Kids Need To Be Kept Excited About Science

A local science education group says there has been a disconnect between what students learn in school about science and the kind that happens in the real world.

Spokesperson Michael Edwards tells CHSJ News one way to solve that issue is to keep kids curious and excited about the scientific process.

He says there has been a renewed focus on keeping young students engaged and he wants to see that applied to the higher grades as well.

Earth Day Activities Abound Today

In honour of Earth Day, some special events planned throughout the region.

The NB Museum in Market Square will be screening topical environmental documentaries from 2-3:30pm in coordination by the Alliance of Natural History Museums of Canada and Planet in Focus.

At the Marine Museum in Saint Andrews, kids can do crafts and check two touch tanks, lobsters and seal feedings at 4 p.m. There will be a screening of Free Willy 3 at 1pm.

In Fredericton Green Matters will be commemorating Earth Day this year with a special screening of the Disneynature film “Chimpanzee” on April 22, 12 noon at the Empire Theatres. With a donation of a non-perishable food item or toy donation, admission will be $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children.

Boat Catches Fire

A fire on a power boat partially loaded with fuel causing a scare at the Saint John Power Boat Club.

Fire officials responding to the call at 339 Kennedy Street saying a boat in winter storage had caught fire.

The blaze was contained to the 35 foot power boat where it started, but other vessels moored nearby sustained damage as well. District chief Joe Armstrong wouldn't say the boat was a write-off, but it did sustain major damage. No word yet on the cause of the blaze.

Fire on Princess Street

An evening blaze in the South End caused smoke damage to an entire apartment building.

Police and fire officials responding to 178 Princess Street around 8 o'clock found smoke spreading throughout the multi-unit building.

The residents were evacuated and the source of the fire was traced to a kitchen on the second floor. The blaze was knocked down, but the people living there are still displaced from their homes.

Gas Leak Scare at Market Square

A bit of a scare at the Saint John Free Public Library this morning with reports of a smell as if natural gas was leaking in the building.

Police, fire officials and Enbridge gas were on scene for a few hours this morning examining the cause. After thoroughly checking over the building it was determined there was no leak.

According to one officer it's possible the chemical smell was caused by floor cleaners.

Suspicious Bones Found

Suspicious bones found near Prince of Wales are being investigated by Saint John's Major Crime Unit.

Corporal Ramsay Hunt tells CHSJ News the remains were found near a site known to some as Five Fathom Hole, and the area has been cordoned off. It's not certain at this time whether they are human remains or not.

Hunt said that's all the details they can disclose at this time.

Moncton Anthrax Scare Update

The suspicious package that forced the evacuation of a building and barricading several intersections in downtown Moncton yesterday wasn't actually anything dangerous.

A RCMP specialized unit from Halifax assisted by a RCMP Hazardous Material Team from New Brunswick confirmed that the suspicious package did not constitute an actual threat. It had been speculated that it was anthrax. The building located at 777 Main Street has been reopened and traffic in the area has resumed.

Codiac RCMP is thanking the Moncton Fire Department and Ambulance NB for their assistance during this incident. The Saint John fire department also helped, sending in the Hazmat and decontamination unit.

Vinyl Records Celebrated Today

Remember the heyday of vinyl? According to some people, records are still the best. April 21 is International Record Store Day, where independent record stores in New Brunswick and all over the world celebrate vinyl with new releases and live shows.

Gordon Tufts of Backstreet Records in Saint John tells CHSJ News it's all about recapturing the excitement of when vinyl was king, and reminding people the medium is still big in some circles. Not to mention the hundreds of special releases that will be stocking the racks in honour of the celebration.

Backstreet and Second Spin Records in Saint John both have special releases today. A free live show starts at Backstreet at 1pm, including the Wooden Wives and Eric Riguette. Tufts says there's lots there for country fans as well. 

For more information, click here

Taxi Robbery in the North End

A taxi driver getting a scare this morning with a robbery in the north end.

Police getting the call from Shamrock park near Visart Street at 6:30am. The driver reported a man had threatened him with a knife during the robbery, then fled around the back of the Parks and Recreation building.

He's described as wearing jeans and a yellow shirt with blondish hair.

Irving Seeks Greener Image

Folks around the province will be celebrating our planet on Earth Day, which is April 22. The province's biggest corporation, Irving, wants to get the word out it's making some steps to reduce the amount of pollution it dumps into our air and waterways.

Mary Keth of JDI tells CHSJ News fossil fuels are one major contaminant, and since 2007 they've reduced their greenhouse gas emissions by 346,000 tonnes annually.
 

Environment and Local Government Minister Bruce Fitch reminds citizens protecting the environment is a year-round endeavor.

John Ferguson Trial Wraps Up Evidence Portion Of Case

After weeks of testimony, the evidence portion of the John Ferguson defamation trial has come to an end.

