CBC Newfoundland Morning

A Department of Fisheries and Oceans report on salmon stocks in the Conne River says aquaculture is a major factor in salmon decline in the river. Provincial fisheries minister Elvis Loveless - after admitting he hasn't read the report - .says he would debate that. But it turns out he WOULDN'T debate that. We asked him to join us in today's interview with Atlantic Salmon Federation conservationist Neville Crabbe, but Loveless's spokesperson referred us to the minister's statement from earlier in the week.

From Ukraine to Thailand and everywhere in between, many cultures across the globe will be represented at this year's International Food Tasting and Cultural Event. The Gander Rotary Club is holding it this Saturday.

All proceeds will be donated to the Food For Thought Program, which serves the local community.. Reem Saliba Al Baquen is the organizer.

A western Newfoundland man is worried what the closure of a wound care clinic will mean for him. The clinic was at the hospital in Corner Brook, but closed earlier this month. Jeffery Stone has been treated there at least every week or two for over a year. He has a diabetic ulcer on his heel, which has taken a long time and special care to start healing. Now, he's concerned about what the lack of proper care could lead to.

Samantha Hicks has been working as a substitute teacher in this province for ten years. She says that because of NL Schools' hiring practices, she and other part-time teachers have struggled to find permanent employment. 

So, Hicks has decided to go to the North West Territories, where she'll have a classroom to call her own. She spoke with the CBC's Amy Feehan about her frustrations with the NL school system.

Four of the Mi'kmaw bands in the Port au Port - -Bay St. George area are working together with the goal of making things better. There's a lot of interest in that part of the province now, with wind energy and salt mining just two of the industries on the horizon. The new Four Directions Mi'kmaw Development Group wants to ensure that Indigenous communities are consulted and get the maximum benefit. The consortium includes the Three Rivers, Flat Bay, St. George's, and Benoit First Nations bands. Chief Jasen Benwah is the chief of the Benoit First Nation.

Newfoundland and Labrador has the most expensive milk among all provinces in Canada - and most of our cheese, yogurt and cream come from elsewhere. Now, a new dairy farmers cooperative hopes to change that The provincial government has just given the co-op ten million dollars to buy Central Dairies from its Quebec parent company. Scott Antle is the new group's president, and he spoke with the CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

Once again, people from this province have done what it takes to support their own. Our Lady of Mercy Church in Port au Port West has won the Next Great Save competition. The contest involved online voting, and Newfoundlanders and Labradorians did not disappoint. That means the 50-thousand dollar grand prize will go to help repair and restore the historic building. Joanne Rose is treasurer of Our Lady of Mercy Complex Committee.

That's one way to get some "new blood" to serve on council. As part of Municipal Awareness Week, Corner Brook City Council recently organized a Mayor-For-A-Day essay contest for grade six students. Several of them were selected to serve on council in part of Monday's meeting. The CBC's Alex Kennedy spoke with some of the participants and Mayor Jim Parsons.

Marble Mountain will get some repairs and upgrades in the coming months. The provincial government set aside another one million dollars in the spring budget for capital improvements at the ski facility in Steady Brook. Steve Crocker is the province's Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation. He spoke with the CBC's Colleen Connors.

There are thousands of shipwrecks off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, including many sunk in the two world wars. Eighty years ago today, the Canadian warship HMCS Valleyfield was torpedoed and sunk by a U-Boat. Today, the Valleyfield lies about 80 kilometres off Cape Race on the Grand Banks, along with the vast majority of its crew whose bodies were never recovered. The CBC's Leigh Anne Power examined Valleyfield's history.

When you hear someone mention "opera," you might not immediately think about an audience full of children, or that it's even something a child would enjoy. But over the past twenty years, the Opera Roadshow has taken the genre out of the concert hall and into schools all over this province. Caroline Schiller is the director of the Opera Roadshow.

The Port au Port West group that's restoring the Our Lady of Mercy Church building wants you to help them win 50-thousand dollars to fix up the nearly 100-year-old structure. But hurry! You have until 9:30pm, Newfoundland time tonight to vote in the "Next Great Save" competition! (nextgreatsave.nationaltrustcanada.ca/2024) The church was, as of Monday morning, in first place in online voting, but it still needs your help. Joanne Rose is treasurer of the Our Lady of Mercy Complex Committee.

