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After serving breakfast to the Thorold community for 30 years Cosmo’s Diner on Front Street has closed its doors Owner Karen Brookes has made the difficult decision to step away after she was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer But the local restaurant is certainly going out with a bang as it is featured on the new Crave TV show ‘Drag Brunch Saved My Life’ Canada's Drag Race Season 1 winner Priyanka hits up small town brunch spots across Canada and reinvigorates them with a healthy dose of drag “We filmed in August,” Brookes tells ThoroldToday “I didn't know that I had cancer at that point It's just weird how it worked out that way It's been such a hard journey for restaurants these last five years I've had 30 years of amazing things that have happened.” Brookes says that she connected with the show's production team over social media and after a lengthy back-and-forth Priyanka and her team came down to host a drag brunch at the diner “The experience was incredible,” says Brookes "I think we filmed on and off over two weeks because there was a renovation in the middle It was such a healing experience for myself Brookes opens up about her recent trials and tribulations her husband left, so she had to continue running the restaurant on her own Priyanka brings in local talent to host a drag brunch at the restaurant One of the local queens featured is Claudia Silva who is the alter ego of Pride Niagara chair Enzo De Divitiis.  “It was kind of like a full circle moment just seeing something like that happen here,” De Divitiis tells ThoroldToday “Just to see them scout out Thorold and such a favourite like Cosmo’s Diner and to say ‘We want to do something here and create something here’ was a very rewarding moment.” De Divitiis hopes that the show is the start of many more drag events in Thorold on top of the drag nights he's already hosting at the Moose and Goose each month “I think there's tons of opportunities,” he says “Thorold is such a melting pot of communities and different ages and cultures — it’s a very supportive community Another highlight of the show is Brookes' daughter Noura who waits tables at Cosmo’s Diner “She started working at the restaurant trying to get over her social anxiety,” says Brookes “I snuck in on one of her scenes and I was blown away at how well spoken she was Brookes was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer which is why she had to close the restaurant down “I'm not reopening,” she says “I have a very aggressive form of cancer we’re at the very beginning of chemo with the hopes that we can shrink this tumour down so I can get an operation There is no way that I can reopen based on my physical health at this moment.” the show came at the perfect time to celebrate everything Brookes has built in the last 30 years “I've been so fortunate,” Brookes says “All of these decades to have been part of the Niagara community I think that weirdly and most lovely this show came along and that was my final chapter to Cosmo's It’s just a real nod to how amazing it has been owning this restaurant It was really kind of like the perfect goodbye in a sense.” Brookes is hopeful Cosmo's Diner will be able to carry on in a different kind of capacity in the future “We all need that sense of community and support and connection,” she says “That's why I think Cosmo’s isn't really ever going to close because I think we're all going to have that sense of community in a different way.” To help Brookes and her family stay afloat while she battles cancer, a GoFundMe has been set up.  Cosmo’s Diner is featured on episode 3 of Drag Brunch Saved My Life Catharines/Thorold) uniform officers initially responded and the investigation was later assigned to detectives The preliminary investigation revealed that the physical wellness and rehabilitation facility had received information that adult females were being surreptitiously video recorded inside the business while in various stages of undress Detectives authored and executed multiple search warrants to gather evidence from social media platforms and internet service providers The suspect had been working as an independent contractor at the facility serving as both a personal trainer and manual osteopath was arrested and charged with the following Criminal Code offences: Jackson was released on a Form 10 Undertaking with a future court date including forensic analysis of Jackson’s seized electronic devices detectives identified two additional victims Jackson was arrested again and charged with the following additional Criminal Code offences: Jackson was held in custody for a video bail hearing at the Robert S.K The Niagara Regional Police Service recognizes that this investigation may have a significant impact on both the victims and the community We remain committed to supporting all affected individuals with compassion sensitivity and respect as the investigation continues Detectives continue to examine the contents of seized devices and believe that there may be more victims.  