BREAKING NEWS - Severe Weather Alerts Ended

Environment Canada says the severe weather warnings for the greater Saint John area - Kennebecasis Valley - and - Sussex have ended.

BREAKING NEWS - Tornado And Severe Thunderstorm Watches Issued

Environment Canada issuing a tornado warning for Sussex, Kennebecasis Valley and Kings County.

The warning advises people living in or near this area to be on the lookout for bad weather and take the necessary safety precautions.

Meantime - Environment Canada has also issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the Saint John area this evening - the federal agency says there is a potential for severe storms with hail and high winds.

$20 Million To Support Research & Innovation Province Wide

It's good news for people who work in labs in the Province.

The province announcing a $20 million dollar investment to support research and innovation.
 
Robert Hatheway tells CHSJ News it means the New Brunswick Innovation Fund will have predictable funding long term.

This funding allows the NBIF to support any spot or location that is doing research within the province and with that comes commercialization.

This money will allow researchers at universities and colleges around the province access additional research dollars from other agencies and industry.

Radio Strikers Mark One Year

As of today, seven radio personalities have been on strike for 365 days. The Maritime Broadcasting strikers rallied in King's Square during lunchtime to mark a year since their strike began.

 Ron Oldfield of the Saint John & District Labour Council was there, and he tells CSHJ News they're asking local businesses to withdraw support from the station. He says by them advertising on the station, they're financing a strike and allowing the employer to continue on with bad practices. 

Provincial NDP leader Dominic Cardy also voiced his support for the strikers. He tells CHSJ News he hopes the strong show of support gets things moving so the strikers can get a first collective agreement.

Patrick Colford, the president of the provincial Federation of Labour tells CHSJ News the situation is a disgrace. He says they're not asking for the moon, they're asking for a fair wage.

Zed Says Scott Leaves An Incredible Legacy

Paul Zed says no one will forget Andy Scott.
 
The former Fredericton Liberal MP passed away at the age 58 after an illness.
 
Zed says he's very sad that Scott has left us too soon.

He tells he says Scott last week and he was concerned about leaving his 6 year old son Noah without a dad so he was working on a project detailing his life so his young son will remember him.

Liberal leader Brian Gallant issuing a statement saying Scott's roots in the provincial party run deep having served as a president of the Young Liberals in 1979 and in the 80's working as a field worker, director of fundraising and executive director.

Feeding Deer Won't Become A Crime

Feeding these forest critters is not against the law. Council going along with a recommendation from City Staff that putting in a bylaw to make feeding deer an offense would be impractical. 

Councillor Shirley McAlary says when you implement a bylaw, you have to be able to enforce it, and in this case, they wouldn't be able to. 

Councillor Bill Farren expressed some reservations, saying Saint John, like outlying areas, is becoming overrun by deer, and his concerns lie in the health issues. He says many people will stop if you have a by-law in place. 

Councillor Donna Reardon says she'd like to see council try to get the message out that it's not a good idea to feed the deer, even though they can't police it.

Harbourview High Choir Off On Their European Adventure

Now that school is over, the Harbourview High Ensemble Choir will be off to Europe for more than just sightseeing.

Choirmaster Mike Malloy tells CHSJ News they will be giving several performances along the way in some historic locations including  the Vimy Ridge Memorial, the last synagogue that was left standing in Germany after the Holocaust at Essen and the church in Leipzeg where Johann Sebastian Bach was organist for 27 years as well as a Canada Day concert in Amsterdam on June 30th.

Malloy calls it a unique opportunity because they will be performing as well as sightseeing and, as such, the barriers will come down and they will be able to see more than if they were just tourists on vacation. He adds the young people are, in his words, "a tad excited".

Snook's Sentencing Hearing Scheduled

Donnie Snook's sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 29th and could last more than one day. 

Judge Alfred Brien also says the actual sentencing itself may not take place then. 

He has also ordered a sex offender assessment to be part of the pre-sentence report on the likelihood of re-offending.

Snook's lawyer Dennis Boyle is not ruling out further charges being laid. 

Boyle also suggested Snook is not being housed in the local jail but would not say where he is being held.

Judith Meinert was a member of the Board at the Inner City Youth Minister when Donnie Snook was the Director and also volunteered at the Chicken Noodle Club when he was there. 

She admits to being left speechless at what has come to light since early January.

Meinert says she and Snook often went to evening prayer together but obviously his life was not all it seemed with alot of compartmentalisation.

City Taking Proactive Approach To Release of Sex Offenders

Controversy has been swirling around the release of three sex offenders into the community in recent months, an issue that hasn't been lost on council. 

They voted to begin work that would result in them getting a heads up in the future. 

Deputy Mayor Shelley Rinehart says the city is very vulnerable right now, and answers are needed to understand how the numbers of sex offenders are distributed across Canada, the reasoning behind the decision to release those individuals into particular communities and whether or not the context is taken into account.

