador's Stewardship Association of Municipalities. Piers Evans is the program director for the Nature Conservancy of Canada in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Member of the House of Assembly for Humber-Bay of Islands is raising concerns about whether radiation therapy will be available when the new hospital opens in Corner Brook. The hospital is expected to open this summer, and it will have the province's second radiation therapy facility. But MHA Eddie Joyce is concerned that a key staff person has not yet been hired.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada has set aside more public land in the province to help protect it. More than 26-hundred hectares were officially earmarked for that purpose this month, in Indian Bay, Corner Brook, Elliston, and Whitbourne. The recognition comes from a partnership between the NCC and Newfoundland and Labrador's Stewardship Association of Municipalities. Piers Evans is the program director for the Nature Conservancy of Canada in Newfoundland and Labrador.

A new episode from a popular online docu-series called "Canadiana" focuses on the strange, true story of -- get this -- a WHALE heist that happened back in the 1500s, around Red Bay, Labrador. Ashley Brook is a producer with Canadiana, and she spoke with Newfoundland Morning's David Newell.

Federal Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre held a rally in Gander Wednesday night. About a hundred supporters gathered at the Quality Inn to listen to his stand against the upcoming carbon tax, and to hear what changes his party would make if it formed the next federal government. One of the people in the audience was Hare Bay Mayor Darlene Collins. She spoke with the CBC's Troy Turner about Poilievre before the event started.

Plans are underway for this year's Targa Newfoundland event. The competitive car rally takes vehicles through communities on paved roads that have been closed to the public. The routes cover from Central to Eastern Newfoundland, and drivers have the help of a navigator in the car. Wayne Lorenzen is the Media and Communications Coordinator for Targa Newfoundland.

RCMP are trying to find out who damaged equipment at a wind-testing site on the Port au Port Peninsula.The vandalism happened in late February. Corporal Jolene Garland is media relations officer with the RCMP in Newfoundland and Labrador..

Parents of students at Corner Brook Intermediate met Wednesday evening to talk about a dramatic increase in bullying and violence at the school. About 20 people shared stories of what their children have experienced, and what they'd like to see done to protect them. Charges of assault and assault causing bodily harm were laid against two students in February. It's alleged that a 15-year old male and a 14-year old female attacked a student. The student was taken to hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Sabrina Ellsworth created the Facebook Group 'Corner Brook Families Against Violence in Schools,' and organized Wednesday's meeting. She spoke with the CBC's Alex Kennedy.

A virtual reality project from Newfoundland and Labrador this province was featured this month in one of the largest technology and entertainment festivals in the world. Local tech startup Six Nineteen exhibited two of its VR projects at the South by Southwest Festival that's happening now in Austin, Texas. 340-thousand people attended last year. Chelsea O’Hara is co-founder of Six Nineteen, and Andrea Cooper is St. John’s artist and creator.

“We cannot solve a problem we do not understand, so the goal of this work is to build that understanding.”That, more or less, is the premise of a recent research project titled “Pull Together: Addressing Housing Insecurity in Newfoundland and Labrador”. The report came out this week, and researchers want to understand how big a problem housing insecurity is in rural parts of the province. Housing researcher and consultant Hope Jamieson prepared it for Choices for Youth and Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador.

The company doing wind testing on the Port au Port Peninsula says it's disappointed by vandalism at one of its sites. In late February, someone damaged solar panels and windows at the World Energy GH2 site, near the community of Mainland. The RCMP called it "intentional property damage," and they note that it's the second time the company has been struck by vandals. In January, 2023, heavy equipment owned by a contractor working for World Energy GH2 was damaged. CEO Sean Leet spoke with the CBC's Arlette Lazarenko.

The province's heritage foundation is recognizing five women who have made a mark on this province in one way or another. Heritage NL has designated the women under their Provincial Historic Commemorations Program. In some places in North America, March is observed as Women's History Month, But it's always a good time to talk about how women in our province have contributed. Lisa Daly is board chair for Heritage NL.

A man who fought to get radiation therapy at the new regional hospital in Corner Brook says he's disheartened.That's because the province's health authority still hasn't recruited a radiation oncologist, just months before the hospital is supposed to open. Gerald Parsons was co-chair of a hospital action committee that lobbied for improved services at the new hospital.

Anticipate construction, potential road closures and traffic delays for the foreseeable future! Over $32 million in government support will be provided for various road improvements in Newfoundland and Labrador, benefitting 27 municipalities. CBC's Colleen Connors spoke with John Abbott, the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, at Friday's announcement.

You can celebrate your birthday any way you like, and a woman from Fleur de Lys has decided she will spend time walking on HER birthday this week. Millie Walsh is doing it for a cause that's dear to her heart. A longtime community volunteer in Fleur de Lys, on the Baie Verte Peninsula, she's decided to spend part of her 65th birthday on Wednesday by walking 20 kilometres to raise money for the Dorset Museum Interpretation Centre.

Fishermen from across Newfoundland have spent the last week calling for free enterprise in this province's fishery, which would give them more control over where they can sell their catch and how much they can sell it for. The CBC's Leigh Anne Power was live at a Monday morning protest in Gander, where fisherman Tammy Elliott spoke about the need for change.

The provincial government has agreed to buy additional power from Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Ltd, with the hopes of stabilizing the struggling newsprint mill. But the company that owns the mill, Kruger, is not saying how much the deal is worth, how much power the government will get, or what Kruger hopes to do with the cash. The CBC's Colleen Connors spoke with Roman Gallo, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Kruger Pulp and Paper.

Imagine you are sitting behind your computer, and suddenly, your heart rate elevates and you feel the sensation of dread is sinking in as you realize you just fell for an online scam. For Newfoundland Morning Producer Hillary Johnson, the realization occurred after purchasing a vanity on Facebook. She shared her experience after falling for a scam, and explores how social media is fueling these scams.

The minimum wage in this province is set to hit $15.60 on April 1. However, some policy experts say it should be $20 an hour to cover the cost of living here. That's just one of the recommendations the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives published this week. Russell Williams is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Memorial University and one of the authors of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives recommendations.

Accordion player Mike Symmonds of Conche is used to celebrations, but a gathering last week took him by surprise. That's because it was in HIS honour. Symmonds is 76 years old and he's been playing accordion for more than 60 years. He's performed at garden parties, weddings, birthdays, cruiseship visits, you name it.Symmonds and Mary Foley, a Conche resident who organized the special gathering, spoke with Bernice Hillier.

Last December, the provincial department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture closed the Rocky Brook Road Bridge to all traffic. The bridge is located about 13 kilometres north of Badger - about 300 meters from the TCH.The closure came after property owners in the area expressed concerns about the structural safety of the bridge. Now residents are wondering what's next for a bridge they say is essential to not only access their homes and cottages. Gary Noseworthy is the chair of the Rocky Brook Bridge Committee.

A Codroy Valley man is raising concerns about the number of big rigs blowing over in the Wreckhouse area and the danger to other drivers. At least twice this month alone, transport trucks have tipped over at Wreckhouse and blocked the Trans Canada Highway. Frank Aucoin says the provincial transportation department could do more to ensure safety.

The provincial government was embarrassed and scrambling for answers earlier this year, when the Globe and Mail wrote about how much it spends on travel nurses. In 2023, it paid out more than thirty-six million dollars over just five months. That's why the provincial registered nurses' union wants to expand a pilot project started in Labrador in 2022. It "borrows" local nurses from other locations and uses them to fill the gap for short periods at a time. Yvette Coffey is president of the Registered Nurses' Union Newfoundland and Labrador, and she spoke with the CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

The head of the province's Cancer Care Program can't guarantee that cancer patients will be able to get radiation therapy in Corner Brook as soon as the new regional hospital opens. The new hospital is set to open this summer, and it WILL have the equipment to offer radiation therapy. But the health authority has not yet recruited a radiation oncologist, and it is still advertising for two radiation oncology positions. Dr. Teri Stuckless is the clinical chief of the provincial Cancer Care Program of NL Health Services.

It was a chaotic day at the provincial legislature yesterday. hundreds of fish harvesters blocked the entrances to Confederation Building, barring public servants from entering and delaying the tabling of the 2024 budget. So, how did we get here? CBC Reporter Darrell Roberts talked to us about it, Jason Spingle, secretary-treasurer of the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union, spoke about the protests, the court injunction, and more.

Fish harvesters in this province say they want a 'free enterprise' system, which would mean lifting processing caps, allowing outside buyers and granting new processing licences here at home. Yesterday, hundreds of angry harvesters gathered outside the Confederation Building in St. John's to voice those demands. Things got heated as police tried to help workers into their offices on what was supposed to be budget day. In the end, the provincial government won a court injunction against the protesters, but not before two people - a police officer and a protester - were taken away by ambulance. Tony Wakeham is the leader of the PC party in this province and MHA for Stephenville - Port au Port, and he says the situation should never have happened.

