News

An argument between a man and a woman in a west end Belleville residence crossed the line early this morning when the man bit the woman and pushed a second woman at the scene. Belleville Police were called to the home and charged the 21 year old man with two counts of assault. The man was released on an undertaking and will appear in court to answer the charges in March.

Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke to U.S. President Donald Trump this morning and clarified the facts around the Gordie Howe International Bridge. Carney said he told Trump that Canadians paid the entire $4 billion cost of building the bridge but it was built with workers and steel from both countries. He also told Trump that the bridge is already jointly owned by Canada and the State of Michigan. Trump had threatened to block the opening of the bridge claiming that there was virtually no US content and no ownership by Americans. Michigan Governor Gretchin Witmer and other Michigan politicians were also quick to defend the bridge and counter Trump’s misinformation. The bridge was originally approved by Trump during his first administration and will connect Windsor and Detroit relieving the pressure on the 97 year old Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit Windsor Tunnel which does not allow large trucks.

Meanwhile, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has said he won’t back down on the prohibition of US alcoholic products in LCBO stores in spite of Trump linking that ban to the Gordy Howe bridge opening. Ford said there is a way the US can get the LCBO to restock US products and that’s to eliminate the tariffs on Canadian goods. Aside from the political statement, the ban on US alcohol has increased sales of Ontario wine and helped some other countries improve their market share in the province.

Authorities investigating the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie released the first surveillance images Tuesday showing a masked person on the porch of her Arizona home the day she went missing more than a week ago.

The FBI released a video today that shows a person wearing a backpack, long sleeves and pants walking up to the door at the home of the kidnapped mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie. The person is shown trying to cover a doorbell camera near the front door then using plants to block the camera’s view. The recovery of the footage from residual data is the first real break in the disappearance of 84 year old Nancy Guthrie. There has been no contact from her abductors and no information on whether she is still alive or why she was abducted. Savannah Guthrie has offered to pay a ransom and authorities have asked for her abductors to contact them. Guthrie disappeared February 1.

And in Estonia weather similar to Canada is bringing a Construction company new business. Verston Eesti recently helped the Estonian government to build a 20 km ice highway between the two main islands in the country. Residents had been driving on the ice without the road between the two islands to shop and visit but the government decided a safer solution was required. Verston Eesti marked out a route that insures sufficient ice thickness for safety and smoothed out ridges and cracks. They monitor the route around the clock and change it when needed. Their work has been so successful that the government asked them this week to build two more ice roads.

Sports

The Dukes are in action this afternoon at the Lehigh arena against the Caledon Admirals. The Dukes are holding down 6th place in the Eastern Division but will need a few more wins to clinch a playoff spot.

The Picton Pirates are also in action today. The Pirates host the Port Hope Panthers starting at 7:30 tonight at the Prince Edward Community Centre. A Pirates win and an Amerherstview loss would put the Pirates ahead of the Jets for 4th in the Tod Division.

In Olympic action today the women’s hockey team plays the US this afternoon and they will do it without Captain and star Marie-Philip Poulin. Poulin was injured in Monday’s game against Czechia and is day to day at this point. Both Canada and the US are already assured of a spot in the next round but today’s game will influence who they play and, as always with Canada and the US, is about bragging rights.

In other Olympic action Canada’s short track mixed speed skaters won a silver medal.