They'll also be setting up a meeting with various officials to talk about the best way to resolve the problem in a way that protects the interests and safety of the community.

Holder Welcomes Ferry Replacement Announcement

Provincial Tourism Minister Trevor Holder is welcoming word of a replacement vessel for the 42-year old Princess of Acadia on the Saint John to Digby run.
Holder tells CHSJ News it will play an important role in securing the future of the Bay of Fundy tourism experience.
Business leaders on both sides of the bay are also welcoming the announcement especially those in the seafood industry who say the service is a crucial link to markets for their products.

Cloud Of Uncertainty Lifted From Bay of Fundy Ferry Service

Good news for those relying on the Saint John to Digby ferry service - the federal government has announced the process will begin to find a replacement for the aging Princess of Acadia.
Saint John M-P Rodney Weston is one of a number of federal and provincial reps who made the trek to Digby for the announcement.

New Brunswickers Head West To Help Flood Victims

Maritimers are known for their community spirit, and plenty of us are using that to help out with the flood relief effects in Alberta. 

Dan Bedell of the Canadian Red Cross tells CHSJ News many trained people from all over New Brunswick, in particular, are ready to go. This province is familiar with floods, albeit on a much smaler scale, in places like Perth Andover and Charlotte County.

Bedell says while the situation might be getting better in parts of Calgary, there are as many as a dozen outlying communities which are still feeling the worst of this nearly-unprecedented natural disaster on Canadian soil. 

The Red Cross is supporting evacuations and states of local emergency, helping to set up, equip and provide round-the-clock staffing for 11 emergency shelters.

Cops Look For Those Responsible For $2 Million In Damage

RCMP are investigating a suspicious fire that destroyed a rock crushing plant in Astle, which is near Stanley.

On Saturday evening  RCMP were called off of Highway 8 to investigate a fire that destroyed the plant, which used to supply a paving company. The monetary loss is estimated to be in the area of two million dollars.

Anyone with information about this fire is asked to contact the RCMP or Crimestoppers.

Poutine Challenge Is A Hot Mess

It was a ooey, gooey mess at Market Square today.

 One would could deny the first-ever Poutine Challenge was a smash hit with flavors running the gamut from seafood and cream cheese to turkey and cranberry. 

Stephany Peterson of the Hardman group tells CHSJ News the free samples and festive atmosphere were a  big draw for Saint Johners, and it's wonderful the event also coincided with Ste-Jean Baptiste Day, considering that's the namesake of our fair city.

Grannan's, York Bistro and Britt's snagged the top 3 spots in the poutine challenge--but all the creations served during the challenge will be showing up on local restaurant menus until the end of the season. It's all part of the Canada Day Countdown which features events at Market Square from now until the weekend.

BREAKING NEWS: Found Body Is A Woman

Just before 9 this morning, emergency personnel got the call about a body spotted in the water near Long Wharf.

The body has been removed from the water and taken to the Regional to be identified and to determine a cause of death.

The body is a woman but the age is unknown.

The major crime unit is leading the investigation.

Look Up At 250 New Fish In The Market

Look up when you are in the City market.  
More than 250 fish made by over 500 students are part of a community art project.
 
Chloe Brown is a student at Barnhill Memorial who made one of the dangling fish.

She says her teacher asked her and a friend if they wanted to paint a fish for the market and they said yes.

Robin Anderson also took part and tells CHSJ News it's always good to have your work displayed in public.

The fish will be on display until late this year and then auctioned off for the Harbour Lights campaign.

BREAKING NEWS - Emergency Crews Recovering Body

Police - fire - and - medical crews are in the process of recovering a body from the harbour at Long Wharf.
It was first spotted just before nine this morning.

Police & Fire Respond To Long Wharf

   



Emergency personnel responding to Long Wharf after reports of a body in the water.

Tanya Shand Fundraiser Brings In $12,000

A fundraiser for the daughter of a murdered Rothesay woman bringing in $12,000 on Sunday.

The event at the qplex put together by Terri Kingston and Deanna King both of whom never met Tanya Shand.

The women both empathized with her daughter and family over their tragic loss and the need to shine a light on the problem of domestic violence.

The proceeds will go to fund for Tanya's daughter Cheyenne.

The Law Court Building Opens Today

After a lot of hard work including moving twice, the Saint John Law Courts is open for business at Peel Plaza.   

The opening delayed by nearly 6 months after a pipe burst in late December causing water damage.
 
Sheriff George Oram tells CHSJ News this new facility puts four court facilities, one in Hampton and three in Saint John, under one roof.

He tells us gone are the days where regardless of the offense where someone will have appearances at City hall, Charlotte and Sydney streets.

Oram says as soon as someone is arrested and they enter the underground tunnel in the justice complex at no time with they have an contact with a member of the public.