It was a day later than originally planned, but the provincial budget was delivered yesterday. The event had been postponed due to the tense protests on Wednesday by fish harvesters outside the Confederation Building in St. John's. Despite a court injunction delivered on Wednesday, protesters returned the next day and were met by police officers in riot gear. In response, the provincial NDP announced they would NOT be going into the House of Assembly and attending the budget announcement, out of respect for the protesters. We spoke with NDP leader Jim Dinn.

We heard a lot of information about the provincial budget this morning, but what do people think about the numbers? Is enough being done to offset the cost of living? CBC's Amy Feehan hit the streets of Corner Brook on Thursday to get some reactions.

The fishery has been the biggest story in the province this week. Hundreds of harvesters have been protesting in St. John's, shutting down the House of Assembly and facing down police. They want a free enterprise system, which eliminates processing quotas, creates new plant licenses, and allows companies outside NL to buy their catches. But, if quotas are lifted and outside buyers take crab away, plant workers want to know where THEY stand. Doretta Strickland is a crab plant worker in Triton.

On Thursday, a big crowd of fish harvesters from all over western Newfoundland and the Northern Peninsula gathered outside the Sir Richard Squires Building in Corner Brook, demanding what their union is calling a 'free enterprise' system in the industry. The demonstration came a day after fish harvesters blocked the entrances to the Confederation Building in St.John's. The CBC's Colleen Connors spoke with fish harvesters Roger Joyce from Fox Island River and Ernest Decker from Rocky Harbour at the Corner Brook event.

Last week's provincial budget covered a lot of ground. In our coverage so far, we've heard from provincial politicians, unions and analysts. This morning, three rural mayors were on the line to talk about their impressions. Della DeMoss is mayor of Roddickton-Bide Arm on the Great Northern Peninsula, Krista Freake is mayor of Lewisporte in Central Newfoundland, and Chalsie Kook-Marche is mayor of Port au Port West-Aguathuna-Felix Cove on the Port au Port Peninsula.

It's not uncommon for people to pay more than a thousand dollars a month for a one-bedroom apartment in this province. Rents have been rising fast since the pandemic began, and more and people have no place to stay. Last week's provincial budget set aside 36 million dollars over four years to build 100 new homes. Paula Sheppard is co-chair of the Community Coalition on Housing and Homelessness in Corner Brook.

They've set a date. Nearly 17 years after it was first announced, the new regional hospital for western Newfoundland will finally open on June 2. It will be a proud and exciting day for many who've been involved in the project. The new Western Memorial Regional Hospital will replace the old facility, which opened in the 1970s, although part of the building dates back to 1950. The new hospital, we are told, has a "noticeable patient focus" in its design. Hilda Bellows is a project manager with NL Health Services and is responsible for Move Day plans. Paulette Morgan is the senior director of hospital clinical services with NL Health Services.

The Deer Lake Red Wings are on a winning streak this hockey season. The team came out on top of the Central-West Senior Hockey League with a 6-5 win against the Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts on Friday night. The win sends the Wings to their second straight Herder Memorial final series, where they'll face the St. John's Caps for provincial senior hockey glory. Darren Langdon is their coach.

It's been eight months since the province's registered nurses and nurse practitioners signed their collective agreement. Despite negotiations, they have yet to receive all of the benefits. The CBC's Alex Kennedy spoke with Yvette Coffey, President of the Registered Nurses' Union Newfoundland & Labrador.

Some bad news for people who like to laugh - or make people laugh. Earlier this month, the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal was cancelled. Comedians all over the country are grieving the loss of the iconic festival. But how do comedians in THIS province feel about it? Jarrod Farrell is from Marystown and is fairly new to the comedy scene. CBC’s Amy Feehan spoke with him about the Newfoundland comedy community and what the cancellation of Just For Laughs means to him.

We recently spoke with housing researcher and consultant Hope Jamieson. They had prepared a report on housing insecurity in this province - with a focus on rural communities. What does housing insecurity and homelessness look like in smaller, rural communities in Newfoundland and Labrador, at what's being done to address the problem at the municipal level? Amy Coady is president of Municipalities NL and a councillor for the Town of Grand Falls Windsor, Jim Parsons is the mayor of the City of Corner Brook, and Cheryl Gardner is the Economic Development and Special Projects Co-ordinator for the Town of Fogo Island.

It's been almost three months since the cybersecurity breach at Grenfell Campus, Memorial University in Corner Brook. The initial investigation found out that ransomware was used in the attack. and no data was compromised. But things haven't been put back to normal, and the workflow for students and professors has been changed a lot. The CBC's Colleen Connors spoke with professor and Memorial University Faculty Association member Gerard Curtis for an update.

On today's show, we had another in a series of panel discussions on the issue of housing insecurity in this province. We heard from Brian Button, Percy Farwell and Dale Colbourne, the mayors of Port aux Basques, Gander and St. Lunaire-Griquet, respectively.

Colorectal cancer - you might think of it as an older person's disease, but it's not: More than 24 thousand Canadians will be diagnosed with the disease this year, and it's the second deadliest cancer in Canada. This is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and Kay Short has a story to tell about battling colorectal cancer. She's known to most people in Corner Brook as "Dean Catherine," from the Anglican cathedral there, and she spoke with Bernice Hillier.

The Wreckhouse area of the TCH has seen its share of high winds already this year. At least two tractor trailers have blown over there just this month. Last week, Frank Aucoin, a Codroy Valley senior, told us there should be a barricade at peak wind gusts to stop traffic until winds die down. We spoke with Stan Reid and Curtis Cutler, commercial truckers whose travels take them through the Wreckhouse.

Some people consider themselves dog or cat people, while others love smaller furry friends. Sarah Hedges of Grand Falls-Windsor has been running Central Small Animal Rescue out of her home for nearly five years. Unfortunately, she had to make the hard decision to close temporarily, due to high costs and lack of space. Hedges spoke with Newfoundland Morning's Amy Feehan.

For the past 72 years, adult theatre companies in Newfoundland and Labrador have gathered for a competitive drama festival. This year, seven groups — from Labrador West to St. John's — will converge in Gander during Easter week for the Annual Provincial Drama Festival. CBC's Hillary Johnson spoke with husband-and-wife duo Randy and Lynn Sooley. Lynn is the president of Gander's theatre group, Avion Players, and Randy is the co-chair of this year's event.

If you want to witness some top-tier hockey talent, Corner Brook is one place to do that this coming weekend. The Under-18 triple-A female Atlantic Championship is taking place. The tournament features players at the highest level of minor hockey from across Atlantic Canada. For organizers, this event has been a long time coming.

There are a lot of different, and sometimes complicated, views around confederation. There's no doubt that Newfoundland and Labrador gained a lot by joining Canada but for many, there were things lost, too. The multi-disciplinary group Opera on the Avalon has spent the last two years looking at Confederation from all angles. It's created a moving project called 75 x 75 which kicked off this weekend. Cheryl Hickman is the general and artistic director.

A woman in western Newfoundland says she's just thankful to still be here, after the ground literally shifted under her feet a few days ago. Crystal MacDonald was inside the house she was renting in Lark Harbour when Friday's rainstorm led to a landslide that knocked the house off its foundation. MacDonald, her partner Mike Childs, and her 3-year-old daughter had only moved into the house about a month ago. MacDonald was in the house when the landslide happened.

He served his time, but because of the nature of Matthew O'Quinn's violent crimes against women he is supposed to be following a strict set of conditions after his prison release. That's not happening. So he's back in jail, once again arrested for breaking the rules of his release. How does this keep happening in a system set up to protect the public? CBC's Cherie Wheeler has been digging into the O'Quinn case.

On Monday, April 8th one of the rarest events in our natural world will happen - and much of this province will have a front-row seat for the show. That's because at around 5 pm that day, there will be a total solar eclipse. It's something that we won't get a chance to see for another 50 years. Hilding Neilson is assistant professor in the department of physics and physical oceanography at Memorial University. Kathryn White is the Special Projects Coordinator for the Harris Centre at Grenfell Campus of Memorial.

People from this province are usually proud to be from here. And there was a time when most people considered themselves Newfoundlanders and Labradorians first, and Canadians second. That's something that Shannon Conway knows a lot about. Partly because she's a Newfoundlander herself, but also in her role with the Gorsebrook Research Institute for Atlantic Canadian Studies. 

Joey Smallwood's hope that no one would doubt the success of Confederation in the future. But, 75 years later, that's not the consensus. For Mi'kmaw and other Indigenous people in this province, the Terms of Union between Newfoundland and Canada did not mention them at all. That's in spite of the fact that census data from as early as 1921 show that there were people on the island who identified as Mi'kmaw. Calvin White is a Mi'kmaw elder in Flat Bay. He was 6 years old at the time of Confederation, and has helped lead the struggle of Newfoundland Mi'kmaw to seek recognition as an adult.