Pension Board Lawyer Barry Morrison concluded his cross-examination by asking Ferguson if he was using smoke and mirrors to make it seem like the pension board was up to no good.

Ferguson said "no" and stated that even though it has taken over 5 years, the truth has finally come out.

The case resumes Monday morning at 9 o'clock at the Court of Queen's Bench.

Saint John Fire Crews Helping In Moncton

It was a tense lunch hour in Moncton today after a building was evacuated in the downtown after a report of hazardous material possibly anthrax being found on one floor.

12 personnel from the Saint John Fire department along with the Hazmat and decontamination unit were called to the scene earlier today.

CHSJ News learning the material was found in a building that may house the French consulate.
Police encouraging people to avoid the area of downtown Moncton after barricades were set up at several intersections.

Forum Offers First Glimpse Of Callahan

A 90-minute forum for those running for Mayor of Saint John was the first time anyone saw Joe Callahan.

He is originally from Texas and became a Canadian citizen just six years ago.

Callahan says the debate with his three other competitors was quite the experience.

Meanwhile, Mel Norton tells us in order to reduce poverty you need to work closely with those in the community.

Mayor Ivan Court tells us he was impressed with the turnout adding the more information we can give to the public the better.

Matt Thompson says to reduce poverty we need to invest in our at risk neighbourhoods.

High School Principal Charged In Child Porn Probe

A shocker from the Miramichi where a high school principal is facing four charges as a result of an investigation into Internet child exploitation.

37 year old Kirk Matheson, the principal at North and South Esk Regional High School in Sunny Corner, has been charged with luring, possession of child pornography and counselling to commit an offense.

Matheson is accused of passing himself off on the Internet as a woman to persuade boys to send him nude photos of themselves. Police have identified two victims from the local area thus far.

Matheson, who's scheduled to reappear in court June 11th, has been released from custody but he has to stay clear from the Regional High School.

Police In K-V Warning Of Internet Scam

Rothesay Regional Police receiving a complaint of a fraud regarding the filling out of a short survey on Facebook or a pop up on a webpage.

The survey usually entails filling out a few questions and the prize on offer is a gift certificate to Costco or Walmart or free I-Pad.

The last question of the survey requires you to type in your cell phone number and that's where the problem lies. Once this is done your phone is automatically billed for $9.99 or $18.99. Globally, there has already been over 1 billion dollars lost to this scam.

Police are advising to be cautious with the information that is entered on the internet. Information such as your name, phone number, address, banking or credit card information should not be entered on unknown sites.

Bus Drivers Campaigning For Saint John Transit To Get More Funding

City bus drivers making their presence felt outside the U-N-B Saint John Grand Hall on Charlotte Street where inside the Mayoral candidates talked about social issues including public transportation.

The President of local 1182 of the Amalgamated Transit Union, Tom McGraw tells CHSJ News the bus cuts are hurting alot of people and something must be done.

He points out alot of people can't afford to take a taxi every day to get to work if a bus isn't available.

McGraw says there have been three rounds of cuts in the past year with the loss of 24 thousand hours of service. 

John Ferguson Accused Of Wanting To Upset People

Pension Board lawyer Barry Morrison is accusing former Common Councillor John Ferguson of swinging a hardwood baseball bat at his fellow Council members at the time and the Pension Board instead of extending an olive branch.

Ferguson was being questioned about his suggestion of creating an ethics panel or commission. He told the court it would have cleared up alot of the misrepresentation and misinterpretation of his criticisms. 

Ferguson added they're doing it now in St. Stephen where he's the town manager and causes him no anguish at all but the negative reaction he got spoke to the atmosphere that was prevalent at Common Council back then.

Morrison contends Ferguson's criticism was all part of a campaign to become Mayor which he denies. 

Morrison went on to charge Ferguson's presentation to Common Council was devoid of information. 

Ferguson suggested all he was doing was conveying the information he had been told about the city's pension plan and its rising deficit but did not make any allegations himself. Morrison called that taking the cowardly route to which Ferguson replied he stands by his presentation.

Mayoral Debate Underway At UNBSJ Great Hall

Missing Man's Body Found In The U.S.

The body of a St. Stephen man missing since March has turned up on the American side of the border.

RCMP got a call from the Baileyville, Maine police department that a local fisherman found a vehicle submerged in the St. Croix River.

The body of Kenneth Lee was discovered inside.
An autopsy is being conducted in Augusta, Maine.

Inflation Drops Nationally But, Not Here

Big drops in the price of food and gasoline knocked the inflation rate down seven-tenths of a point in March to 1.9 per cent.
 
It's the first time since September of 2010 that the rate has fallen below the Bank of Canada's sweet spot of two per cent.

Even though the rate fell, you probably don't have more money in your pocket -- because most items measured were more expensive in March than in February. 
 
Here in Saint John, the rate went up to 2.4 from 2.2 in February but it went down provincially from 2.6 per cent to 2.4 per cent.