News

In local news, power outage is affecting a large portion of Belleville this morning. Power went out around 8:50 a.m. in the downtown and southwest end of the city. Elexicon Energy says between 500 and 5,000 customers are affected.

Crews are investigating the cause and there is no estimated time of restoration at this point. Belleville Police are asking motorists to drive with caution as several traffic lights in the southern part of the city are out as a result of the power outage.

In more local news, the Ontario government is delivering on its commitment to supporting the health and safety of Prince Edward County firefighters. Over $164,000 in funding was announced for the County through the Fire Protection Grant to support the municipality’s firefighter cancer prevention program.

The municipality will use the funds to purchase a second automated equipment decontamination machine, a mechanism that removes hazardous substances from the equipment worn by firefighters.
The machine will be installed at the Consecon fire station, helping reduce the time required to clean equipment.

Previous grants were used to install the same machine at the Picton fire station.

BORDER
The federal government has updated its travel advice for the United States, urging First Nations people to carry a passport in addition to a status card when crossing the border.

Before this week, the government website said First Nations people could “freely” enter the United States for the purposes of employment, study, retirement, investing or immigration.

Yesterday, the website was updated with new guidelines. It now states that First Nations people “may” be able to cross the Canada-U.S. border by land or water with their secure status card.

Acceptance of all status cards is “entirely at the discretion of U.S. officials. Secure status cards aren’t accepted travel documents for air travel.

The Canadian Government now strongly recommends also carrying a valid passport when travelling outside of Canada. The Government added people registered under the Indian Act entering the U.S. to live or work may also be asked to provide documentation to prove the percentage of Indian blood required under U.S. law.

EPSTEIN
Nearly six years after pleading guilty to a crime that should have made him inadmissible, Jeffrey Epstein visited Canada, and federal government officials are providing no answers about why he was allowed into the country.

Documents confirming Epstein’s travel to Vancouver in 2014 were among the three million pages released by the U.S. Department of Justice on Friday from its probe into allegations the convicted sex offender ran a child sex trafficking operation catering to the rich and powerful.

It’s unclear why Epstein was admitted to Canada, given his 2008 guilty plea and 18-month jail sentence on two prostitution charges, including soliciting prostitution from a minor.

Epstein applied for a temporary resident permit in 2018 that would have granted him an exemption to travel to Canada despite his record, but it was rejected by the Canadian Consulate in Los Angeles.

And finally, NASA is ready to go to the moon. The space agency conducted a successful rehearsal of launch events for the upcoming Artemis II moon mission that will include Canadian Jeremy Hansen and three other NASA astronauts. This mission is a fly by of the moon

The rehearsal reached its goal of counting down to just past T-minus 30 seconds twice, meaning the rocket would have launched in less than a minute if it was launch day. If all goes well, the next actual launch date will be in early March.

Artemis III, a landing on the moon is scheduled for 2028.

Sports

DUKES
The Wellington Dukes head into the last week of the regular season with five games left to play, but have already clinched a playoff spot. That means starting tonight they play every other day. Tonight, the Dukes are at home to the Toronto Patriots at 7:30 pm. On Sunday night at 7:30, it is the Pickering Panthers that come to the LeHigh Arena. After two road games, the Dukes wrap up the regulars season at home next Sunday, March 1st.

The Picton Pirates commence their playoff run this weekend with the first two games of a seven game series against the Amhearstview Jets. Tomorrow night they open at home for a 7:30 start. Then on Sunday it is down the road to Amhearstview for a 7:25 pm puck drop.

OLYMPICS
As the Olympics draw to a close, freestyle skiing was in catch-up mode this morning after several events were rescheduled due to heavy snowfall. Unfortunately, events where Canada usully fairs well did not see anyone advance to the finals.

In the Women semi-final Curling, Canada took on Sweden who they beat in preliminary play. Unfortunately, this time they fell a little short, losing 6-3 . They will now play for the Bronze medal against the Unites States tomorrow at 8:00 AM.

The semi-final in men’s hockey is underway as Canada takes on Finland for a chance to advance to Sunday’s Gold Medal game

In short track speed skating finals, the men’s 5000m relay starts at 3:15 and the women’s 1500m goes at 4:00.