Monday is the 75th anniversary of confederation, a pivotal moment in the history of Newfoundland. It took a lot of work to get to, whether you agreed with it or not! In the year leading up to confederation, delegates from Newfoundland and Canada spent months negotiating the terms under which the two countries would unite. In the end, they agreed on fifty Terms of Union. Some became obsolete within the decade, but a few are still influencing society today. So, on the platinum anniversary of Confederation with Canada, reporter Leigh Anne Power takes a look back at the terms and their relevance.

City crews and emergency personnel are still monitoring the scene of a landslide overnight that led to a dramatic rescue. The landslide on Riverside Drive impacted some vehicles. Todd Flynn is director of protective services.

A lot of people in this province don’t remember a time before confederation, and that is especially true for the children of Newfoundland and Labrador. But what do some of the youngest people of our province know about confederation and how do they feel about being Canadian? CBC’s Amy Feehan headed over to Pasadena Place to get some answers. 

A Newfoundland seniors support organization is feeling disappointed and somewhat confused in the wake of the provincial budget. Budget 2024 touts "unprecedented measures to support the health and well-being of seniors" There's a ten million dollar Seniors' Well-Being Plan as one cornerstone, but Mohamed Abdallah of Connections for Seniors there's been little information about it from government.

It's a unique opportunity for a Hong Kong-based artist to immerse themselves in the life, culture and art of Fogo Island. Its called The Fog and Mist Residency and is the brainchild of Fogo Island Arts, The Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto and Para Site, a contemporary art centre in Hong Kong. Kitty Scott is the curator and strategic advisor for Fogo Islands Arts.

A building in Corner Brook that has a fair bit of history will likely get a new look in the near future. The old City TV repair shop on Old Humber Road is up for sale. It's a structure that's been vacant for decades, and has been a reminder of a bygone era, as the old "City TV Service" sign remained in the window for many years. Wayne Park is the realtor for the property.

Christina Perry is speaking out about the terrifying experience of being caught in a landslide this week. She was driving along Riverside Drive in Corner Brook just before midnight on Tuesday. Without warning, rocks and mud violently surged across the road, propelling the truck ahead of Perry into the Humber River.

A provincial women's organization is raising concerns about comments by Justice Minister John Hogan in the House of Assembly on March 6. NDP MHA Lela Evans presented a petition that called for a review of the K-12 school curriculum, to address gaps in learning about consent and gender-based violence. Hogan responded by addressing concerns that lawyers in a trial can re-traumatize victims of sexual assault. He said, in part: "It's a very serious issue and the lawyers in this province are not retraumatizing sexual assault victims, whether it's a Crown or a legal aid or a private lawyer in this province. It's not the way it works. It's actually impossible for it to happen." We spoke with Paula Sheppard, executive director of the Corner Brook Status of Women Council and with Minister Hogan.

A Newfoundland woman is not pleased with the lack of accommodations available for her pet rescue dog on a Marine Atlantic ferry in late March. Danielle Irvine of St. John's set out to drive to Montreal, and she took her mild-mannered, seventy-five-pound husky/retriever mix, Whylie Coyote, in the car. The dog had experienced a lot of trauma before Irvine adopted him. He is still overly anxious and needs medication to calm him on long drives. Their trip to the mainland hit a roadblock once they finally left Port Aux Basques on the ferry. Irvine spoke with CBC producer David Newell. We also spoke with Marine Atlantic spokesperson Darrell Mercer.

In music, a "transition" links one section of a song to another. In real life, most of us face lots of transitions, and "Transitions" is the title of musician Kellie Loder's latest album. Loder is touring in support of the new songs this month, and Bernice Hillier spoke with them earlier this week.

On Thursday's show, NL Justice Minister John Hogan said he’s sorry for comments he made last month, regarding how survivors of sexual assault are treated in the criminal justice system. At the time, he said it was “impossible” for lawyers to re-traumatize sexual assault survivors in the court system. Hogan walked that statement back yesterday, saying in part that he was drawing on his own time spent in courtrooms as a lawyer.Former Crown Attorney Mike Murray spent 25 years as a lawyer with the crown, before retiring last year.

The Canadian Dental Care Plan is set to launch on May 1. The federal program is designed to ease financial barriers to people who want to get dental care. Anyone over the age of 70 can apply. Nicole Kielly is a dental hygienist who works independently in NL. She also volunteers with public outreach for the Newfoundland and Labrador Dental Hygienist Association.

In a couple of weeks, voters in Fogo Island-Cape Freels district will go to the polls in a byelection to replace the late Derrick Bragg. Sometime after that, Baie Verte-Green Bay electors will choose a successor to retired MHA Brian Warr. Running elections and byelections isn't cheap, so donors will play a big role in supporting the candidates. But in this province, there are no limits on corporate or union donations, and Democracy Watch says that's a problem. Duff Conacher is a director with the democracy watchdog.He spoke with the CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

Benoit First Nation was scheduled to unveil carved wooden statues of their founding mother and father, Desiree and Michael Benoit today. The celebration was planned for the Mi’kmaw Centre in Degrau. Chief Jasen Benwah of Benoit First Nation spoke with us.

People from all over the province are heading to Gander to catch this evening's total eclipse of the sun. The town is right in the middle of the "path of totality" and was expected to have some of the best views of the event. In case the sky is clear enough for a good view, optometrist Sarah Hutchings explained how to watch the eclipse safely.

Going back to school to get your high school diploma can be a major life decision. Sure, it'll likely have an incredibly positive impact, but it's still a stressful choice. The Discovery Centre has been offering the Adult Basic Education (ABE) program in this province since 1993. Right now, they're hosting a Facebook Live series aimed at easing some of the anxieties of going back to school. Jennifer Murrin is an admissions officer with the Centre.Meghan Allen is a recent ABE graduate, currently enrolled in the pharmacy tech program at Keyin College.

The Change Islands Heritage Committee has been working hard for the past year and a half, providing programs, workshops, and events to local residents. The group was formed to keep the community's history and its traditional skills and knowledge alive. Paula Flood is Change Island's mayor and the heritage committee's co-founder and she spoke with the CBC's Hillary Johnson.

NL's Housing Minister, Fred Hutton was at Vine Place Community Centre in Corner Brook on Wednesday to give details about the recent provincial budget announcement for housing. Over the next two years, the province will tear down and and rebuild 32 vacant homes in the city, while building an extra 18 units. CBC’s Amy Feehan was there and spoke with Mayor Jim Parsons and the Vine Place Community Centre’s Executive Director Mike Kearley about the housing project.

The provincial government has given the official go-ahead for the massive wind-to-electricity-to-hydrogen proposal for western Newfoundland, The plan includes the construction of more than 300 huge wind turbines, as tall as 200 metres each. We heard three perspectives. Provincial Environment Minister Bernard Davis (0:25 mark) delivered the news yesterday, releasing World Energy GH2 from further environmental assessment. John Risley (3:05), the chair of World Energy GH2 says the decision was necessary to solidify NL's position as a global leader in renewable green energy production. Then, Nick Mercer (3:28), an expert on renewable energy and an executive of Envirowatch NL, weighed in on the government's decision.

The Vatican says gender-affirming surgery and surrogacy are serious violations of "human dignity" that reject God's plan for human life. That's part of its new 20-page doctrine called "Infinite Dignity," which it issued this week. Pope Francis approved the declaration last month and ordered it to be published. Gemma Hickey is the president of the global human rights organization, Ending Clergy Abuse.

Canada has many attractions - hockey, friendly citizens, beautiful landscapes, moose and, of course, maple syrup. Not only is maple syrup a Canadian symbol, but the sap also has many uses. The time window for maple tree tapping can vary each year, but spring is the season to bust out the taps and buckets.Our outdoor columnist, Charlie White, took up tree-tapping last year and has all the tips for us in the latest edition of Chase the Seasons with Charlie.

An apology is one thing, but now the NDP wants to see action. Last week, provincial Justice Minister John Hogan was in the spotlight for comments he made in March about the treatment of sexual assault survivors in the criminal justice system. Hogan had said it was "impossible" for lawyers to re-traumatize sexual assault victims in the courtroom. He was responding to a petition presented by New Democratic Party MHA Lela Evans, asking for changes in how lawyers interact with witnesses in sexual assault cases. Minister Hogan has since apologized for his comments and has acknowledged that aspects of the justice system – including lawyers' behavior – can cause additional harm to survivors. The NDP says it wants to see the Minister use his position to make changes to the system, and Evans spoke with us.

44 years ago today, Terry Fox dipped his artificial leg into the Atlantic Ocean and started his Marathon of Hope in St. John's, to raise money and awareness for cancer research. On Thursday, students at C.C. Loughlin Elementary in Corner Brook had a special visitor - Terry's brother, Fred Fox - who told them all about the late hero.

