News

Belleville and Tweed emergency crews performed a dramatic rescue on the Moira River Sunday night. Two people were stuck in the middle of the river after their off-road vehicle was swamped by the fast flowing water. Both victims had extreme hypothermia and were unable to move by the time emergency crews reached them shortly after 8 pm. Firefighters from the Belleville Water Rescue Team transported the pair down the river in the dark for about a kilometre to reach ambulances that then transported them to Belleville General Hospital. Police and Firefighters are reminding everyone to be extremely cautious near waterways during the spring thaw.

The Ontario Provincial Police are warning against a rise in cryptocurrency related fraud. Fraudsters will use a variety of tactics to get people to send currency using cryptocurrency ATM’s. The transactions are hard to reverse and can easily transfer funds to criminal organizations. According to police, the perpetrators may convincingly impersonate banks, government agencies, romantic partners, employers or other trusted services and may use extortion threats. Police say to be extra cautious about any request to transfer cash using a crypto ATM especially if you are being asked to act urgently, are being threatened with legal action or other pressure tactics or are being told to keep the transaction secret. If you are in doubt, contact police before making the transaction.

Canada’s National Energy Regulator said today that electricity demand will nearly double by 2050. That demand will be driven by residential and industrial growth as well as technology use by AI data centres. To service that increase in demand Canada Energy Regulator Economist Darren Christie said electicity generation and distribution networks will also need to double. Christie also said the increase in generating capacity will come mostly from wind power but natural gas, nuclear and solar will also play a part. Natural gas production is expected to rise to support electicity generation and export sales of liqufied natural gas but direct consumption of oil and gas is forecast to stay about the same. Because of increases in renewable energy and cleaner technologies, green house gas emissions are expected to plateau by 2035. The Canada Energy Regulator has been issuing forecasts since 1967 but this is the first update since 2023.

One of President Donald Trumps senior officials resigned today in because of the war in Iran. Joe Kent, the director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, said that Iran did not pose an immenent threat to the United States and he could not in good conscience back the Trump administration’s actions in Iran. He suggested that Trump responded to pressure from Israel rather than from legitimate security concerns. Kent ⁠has connections to hard right organizations and was considered a Trump loyalist. A number of Republicans have expressed concerns about the war but Kent is the first senior Trump official to resign because of it.

It’s St. Patrick’s Day today and a couple of brothers in Massachusetts have a unique way of bringing Irish culture to local neighbourhoods. They built a fleet of tiny pubs on wheels that they tow around New England. The tiny pubs are small enough to fit in a driveway and can accommodate about 20 people. They are authentically decorated with antiques and serve Guiness on tap and imported Irish scampi fries just like their stationary cousins. The idea started during the pandemic and now even includes an appearance in the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day parade.

Sports

St. Louis Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong is stepping down from his role as GM of Team Canada. Armstrong told Hockey Canada today that he was stepping aside because it was time for change. Armstrong will also leave his job as Blues GM at the end of this season to become the team’s President of Hockey Operations. Armstrong has been General Manager of Team Canada since 2016.

In NHL action tonight, five Canadian teams are all at home. Toronto hosts the New York Islanders. The Leafs and Islanders drop the puck at 7 pm. The Boston Bruins are in Montreal. That game also has a 7 pm face off. The Nashville Predators are in Winnipeg for an 8 pm start against the Jets. The San Jose Sharks and the Edmonton Oilers get underway at 9 and the Florida Panthers are in Vancouver for a 10 pm puck drop with the Canucks.

In the PWHL the Toronto Sceptors are in Boston for a 7 pm start against the first place Fleet. To add to Toronto’s challenges tonight, the Fleet acquired high scoring forward Jessie Eldridge in a trade with Seattle yesterday and she is expected to be in the lineup in Boston for tonight’s game.