Detectives believe that Jackson was/is also working independently in the same capacity outside of his contracted position at the physical wellness and rehabilitation facility The physical wellness and rehabilitation facility has been fully co-operative throughout the investigation Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact investigators at 905-688-4111 Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477.  Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information which leads to an arrest IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: A version of article was originally published by ThoroldToday on April 22 The Thorold Anchors are gearing up for another summer of baseball the team will play their first home game of the season at McMillan Park “Our goal for the season is always the same,” team manager Aaron McInnis tells ThoroldToday “It's to chase down some championships for the City of Thorold and to put up a good showing.” The team has already been training since early February “It’s going well,” says McInnis “We have five new players on the roster We lost a few guys to injury and we lost a few guys to retirement so it’s a pretty big turnover We’ve been giving the guys the time to get to know each other and gel I think we’re in a good place to start the season.” Last year also saw some turnover on the team “It came with some growing pains because we've had some younger ballplayers that haven't really been through a lot,” McInnis says “You can't really put a price on experience In spite of their lack of experience, the Thorold Anchors still did their home town proud last summer “We had a winning record at home in front of our fans,” he says “We’re looking to take that show on the road this year a little bit more in the regular season.” What’s special this year is that the team will be putting on a Canada Day game at McMillan Park “The city was gracious enough to allow us to play in the park on our regular Tuesday even though it’s Canada Day,” says McInnis “We’re going to invite all the kids from Thorold Minor Baseball since everyone is off for the day We’re going to have an afternoon Canada Day gig.” the team is looking forward to once again hosting the OBA Championship Any Thorold resident looking for some quality baseball should head down to McMillan Park this summer “Come out and support your team,” says McInnis “We like being Thorold’s team and that’s important to us.” The Thorold Anchors will kick off their season on Friday May 16 with an away game at George Taylor Field in St Catharines against the Merriton Alliance.  The first home game of the season will take place on Tuesday when the Anchors will take on the Niagara Falls Expos For more information on this season’s schedule, head to the team’s website.  The report showcases Niagara Transit’s achievements in the areas of service excellence Niagara Transit is finalizing it’s first Facilities This plan will recommend an optimal service strategy tailored to meet the specific needs of the Niagara community Niagara Transit will implement a new flat fare of $3.50 per trip across Niagara and introduce the Niagara Transit Benefit pass for individuals that are receiving Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) To read the full report, please visit https://nrtransit.ca/about-niagara-transit/generalmanagers-2024-annual-report/ “The 2024 Annual Report is a reflection of the great work done by our staff in our second year of operation," said Carla Stout dedication and teamwork I see on a daily basis that is creating a truly interconnected Niagara and I am excited about the opportunities we have to improve even further 2025 I am confident we will continue to deliver an effective efficient service for Niagara residents.” Various organizations played a key role in making the Easter event a success. The Thorold Public Library took charge of the check-in desk and also set up a colouring space for the colouring contest along with a delightful story walk for the children. Additionally the Thorold Centre 50+ provided free hot beverages for both children and adults and even a visit from the Easter Bunny. Kidz Who Can added to the fun with a table where children could decode jokes adding an extra element of excitement to the day Thorold Fire Department and Niagara Regional joined in the fun by holding a mini touch-a-truck in the parking lot of the Thorold Community Credit Union. Thorold Community Credit Union partnered with us to where giant games for kids of all ages to enjoy From free candy and treats (that had to be hunted for by finding balloons outside participating local businesses) the event had something for everyone to enjoy. The atmosphere was filled with joy and laughter as families came together to participate in the various activities planned for the day.  