The Grand Falls-Windsor community kitchen helps thousands of people every year. The group provides hot meals for people who can't afford groceries. They'll deliver firewood to people who need it and visit seniors who find it difficult to leave their homes. This week, all their hard work was undone when thieves broke in and stole the food they were planning to serve this month. Laurie Ballard is the community kitchen's executive director, and she spoke with the CBC's Troy Turner.

The Journey Project is touring NL with an exhibit of survivor-created photography. It's the third PhotoVoice project that includes images created by survivors of sexual violence and intimate partner violence from across the province. This year's collection is called TRANSFORMation: A Photo Journey. Ashley MacDonald is a legal navigator with The Journey Project and an organizer of the PhotoVoice project. Martin spoke with her at the Arts and Culture Centre in Grand Falls-Windsor.

NL's crab fishery was slated to start this past Saturday, but most harvesters across the province have kept their boats tied up at the wharf That's because they are demanding a better price than what they're being offered now The delay is having an impact on other people employed in the fishery, including plant workers. Craig Pardy is the Member of the House of Assembly for Bonavista and the opposition critic for fisheries.

The NL provincial government approved World Energy GH2's amended environmental assessment last week. That means the company's proposed mega project to produce hydrogen from wind energy generated on the Port au Port Peninsula and Codroy Valley will go ahead. But even after the company had done more work on that assessment, as the government demanded, some people were still concerned about the plans. Claudelle Devoe is a tourism operator in the Codroy Valley and a member of the citizen's group Codroy Valley United.

After a little more than a week's delay, the snow crab season in the province will begin. The Fish, Food & Allied Workers union announced last evening that it has reached a deal with the Association of Seafood Producers for this year's fishery. It happened just before fish harvesters were supposed to head back to Confederation Building in protest. Greg Pretty is the president of the FFAW.

Crab harvesters have a deal for their catch this morning. The crab season was supposed to start last week, but boats have been tied up due to the dispute about prices. Late Sunday, a deal was announced between the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union and the Association of Seafood Producers. John Efford Jr. has had a lot to say in recent weeks about the dispute. He's taken a leadership role in this spring's protests, which is reminding a lot of people of his dad, former federal fisheries minister John Efford.

In the last few years, we've heard a lot about measles outbreaks around the world. Anti-vaccine rhetoric is responsible for some of that, but some cases occur because people didn't get enough vaccine as children. Now health officials are seeing a rise in pertussis...whooping cough...cases. Dr. Janice Fitzgerald is the province's chief medical officer of health, and she spoke with CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

There's a new member of the House of Assembly this morning. A byelection was called for the district of Cape Freels-Fogo after the passing of MHA Derrick Bragg in January. Progressive Conservative candidate Jim McKenna was the winner.

Students at Grenfell Campus, Memorial University in Corner Brook are still dealing with issues related to the cyberattack that happened in January of this year. Many students and professors have faced multiple problems with their internet connections and have had to find other ways to get by. Grenfell administration say they'll be offering a twenty-five dollar reimbursement for the internet service fee. Many students think this falls short. Grenfell Campus Student Union Academic Vice President Syed Saif Saedyei spoke with us.

Young people who live outside of St. John's can find it hard to find the support they need. Many have to travel to the city to receive mental health care, housing support, and many other services that can be impossible to get in rural communities. Choices For Youth is a non-profit organization that gives young people access to those services as well as housing supports. The Newfoundland and Labrador government says 4.3 million dollars will fund the Choices for Youth hub project program. Jen Crowe is the senior director of strategy, fund development and external relations at Choices for Youth.

If you think NL isn't able to provide enough of our own food in this province - you'd be wrong! That's according to a survey, conducted by the Community Food Producers Forum, on the topic of food production, It's called the "Where's The Food?" survey, and it looked at how much food is produced, and what types. Dan Rubin is the founding chair of the Community Food Producers Forum and one of the researchers behind the survey.

Friday night was one of fear and worry for many residents of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, as a fire on the North Side of the town forced the evacuation of homes on several streets in the area. George Andrews is the mayor of the community.

This year's theme for Earth Day is Plastics versus the Planet. From microplastics showing up in our food, to giant plastic islands floating in the ocean, the petroleum by-product is everywhere. Martin spoke with Francesca Kerton, a chemistry professor at Memorial University.

Today is Earth Day, a time to reflect on our impact on the environment and consider ways to live more sustainably. Nancy Pearson of St. George's on the island's west coast of the Island is trying to clean up her community - one walk at a time. Every day, she goes for a walk and brings along a garbage bag to fill with all the litter and trash she sees along her way. Pearson has been doing this for years and started an Instagram account to document her travels and inspire others to do the same. The account, called "A Bag A Walk," now has over a thousand followers.

Mountain bikers in Stephenville are getting fed up with ATVs and dirt bikes destroying their trails. Nigel Pike is a member of the local mountain biking group who maintains some of the trails in the area, and he says vandalism happens way too often.

It was a harrowing start to the weekend in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. On Friday night, a former ceramics shop was on fire. That fire spread to a nearby former air traffic control tower as well as an aircraft hangar that was being used to store outdoor vehicles. The building was also being used to store liquid oxygen, which set off several explosions. About two dozen people in the North Side area of town were evacuated from their homes. Monica Legge spoke on Friday night to Labrador Morning's Heidi Atter.

High school graduates in Corner Brook are getting more and more nervous as graduation season approaches. If dresses and suits don't fit, they'll need an altered reality - and quick. Cue the experts, Poonam and Rohit Yadav, who run the alteration service Jasmine's Boutique. CBC's Amy Feehan stopped by to see how they're keeping up with this bustling time of year.

Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services have new mobile crisis response teams: in Stephenville, Bay St. George and Bay St. George South. Melissa Roberts is the regional director of mental health and addictions with the organization.

Thousands of people on social media have recently watched a video that features part of central Newfoundland. A new cooking trend? Some sweet puppies? Nope, It's Reg Wright, president and chief executive officer of Gander International Airport Authority, offering a dose of common sense to dispel myths and rumours about how easy it is to run an airport. Turns out, it's not as easy as standing back and welcoming passengers.

George Thorne and his wife, Margaret, often kept pets in their house in Grand Falls-Windsor. Margaret passed away six years ago, and George had a pet Shih Tzu for a while to keep him company. But when that dog passed away, George went to the Exploits Valley SPCA and adopted a cat named Nelly! The CBC;s Martin Jones paid them a visit.

Parks Canada is warning drivers in Gros Morne National Park that more caribou than usual are walking together on the roads throughout the park this spring. Caribou often head toward the coast and highways in search of vegetation, but people are seeing them in bigger herds than in previous years along Route 430. The CBC's Hillary Johnson spoke with Parks Canada Ecologist Darroch Whitaker.

Todd Clements from Happy Valley-Goose Bay is having his reality TV moment - as a contestant on Big Brother Canada. Todd might not seem like your average reality show contestant, He admits his voice is a l-i-i-i-t-le bit monotone, but "The Toddinator"—as he's sometimes known--is definitely the talk of the town in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Todd's still in the Big Brother Canada House, so we can't talk to him right now, but his mother, Theresa Clements, took our phone call.

The aviation industry in Canada took a big hit during the pandemic. With everyone in isolation, smaller airports such as those in NL saw flights grounded and routes cancelled. But the president of the Canadian Airports Council says things are getting back to normal. Monette Pasher gave a presentation in Deer Lake on Wednesday about the state of aviation in Canada.

Provincial and federal governments in Canada are taking a lot of heat from voters about the cost of living. People who struggle with rising monthly bills tend to blame those they elected. But the problem actually goes a lot higher, says Lana Payne, president of the country's largest private sector union.

For years, supporters of aquaculture in this province have offered all kinds of arguments that salmon farm escapees don't hurt wild fish stocks. But this week, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has published a new report saying that's not the case...specifically on the Conne River. The report says there are definite links between wild salmon decline there and the growth of fish farms on the south coast. Bill Montevecchi is a seabird biologist, but developed an interest in salmon because that's some of what his birds eat. He spoke about the report with CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

Legendary Hockey Night in Canada play-by-play man Bob Cole passed away this week in St. John's at the age of 90. As we remember him, we've delved into our archives and came up with him answering our "21 Questions" quiz some years ago, with the CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

In a province known for its music and art, it's no surprise that we also boast a wide array of incredible performance arts venues. Laughing Heart Music has just announced a new platform that plans to curate these spaces into a single website. It's called NL Venues and it offers a fully searchable database for everything from intimate coffee houses, to historic theatres. Nigel Jenkins is with Laughing Heart Music.

