One Dead After Calais Shooting

It's a grim Independence Day in Calais after a shooting leaves one man dead, and 3 injured, including a 6-week-old baby.

21-year-old Megan Sherrard of Calais is in critical condition at the Eastern Maine Medical Centre in Bangor after being shot twice in the chest.

Her son, Luca, is expected to recover after being grazed by a bullet.

Around 6pm last night, Calais Police Department got a call of shots fired at a home on Main Street.

Police say shortly after arriving on scene, police shot and killed 26-year-old Daniel Pinney, who is the baby's father, and who is believed to have shot the baby and Sherrard.

Calais PD veteran officer John Preston was also grazed by a bullet during the incident and is expected to recover.

An employee from Bells IGA tells CHSJ News Sherrard was a cashier at the store in Calais  and Pinney was a bagboy.

Record Breaking Heat

It's record-breaking hot out there.  

According to Environment Canada, the mercury hit 29 at 2pm and that hasn't happened since 1949.
 
Meteorologist Claude Cote tells CHSJ News we can expect the heat wave to last until Sunday.

He says the eastern Ontario, Quebec, the Maritimes and the New England states are experiencing a hot humid air mass with temperatures a few degrees above normal.

Cote says the hot spot in the province and the country is Miramichi at 32 degrees.
The Fredericton area is under a heat warning where in the humidex it feels like 35 in the humidex.

It's so hot the changing of the guard ceremony at Officer's Square was cancelled.

Summer In The Square Series Underway

Take your lunch, grab a spot on a bench and enjoy some tunes.
 
That is the idea behind Summer in the Square-a concert series in King Square.
Tracy Hanson of Uptown Saint John tells CHSJ News they wanted to showcase our great local talent.

She says during the month of July the performances will be in the City market and hopefully by August they can move into King Square when the bandstand renovation is finished.

Hanson says during the week people will see hour-long performances by solo artists, theatre groups and on Saturday the performances will be two hours.

Provincial Pension Plan To Undergo Independent Review

An actuary with more than 30 years experience has been chosen to take an independent look at the provincial pension plan. 

The provincial finance department is picking up the tab. The decision to do this coming about during discussions between the Alward Government and the Pension Coalition.

Clifford Kennedy of the Pension Coalition tells CHSJ News the retirees want to know if their plan is in such bad shape as the province claims.
 
The retirees have been skeptical about those claims and the need for the plan to be converted to a shared risk model although they don;t object to it happening on a go forward basis with current retirees exempt.

The review will take a few months to complete.

Acadia Broadcasting Applies To Purchase Moncton Station

    In business news - Acadia Broadcasting is moving to add another radio station to its stable - the parent company of Country 94 and 97.3 the Wave has filed an application with the Canadian Radio Television and Telecommunications Commission to purchase CKNI-FM - News91.9 in Moncton from Rogers Broadcasting.

    The station would be the first for the company in the Hub City and would join Acadia's stations here - St Stephen - Bridgewater - and - five stations and two repeaters in Ontario.
    Acadia Vice President Jim MacMullin says he looks forward to bringing our brand of community focused - quality local radio to Moncton.
 
In a related note, NewCap Radio intends to purchase Saint John's News 88.9.
    The C-R-T-C is expected to rule on both applications later this year.


   

Price Of Self Serve Regular Drops

Another slight decrease in the price of self serve regular after the weekly setting. 

In the city, it's down by a penny a litre to $1.24.3 while diesel has risen to $1.29.3. 

Propane is down by just over a cent to a maximum price of 95.9 cents a litre. 

Heating oil rose to a maximum price of $1.12.2 a litre.

City Police Getting Into Social Media

There was no driver to be seen after a car flipped over after leaving Loch Lomand Road at around 3:30 yesterday afternoon.

City Police also reporting they spent 4 hours tracking down two teens who ran away from a group home in the Hickey Road area. They were eventually caught along Thorne Avenue and are looking at charges of being unlawfully at large. 

City Police announcing they're in the process of launching a social media strategy, in part, to counteract some of the negative postings online. There will be regular twitter updates and You Tube video.

Trial Of Twin Brothers Charged In Home Invasion Ends

22 year old twin brothers, Brandon and Bradley Saia have been found guilty on charges stemming from a deadly home invasion back in early November which include robbery. 

The jury of 7 women and 5 men deliberated for nearly 8 hours before reaching the guilty verdicts. 

18 year old A-J Dennison died from a stab wound he suffered during the home invasion on Prince Street West. 22 year old Christopher Reid, who lived in the home, suffered a serious wound to his back from a machete. 

