News

In local news, with colder temperatures forecasted for the next several days, Prince Edward County is reminding residents about community support options. If you need a break from the cold, Prince Edward County library branches and community centres are available to the public during regular hours of operation.

Emergency overnight accommodations may be available when Environment Canada forecasts a temperature of -15° C or colder, or a wind chill of -20° C or colder, for Prince Edward County. If you need a place to stay overnight, please call the local Salvation Army office at 613-476-159 and a representative will help connect you to available options.

JUSTICE
The Federal Court of Appeal is expected to give its decision today on whether the Liberal government unlawfully invoked the Emergencies Act to clear the convoy protests that gridlocked the capital city and border points in nearly four years ago.

The appellate court has been reviewing a Federal Court decision that found the government’s 2022 decision to apply the never-before-used law was unreasonable and infringed on protesters’ Charter rights.

In that 2024 decision Federal Court Justice Richard Mosley wrote that while the protests “reflected an unacceptable breakdown of public order,” there “was no national emergency justifying the invocation of the Emergencies Act.”. Mosley said he reached his decision with “the benefit of hindsight” and a “more extensive record of facts and law” than the government had when it proclaimed a public order emergency.

Lawyers for the federal government argued it was unfair for the judge to apply “20/20 hindsight” to find fault with the government’s decision. The government has long argued the protests posed a security threat and the measures it took under the Emergencies Act were targeted, proportional and temporary.

IRAN
Iran’s deadly crackdown appears to have broadly quelled protests for now, according to a rights group and residents, even as state media reported more arrests today in the shadow of U.S. threats to intervene if the killing continues.

After President Donald Trump’s repeated threats of military action against Iran in support of protesters, fears of a U.S. attack have retreated since Wednesday. U.S. allies including Saudi Arabia and Qatar conducted intense diplomacy with Washington this week to prevent a U.S. strike, warning of consequences for the wider region that would ultimately impact the United States. Trump has warned Tehran there would be “grave consequences” if killings linked to its crackdown continue.

But a cleric leading Friday prayers in Iran’s capital demanded the death penalty for protesters. The sermon carried by Iranian state radio sparked chants from those gathered for prayers for armed hypocrites should be put to death.

SOUTH KOREA
Earlier today, a South Korean court sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison on charges that included obstructing attempts by authorities to arrest him following his failed bid to impose martial law in December 2024.

In televised proceedings, the Seoul Central District Court found Yoon guilty of mobilizing the presidential security service to block authorities from executing an arrest warrant that had been legally issued by a court to investigate him for his martial law declaration.

The ruling is the first related to the criminal charges Yoon faces over his botched martial law ⁠declaration.

Yoon could face death sentence in separate trial on charge of masterminding an insurrection

And finally,, if you are adventurous and have summitted Canada’s highest mountain, you may have to go back. Last month, a magnitude 7 earthquake along the Yukon – Alaska border revealed a previously unconfirmed fault line that is pushing the in the St. Elias Mountain range skyward.

Mount Logan was officially measured in 1992 at 5959 metres or 19,551 feet. It typically increases at .35mm a year, which may be accelerated by the seismic activity.

If Mount King George at just over 11,000 feet is more in your climbing range, it just got easier. Several hundred feet of the summit collapse in rock slides and avalanches due to the earthquake.

 

Sports

LOCAL
Hopefully the weather will not postpone the Wellington Dukes’ game tonight as it did last night. The Dukes are off to Pickering to face the Panthers. The game gets underway at 7:30 pm and can be heard here live on 99.3 County FM with play-by-play announcer Craig Foster. It is a busy time for the Dukes as they are in Cobourg on Monday, then back for a Tuesday game against the St Michaels Buzzers

The County’s other Junior team, the Picton Pirates are on the road to Trent Hills on Sunday to quell the Thunder. That game starts at 4:30.

CURLING
In Women’s curling news, with just a week to go, the field is finally set for the Scotties Tournament of Hearts to determine this year’s national champion. After the list of 18 teams was set once the last of the Provincial and Territorial Playdowns were completed, the addition and subtractions started.

Subtract Rachel Holmman’s Team Canada who are off to the prepare for the Olympics. Add Kerri Einarson rink into the Canada spot which opened a spot for the highest nationally ranked that had not previously qualifieid. So add Winnipeg-based team skipped by Kaitlyn Lawes who fell to Kelsey Calvert in the recent Manitoba final but holds the No. 4 position in the latest Canadian rankings. Lawes’ rink had a ¼ point lead over No. 5 seed Serena Gray-Withers of Alberta.

Lawes rink will then have to substract second Jocelyn Peterman who is off to the Olympics with mixed doubles partner Brett Gallant. Laura Walker will be added to replace Peterman. Walker last played in the Scotties in 2023 when she was added to an alternate on Lawes rink to replace two regulars on maternity level. For the past 3 years, Walker has focused on mixed doubles play.

The winning team of the Scotties will represent Canada at the March 14-22 world women’s curling championship in Calgary.

NHL
In the NHL, there are no Canadian teams in action tonight, but tomorrow is Hockey Day In Canada. That means all the Canadian teams play each, but there being 7 teams means one is left out. That would be the Calgary Flames who will host the New York Islanders at 3:00 pm. Then at 7:00 pm it is the Ottawa Senators at home to the Montreal Canadians.

Simultaneously, the Toronto Maple Leaks travel to Winnipeg to battle the Jets. Finally at 10:00 pm, the day wraps up with the Edmonton Oilers in Vancouver to face the Canucks.