When Linda Earl of Stephenville needs help with groceries, snow removal, or even just some company, she turns to the Guardian Angels for support. She’s one of many seniors in Stephenville who live alone. The Guardian Angels is a non-profit volunteer group that helps them with their everyday needs. But, as any senior will tell you, their visits mean so much more. CBC’s Amy Feehan met up with the group on a recent Sunday outing.

A Grand Falls-Windsor shop that sells Indigenous-designed gifts will hold a collection drive in honour of Red Dress Day on Sunday. The special day of remembrance pays tribute to missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people. Sisters Gifts Newfoundland is holding a "Stuff The Truck" event to collect donations for Status of Women Central. CBC's Hillary Johnson spoke with Sisters Gifts Newfoundland co-owner Jennifer Kelly.

Delegates to The Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador Symposium Gander have been discussing the Municipal Conduct Act and the standard Municipal Code of Conduct. A listener wanted to know who investigates when municipal officials or staff are accused of breaching the codes. We put the question to Deatra Walsh, director of advocacy and communications with MNL.

A group in the Labrador Straits is tackling some big issues facing many rural towns: an aging population and the challenge of finding workers. This Sunday, the Southern Labrador Development Association is highlighting what the region has to offer, in a Spring Information Expo. John Groves is program officer for the Labrador Straits Welcoming Communities Strategy.

ICYMI from our Thursday show: An area of Central Newfoundland known as Charlie's Place is a step closer to getting the kind of protection some believe it should have. It's between the Northwest and Southwest Gander Rivers and has special significance to Indigenous people in the Glenwood and Gander Bay areas. Qalipu First Nation and the Nature Conservancy of Canada signed a memorandum of understanding to preserve Charlie's Place from industries such as mining and forestry. The CBC's Troy Turner spoke with Qalipu acting chief Jenny Brake and with Piers Evans, program director with the Nature Conservancy of Canada.

It's been a few years since the provincial government made some changes that require all short-term accommodation providers to register with the tourism department. The new law, passed in 2020, is the Tourism Accommodations Act. Four years later, about 22-hundred rentals are registered, with a final deadline set for June 30. Industry leaders have been asking for the changes for years. Deborah Bourden is chair of Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador,

Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador.is holding its annual Symposium in Gander. One of the presentations on this year's agenda looks at the money available to municipalities and the best ways for them to find it. Deatra Walsh is the director of advocacy and communications with MN

Prices seem to have gone up every time we go to a grocery store. In fact, recent analysis of household spending in Canada shows that, except for the Territories, people n this province pay more for food than anyone else in the country. The CBC's Leigh Anne Power compared four stores in Gander to see how prices differ from place to place. Then, she tried to figure out why there are differences in the first place.

Housing, economic development, climate resilience and more. Municipalities have a LOT to talk about and to do. Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador is holding its annual symposium in Gander. Amy Coady is the president of MNL

The family of a Stephenville man has endured a terrible week of waiting. Brian Lush is the trucker who's been missing in Ontario since last Wednesday. He was last seen at a gas station in Summerstown, in eastern Ontario. His transport truck and personal belongings were left behind. Craig Lush, his brother, was designated by his family to speak on their behalf. We reached Craig in west Africa, where he is working in the oil and gas industry.

One in four NL women suffers from anxiety and depression during the perinatal period. That's the time from when they become pregnant and sometimes up to a year after they give birth. The impact on their mental health and well-being can range from mild to serious. May 1is World Maternal Mental Health Day, and the Perinatal Mental Health Alliance of Newfoundland and Labrador is hosting a series of events. Archana Vidyasankar is the chair of the Alliance and a perinatal psychiatrist.

Sub-C Imaging of Clarenville has received nearly a half-million dollars in provincial money to help develop a new underwater inspection system. The company develops advanced underwater technology for the offshore and underwater markets, for remote vehicle operations in deep sea mining and marine research. Chad Collett is the CEO.

Two years ago, the town of Gander bought an abandoned Pentecostal Church building, planning to use it to benefit the community. A local group has made a proposal to convert it to affordable and transitional housing, with space to run assistance programs. Gander Mayor Percy Farwell says the project is ready to go, but the town is waiting for money from the province to pay for it. Fred Hutton, the provincial minister of housing spoke with the CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

Audio interviews that give us a glimpse of everyday life many years ago in Corner Brook and the Bay of Islands take us down Memory Lane - and now they're available online. Back in 1980, history students at what was then Sir Wilfred Grenfell College interviewed local seniors. Grenfell Campus, Memorial University recently posted the Bowater Oral History Collection on the web. Crystal Rose is with Libraries, Archives and Special Collections at Grenfell Campus.