A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for August 7th.

Two Die In Charlie Lake Crash

A man and woman from Perth-Andover are dead after a crash on Highway 2 in Charlie Lake.

Early Tuesday afternoon, the driver of a pickup heading eastbound lost control hitting the gravel shoulder and flipped throwing two passengers more than 30 metres from the vehicle.

49 year old Donald Alan McQuade and 42-year-old Lisa Dawn Hitchcock both died and the driver, a 44-year-old man from Carlingford, remains in hospital with serious injuries.

The two victims were not wearing seatbelts and RCMP believe the driver was going the speed limit at the time of the crash.

Leading Edge Research Helps Students Get Jobs

A recent multi-million dollar investment in the New Brunswick Innovation Fund will support work right here in our backyard.

Dr. Karen Kidd is a research chair at UNB Saint John and she tells CHSJ News the money she has received from the NBIF has gone towards equipment giving her students a state of the art facility working in ecotoxicology.

She says because of the fantastic infrastructure the students are able to do world class research and get training that makes them more attractive to future employers.

Kidd and her students are examining the impact of toxins on fish and on the birds or people eating that fish.

Target Job Fair Underway In SJ

The underemployed have some hope this week in the form of a job fair for the new Target store.

A job fair is underway in Saint John at the Loch Lomond Mall until 530pm tonight again tomorrow through to Saturday.

It runs tomorrow from 11:30am to 8:30pm and on Friday and Saturday from 830am to 5:30pm.

Job fairs are also happening in Fredericton and Moncton this week.

Cardy To Run In Fredericton West-Hanwell

Dominic Cardy will be knocking on doors in a neighbourhood where he had a paper route in the 80's.

The Provincial NDP leader announcing he will seek his party's nomination in the riding of Fredericton West-Hanwell in next year's election.

In a release he says he grew up in the area delivering papers so canvassing will be familiar.

The provincial NDP party will hold a nomination meeting in Fredericton West-Hanwell later this year.

Saint John Has A Big Surplus Of Office Space

The amount of vacant office space in Saint John is double what you will find in other cities around the Maritimes. 

Despite that and one of the highest unemployment rates of any city in the national survey by Stats Canada, former Mayor Bob Lockhart tells CHSJ News although things are tough now, he's optimistic about the future, saying the storm clouds that have afflicted Saint John for the past twenty years or so are, in hiw view, on the verge of disappearing.

The amount of vacant office space is a prime reason why city staff opposed the relocation of a small accounting firm with 7 employees to the east side from uptown.

Small Business Moving From Uptown Over Safety Concerns

Some members of Common Council were left scratching their heads trying to figure out why city staff opposed a small accounting firm, Padgett Business Services, moving from Hazen Street to Loch Lomand Road close to the City Transit garage. 

Councillor Ray Strowbridge says it's not as if it will be the only small business on that part of the street. He views Loch Lomand Road as mixed development with both residential and businesses lumped in together.

Business owner Robert Cole says he wants to move from Hazen Street because of prostitution, vagrancy and drug dealing in the neighbourhood. He has received approval in principle to move ahead.     

Taxpayers Group Warns More People Will Be Leaving Province

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation predicts the hike on Canada Day in provincial income tax will not only put a damper on economic growth because people will have less money to spend. 

The Federation's Atlantic Director Kevin Lacey tells CHSJ News it will send more people from this province out west because people vote with their feet these days. He estimates in the last five years, something like 34 hundred people have left for Alberta from New Brunswick. 

Lacey maintains the only way you can get a handle on the deficit and keep people from moving away is to grow the economy but raising taxes won't accomplish that especially when the provincial deficit is expected to rise to 479 million dollars in spite of the provincial income tax going up.

The Conference Board of Canada's Help Wanted Index has dropped in New Brunswick for the second month in a row.

Common Council Approves Expansion Of Trailer Park But Not With Trailers

Common Council has overruled both city staff and the Planning Advisory Committee by approving in principle the expansion of the Glen Falls Trailer Park off Glen Road but instead of trailers, 80 mini homes will be constructed. 

Ward 4 Common Councillor Ray Strowbridge is on board after hearing there will be an underground pond to store water and ease any concerns over flooding. The other councillor for Ward 4, David Merrithew points out revenue from building permits has dropped off significantly and Councillor at Large Shirley McAlary says Saint John needs this type of development.
 