Newfoundland and Labrador has lots of great historic buildings, but it can be hard for locals to get money to fix them up. The ‘Next Great Save’ competition gives Canadians a chance to nominate the historical places in their communities for a chance to win up to 50-thousand dollars in restoration money. Our Lady of Mercy Complex in Port au Port West has made it to the finals of the competition. Joanne Rose is one of the members of the board of directors.

People in the Gander area on Tuesday can start to feel better - in body and mind, The Community Sector Council is holding a well-being fair to teach them how to be more active and to find mental health care. Participants will even be able to get a massage. Lindsey Hynes is the manager of community vitality and well-being with the CSC.

Many people in the province have a hard time getting basic medical care, and.women waiting for pap tests can be stuck in long lineups. But in central Newfoundland, "Health Hubs" that were set up in Gander and Grand Falls-Windsor for people without family doctors are trying to speed things along, Testing usually done at a family doctor's office is done at the hubs, and that's created a waiting list for such things as cervical screening. Dr. Lynette Powell, a primary care physician at the Grand Falls-Windsor health hub, She spoke to the CBC's Mark Quinn.

The family of Brian Lush of Stephenville is still waiting for answers, nearly a week after he went missing. Lush is a commercial trucker who was last seen at a gas station in Summerstown, Ontario, where his truck was left behind. There's been no trace of him since. Bill Dickson is the media relations coordinator with the Ontario Provincial Police East Region.

Supporting people who experience disordered eating, and advocating for effective policies and programs. That's the mandate of the Eating Disorder Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador. They're continuing their work this week throughout Central Newfoundland. Paul Thomey, the Foundation's executive director spoke with Martin.in our Gander studio.

The fight for change happens one step at a time. Roman Catholic Bishop Bart Van Roijen hopes his walk from York Harbour to Corner Brook will help in the call to action for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. On Monday, he completed the 42-kilometre journey, to show his support for peace. CBC's Amy Feehan met up with him for a bit of his walk.

Prices seem to have gone up every time we go to a grocery store. In fact, recent analysis of household spending in Canada shows that, except for the Territories, people n this province pay more for food than anyone else in the country. The CBC's Leigh Anne Power compared four stores in Gander to see how prices differ from place to place. Then, she tried to figure out why there are differences in the first place.

ICYMI from our Thursday show: An area of Central Newfoundland known as Charlie's Place is a step closer to getting the kind of protection some believe it should have. It's between the Northwest and Southwest Gander Rivers and has special significance to Indigenous people in the Glenwood and Gander Bay areas. Qalipu First Nation and the Nature Conservancy of Canada signed a memorandum of understanding to preserve Charlie's Place from industries such as mining and forestry. The CBC's Troy Turner spoke with Qalipu acting chief Jenny Brake and with Piers Evans, program director with the Nature Conservancy of Canada.

Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador.is holding its annual Symposium in Gander. One of the presentations on this year's agenda looks at the money available to municipalities and the best ways for them to find it. Deatra Walsh is the director of advocacy and communications with MN

Housing, economic development, climate resilience and more. Municipalities have a LOT to talk about and to do. Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador is holding its annual symposium in Gander. Amy Coady is the president of MNL

Two years ago, the town of Gander bought an abandoned Pentecostal Church building, planning to use it to benefit the community. A local group has made a proposal to convert it to affordable and transitional housing, with space to run assistance programs. Gander Mayor Percy Farwell says the project is ready to go, but the town is waiting for money from the province to pay for it. Fred Hutton, the provincial minister of housing spoke with the CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

Audio interviews that give us a glimpse of everyday life many years ago in Corner Brook and the Bay of Islands take us down Memory Lane - and now they're available online. Back in 1980, history students at what was then Sir Wilfred Grenfell College interviewed local seniors. Grenfell Campus, Memorial University recently posted the Bowater Oral History Collection on the web. Crystal Rose is with Libraries, Archives and Special Collections at Grenfell Campus.

A group in the Labrador Straits is tackling some big issues facing many rural towns: an aging population and the challenge of finding workers. This Sunday, the Southern Labrador Development Association is highlighting what the region has to offer, in a Spring Information Expo. John Groves is program officer for the Labrador Straits Welcoming Communities Strategy.

It's been a few years since the provincial government made some changes that require all short-term accommodation providers to register with the tourism department. The new law, passed in 2020, is the Tourism Accommodations Act. Four years later, about 22-hundred rentals are registered, with a final deadline set for June 30. Industry leaders have been asking for the changes for years. Deborah Bourden is chair of Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador,

A Grand Falls-Windsor shop that sells Indigenous-designed gifts will hold a collection drive in honour of Red Dress Day on Sunday. The special day of remembrance pays tribute to missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people. Sisters Gifts Newfoundland is holding a "Stuff The Truck" event to collect donations for Status of Women Central. CBC's Hillary Johnson spoke with Sisters Gifts Newfoundland co-owner Jennifer Kelly.

Delegates to The Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador Symposium Gander have been discussing the Municipal Conduct Act and the standard Municipal Code of Conduct. A listener wanted to know who investigates when municipal officials or staff are accused of breaching the codes. We put the question to Deatra Walsh, director of advocacy and communications with MNL.

The family of a Stephenville man has endured a terrible week of waiting. Brian Lush is the trucker who's been missing in Ontario since last Wednesday. He was last seen at a gas station in Summerstown, in eastern Ontario. His transport truck and personal belongings were left behind. Craig Lush, his brother, was designated by his family to speak on their behalf. We reached Craig in west Africa, where he is working in the oil and gas industry.

Sub-C Imaging of Clarenville has received nearly a half-million dollars in provincial money to help develop a new underwater inspection system. The company develops advanced underwater technology for the offshore and underwater markets, for remote vehicle operations in deep sea mining and marine research. Chad Collett is the CEO.

One in four NL women suffers from anxiety and depression during the perinatal period. That's the time from when they become pregnant and sometimes up to a year after they give birth. The impact on their mental health and well-being can range from mild to serious. May 1is World Maternal Mental Health Day, and the Perinatal Mental Health Alliance of Newfoundland and Labrador is hosting a series of events. Archana Vidyasankar is the chair of the Alliance and a perinatal psychiatrist.

There are thousands of shipwrecks off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, including many sunk in the two world wars. Eighty years ago today, the Canadian warship HMCS Valleyfield was torpedoed and sunk by a U-Boat. Today, the Valleyfield lies about 80 kilometres off Cape Race on the Grand Banks, along with the vast majority of its crew whose bodies were never recovered. The CBC's Leigh Anne Power examined Valleyfield's history.

When Linda Earl of Stephenville needs help with groceries, snow removal, or even just some company, she turns to the Guardian Angels for support. She’s one of many seniors in Stephenville who live alone. The Guardian Angels is a non-profit volunteer group that helps them with their everyday needs. But, as any senior will tell you, their visits mean so much more. CBC’s Amy Feehan met up with the group on a recent Sunday outing.

The Port au Port West group that's restoring the Our Lady of Mercy Church building wants you to help them win 50-thousand dollars to fix up the nearly 100-year-old structure. But hurry! You have until 9:30pm, Newfoundland time tonight to vote in the "Next Great Save" competition! (nextgreatsave.nationaltrustcanada.ca/2024) The church was, as of Monday morning, in first place in online voting, but it still needs your help. Joanne Rose is treasurer of the Our Lady of Mercy Complex Committee.

Marble Mountain will get some repairs and upgrades in the coming months. The provincial government set aside another one million dollars in the spring budget for capital improvements at the ski facility in Steady Brook. Steve Crocker is the province's Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation. He spoke with the CBC's Colleen Connors.

When you hear someone mention "opera," you might not immediately think about an audience full of children, or that it's even something a child would enjoy. But over the past twenty years, the Opera Roadshow has taken the genre out of the concert hall and into schools all over this province. Caroline Schiller is the director of the Opera Roadshow.

Once again, people from this province have done what it takes to support their own. Our Lady of Mercy Church in Port au Port West has won the Next Great Save competition. The contest involved online voting, and Newfoundlanders and Labradorians did not disappoint. That means the 50-thousand dollar grand prize will go to help repair and restore the historic building. Joanne Rose is treasurer of Our Lady of Mercy Complex Committee.

Four of the Mi'kmaw bands in the Port au Port - -Bay St. George area are working together with the goal of making things better. There's a lot of interest in that part of the province now, with wind energy and salt mining just two of the industries on the horizon. The new Four Directions Mi'kmaw Development Group wants to ensure that Indigenous communities are consulted and get the maximum benefit. The consortium includes the Three Rivers, Flat Bay, St. George's, and Benoit First Nations bands. Chief Jasen Benwah is the chief of the Benoit First Nation.