The fight for change happens one step at a time. Roman Catholic Bishop Bart Van Roijen hopes his walk from York Harbour to Corner Brook will help in the call to action for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. On Monday, he completed the 42-kilometre journey, to show his support for peace. CBC's Amy Feehan met up with him for a bit of his walk.

The family of Brian Lush of Stephenville is still waiting for answers, nearly a week after he went missing. Lush is a commercial trucker who was last seen at a gas station in Summerstown, Ontario, where his truck was left behind. There's been no trace of him since. Bill Dickson is the media relations coordinator with the Ontario Provincial Police East Region.

Supporting people who experience disordered eating, and advocating for effective policies and programs. That's the mandate of the Eating Disorder Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador. They're continuing their work this week throughout Central Newfoundland. Paul Thomey, the Foundation's executive director spoke with Martin.in our Gander studio.

People in the Gander area on Tuesday can start to feel better - in body and mind, The Community Sector Council is holding a well-being fair to teach them how to be more active and to find mental health care. Participants will even be able to get a massage. Lindsey Hynes is the manager of community vitality and well-being with the CSC.

Many people in the province have a hard time getting basic medical care, and.women waiting for pap tests can be stuck in long lineups. But in central Newfoundland, "Health Hubs" that were set up in Gander and Grand Falls-Windsor for people without family doctors are trying to speed things along, Testing usually done at a family doctor's office is done at the hubs, and that's created a waiting list for such things as cervical screening. Dr. Lynette Powell, a primary care physician at the Grand Falls-Windsor health hub, She spoke to the CBC's Mark Quinn.

In a province known for its music and art, it's no surprise that we also boast a wide array of incredible performance arts venues. Laughing Heart Music has just announced a new platform that plans to curate these spaces into a single website. It's called NL Venues and it offers a fully searchable database for everything from intimate coffee houses, to historic theatres. Nigel Jenkins is with Laughing Heart Music.

Legendary Hockey Night in Canada play-by-play man Bob Cole passed away this week in St. John's at the age of 90. As we remember him, we've delved into our archives and came up with him answering our "21 Questions" quiz some years ago, with the CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

Newfoundland and Labrador has lots of great historic buildings, but it can be hard for locals to get money to fix them up. The ‘Next Great Save’ competition gives Canadians a chance to nominate the historical places in their communities for a chance to win up to 50-thousand dollars in restoration money. Our Lady of Mercy Complex in Port au Port West has made it to the finals of the competition. Joanne Rose is one of the members of the board of directors.

For years, supporters of aquaculture in this province have offered all kinds of arguments that salmon farm escapees don't hurt wild fish stocks. But this week, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has published a new report saying that's not the case...specifically on the Conne River. The report says there are definite links between wild salmon decline there and the growth of fish farms on the south coast. Bill Montevecchi is a seabird biologist, but developed an interest in salmon because that's some of what his birds eat. He spoke about the report with CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

Todd Clements from Happy Valley-Goose Bay is having his reality TV moment - as a contestant on Big Brother Canada. Todd might not seem like your average reality show contestant, He admits his voice is a l-i-i-i-t-le bit monotone, but "The Toddinator"—as he's sometimes known--is definitely the talk of the town in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Todd's still in the Big Brother Canada House, so we can't talk to him right now, but his mother, Theresa Clements, took our phone call.

The aviation industry in Canada took a big hit during the pandemic. With everyone in isolation, smaller airports such as those in NL saw flights grounded and routes cancelled. But the president of the Canadian Airports Council says things are getting back to normal. Monette Pasher gave a presentation in Deer Lake on Wednesday about the state of aviation in Canada.

Provincial and federal governments in Canada are taking a lot of heat from voters about the cost of living. People who struggle with rising monthly bills tend to blame those they elected. But the problem actually goes a lot higher, says Lana Payne, president of the country's largest private sector union.

Thousands of people on social media have recently watched a video that features part of central Newfoundland. A new cooking trend? Some sweet puppies? Nope, It's Reg Wright, president and chief executive officer of Gander International Airport Authority, offering a dose of common sense to dispel myths and rumours about how easy it is to run an airport. Turns out, it's not as easy as standing back and welcoming passengers.