Kids and adults alike making the event even more special for all attendees Thanks to a group of Niagara College students Angie O’H Antiques on Front Street is no longer Thorold's best kept secret The antique shop and its owner Angie Coates are the subject of a new documentary short film made by students of the college's Film Studies program “How I discovered her shop is kind of funny,” the documentary’s director Olivia Sjoblad tells ThoroldToday “It was the day before we had to pitch our documentaries to our class and I was kind of running out of ideas me and some of my friends were in Thorold and we entered her shop and that was how it started.” Sjoblad says she immediately felt a connection to Coates “She wanted to know more about me and about everyone that I was with,’ Sjoblad says “It felt so personal and she told me a little bit about her story and I just thought it was so captivating.” Sjoblad took the idea for the documentary to her class and soon enough production commenced but filming in the little antique shop wasn't always easy “The most difficult part was definitely setting up how we were going to shoot it,” says Sjoblad “It's such a small shop and we were so worried about knocking something over but we really wanted to utilize the space.” “I didn't know anything about filming,” Coates tells ThoroldToday “They were just absolutely wonderful One of the photographers was actually on the ground underneath a desk filming Coates shares how she was a nurse for 40 years before starting the antique shop “I planned this for seven years before I retired,” Coates says “I had a booth at the [Roadshow's 400 Antiques Mall in Innisfil] And I would take my 80 year old mother up there with me every weekend and do my booth I knew what I wanted to do and it worked out great.“ The documentary also highlights Coates faithful assistant Jeffrey Robert Clark who helps her out with the day-to-day operation of the shop In the 11 years that the shop has been open 19,314 people have walked through the door Coates keeps meticulous track of everyone who comes in as it is a chance for her to connect and hear people’s stories “I can tell how passionate she is about this,” says Sjoblad “It makes me so happy to see somebody who was able to do something like nursing — which is incredible — and then to do a 180° ‘I’m going to open up an antique shop and I'm going to try and touch people in this way.’” it took Sjoblad two to three weeks to edit the footage together “We did a screening of our documentary and we got really And a lot of people were serious about the shop and wanted to check it out It was such a fantastic feeling knowing that we did a documentary on someone that was so special and who deserved it more than anybody.” The appreciation has not gone unnoticed by Coates “I've heard from all of them that because they were just so enthralled with my shop,” she says You can watch the documentary short below: As the Thorold Museum has been slowly but surely building a catalogue of their extensive collection they are sharing some of their finds with ThoroldToday Descriptions of the items are courtesy of the museum's coordinator Emily Fulton Is there anything better than a band of 1920's clowns How about a local band of 1920's clowns from Thorold their costumes and face paint would have been full of colour to the delight of onlookers Thorold schools raised money to buy a plane mounted machine gun/ball turret for the war effort as well as the plaque honouring the donation from the schools Though it may seem odd from a modern perspective for elementary and secondary schools to purchase a plane mounted machine gun during world war two everyone pitched in where they could Eligible students went off to fight on the front lines and those who stayed where very much still involved in the war effort This was part of a "buy a plane" fund through the Royal Canadian Air Force This letter is written by Douglas Mill Jemmet between 1902 and 1904 when he would have been about 13 years old The letter talks about his great volume of homework which had gotten in the way of his letter writing to his aunt and complains of the "terrible face" his brother Bruce is making in a mask given by his father (possibly a clown mask). Douglas would go on to graduate and teach at Queens University as a Professor of Electrical Engineering and he would head that department between 1924 and 1960 This letter is part of a series of letters written to his aunt that shed light into childhood in Canada during the turn of the century from the perspective of children themselves The museum is in the process of digitizing the letters and making them available on their website Nicholas Adamson was last seen in the early morning hours on March 17 by the Moose & Goose in downtown Thorold police said DNA from remains found in Hamilton late last year have been positively identified as those of the St Both Niagara and Hamilton police services say foul play is not suspected in the death of the 29-year-old last seen at the Moose & Goose in Thorold early March 17 Human remains discovered late last year in Hamilton have been identified as those of a 29-year-old St Catharines man who disappeared more than three years ago Nicholas Adamson was last seen early March 17 A missing person investigation has been ongoing since then with Niagara Regional Police releasing updates every year on the anniversary of the date Adamson went missing police in Hamilton were called after human remains were found near Hamilton Harbour Police submitted DNA from the remains to the RCMP’s National DNS Data Bank Niagara police received notification from the RCMP National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains that the DNA sample had been positively identified as belonging to Adamson The NRP in a release issued Wednesday said its missing person report has now been closed and that the Hamilton police investigation also concluded with foul play not being suspected Niagara police offered condolences to Adamson’s family and loved ones Jennifer Adamson has refused to believe her son had disappeared as a result of “misadventure,” as police detectives told her was a possibility She had last heard from her son in a phone call just before 2 a.m but we’re very sad and heartbroken and it’s difficult because you just don’t know we have no answers and we don’t know what to do anymore,” she said in an interview on the third anniversary of his disappearance Please Bring Me Home an Owen Sound-based not-for-profit organization specializing in missing persons cases had also been investigating for the past three years Police on Wednesday thanked members of the public and media for their assistance throughout the investigation Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account The Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) missing person investigation for Nicholas ADAMSON (29 years) of St Catharines remains open and ongoing by 1 District (St Today marks three years since he went missing Nicholas was last seen in the early morning hours of Thursday March 17th on foot in the area of the Moose & Goose located at 54 Paul De Divitis Sr Anyone with information as to his whereabouts is being asked to contact the NRPS at 905-688-4111 Serving and Protecting the Regional Municipality of Niagara Designed by eSolutions Headquarters 5700 Valley Way Niagara Falls, ON L2E 1X8, T: (905) 688-4111 Top the action inside the Meridian Community Centre on a recent weekend was all about the cats 109 felines representing 28 breeds were on the floor at the Accipiter Arena and were judged on how they stacked up against the written standard for their breed as a part of the Border Purrtrol Cat Club’s show and competition The event also featured a category for household pets Border Purrtrol member Brenda Frame of Fonthill was there with Krakken “He just got first place in his first ring so we're pretty happy about him today,” Frame said Lykoi is a relatively new breed that was first discovered about 20 years ago in both Tennessee and Kentucky with its name derived from Lykos Lykoi cats have also been found in Russia and Krakken is a descendant of that line The lack of some facial hair is the result of a gene mutation in otherwise healthy felines first recognized the breed three years ago which is the dilute of black,” Frame said.” a two-year Himalayan who is a regular on the show circuit was getting some pets from cat fanciers who’d turned out for the show “He loves that,” said owner Heather Shimlar said And it was people like Kathy Balmer who could determine that cats like Bentley would be a champion once again “Every breed has a written standard with point values for each feature “she said as she examined a Balinese named Tartan Terror “We have to memorize all those standards Cats are awarded ribbons in several categories “Every cat that gets a ribbon on their page has got more than 97 points,” she said best champion and best grand champion.” said it was the third time Border Purrtrol has held the show in Pelham in its four years of existence after running the inaugural event in St The two-day event also featured vendors selling all kinds of products for cats or cat-related items such as clothing for their human servants the remains of Nicholas Adamson have been found Catharines was last seen in the early morning hours of Thursday on foot in the area of the Moose & Goose For the past three years, the missing person investigation has been open with the Adamson family doing all they can to locate him the Hamilton Police Service were called to a found human remains report near Hamilton Harbour DNA from the remains were submitted to the RCMP National DNA Data Bank the Niagara Regional Police Service received a DNA hit notification from the RCMP National Center for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains positively identifying the Hamilton remains as Nicholas Adamson The missing person investigation will now be closed and foul play is not suspected The Hamilton Police Service investigation into the found human remains has also been closed with no foul play suspected "The NRPS extends its deepest condolences to the Adamson family and loved ones during this very difficult time," writes local police "We would like to thank members of the public for their ongoing assistance and cooperation throughout this investigation." WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve will likely keep its key short-term interest rate unchanged on Wednesday, despite weeks of harsh criticism and demands from President Donald Trump that the Fed reduce borrowing costs After causing a sharp drop in financial markets two weeks ago by saying he could fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell, Trump subsequently backed off and said he had no intention of doing so he and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have said the Fed