Newfoundland and Labrador has the most expensive milk among all provinces in Canada - and most of our cheese, yogurt and cream come from elsewhere. Now, a new dairy farmers cooperative hopes to change that The provincial government has just given the co-op ten million dollars to buy Central Dairies from its Quebec parent company. Scott Antle is the new group's president, and he spoke with the CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

That's one way to get some "new blood" to serve on council. As part of Municipal Awareness Week, Corner Brook City Council recently organized a Mayor-For-A-Day essay contest for grade six students. Several of them were selected to serve on council in part of Monday's meeting. The CBC's Alex Kennedy spoke with some of the participants and Mayor Jim Parsons.

Samantha Hicks has been working as a substitute teacher in this province for ten years. She says that because of NL Schools' hiring practices, she and other part-time teachers have struggled to find permanent employment. So, Hicks has decided to go to the North West Territories, where she'll have a classroom to call her own. She spoke with the CBC's Amy Feehan about her frustrations with the NL school system.

The fit was so tight, Newfoundland company Superior Glove has had to stretch its working space. The company, which has been manufacturing gloves, sleeves and protective gear since 1910 has facilities in Point Leamington and Springdale. The Springdale location has just completed a big expansion into a single location with an extra 30,000 square feet. Karen Clarke is the operations manager.

A Department of Fisheries and Oceans report on salmon stocks in the Conne River says aquaculture is a major factor in salmon decline in the river. Provincial fisheries minister Elvis Loveless - after admitting he hasn't read the report - .says he would debate that. But it turns out he WOULDN'T debate that. We asked him to join us in today's interview with Atlantic Salmon Federation conservationist Neville Crabbe, but Loveless's spokesperson referred us to the minister's statement from earlier in the week.

A western Newfoundland man is worried what the closure of a wound care clinic will mean for him. The clinic was at the hospital in Corner Brook, but closed earlier this month. Jeffery Stone has been treated there at least every week or two for over a year. He has a diabetic ulcer on his heel, which has taken a long time and special care to start healing. Now, he's concerned about what the lack of proper care could lead to.

From Ukraine to Thailand and everywhere in between, many cultures across the globe will be represented at this year's International Food Tasting and Cultural Event. The Gander Rotary Club is holding it this Saturday.All proceeds will be donated to the Food For Thought Program, which serves the local community.. Reem Saliba Al Baquen is the organizer.

Figure skaters at the Silver Blades Skating Club are sharpening their blades and practicing for their annual ice show. The Corner Brook Civic Centre is hosting the gala event on Saturday night CBC's Colleen Connors stopped by rink to talk to some of the graduating skaters who have been skating, competing and performing for the past 15 years.

ICYMI: The fit was so tight, Newfoundland company Superior Glove has had to stretch its working space. The company, which has been manufacturing gloves, sleeves and protective gear since 1910 has facilities in Point Leamington and Springdale. The Springdale location has just completed a big expansion into a single location with an extra 30,000 square feet. Karen Clarke is the operations manager.

As we celebrate moms on Sunday, some mothers face the day with grief. They're parents who have gone through a child's death and -- no matter how much time has passed -- they will always feel their loss. Angela Power's daughter, Laura, died by suicide just over seven years ago. Since then, Power has founded a support group for moms like her.

Nothing says 'I Love You, Mom' like a bouquet of fresh flowers. Loretta's Flowers in Gander is a small shop, but this week, it was packed with flowers, gifts and people looking for that perfect bunch of blooms. Evelina Coles-Chaulk owns the flower shop, and she sent one of her employees - her daughter, Alyssa - to speak for the shop!

When we're kids, our moms are our superheroes - our protectors, nurturers and confidantes. But as we get older, we understand our moms more as real people with flaws and issues - and sometimes secrets. After Marjorie Doyle's mother died in 2006, the author decided to research her life and write about it. The book is called Mary Foley Mary Doyle - Unravelling a Mother's Secrets, and it's published by Boulder Books.

No matter who we are, mothers or mother-figures in our lives have a big impact on who we become. We wondered what some fairly well-known people would say about their moms, so we got in touch with Corner Brook Mayor Jim Parsons,.Qalipu First Nation Acting Chief Jenny Brake, and musician Kevin Blackmore, to ask how their mothers have influenced them.

Not everyone has a relationship with their mom. For some people in the LGBTQ+ Community, coming out can lead to a strained relationship with family. So when Mother's Day rolls around, this can be a reminder of the relationship they have lost. The CBC's Amy Feehan spoke to Quinn Jesso, a member of the Corner Brook and Bay of Islands Pride Committee.

These are hard times for print media, but a town council newsletter on the Eastern side of the Northern Peninsula is bucking that trend. The publication is inspiring people near and far to subscribe, even though .subscriptions aren't available - at least not yet. Toni Kearney is a town councillor and creator of The Conche Times, a project of the Town of Conche.

A boy in Western Newfoundland is walking the walk when it comes to helping others. And Cohen Matthews of Pasadena has a good reason. Matthews is 11 years old, and he has a dog guide named Kito. Later this month, he'll participate in the "Walk for Dog Guides" fundraiser to help other people get the dog guide THEY need. Cohen and his mother, Shawna Matthews, came to the CBC studio, along with -- of course -- Kito.

When it comes to internet connectivity, we all want the fastest and easiest service we can get. But getting access is a big challenge for many rural and remote locations across the province. Right now, a researcher at Memorial University is looking into the development of a limitless wireless network. Octavia Dobre is a professor at MUN and a Canada Research Chair in Ubiquitous Connectivity.

More than 300 nurses employed by private companies are working in NL right now. They make better money and have more perks than those working in government jobs. But the contracts they sign include "no-compete" clauses that limit their employment options after their contracts end. Yvette Coffey is the president of the Registered Nurses Union of Newfoundland and Labrador, and she spoke with the CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

A man from the West Coast is still without solutions after his house shifted off its foundation during a major rainstorm. On March 29h, Lark Harbour was soaked by almost 100 mm. It caused a landslide that pushed Michael Childs' house over. But he still hasn't received information about remediation or compensation. Childs spoke with the CBC's Colleen Connors.

Keep that lawnmower stored away this May, and let those dandelions grow. The Newfoundland and Labrador Beekeeping Association is asking people to participate in the No-Mow May campaign. David Tutton on the line to tell us more about this annual initiative. David Tutton is with the Association.

A summer camp in Western Newfoundland is opening its doors to more than just youth. Camp Ohana was created in 2018 as a summer camp for youth, for members of the 2S-LGBTQ-plus community, and for their allies. But it's not just for teenagers anymore. This summer, Camp Ohana is letting the grown-ups in on the fun.Megan Scott is a volunteer with the camp and a member of the organizing committee.

The debate around how to pay nurse practitioners in the province is heating up again. Their provincial association says nurse practitioners should be able to bill MCP when practicing in a private clinic, just as family doctors do. The opposition PC's agree, and they've been pressing government on it in during Question Period in the House of Assembly. Travis Sheppard is president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Nurse Practitioner Association.

The supported employment program in this province that helps people with intellectual disabilities get work is in jeopardy. Significant cuts are coming to government funding for the program, and there could be job losses. Paula McDonald is executive director of the Gambo and Area Employment Corporation, which is just one of the many organizations that benefit from the funding. Gerry Byrne is NL's minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills.

Ferry services are a significant issue in MHA Jim McKenna's district. The Veteran, which normally sails to Fogo and Change Islands, is in drydock, and the replacement vessel, the Kamutik W, will be out of service on May 21. To complicate things further, the ferry fleet took a hit when the Flanders was damaged by fire on Bell Island last week. Jim McKenna is the new MHA for the district or Fogo and Change Islands.

Many people come to this province, hoping to see the beautiful icebergs on our shores. But the bergs are becoming smaller and smaller, and are showing up less often over the years. The CBC's Zach Goudie spoke with Desmond Power, C-CORE's vice president of remote sensing, to uncover the truth behind the diminishing icebergs.

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in Canada, so the provincial government has been inviting women to take part in its breast cancer screening program, starting at age 50. Now, the Canadian Cancer Society has has dropped that age to 40. This week, the province agreed to accept the new guidelines, which will screen 34 thousand more women. Heather Mulligan is the Canadian Cancer Society's manager of advocacy. She spoke with CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

A fly-tying program that's been active in Gander and western Newfoundland is looking to help even more people. The program is for retired and active members of the military and police forces. It's called "Heroes Mending on the Fly," and it uses fly-tying as a means of healing and recovery, especially for those with PTSD. Morgan Simmons is a western Newfoundland representative with the program.

A man visiting NL for the first time has captured some of the finest drone footage of whales you're likely to see. Kris Hall is from Ontario, and he's spent the past more than three years travelling the world, mostly on motorcycle. He came to this province by way of Northern Ontario and Northern Quebec, travelling through Labrador. Hall is now on the Northern Peninsula. He's fallen in love with the people and, of course, those whales.