George Thorne and his wife, Margaret, often kept pets in their house in Grand Falls-Windsor. Margaret passed away six years ago, and George had a pet Shih Tzu for a while to keep him company. But when that dog passed away, George went to the Exploits Valley SPCA and adopted a cat named Nelly! The CBC;s Martin Jones paid them a visit.

Parks Canada is warning drivers in Gros Morne National Park that more caribou than usual are walking together on the roads throughout the park this spring. Caribou often head toward the coast and highways in search of vegetation, but people are seeing them in bigger herds than in previous years along Route 430. The CBC's Hillary Johnson spoke with Parks Canada Ecologist Darroch Whitaker.

Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services have new mobile crisis response teams: in Stephenville, Bay St. George and Bay St. George South. Melissa Roberts is the regional director of mental health and addictions with the organization.

High school graduates in Corner Brook are getting more and more nervous as graduation season approaches. If dresses and suits don't fit, they'll need an altered reality - and quick. Cue the experts, Poonam and Rohit Yadav, who run the alteration service Jasmin Boutique. CBC's Amy Feehan stopped by to see how they're keeping up with this bustling time of year.

Mountain bikers in Stephenville are getting fed up with ATVs and dirt bikes destroying their trails. Nigel Pike is a member of the local mountain biking group who maintains some of the trails in the area, and he says vandalism happens way too often.

It was a harrowing start to the weekend in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. On Friday night, a former ceramics shop was on fire. That fire spread to a nearby former air traffic control tower as well as an aircraft hangar that was being used to store outdoor vehicles. The building was also being used to store liquid oxygen, which set off several explosions. About two dozen people in the North Side area of town were evacuated from their homes. Monica Legge spoke on Friday night to Labrador Morning's Heidi Atter.

Friday night was one of fear and worry for many residents of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, as a fire on the North Side of the town forced the evacuation of homes on several streets in the area. George Andrews is the mayor of the community.

This year's theme for Earth Day is Plastics versus the Planet. From microplastics showing up in our food, to giant plastic islands floating in the ocean, the petroleum by-product is everywhere. Martin spoke with Francesca Kerton, a chemistry professor at Memorial University.

Today is Earth Day, a time to reflect on our impact on the environment and consider ways to live more sustainably. Nancy Pearson of St. George's on the island's west coast of the Island is trying to clean up her community - one walk at a time. Every day, she goes for a walk and brings along a garbage bag to fill with all the litter and trash she sees along her way. Pearson has been doing this for years and started an Instagram account to document her travels and inspire others to do the same. The account, called "A Bag A Walk," now has over a thousand followers.

Team Canada; Olympics and Paralympics; athletes struggle to live and train on federal grants; Athletic Assistance Program; new money; Liberals announced an extra 35-million dollars over the next five years for elite athletes; Katarina Roxon of Kippens; hoping to make it to her fourth Paralympic Games; in Paris this summer;CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

Elks Canada has served across the country since 1912. They volunteer their time on their own projects and on those arranged by other people in their communities. This year, they've organized The NL Provincial Elks convention in Corner Brook. The two-day conference starts this evening, and the CBC's Hillary Johnson spoke with two members of Elks Canada.

There are 253 schools in the province, and the provincial government says more than half of them - 156 - have no school lunch program. In Tuesday's federal budget, the Liberal government confirmed it will spend a billion dollars in the next five years to feed more kids better food at school. Emily Doyle has a PhD in the study of Newfoundland and Labrador's school food program, and she has ideas about how that federal money should be put to work in this province. Doyle spoke with the CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

It’s a big day for Conne River. People in the community are rolling out the red carpet for the premiere of a new documentary called Forgotten Warriors, which makes its premiere in the community tonight. It takes a look at the hunger strike that happened in the 1980s against the provincial government and paved the way for a brighter future in Miawpukek. Chief Misel Joe led the nine-day protest. He and the CBC’s Jessica Singer were in the community for the big event.