Kamal Debly of Debly Construction says it means much needed revenue for city coffers. The project will add 7 million dollars to the city's tax base with additional revenue from building permits for the mini homes that area constructed. 

In addition, the city will not be responsible for garbage collection and snow plowing which will be done privately.

Three Golden Grove Road Fires Not Connected

The East side has been a hotspot lately, with three buildings catching fire in a little over a week, however the fire department says the individual blazes are not connected. 

Division Chief Mark Wilson tells CHSJ News in this case, it's merely a coincidence.

They've determined a shed fire on June 22 was accidental, in the electrical area, however the vacant building blaze on June 27 is suspicious, as is the structure fire on June 30. Both files have been turned over to Saint John Police Department.

Contest Winner Visits Saint John

The winner of a free cruise that brought over 4,000 page likes to the Cruise Saint John Facebook page is visiting the port today.

Liza Gavigan and her husband Tracy from Lyndonhurst, New York were the lucky winners and are visiting on the Carnival Glory.

The pair will also be going on a kayaking and lobster bake shore excursion through Go Fundy events.

The Carnival Glory is in port until 7pm.

Some Disagree With Foggy Fireworks

Could you see the fireworks last night? 

As some communities postpone their annual July 1st sparkle fest, Saint John's went ahead.

Some of our listeners are wondering why.  

Terri thinks they should have waited as they could only see red or green fog once in awhile.

Cindy wishes they could have waited until the next clear day.

Tyler says its not the first time we've had fog in this city and all the people complaining about that will just have to use their heads next year.

Lucinda says her kids loved it adding its hard to please everyone.

Board Of Trade Hires David Duplisea

The Board of Trade announcing David Duplisea as their new Executive Director.

He has held executive positions in marketing, business development in Saint John, New York and Toronto.

He was a founding member of the Board of Directors of Propel ICT and recently served as a Policy Advisor in Renewable Energy and Energy Innovation with the provincial department of energy.

In a release, the Board thanks Dick Daigle who served as the interim Executive Director over the last six months.

Final Arguments Presented In Saia Brothers Trial

The Saia twins trial in a deadly home invasion on the lower West side is wrapping up, with the jury hearing closing arguments in the case. 

The defense saying the case boils down to the three witnesses who testified: Melissa Perry, Christopher Reid and Amber Wilson, as well as the DNA evidence. The defense challenged Perry's credibility, saying she has a record of lying to police and the jury should be careful in believing anything she says. 

They also say it's clear DNA evidence is inconclusive, and you can't place guilt on the brothers based on that evidence.

The prosecution comparing the eyewitness accounts to chapters in a book, saying, when you look at all of the evidence, including testimony from Perry, Reid and Wilson, the story comes together. 

She says it's clear they intended to and did use violence to take Reid's belongings from his home on Prince Street West on Nov. 3, 2012.

Food Banks Need Help In The Summer

In the summer, people tend to forget about food banks, but the need does not go away.
 
The Community Food Basket serving central Saint John is low on supplies right now.

Carolyn Dannells tells CHSJ News they really need peanut butter, coffee, salt & pepper, pickles and cereal.

She says right now they don't have any to give out to the families coming in with little kids.

Dannells tells us the number were up in the month of May with 575 orders given out to 1000 people.
 
If you would like to help the food bank or you need their help, you can drop by on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday between 8am and 3pm at 215 Charlotte Street.

To make a donation of food or money, you can drop by or call 652-2707.

Traffic Disruptions

The Department of Transportation telling us they're down to one ferry at Gondola Point because of mechanical problems.

And in another traffic note, a sanitary sewer project in the intersection of the Pettingill Road and Cedar Grove Drive is going to cause a traffic disruption starting today until sometime on Friday. 

Construction work will deny access to traffic onto Pettingill Road from Cedar Grove Drive.

Provincial Cabinet Minister Explains Why Your Taxes Went Up On Canada Day

Provincial Health Minister Ted Flemming is refuting criticism of provincial income taxes going up as of Canada Day, saying the government's hand was forced because of an irresponsible tax cut implemented by the Liberals under then Premier Shawn Graham in a shameless bid to stay in power. 

Flemming charges the Liberals said they would raise the H-S-T and bring back tolls when they lowered taxes but didn't carry through and, as a result, the deficit ballooned to a billion dollars. 

Flemming goes on to explain, the tax levels now are what they were back in 2006 under then Premier Bernard Lord, and as such, doesn't really view it as a tax hike.

