Major Crime Looks Into North End Stabbing

The Major Crime Unit of the Saint John Police looking into a stabbing in the North end on Adelaide street.

The call came in just after 2pm.

A 22-year-old man was taken to hospital to be treated for an injury described as significant.

Norton Ponders Run For Mayor

A first term councillor is giving serious consideration to a bid for the mayor's chair at city hall.
Mel Norton confirms to CHSJ News he's been talking with family - business associates - and - members of the community.
He says he wants to ensure he's doing the most impactful thing for the community and if it's offering for the mayor's seat then he absolutely wants to do that.
Norton says he's been humbled by the expressions of support so far -- and -- says he will announce his final decision within days.

Police Reveal More On Hospital Death

City police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of a woman, in her early twenties, who was a patient at the Saint John Regional Hospital.

The family has requested the woman's name not be released.

The investigation gleaning many interviews, forensic collection and analysis, pathology, and technical support so far.

The preliminary report on how she died is being kept under wraps while evidence is being analyzed.

Liberal MLA Fears Fallout From School District Consultation

The Liberal education critic fears fallout from a rushed consultation process to reduce the number of school districts in the Province.
Caraquet MLA Hedard Albert tells CHSJ News he thinks these changes will have a trickle-down effect.

He says the changes to the district will impact the teachers, students and all aspects of the classroom.

Albert adds the Alward government says children are the top priority but, he doesn't think that's the case right now.

City Hall Announces 32 Job Cuts

The bloodletting has begun at City hall with 32 positions cut including 6 workers given termination notices effective today.

A release says Common Council has approved a reduction in the City’s establishment from 680 to 648.

Many of the positions are being eliminated by not filling current vacancies and pending retirements and 12 holiday relief firefighters will not be called back.


The City claims this move will result in more than $1.9 million in savings a year.

Inside workers were reduced by 7.75%, professional & management positions by 6.2 % and the fire department reduced by 9.93%. 

Bank Of Montreal Moving From City Hall

Defamation Trial Told Why Lawsuit Was Launched

The City's former Finance Commissioner Andrew Beckett says the Pension Board had to defend itself by launching a lawsuit against former Common Councillor John Ferguson after a series of comments and accusations.

Beckett told the jury at Ferguson's defamation trial, it got so bad, he didn't want to talk about his role as a pension board trustee.

Ferguson was asked to make a public retraction but refused to do so until 2010 when he retracted his previous assetion about his statements about the pension board being true in an amended statement of defense.
 
Beckett says the pension board tried, without success, to get Ferguson to divulge the name of the pension board member who allegedly told him there was inappropriate activity going on.
 
Each of the pension board members were asked individually if they were responsible but there were denials all around.

Aggravated Sexual Assault Trial Set For August

The sexual assault trial of 25 year old Bradley Scott Wilson will be going to trial on August 8th.

He is being charged with the aggravated sexual assault and unlawful confinement of a 46 year old bartender in January.  The incident allegedly occurred while she was closing up the Buccaneer's Pub.

He is also facing other assault charges and will be in court April 26th for those.

Insurance Will Cover Sinkings On The Hillbilly Highway

With a truck recently going through the ice on the Hillbilly Highway, you may be wondering if your insurance will cover such an accident?

The Vice-President of TD Insurance Henry Blumenthal tells CHSJ News you will be covered because the incident was sudden and unforeseeable.
 
He says while you could have prevented such an accident, it is considered simple negligence.

The Hillbilly Highway is a five-kilometre stretch of ice road on the Kennebecasis River.

No New Info On Suspicious Death At The Regional

City police releasing few details about a death at the Regional Hospital.

In an email, Sgt. Glen Hayward tells CHSJ News the police service will not be releasing anything new at this time and when they do it will come in a media release.

Hayward did confirm officers are looking into a suspicious death at the hospital.

Trial Program Shows Need For More Family Doctors

A new trial clinic being put on by the Horizon Health Network is showing that family doctors are desperately needed in the city.

The clinic, which began in November, will run for 6 months and allows people without family doctors to get primary care.

Laurie Janes is administrative director for emergency services and she tells CHSJ News the numbers speak for themselves as there are 7000 names on the registry.

So far, 500 patients have been seen and Janes says Horizon Health Network is busy recruiting.

She expects 3 or 4 new family doctors to be in the city by spring.

Gas Prices Are Up

You'll be paying more for self serve regular if you have to fill up over the next week.

It has increased in price by two and a half cents a litre after the weekly setting and is selling for $1.30.2 around town. 

Diesel is also higher by just over half a cent a litre to $1.37.6 and heating oil is more expensive at $1.21.7 a litre, a rise of more than one and a half cents. 

On the other hand, the price of propane dropped by almost three cents a litre to $103.6 a litre.