When fewer and fewer young people were registering a few years for minor hockey, one of the reasons was the number of parents worried about concussions. Science has proven multiple hits to the head over time can lead to a brain condition called CTE. Those who suffer from it have many of the same symptoms as people with early-onset dementia. Scientist Adam Bartsch invented the "smart" mouthguard, which is now in use for all players in the World Rugby Association. He spoke with the CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

When Progressive Conservative Jim McKenna won the Fogo Island-Cape Freels by-election this week, it flipped a district that had been Liberal since it was created in 2015. McKenna took the district by more than a thousand votes over the Liberal candidate. He says important issues for rural voters, such as ferry service and the inshore fishery, have been ignored by the Furey government. To find out whether McKenna's election is a one-off, or could be an indication of more change to come, we reached political psychologist Amanda Bittner. at Memorial University.

If you think NL isn't able to provide enough of our own food in this province - you'd be wrong! That's according to a survey, conducted by the Community Food Producers Forum, on the topic of food production, It's called the "Where's The Food?" survey, and it looked at how much food is produced, and what types. Dan Rubin is the founding chair of the Community Food Producers Forum and one of the researchers behind the survey.

Young people who live outside of St. John's can find it hard to find the support they need. Many have to travel to the city to receive mental health care, housing support, and many other services that can be impossible to get in rural communities. Choices For Youth is a non-profit organization that gives young people access to those services as well as housing supports. The Newfoundland and Labrador government says 4.3 million dollars will fund the Choices for Youth hub project program. Jen Crowe is the senior director of strategy, fund development and external relations at Choices for Youth.

There's a new member of the House of Assembly this morning. A byelection was called for the district of Cape Freels-Fogo after the passing of MHA Derrick Bragg in January. Progressive Conservative candidate Jim McKenna was the winner.

In the last few years, we've heard a lot about measles outbreaks around the world. Anti-vaccine rhetoric is responsible for some of that, but some cases occur because people didn't get enough vaccine as children. Now health officials are seeing a rise in pertussis...whooping cough...cases. Dr. Janice Fitzgerald is the province's chief medical officer of health, and she spoke with CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

Students at Grenfell Campus, Memorial University in Corner Brook are still dealing with issues related to the cyberattack that happened in January of this year. Many students and professors have faced multiple problems with their internet connections and have had to find other ways to get by. Grenfell administration say they'll be offering a twenty-five dollar reimbursement for the internet service fee. Many students think this falls short. Grenfell Campus Student Union Academic Vice President Syed Saif Saedyei spoke with us.

The NL provincial government approved World Energy GH2's amended environmental assessment last week. That means the company's proposed mega project to produce hydrogen from wind energy generated on the Port au Port Peninsula and Codroy Valley will go ahead. But even after the company had done more work on that assessment, as the government demanded, some people were still concerned about the plans. Claudelle Devoe is a tourism operator in the Codroy Valley and a member of the citizen's group Codroy Valley United.

Crab harvesters have a deal for their catch this morning. The crab season was supposed to start last week, but boats have been tied up due to the dispute about prices. Late Sunday, a deal was announced between the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union and the Association of Seafood Producers. John Efford Jr. has had a lot to say in recent weeks about the dispute. He's taken a leadership role in this spring's protests, which is reminding a lot of people of his dad, former federal fisheries minister John Efford.

After a little more than a week's delay, the snow crab season in the province will begin. The Fish, Food & Allied Workers union announced last evening that it has reached a deal with the Association of Seafood Producers for this year's fishery. It happened just before fish harvesters were supposed to head back to Confederation Building in protest. Greg Pretty is the president of the FFAW.

NL's crab fishery was slated to start this past Saturday, but most harvesters across the province have kept their boats tied up at the wharf That's because they are demanding a better price than what they're being offered now The delay is having an impact on other people employed in the fishery, including plant workers. Craig Pardy is the Member of the House of Assembly for Bonavista and the opposition critic for fisheries.

The Grand Falls-Windsor community kitchen helps thousands of people every year. The group provides hot meals for people who can't afford groceries. They'll deliver firewood to people who need it and visit seniors who find it difficult to leave their homes. This week, all their hard work was undone when thieves broke in and stole the food they were planning to serve this month. Laurie Ballard is the community kitchen's executive director, and she spoke with the CBC's Troy Turner.

The Journey Project is touring NL with an exhibit of survivor-created photography. It's the third PhotoVoice project that includes images created by survivors of sexual violence and intimate partner violence from across the province. This year's collection is called TRANSFORMation: A Photo Journey. Ashley MacDonald is a legal navigator with The Journey Project and an organizer of the PhotoVoice project. Martin spoke with her at the Arts and Culture Centre in Grand Falls-Windsor.