New Playground In Rothesay Gets Funding

A big Canada Day announcement in Rothesay.......The Federal and provincial governments are contributing 450 thousand dollars with the town of Rothesay chipping in another 100 thousand to revamp the playhground at Rothesay Elementary School. 

Organiser Amanda Fowlie of the Community Park Committee tells CHSJ News the playground is in pretty rough shape and a danger to kids who fall. Fowlie says what you will see is a natural playground setting, which according to the research, results in less bullying and more imaginative play. 

She's hoping it will be ready by the fall. The committee started this endeavour back in 2010 and raised 63 thousand dollars on its own.

Graffiti Removal Duo Aim To Clean Up South End

Using a combination of determination and chemicals, a graffiti-removal duo is cleaning up tags on the lower South end.

Hilari MacLeod is one half of the Graffiti Guys, the other half is her brother. They're part of P.U.L.S.E., or, People United In The Lower South End. The pair has already cleaned up the steps of the Trinity Church, the Enterprise Saint John building and more.

MacLeod tells CHSJ News graffiti in the city has gotten worse. However, she does make a distinction between graffiti and street art. She says if there's something that is skillfully done and inoffensive in a back alley or in an overpass, she doesn't see anything wrong with that. She says it becomes an issue when people spray-paint tags or mark up private property.

MacLeod says Uptown Saint John is now involved in their project, and while the police department was always involved, they're now plugging the Graffiti Guys more frequently when they get calls for graffiti.

Saint John Riding To Be Renamed

Saint John M-P Rodney Weston making the announcement about the federal contribution for the new playground in Rothesay.

Weston also telling the people on hand in Rothesay Common the configuration of the riding is going to change slightly because of redistribution with the name changing to Saint John-Rothesay. 

Rothesay has always been part of the riding of Saint John.

The entire town of Quispamsis will now be in Fundy Royal which makes more sense, according to Weston. Previously, a small part of Quispamsis was in the Saint John riding.

Mayor Optimistic Pipeline Is Coming To Port City

TransCanada's open season is over, they're analyzing their bids and here in the province we're sitting tight, waiting to hear word on whether a west-east pipeline is coming to Saint John. 

However, after getting a information folder with the words "Energy East Pipeline" on the front, Mayor Mel Norton is optimistic. Norton says it's a sign talks with prospective shippers and receivers were positive.

He tells CHSJ News the packet talks about being responsible in terms of the public engagement process and working with municipalities, unincorporated areas and First Nations communities.

Quispamsis also received a packet before their last council meeting stating three new terminals will be built in Quebec and New Brunswick. We should have official word from TransCanada by mid-August, or earlier.

Quebec Forest Fires Prompts Air Quality Advisory

An air quality advisory has been issued for the province. 

Public health officials warning fires blazing in the forests of Quebec could have an affect on air quality in the northern region.

Dr. Eilish Cleary, chief medical officer of health, says people living there should take precautions when heavy smoke affects air quality. She says infants, children, pregnant women, older adults, smokers, and people with chronic heart or lung diseases should stay inside with the windows shut.

Saint John Celebrates Canada Day

It'll be red and white as far as the eye can see today, as the city marks Canada Day.

A greasy, cheesy poutine cook-off, a good ole' Canadian kitchen party and a rocking twelve-hour concert on the boardwalk. It's all been leading up to today's festivities.

 Pre-Canada Day events have been happening since June 21st, and Stephany Peterson of the Hardman group tells CHSJ News it all culminates in today's July 1st celebration, which she calls the cherry on top. 

There's free transportation from Saint John transit, free admission at the museum all day, and all the day's events are free. The festivities go ahead rain or shine. To see a schedule of events, click here.

Boardwalk Buzzing With Canada Day Countdown Preparations

The countdown is about to begin. 

The 9th annual Canada Day Countdown is a concert that starts at 2pm on the boardwalk and features a line-up of 10 different musical acts, including a tribute to the late Stompin' Tom Conners, who passed away in March. It continues until 2am on July 1st. 

For more information, including a list of the bands playing, click here.

NCC's Moose Sex Project Gets Land Donation From Former Diplomat

The group behind a conservation project that aims to spark cross-border romance between moose has acquired hundreds of acres of land in a wilderness corridor.
 
That's largely comprised of recent land donation from former diplomat Derek Burney and Joan Burney, who donated 781 acres to the conservancy's efforts.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada now has 845 acres in an area that bridges this province, which has a healthy population of moose, with Nova Scotia, where moose are endangered with a population of only 1000 individual moose in the province.

