News

Environment Canada has a yellow weather warning in effect today. We can expect heavy rain, with amounts of up to 50 mm., late this afternoon into tomorrow morning. We’ll have more details in our extended weather forecast following sports.

At the most recent Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board trustees’ meeting, Trustee Ernie Parsons moved a request that the Minister of Education take control of the Board and appoint a supervisor. Parsons says he believes we still need local representation, including a school board. However, he’s not confident that the school board is doing the job it should with regard to governance issues, legal expenses to battle fellow trustee Rachel Prinzen, and busing. 

His motion was defeated 7 – 2.

In other local news, County residents can review the municipality’s 2026 budget book for simplified information on how the budget is created, different parts of the budget, key financial data, and highlights from departments. The book reveals details on essential services that residents depend on, like fire protection, snow plowing, and garbage collection. The book also outlines investments in assets like roads, parks, and fire equipment. You can have a look at the book on the County’s website.

In personal finance news, the Ford government has failed to reach its annual goal of helping 60,000 people move from social assistance into meaningful employment and financial stability, a key part of its five-year poverty reduction strategy that came to an end last year. According to the government’s 2025 annual report, progress since 2020 was significantly influenced by external factors, including the pandemic, rising inflation, slower economic growth, and higher unemployment rates. Poverty rates had dropped to a low of 6.8 per cent in 2020, but by 2023, they had increased to over 11 per cent. The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services has not stated whether a goal will be included in the government’s next poverty reduction strategy.

In health news, experts worry that certain medications might make the danger of heat waves even greater, especially for adults aged 65 and older, by reducing the body’s ability to maintain a safe temperature. These medications include many common prescription and over-the-counter medicines, such as certain antidepressants, antipsychotics, antihistamines, and drugs used to treat diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure.

Chinese automaker BYD has announced the launch of “flash” chargers that add two kilometres of range every second, or 600 kilometres of range in the five minutes it would take to fill a tank of gas. The chairman of BYD noted that charge anxiety is still a major concern for drivers, so the ultimate solution is to make charging as quick as refuelling a gas car. That means more vehicles can be charged in the same amount of time, and fewer chargers are needed. These chargers could be available here in five to 10 years, once Canada has cars with the technology to take advantage of that kind of charging.

Sports

In the PWHL, the Ottawa Charge will play the Boston Fleet in one best-of-five semifinal, starting tomorrow night in Boston. After finishing first overall, the Montreal Victoire chose the third-place Minnesota Frost as their semi-final opponent. The Victoire and the Frost will begin their series on Saturday in Montreal. 

In the NHL last night, the Edmonton Oilers defeated Anaheim 4-1, but still trail 3 games to two in that series. The Montreal Canadiens are in Tampa Bay tonight, to play game five against the Lightning, with their series tied at two wins apiece. 

In MLB, with their 3 – 0 win last night, the Toronto Blue Jays have a split so far in their three-game series against the Boston Red Sox. If they win this afternoon, the Jays will have won three series in a row. 

In NBA playoffs, the Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers are tied at 2 wins apiece, and play tonight in Cleveland. 

Also tonight, the Toronto Tempo make their WNBA debut hosting the Connecticut Sun in preseason action. 

Finally, in the first leg of one semi-final of the European Champions League yesterday, PSG beat Bayern Munich 5 – 4. The first leg of the second semi goes this afternoon, with Atletico Madrid vs. Arsenal.