44 years ago today, Terry Fox dipped his artificial leg into the Atlantic Ocean and started his Marathon of Hope in St. John's, to raise money and awareness for cancer research. On Thursday, students at C.C. Loughlin Elementary in Corner Brook had a special visitor - Terry's brother, Fred Fox - who told them all about the late hero.

The Vatican says gender-affirming surgery and surrogacy are serious violations of "human dignity" that reject God's plan for human life. That's part of its new 20-page doctrine called "Infinite Dignity," which it issued this week. Pope Francis approved the declaration last month and ordered it to be published. Gemma Hickey is the president of the global human rights organization, Ending Clergy Abuse.

NL's Housing Minister, Fred Hutton was at Vine Place Community Centre in Corner Brook on Wednesday to give details about the recent provincial budget announcement for housing. Over the next two years, the province will tear down and and rebuild 32 vacant homes in the city, while building an extra 18 units. CBC’s Amy Feehan was there and spoke with Mayor Jim Parsons and the Vine Place Community Centre’s Executive Director Mike Kearley about the housing project.

An apology is one thing, but now the NDP wants to see action. Last week, provincial Justice Minister John Hogan was in the spotlight for comments he made in March about the treatment of sexual assault survivors in the criminal justice system. Hogan had said it was "impossible" for lawyers to re-traumatize sexual assault victims in the courtroom. He was responding to a petition presented by New Democratic Party MHA Lela Evans, asking for changes in how lawyers interact with witnesses in sexual assault cases. Minister Hogan has since apologized for his comments and has acknowledged that aspects of the justice system – including lawyers' behavior – can cause additional harm to survivors. The NDP says it wants to see the Minister use his position to make changes to the system, and Evans spoke with us.

The provincial government has given the official go-ahead for the massive wind-to-electricity-to-hydrogen proposal for western Newfoundland, The plan includes the construction of more than 300 huge wind turbines, as tall as 200 metres each. We heard three perspectives. Provincial Environment Minister Bernard Davis (0:25 mark) delivered the news yesterday, releasing World Energy GH2 from further environmental assessment. John Risley (3:05), the chair of World Energy GH2 says the decision was necessary to solidify NL's position as a global leader in renewable green energy production. Then, Nick Mercer (3:28), an expert on renewable energy and an executive of Envirowatch NL, weighed in on the government's decision.

Canada has many attractions - hockey, friendly citizens, beautiful landscapes, moose and, of course, maple syrup. Not only is maple syrup a Canadian symbol, but the sap also has many uses. The time window for maple tree tapping can vary each year, but spring is the season to bust out the taps and buckets.Our outdoor columnist, Charlie White, took up tree-tapping last year and has all the tips for us in the latest edition of Chase the Seasons with Charlie.

The Change Islands Heritage Committee has been working hard for the past year and a half, providing programs, workshops, and events to local residents. The group was formed to keep the community's history and its traditional skills and knowledge alive. Paula Flood is Change Island's mayor and the heritage committee's co-founder and she spoke with the CBC's Hillary Johnson.

Going back to school to get your high school diploma can be a major life decision. Sure, it'll likely have an incredibly positive impact, but it's still a stressful choice. The Discovery Centre has been offering the Adult Basic Education (ABE) program in this province since 1993. Right now, they're hosting a Facebook Live series aimed at easing some of the anxieties of going back to school. Jennifer Murrin is an admissions officer with the Centre.

Meghan Allen is a recent ABE graduate, currently enrolled in the pharmacy tech program at Keyin College.

People from all over the province are heading to Gander to catch this evening's total eclipse of the sun. The town is right in the middle of the "path of totality" and was expected to have some of the best views of the event. In case the sky is clear enough for a good view, optometrist Sarah Hutchings explained how to watch the eclipse safely.

On Thursday's show, NL Justice Minister John Hogan said he’s sorry for comments he made last month, regarding how survivors of sexual assault are treated in the criminal justice system. At the time, he said it was “impossible” for lawyers to re-traumatize sexual assault survivors in the court system. Hogan walked that statement back yesterday, saying in part that he was drawing on his own time spent in courtrooms as a lawyer.

Former Crown Attorney Mike Murray spent 25 years as a lawyer with the crown, before retiring last year.

