News
In the U.S. election: The Democrats will take control of both the House and the Senate, a mid-term defeat of President Donald Trump’s Republican Party. At this point, the Democrats will hold a majority in the House of Representatives, with 222 of the 435 seats, and in the Senate, with 54 of the 100 seats. The Democrats even won the Senate races in South Carolina, Texas, and Kansas, which haven’t sent a Democratic senator to Washington since 1998, 1988 and 1932, respectively. The Democrats also flipped the governors in five states. The Democrats are expected to restore the health insurance subsidies that had been cut by the Republicans, take down Trump’s tariffs, and block authorization for the war against Iran. Control of the Senate means the Democrats can block or slow confirmation of Trump’s nominees for cabinet, federal judges, ambassadors, or senior leadership roles at many federal agencies. Democrats could also launch investigations into allegations that Trump’s family and friends are profiting from his presidency. And impeachment proceedings are a definite possibility, if not against Trump, then against his Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. The election outcome could also give Canada more leverage in trade talks with the Trump administration. The President is weakened, but he has plenty of time left in the White House to exercise the executive power voters gave him last election, including the power to veto Democrat bills. Politically speaking, though, this midterm vote could mark the beginning of the end of the Donald Trump era of U.S. politics, as the jockeying for position to replace him has already begun.
In other election news: Israeli President Isaac Herzog says he will begin consultations with party representatives on the formation of a new government. He has accepted the certified results from last week’s parliamentary elections, effectively pushing aside claims of voter fraud.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s had tried to discredit the vote, in which his religious-nationalist bloc lost its majority in the Israeli parliament, while Arab-led parties made historic gains. Netanyahu and his supporters have repeatedly made unsubstantiated claims that the Arab-led parties had stolen the election, possibly with foreign assistance.
In national news: Prime Minister Mark Carney says Russia will not be allowed to compete at next month’s world junior hockey championship in Alberta. Carney’s comments come after the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled Friday that Russia must be reinstated to international hockey competition, starting with the world junior tournament. Russian teams have been banned since Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Several European hockey federations, including Sweden, Finland, Czechia and Latvia, have said their teams will refuse to face Russia. Hockey Canada released a statement supporting the federal government’s position. And the Ukrainian foreign minister thanked the federations that had refused to play Russia and urged other hockey powers to follow suit. In his response, the Russian Ambassador to Canada suggests Ottawa has discovered a novel approach to winning international tournaments. Prime Minister Carney also says Russian and Belarusian athletes will not be permitted to represent their countries in Canada as long as the war in Ukraine continues. The federal government would use its immigration powers to prevent athletes and officials from entering Canada.
Sports
It was a tough week for the PECI Panthers last week with some heartbreaking losses.
Tuesday, both boys volleyball teams were in action against Central Hastings and Nicholson. The Juniors battled hard against Central Hastings then fell 3 – 1 to Nicholson while the seniors lost 2 – 0 to both Central Hastings and Nicholson.
Also on Tuesday, the junior boys soccer team battled number one seed Bayside to a 1 – 1 draw but lost on penalties. The lone PECI goal was scored by KJ Blair. The seniors also lost on penalties to St. Theresa after drawing 1 – 1 in regulation time.
Thursday the junior girls basketball team fell to Centennial 47 – 39 while the seniors battled to the final moments before Centennial was able to pull into the lead for a 46 – 38 win.
In rugby action, the senior girls lost a tough one 55 to 0 against a strong Weldon squad.
And in breaking news today, the junior girls Rugby team lost a hard fought semi-final game against Fenelon Falls 27-17.
Tune in every Tuesday at 4 and 6 pm for all the PECI Panthers scores.
BC Lions linebacker Darnell Sankey was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player today. The 32-year-old Sankey had a league-leading 114 tackles as well as three sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery this season.
In NHL action tonight, the Utah Mammoth are in Toronto for a 7 pm start against the Leafs, The Jets and the Canadians also get underway at 7 in Montreal and the Oilers and the New Jersey Devils drop the puck at 7 in New Jersey. Out west, the Anaheim Ducks travel to Vancouver to face the Canucks. That game starts at 9.