It's called the Moose Sex Project and Andrew Holland of the organization tells CHSJ News by protecting this corridor they hope the animals can move freely between the two provinces. He says if mating between the two provinces is a success, it'll diversify the gene pool for moose in Nova Scotia.

Holland tells us the corridor is not along the Trans-Canada Highway.

Firefighters Rescue Passenger In Car Rollover

Photo courtesy of Musquash Fire Dept.

Fire crews extricating a passenger from a car that rolled over on Highway 1. Musquash firefighters used hydraulic rescue tools to get the person out of the vehicle, which went off of the road on Saturday afternoon. 

One person was already out of the car when firefighters arrived, both people were brought to the hospital by ambulance with what appears to be non-life threatening injuries.

East Side House Fire

A blaze breaking out in a single family home on the east side of the city. 

The fire department's division chief Mark Wilson says they got the call early in the morning and when they showed up to 1845 Golden Grove Road, they were met with heavy fire and smoke coming from the house.

He says they started an aggressive attack on the inside, and with the help of the Kennebecasis Valley Fire Department, it took crews two and a half hours to get the fire under control.

Wilson says the fire is being investigated by the city police's Major Crime Unit and the fire department's Fire Prevention and Investigation Division.

Truck Parade On King Street

You might have watched a steady stream of Irving Oil trucks driving down King Street earlier this morning, slowing down traffic for a brief spell. 

If you were wondering what was going on, we have the answer.

Darren Gillis of Irving Oil tells CHSJ News they were re-creating a picture of a truck parade from 1960, the year the refinery opened. Gillis says, to mark the launch of their new Air Miles Campaign, they're re-living that celebration with another celebration.

The truck parade is slated to drive down Garden Street, Lancaster Street and Route 1 today. 

Red Cross Sends Atlantic Volunteer Group to Alberta

A volunteer team from the East coast is out West. 

24 Red Cross volunteers are in flood-ravaged Alberta, helping with the flood relief effort on the ground. The 22 disaster volunteers and two staff who have traveled to the province will help run emergency shelters in the Calgary area and other evacuated areas. 

Meanwhile, a much larger group continues to help flood victims from offices located in Darmouth and Sydney, Nova Scotia, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, and here in Saint John. The support will continue through the Canada Day long weekend and likely all of the following week.

The volunteers from New Brunswick now in Alberta are: Catherine Vautour from Bronson Settlement, Gail Brownlee from Moncton, Glen Martin from Lower Kingsclear, Jeanette Miller from Oromocto, Julie Basterache from Jardineville, Lindsay Mitton from Moncton, and Renée Cormier from Shediac.

Police Look For Suspect In Fiery Causeway Crash

City police are looking for a suspect who fled the scene of a fiery car crash on the causeway which sent a woman to hospital.

At 5pm yesterday, a car speeding on the eastern part of the causeway veered out into oncoming traffic, then swerved back, hitting another car. Both vehicles were pushed into the guardrail and the suspect's car burst into flames. 

Police say the suspect then fled the scene on foot, and the woman in the other vehicle was brought to hospital with injuries.

Mounties Reminding Motorists To Drive Safely This Holiday Weekend

Long weekends are made for kicking back and relaxing, except when you hit the roadway. The RCMP say on holiday weekends, there's a lot of traffic on the roadways, so they're reminding drivers to obey the rules of the road. 

The minimum you'll have to shell out for a violation under the provincial Motor Vehicle Act is $172.50, and you can lose demerit points. Constable Derek Black of the Oromocto RCMP says depending on the type of infraction, fines can increase. Fines for speeding can go up to nearly $292.50 when a car is going more than 25 kilometres an hour above the speed limit, and fines double when speeding in a construction zone. 

Here's a list of the most common infractions seen by the Oromocto RCMP:

-Failing to have a front license plate displayed on a vehicle
-Not being able to produce upon request from a police officer an insurance card, drivers license, vehicle registration
-Having a vehicle with tinted windows that prevent more than 30% of light to enter the vehicle
-Passing on a solid line
-Failing to wear a seatbelt, both the driver and any passenger over the age of 16 can receive a ticket. It’s also the responsibility of drivers' to ensure that children are buckled up.

Police Reminding You To Lock Your Vehicle

City police feel like they are making some progress in getting people to lock their vehicles.
 
It might seem second nature to you and me but for many 
people it's a old habit that must be changed.
 
Sgt. David Hartley-Brown of the Community Services Unit tells CHSJ News a big part of it is that we are in a rush.