The Canadian Dental Care Plan is set to launch on May 1. The federal program is designed to ease financial barriers to people who want to get dental care. Anyone over the age of 70 can apply. Nicole Kielly is a dental hygienist who works independently in NL. She also volunteers with public outreach for the Newfoundland and Labrador Dental Hygienist Association.

In a couple of weeks, voters in Fogo Island-Cape Freels district will go to the polls in a byelection to replace the late Derrick Bragg. Sometime after that, Baie Verte-Green Bay electors will choose a successor to retired MHA Brian Warr. Running elections and byelections isn't cheap, so donors will play a big role in supporting the candidates. But in this province, there are no limits on corporate or union donations, and Democracy Watch says that's a problem. Duff Conacher is a director with the democracy watchdog.He spoke with the CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

Benoit First Nation was scheduled to unveil carved wooden statues of their founding mother and father, Desiree and Michael Benoit today. The celebration was planned for the Mi’kmaw Centre in Degrau. Chief Jasen Benwah of Benoit First Nation spoke with us.

A Newfoundland woman is not pleased with the lack of accommodations available for her pet rescue dog on a Marine Atlantic ferry in late March. Danielle Irvine of St. John's set out to drive to Montreal, and she took her mild-mannered, seventy-five-pound husky/retriever mix, Whylie Coyote, in the car. The dog had experienced a lot of trauma before Irvine adopted him. He is still overly anxious and needs medication to calm him on long drives. Their trip to the mainland hit a roadblock once they finally left Port Aux Basques on the ferry. Irvine spoke with CBC producer David Newell. We also spoke with Marine Atlantic spokesperson Darrell Mercer.

In music, a "transition" links one section of a song to another. In real life, most of us face lots of transitions, and "Transitions" is the title of musician Kellie Loder's latest album. Loder is touring in support of the new songs this month, and Bernice Hillier spoke with them earlier this week.

A provincial women's organization is raising concerns about comments by Justice Minister John Hogan in the House of Assembly on March 6. NDP MHA Lela Evans presented a petition that called for a review of the K-12 school curriculum, to address gaps in learning about consent and gender-based violence. Hogan responded by addressing concerns that lawyers in a trial can re-traumatize victims of sexual assault. He said, in part: "It's a very serious issue and the lawyers in this province are not retraumatizing sexual assault victims, whether it's a Crown or a legal aid or a private lawyer in this province. It's not the way it works. It's actually impossible for it to happen." We spoke with Paula Sheppard, executive director of the Corner Brook Status of Women Council and with Minister Hogan.

It's a unique opportunity for a Hong Kong-based artist to immerse themselves in the life, culture and art of Fogo Island. Its called The Fog and Mist Residency and is the brainchild of Fogo Island Arts, The Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto and Para Site, a contemporary art centre in Hong Kong. Kitty Scott is the curator and strategic advisor for Fogo Islands Arts.

A Newfoundland seniors support organization is feeling disappointed and somewhat confused in the wake of the provincial budget. Budget 2024 touts "unprecedented measures to support the health and well-being of seniors" There's a ten million dollar Seniors' Well-Being Plan as one cornerstone, but Mohamed Abdallah of Connections for Seniors there's been little information about it from government.

A building in Corner Brook that has a fair bit of history will likely get a new look in the near future. The old City TV repair shop on Old Humber Road is up for sale. It's a structure that's been vacant for decades, and has been a reminder of a bygone era, as the old "City TV Service" sign remained in the window for many years. Wayne Park is the realtor for the property.

Christina Perry is speaking out about the terrifying experience of being caught in a landslide this week. She was driving along Riverside Drive in Corner Brook just before midnight on Tuesday. Without warning, rocks and mud violently surged across the road, propelling the truck ahead of Perry into the Humber River.

On Monday, April 8th one of the rarest events in our natural world will happen - and much of this province will have a front-row seat for the show. That's because at around 5 pm that day, there will be a total solar eclipse. It's something that we won't get a chance to see for another 50 years. Hilding Neilson is assistant professor in the department of physics and physical oceanography at Memorial University. Kathryn White is the Special Projects Coordinator for the Harris Centre at Grenfell Campus of Memorial.

If you want to witness some top-tier hockey talent, Corner Brook is one place to do that this coming weekend. The Under-18 triple-A female Atlantic Championship is taking place. The tournament features players at the highest level of minor hockey from across Atlantic Canada. For organizers, this event has been a long time coming.