Many families in this province have loved ones affected by the wildfires threatening Fort McMurray. Relatives and friends have had to quickly leave their homes once an evacuation order was given this week. A woman who's originally from the Great Northern Peninsula is among those displaced by the wildfires. She's had to evacuate, just like she did in May of 2016. Monica Mailman has family in Port au Choix. The CBC's Amy Feehan reached her at a hotel in Westlock.

A Stephenville man is likely still getting over the surprise he received earlier this month. Erle Barrett was presented with a Lions Club Presidential Medal for his volunteer work after post-tropical storm Fiona The award comes from Lions International. We reached Erle Barrett in Stephenville.

Voters in Baie Verte-Green Bay will go to the polls later this month. Monday, May 27 is byelection day. Advance polls open next Tuesday, May 21st. The seat was left vacant by the resignation of former Liberal MHA Brian Warr. There are 3 candidates in the race to replace him. We've invited them on our show, to be asked the same questions, and to be given -- as close as possible -- the same amount of time on the air. Owen Burt is the Liberal party candidate in Baie Verte-Green Bay. Bernice Hillier spoke with him on today's show at 7:44am. On Friday, May 17, at the same time, we will hear from Progressive Conservative party candidate Lin Paddock. NDP candidate Riley Harnett declined our request for an interview.

Some truckers are making waves in an effort to seek changes at the ferry terminal in Port aux Basques. Marine Atlantic opened up new ticket booths at the terminal in February. That's led to some unanticipated challenges for truckers, including long delays and missed crossings. Bernice spoke with Cory Sheaves, a commercial trucker from Port aux Basques who travels from Newfoundland to Ontario once a week, as well as commercial driver Larry Dodge. She also contacted Marine Atlantic spokesperson Darrell Mercer for a response.

Nurse practitioners who work in private practice are calling on the provincial government to pay them out of public funds, using a system similar to how it pays family doctors. Right now, patients making appointments to be treated by nurse practitioners in a private practice have to pay out of pocket. The government argues it needs nurse practitioners in the PUBLIC system, in particular, on the new family care teams. It doesn't want to cover fees for nurse practitioners who work in private practices. But that doesn't sit well with the Newfoundland and Labrador Nurse Practitioner Association. Tom Osborne is the province's Minister of Health, and he spoke with the CBC's Darrell Roberts.

Voters in Baie Verte-Green Bay will go to the polls later this month. Monday, May 27th is byelection day Advance polls open next Tuesday, May 21st. The seat was left vacant by the resignation of former Liberal MHA Brian Warr. There are 3 candidates in the race to replace him. We've invited them on our show, to be asked the same questions, and to be given -- as close as possible -- the same amount of time on the air. Lin Paddock is the P.C. Party candidate in Baie Verte-Green Bay.Bernice Hillier spoke with him on today's show at 7:44am. Yesterday, we heard from Owen Burt, the Liberal party candidate. NDP candidate Riley Harnett declined our request for an interview.

A special delegation of veterans, military officials, politicians and media will leave St. John's for France on Wednesday morning on a Canadian military plane. It will carry a team that will collect the remains of a Newfoundland soldier killed during the First World War and bring them back home to Newfoundland. The CBC's Terry Roberts will follow the delegation. As he prepared for the assignment, he spoke with Eleanor Manuel of Twillingate, whose grandfather - Frederick White - was killed in Beaumont Hamel on July 1, 1916. He has no known grave, and Eleanor says it's crossed her mind that the unknown soldier who's coming home could be the remains of her grandfather.

Katarina Roxon says she's not done yet. The Paralympic gold-medal-winning swimmer from Kippens will compete in the Paralympic Games one more time, in Paris from August 28 to September 8. It's her fifth time on the National Team for the Games, a record for the most Paralympic appearances by a Canadian female athlete.Roxon was just 15 years old when she headed to Beijing for her first Games. She's now 31 and says her competitive spirit is alive and well. The CBC's Jeremy Eaton caught up with Katarina Roxon at the Paralympic swimming trials in Toronto over the weekend.

If you or your child spend much time on social media, you've probably checked out TikTok. The video-sharing app is one of the most popular online tools used by kids between grades four and eleven. It also has some unique features which could compromise the privacy or safety of users if they you don't know much about them.Canadian internet safety group Media Smarts has published a new TikTok safety guide for parents and kids. Matthew Johnson, education director for Media Smarts, spoke with CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

There's a big move happening, starting Wednesday for the regional hospital in Corner Brook, as many staff and services move to a brand new facility over a 10-day move-in period. When the NEW Western Memorial Regional Hospital opens to patients on June 2, there won't be enough housekeeping staff to go around. That's led to a plan to hire a private cleaning company on a short-term basis for what will be the OLD hospital. That building will continue to operate as a health clinic for services such as public health, audiology, and speech language pathology. Laeora Ryba is director of support services for the Western zone of NL Health Services. Melanie Clarke is human resources lead for the Western zone of NL Health Services.

It's been a great start to iceberg season in this province so far. Right now, there are icebergs off Coachman's Cove, Lumsden and Brighton, and there are at least a dozen icebergs visible off the Great Northern Peninsula. Terry Hedderson is owner/operator of Daily Catch Ocean Tours in St. Lunaire-Griquet.

Smartphones and social media are making young people sick. That's according to clinical psychologist Dr. Simon Sherry, a professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at Dalhousie University. He's calling for the Atlantic Provinces to ban cell phones and social media in schools, to help improve students' health in and out of the classroom. Dr. Sherry spoke with the CBC's Hillary Johnson.

It's a stretch of road the late Beaton Tulk travelled many times, but the former MHA, who passed away in 2019, likely did not imagine that Route 330 would one day be named in his honour. On Tuesday, Premier Andrew Furey announced that the highway that passes through towns such as Musgrave Harbour and Carmanville will now be known as the Beaton Tulk Highway. Tulk was involved in provincial politics starting in the late 1970s. And he served as Premier for four months, from October, 2000 to February, 2001. That's when the provincial Liberals underwent a leadership change. Two members of Beaton Tulk's family spoke with reporters outside the House of Assembly yesterday - his daughter, Christine Tulk, and his widow, Dora Tulk.

They've been digging in and sowing the seeds of an idea for a few years now. This summer, it's set to blossom. The non-profit group Gander Grow Co was formed to set up a permanent farmer's market in Gander. Now, thanks in part to the Town, the market is set to open in July. Alison March is the chairperson of Gander Grow Co.

Anyone who's been diagnosed with cancer knows how hard that is. If you're a transgender person with a gendered cancer, the diagnosis comes with a whole other layer of challenges. Gendered cancers are cancers related to one's sex assigned at birth. James Moriarty is an advocate for trans people with cancer, and he uses his own experience to help others.

Earlier this week, we heard that NL Health Services plans to hire a private cleaning company to work at one of its facilities. The plan is to contract out housekeeping at the old hospital in Corner Brook which will become a clinic when the new Western Memorial Regional Hospital opens on June 2. NL Health Services officials told CBC that it needs all of its current housekeeping staff at the new hospital. So the health authority will hire a private company as a short-term temporary measure, to ensure that it can provide vacation time to its regular unionized staff. Sherry Hillier is president of CUPE NL, that union that represents housekeeping staff in the Western zone.

Owen Burt has supported the provincial Liberal party for years, volunteering on several Liberal campaigns and publicly supporting Premier Andrew Furey. Burt is currently running as the Liberal candidate in the Baie Verte-Green Bay byelection, but he's ALSO a member of the federal Conservative Party. Amanda Bittner, a professor of political science at Memorial University weighs in on the situation.

A hub for locally-produced food in Western Newfoundland just became even more environmentally friendly with the purchase of an electric vehicle. The Western NL Food Hub is an online store that's a project of Food First NL It sells food produced around the Western region. Now, it has a sweet new ride that's saving money AND allowing it to expand its services. Richard Butt is program coordinator with Western NL Food Hub.

The Western Environment Centre is growing the local food network one project at a time. On June 1, they're inviting people to the grand opening of the new community greenhouse in Corner Brook. The shared space will be used to grow food, hold workshops, and showcase environmentally friendly growing methods. Katie Temple is Executive Director of the WEC.

After a wet winter and a rainy spring, many of us are enjoying the somewhat warmer temperatures, heading into summer. Boaters are taking advantage of this, too. But being on the water comes with risks. Boating-related fatalities still make up a big chunk of water-related deaths in Canada each year. This is Safe Boating Awareness Week, and Transport Canada is reminds people to always keep safety in mind. The CBC's Hillary Johnson spoke with their boating safety officer, Melissa McGrath.

Ads for sports betting sites seem to be coming at us from all sides sometimes. When you are watching a hockey game, for example, they're featured in commercials, on the tickers scrolling at the bottom of the screen, and sometimes on the helmets of the players. The Canadian Psychological Association says gambling addictions are as harmful as drugs and alcohol. Stephen Joordens is a professor of psychology at the University of Toronto.