Our minds are preoccupied with other issues so it's an oversight.   He says we don't take the time to ask ourselves if we locked the door or left the laptop in the backseat.

Hartley-Brown says they are seeing some improvement in the numbers of vehicles that are being stolen.

Trial Of Twin Brothers In Deadly Home Invasion Into Home Stretch

The trial of the Saia twin brothers on charges stemming from a fatal home invasion last November on the lower west side is winding down.

The prosecution wrapped up its case with police testimony about the arrest of 21 year old Brandon Saia after a foot chase at Duke and Watson Streets. The arrest happened three days after the home invasion on Prince Street West. Bradley Saia was not arrested until sometime later in Halifax.

The defense did not call any witnesses.

Closing arguments to the jury, comprised of 7 women and 5 men, will take place Tuesday morning. Jury deliberations will not take place until Wednesday after Justice Judy Clendenning delivers her instructions.

Tourism Minister Optimistic About Summer Season

The Canada Day weekend officially kicks off the summer vacation period and Provincial Tourism Minister Trevor Holder is excited about this year's potential.

Holder tells CHSJ News his department has been refocusing its promotions on key markets like the Big Apple where we showcased a video in Times Square.

He says there has been a lot of investment in refreshing our Fundy experience branding through improvements like the second cruise terminal and expansion of the Fundy Trail.

The Minister says his department is also more savvy in how it's targeting its promotions through the use of postal and zip codes and as result Holder says he's feeling good about this year's summer tourism season.

The Liberal Say Tax Hikes Are Broken Promises

Broken promises and desperate decisions...that's what the Liberals are saying about tax increases kicking in on Canada Day.
 
It was announced back in March in the provincial budget.
CHSJ News asked Liberal finance critic Roger Melanson if given the current fiscal situation the province really had any choice.

He says on the third budget of their mandate they made a desperate decision to increase income tax and we need to understand the impact it may have on consumer confidence and disposable income.

Melanson says corporations will pay more in taxes as well, but he says it's obvious the working person will carry the greatest tax burden.

Your Pay Cheque Is About To Shrink

Tax increases go into effect as of Canada Day in the province because of the provincial budget. 

If you earn 30 thousand dollars a year, you will pay about $179 dollars more in provincial income tax and a single income earner making over 60 thousand will pay 796 dollars more. 

The Atlantic Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation Kevin Lacey tells CHSJ News this is a problem of the government's own making because of overspending.

The Taxpayers Federation would like to see a commitment from the Premier that once the provincial budget is balanced, these tax increases will be rolled back.

Target Scheduling Job Fairs

Target will be holding job fairs next week in Saint John, Fredericton and Moncton from Wednesday through Saturday. 

The job fair in Saint John will be happening at Loch Lomand mall.

Wednesday, July 3rd, 8:30am - 5:30pm

Thursday, July 4th, 11:30am - 8:30pm

Friday, July 5th, 8:30am - 5:30pm

Saturday, July 6th, 8:30am - 5:30pm

Saint John Movie Theatres Bought

The movie theatres on the east side and in Rothesay are being sold. Empire Company Limited, the owner of Sobeys, wants to concentrate on the fortunes of the grocery chain.   

Cineplex, Canada's largest cinema company, is buying 26 Empire theatres for 200-million dollars.
   
 Landmark Cinemas will acquire 20 others for 55-million dollars.

Blood Stains Found On Clothing Of Accused In Home Invasion

The jury at the trial of Brendan and Bradley Saia, both 21, for a bloody and deadly home invasion on Prince Street heard plenty of forensic testimony from police and a specialist from Halifax.
 
The court was told blood stains were found on the sneakers and clothing worn by Brendan Saia as well as Ronald McCutcheon who had been let out of jail by mistake.
 
Police were also told a lot of the evidence they wanted analysed could not be processed by the lab on time.

A forensic expert from the lab in Halifax testified the DNA samples from the Saia brothers cannot be distinguished from one another because they are identical twins. 

Christopher Reid's D-N-A was taken from a knife. A-J Dennison's D-N-A from a knife blade. Dennison died from the stab wounds he sustained and no conclusion could be made from the D-N-A on a machete and its handle.

Oven Fire Source Of Smoke

A flurry of excitement earlier this afternoon at the highrise on Smythe Street - fire crews responding to an alarm that turned out to be an oven fire - the blaze filled the apartment and hallway with a lot of smoke.
Fire fighters brought in heavy duty exhaust fans to clear the smoke while paramedics checked out the people living in the apartment as a precaution.