City crews and emergency personnel are still monitoring the scene of a landslide overnight that led to a dramatic rescue. The landslide on Riverside Drive impacted some vehicles. Todd Flynn is director of protective services.

He served his time, but because of the nature of Matthew O'Quinn's violent crimes against women he is supposed to be following a strict set of conditions after his prison release. That's not happening. So he's back in jail, once again arrested for breaking the rules of his release. How does this keep happening in a system set up to protect the public? CBC's Cherie Wheeler has been digging into the O'Quinn case.

A woman in western Newfoundland says she's just thankful to still be here, after the ground literally shifted under her feet a few days ago. Crystal MacDonald was inside the house she was renting in Lark Harbour when Friday's rainstorm led to a landslide that knocked the house off its foundation. MacDonald, her partner Mike Childs, and her 3-year-old daughter had only moved into the house about a month ago. MacDonald was in the house when the landslide happened.

People from this province are usually proud to be from here. And there was a time when most people considered themselves Newfoundlanders and Labradorians first, and Canadians second. That's something that Shannon Conway knows a lot about. Partly because she's a Newfoundlander herself, but also in her role with the Gorsebrook Research Institute for Atlantic Canadian Studies. 

A lot of people in this province don’t remember a time before confederation, and that is especially true for the children of Newfoundland and Labrador. But what do some of the youngest people of our province know about confederation and how do they feel about being Canadian? CBC’s Amy Feehan headed over to Pasadena Place to get some answers. 

Monday is the 75th anniversary of confederation, a pivotal moment in the history of Newfoundland. It took a lot of work to get to, whether you agreed with it or not! In the year leading up to confederation, delegates from Newfoundland and Canada spent months negotiating the terms under which the two countries would unite. In the end, they agreed on fifty Terms of Union. Some became obsolete within the decade, but a few are still influencing society today. So, on the platinum anniversary of Confederation with Canada, reporter Leigh Anne Power takes a look back at the terms and their relevance.

There are a lot of different, and sometimes complicated, views around confederation. There's no doubt that Newfoundland and Labrador gained a lot by joining Canada but for many, there were things lost, too. The multi-disciplinary group Opera on the Avalon has spent the last two years looking at Confederation from all angles. It's created a moving project called 75 x 75 which kicked off this weekend. Cheryl Hickman is the general and artistic director.

Joey Smallwood's hope that no one would doubt the success of Confederation in the future. But, 75 years later, that's not the consensus. For Mi'kmaw and other Indigenous people in this province, the Terms of Union between Newfoundland and Canada did not mention them at all. That's in spite of the fact that census data from as early as 1921 show that there were people on the island who identified as Mi'kmaw. Calvin White is a Mi'kmaw elder in Flat Bay. He was 6 years old at the time of Confederation, and has helped lead the struggle of Newfoundland Mi'kmaw to seek recognition as an adult.

For the past 72 years, adult theatre companies in Newfoundland and Labrador have gathered for a competitive drama festival. This year, seven groups — from Labrador West to St. John's — will converge in Gander during Easter week for the Annual Provincial Drama Festival. CBC's Hillary Johnson spoke with husband-and-wife duo Randy and Lynn Sooley. Lynn is the president of Gander's theatre group, Avion Players, and Randy is the co-chair of this year's event.

The Wreckhouse area of the TCH has seen its share of high winds already this year. At least two tractor trailers have blown over there just this month. Last week, Frank Aucoin, a Codroy Valley senior, told us there should be a barricade at peak wind gusts to stop traffic until winds die down. We spoke with Stan Reid and Curtis Cutler, commercial truckers whose travels take them through the Wreckhouse.

Some people consider themselves dog or cat people, while others love smaller furry friends. Sarah Hedges of Grand Falls-Windsor has been running Central Small Animal Rescue out of her home for nearly five years. Unfortunately, she had to make the hard decision to close temporarily, due to high costs and lack of space. Hedges spoke with Newfoundland Morning's Amy Feehan.

Colorectal cancer - you might think of it as an older person's disease, but it's not: More than 24 thousand Canadians will be diagnosed with the disease this year, and it's the second deadliest cancer in Canada. This is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and Kay Short has a story to tell about battling colorectal cancer. She's known to most people in Corner Brook as "Dean Catherine," from the Anglican cathedral there, and she spoke with Bernice Hillier.