News
The Hastings Prince Edward Ontario Health Team said today that all patients in the region registered on Health Care Connect prior to January 1, 2025 have been successfully connected to a primary care provider. According to the announcement today by Health Team Communications Specialist Renee Mackenzie, of the more than 11,000 people originally on the list, a validation process found that 6,000 had already found a health care provider. The remaining 5,147 residents have now all been successfully connected to a physician or nurse practitioner by the Health Team. Clinical Co-Lead Sarah Le Blanc, said this is an important milestone but there are more than 3,000 local people who registered after January 1, 2025 that still need primary care and the team is now focused on connecting them as quickly as possible. Anyone who requires a primary care provider and has not yet registered on Health Care Connect is encouraged to so so as soon as possible.
Motorists beware, Union Street in Picton will be down to one lane tomorrow between Church and Maitland while water main repairs are underway. The work is scheduled to start at 9 am and be finished by 5 pm. County staff do not expect the repair to affect water quality but there may be a temporary interruption of service and pressure fluctations for some residents. Residents may also notice discoloured water during the day but staff say it is still safe to drink. However, homeowners may want to flush their lines using the cold water tap closest to the water main after the work is completed.
Bay of Quinte MP Chris Malette said today that he is pleased to see that the ALTO high speed rail project has listened to the concerns of local residents and potential passengers and is now considering adding a stop in Kingston to serve the area. Malette added that the concerns of landowners and environmentalists have also been heard and a proposed southern route has the potential to alleviate many of those issues. The southern route would be slightly longer than the original northern proposal but would mean a greater number of people would live within 25 km of the high speed line. The southern route could also potentially use portions of the highway 401 corridor to avoid private and agricultural land. Malette promised to continue advocating for the region and local stakeholders.
And in the United States, Donald Trump’s reflecting pool worries continue in Washington. The massive reflecting pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial is going to be drained after remedial measures to stop peeling paint and algae growth without draining the water failed. The problems started soon after a $14.7 million no bid renovation contract awarded to Trump donors to was completed in early June. National Parks staff have been dosing the pool with hydrogen peroxide and attempting to clean the algae from the monument while peeling paint has been reported by numerous visitors and news agencies. Trump has claimed that vandals are responsible for slitting the liner and throwing fertilizer in the pool. He has threatened anyone responsible for damaging the pool with prison but Democrats have pointed out that the area is under 24 hour video surveillance which did not record any acts of vandalism. The firm that did the re-coating of the pool has said that the peeling paint is in a small area that will be repaired and that most of the liner is still intact. It is not clear whether the pool will be ready for upcoming 250th US birthday celebrations as originally planned.
Sports
Four matches in world cup action today. Portugal defeated Uzbekistan 5 -0 today in Houston. England and Ghana got underway at 4 in Boston. Panama and Croatia kick off at 7 in Toronto and Columbia faces the Democratic Republic of Congo starting at 10 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score in six world cups when he put one into the back of the net early in the Portugal-Uzbekistan game today. The goal not only puts him in the record books, it ends a four game national team drought for the 41 year old superstar.
Former Carolina Hurricanes Coach Mike Babcock will be behind the bench for the Edmonton Oilers next season. Babcock was investigated by the NHL for allegations of inappropriate conduct during his brief time in Carolina but the league decided there was no basis for barring him from future employment. The Oilers announced Babcock’s hiring today.
In Major League Baseball, the Blue Jays are playing the second game of a three game home stretch against the Houston Astros this afternoon. The Jays have managed to claw their way back to 500 ball with a win yesterday and hold down the third wild card spot in the east. Pete Lambert is on the mound for the Astros against Shane Bieber for the Jays today.