There hasn't been much research in this province specifically on the experiences of trans people with cancer, but a cancer researcher at Memorial University is working to change that. Sevtap Savas leads the Public Interest Group on Cancer Research. The group recently joined with Quadrangle to hold an event focused on the cancer experience of transgender people. Quadrangle works to improve the lives and experiences of people in the 2S LGBTQ-plus community.

Nurse practitioners in NL say they're not getting far in achieving their goal. In late April, the Newfoundland and Labrador Nurse Practitioner Association submitted a funding model proposal to the provincial government. The association wants government to allow privately-run, nurse practitioner-led clinics to be paid for through the public system. Right now, nurse practitioners with their own clinics must have patients pay out of pocket. The association would like the profession to have its own public funding model, similar to the way doctors in private practice can bill through MCP. The national group that represents nurse practitioners would also like to see that. Stan Marchuk is chief executive officer of the Nurse Practitioner Association of Canada.

Through Access to Information, CBC recently learned that more than 90-million dollars was spent on travel nurses province-wide last year. Last month, the province's health minister announced that the auditor general is investigating travel nurse contracts signed by the former health authorities. Hundreds of travel nurses are working in the province, in many cases with all their expenses paid. They also make double the hourly rate that permanent staff nurses bring home. The minister said government needs to slash the number of temporary nurses because the cost is getting out of hand. Yvette Coffey is the president of the Registered Nurses' Union Newfoundland and Labrador.

There's a snake on the North Shore of the Bay of Islands! But no worries - this one's a giant art project, and everyone can contribute their creativity to make it even bigger and better. The rock snake started with one rock painted as the head. Then, everyone paints their own rock, making the snake longer and longer! The Irishtown-Summerside Recreation Committee got it going. The CBC’s Amy Feehan visited and spoke with some children and parents about the rock snake.

Some people in this province who like to ride off-road vehicles should take note of some changes that are coming related to mandatory training. The training will be required for some users in the coming months. It's the latest change resulting from the province's new Off-Road Vehicles Act which came into effect in May of 2022. That was when seatbelts and helmets became mandatory in most situations. Rick Noseworthy is the president of the Newfoundland T'Railway Council.

If you've filled up your gas tank lately, you'll know how much the price of fuel cuts into your household budget. But if you're a charity, every dollar you spend on gas is one less dollar spent on supporting people. So the Canadian Automobile Association in Atlantic Canada is donating electric delivery vans to food banks. Julia Kent is director of public advocacy for the CAA.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is expanding its ceremonial uniform dress code. The force is adding ribbon skirts as an option for Indigenous women and two-spirit employees. The move has been getting a mix of reactions across the country. Jenny Brake is Chief of Qalipu First Nation and she spoke with the CBC's Colleen Connors.

The big move out of Corner Brook's "old" Western Memorial Regional Hospital continues this week. For many patients and staff, it is likely a welcome change to get into a brand-new building. But, for some long-term care patients and their families, it's a major cause for concern. Eddie Joyce is the Independent member of the House of Assembly for Humber - Bay of Islands, and he spoke with the CBC's David Newell.

The Progressive Conservative Party in this province's legislature is one MHA stronger today. Candidate Lin Paddock won Monday's byelection in Baie Verte-Green Bay by more than three-thousand votes over his nearest competitor, Liberal Owen Burt. The seat had previously been held by the Liberals, until Brian Warr resigned as MHA earlier this year. The win by Paddock is the second byelection that's gone in favour of the PCs since the last general election. PC Jim McKenna was elected MHA in Fogo Island-Cape Freels in April. The only other byelection since 2021 was in Conception Bay East-Bell Island, where the PCs lost a seat to Liberal Fred Hutton. We spoke with MHA-elect Lin Paddock.

It's been a busy few weeks at Deer Lake Regional Airport. The airport welcomed back two airlines who are offering service in and out of Deer Lake. WestJet is one of those airlines, which is returning after dropping Deer Lake from its schedule last year. Tammy Priddle is president and CEO of Deer Lake Regional Airport.

The paper mill in Corner Brook will not be allowed to cut pulpwood near the city's water supply. City council voted on Monday night 4 to 2 against a proposal from Corner Brook Pulp and Paper. The paper company wanted to harvest 330 hectares of forest and to build about 2.75 kilometers of access road in the protected water supply area. Jim Parsons is mayor of Corner Brook.

On Tuesday's show, independent MHA Eddie Joyce shared his concerns about what will happen with long-term care residents in Corner Brook when the new regional hospital opens on Sunday. The long-term care residents have been staying at the current Western Memorial Regional Hospital. That building is being closed to in-patient care. But, as acute care patients are moved to the NEW Western Memorial Regional Hospital, long-term care residents who've been at the old hospital waiting on long-term care beds will NOT be moving there. Kim Sheehan's mother is one of the long-term care residents whose living arrangements and care plan as of June 2nd are still unclear. The CBC's Amy Feehan spoke with Kim Sheehan.

An art gallery in Eastport is looking for your help with a special project for the anniversary of Confederation. It's been 75 years since Newfoundland joined Canada. The Beaches Arts and Heritage Centre is planning an exhibit of photos and memorabilia, and organizers want to know what people in the local area have tucked away to lend to them. Kathy Hodder is on the board of the Beaches Arts and Heritage Centre and is organizing the exhibit.

Dr. Seuss wrote, "Sometimes you will never know the true value of a moment until it becomes a memory." For young people, going to their high school prom is one of those moments. But for 2SLGBTQ+ youth, occasions like prom are often marred with judgment and bullying. They don't feel safe enough to dress the way they want, or take who they want with them. Some students just skip it altogether. That's why Pflag Grand Falls-Windsor and Pride Grand Falls-Windsor are throwing their 2nd Pride Prom. Lexi MacDonald is the chair of Pride Grand Falls-Windsor.

People on Fogo Island have big concerns about what's happening with the ferry service they rely on. Fogo Island-Change Islands has been served by the Kamutik W. for the past few months, but yesterday, the MV Astron was doing the ferry run instead. Andrew Shea is mayor of Fogo Island and Adam Young is an artist and businessman, as well as a town councillor. John Abbott is the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure for the province.

Patients at the current Corner Brook hospital are being moved on Sunday to the new hospital in the city. Meanwhile, some long-term care residents who are getting temporary care at the old Western Memorial Regional Hospital are still waiting for permanent long-term care beds to open up for them in another part of Corner Brook. That means about 10 of those patients are being transferred to facilities outside the city. Hospital managers have told Western Newfoundland resident Kim Sheehan that her 83-year-old mother is scheduled to be temporarily moved to an NL Health long-term care centre in Bay. St. George. Sheehan says if that happens, it will be difficult for her 87-year-old father to travel from Benoit's Cove to Bay St. George to visit his wife. Paulette Morgan is senior director of hospital and clinical services for the Western zone of NL Health Services. She spoke with the CBC's Elizabeth Whitten.

It's a rare week when we don't hear about somebody having a fundraiser to help pay for out-of-town cancer treatment. Right now, people can access the province's medical transportation program for help with their expenses. But the program covers only part of the costs, and users have complained about long waits to receive the money they're entitled to. The Canadian Cancer Society runs its own transportation support program, and It wants to partner with the provincial government to eliminate all travel costs for cancer patients, potentially saving them thousands of dollars. The problem has been getting the government to sit down and make a plan. Heather Mulligan is the Atlantic manager for the cancer society, and she spoke with CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

If you're in a community where people still call a ten-digit number to get an ambulance, you'll want to listen up. In some places, people still call a number other than 911 in case of an emergency. But that stops tomorrow, as those other numbers are all being discontinued. Cassie Chisholm is Vice-president of Transformation for Health Systems with NL Health Services,

If you want to be a police officer, you have to be strong and you have to be able to move quickly. In Pasadena on Monday, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary is offering a chance for you to see if you've got the right stuff.The Physical Abilities Requirement Evaluation (PARE) will assess your fitness level, to see if it's up to RNC standards. Cst.James Cadigan is with the RNC.

The RCMP have laid charges against two former Gander Collegiate teachers. Wayne Hurley and Wayne Oates are charged with sexual offences against students in the 1970s and '80s. Glenda Power is a spokesperson for the RCMP in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The new Western Memorial Regional Hospital in Corner Brook opens on Sunday. For many who have worked on the project, it will be a day of great satisfaction. Paulette Morgan is the senior director of hospital and clinical services in the Western Zone of NL Health Services.

A major roadway in Corner Brook has been closed for nearly two months because of a landslide in early April. The landslide on Riverside Drive swept a truck and its occupants into the Humber River, and led to a dramatic rescue. At first, the City estimated that the road would re-open within a few weeks. But, on closer inspection and study, the situation was determined to be more complex than first thought.The area needed more work before the debris could be removed. The CBC's Colleen Connors spoke with Corner Brook Mayor Jim Parsons.