should cut rates They argue that inflation has steadily cooled and high borrowing costs are no longer needed to restrain price increases The Fed sharply ramped up its short-term rate in 2022 and 2023 as pandemic-era inflation spiked Separately, Elon Musk, the head of Trump's Department of Government Efficiency last Wednesday suggested that DOGE should look more closely at the Fed's spending on its facilities The heightened scrutiny shows that even as the Trump administration backs off its threats to fire Powell the Fed is still subject to unusually sharp political pressures despite its status as an independent agency Even so, the Fed will almost certainly leave its key rate unchanged at about 4.3% when it meets Tuesday and Wednesday. Powell and many of the other 18 officials that sit on the Fed's rate-setting committee have said they want to see how Trump's tariffs affect the economy before making any moves Trump, however, on Friday said on the social media platform Truth Social that there is “NO INFLATION” and claimed that grocery and egg prices have fallen and that gas has dropped to $1.98 a gallon That's not entirely true: Grocery prices have jumped 0.5% in two of the past three months and are up 2.4% from a year ago Gas and oil prices have declined — gas costs are down 10% from a year ago — continuing a longer-running trend that has continued in part because of fears the economy will weaken AAA says gas prices nationwide average $3.18 a gallon Inflation did drop noticeably in March though in the first three months of the year it was 3.6% economists say it's possible the Fed would soon reduce its benchmark rate because it is currently at a level intended to slow borrowing and spending and cool inflation Yet the Fed can't now cut rates with Trump's broad tariffs likely to raise prices in the coming months said that the Fed is “scarred” by what happened in 2021 when prices rose amid supply snarls and Powell and other Fed officials said the increase would likely be “transitory.” Instead inflation soared to a peak of 9.1% in June 2022 “That’s a Fed that is going to have to wait for evidence and be slow to adjust on that evidence,” Reinhart said Plus, Trump's badgering of Powell makes it harder for the Fed chair to cut rates because doing so anytime soon would be seen as knuckling under to the White House “You could imagine a world where there isn’t pressure from the Trump administration and they cut rates .. because they feel comfortable making the argument that they're doing so because of the data,” he said For his part, Powell said last month that tariffs would likely push up inflation and slow the economy The central bank would typically raise rates — or at least keep them elevated — to fight inflation while it would cut them to spur the economy if unemployment rose Powell has said that the impact of the tariffs on inflation could be temporary — a one-time price increase — but most recently said it “could also be more persistent.” That suggests that Powell will want to wait to ensure tariffs don't sustainably raise inflation before considering a rate cut Some economists forecast the Fed won't cut rates until its September meeting Yet Fed officials could move sooner if the tariffs hit the economy hard enough to cause layoffs and push up unemployment. Wall Street investors appear to expect such an outcome — they project that the first cut will occur in July, according to futures pricing Musk criticized the Fed Wednesday for spending $2.5 billion on an extensive renovation of two of its buildings in Washington we should certainly look to see if indeed the Federal Reserve is spending $2.5 billion on their interior designer,” Musk said Fed officials acknowledge that the cost of the renovations have risen as prices for building materials and labor have spiked amid the post-pandemic inflation say that local regulations forced the Fed to do more of the expansion underground a former Fed governor and a potential candidate to replace Powell as chair when Powell's term expires next year said recently that the Fed has attracted greater scrutiny because of its failure to keep prices in check “The Fed's current wounds are largely self-inflicted,” he said in a speech during an International Monetary Fund conference in late April in which he also slammed the Fed for participating in a global forum on climate change “A strategic reset is necessary to mitigate losses of credibility worse economic outcomes for our fellow citizens.” said last month that “Fed independence is very widely understood and supported in Washington Check out Village Report - the news that matters most to Canada, updated throughout the day.  Or, subscribe to Village Report's free daily newsletter: a compilation of the news you need to know Subscribe A woman told the sexual assault trial of five hockey players Monday that she felt "numb and on autopilot" going through sexual acts with a group of men she didn't know in a hotel room seven years ago whose identity is protected by a publication ban drunk and scared when men started coming into the hotel room where she had just had sex with Michael McLeod Some of them seemed like those she saw at the bar where she met McLeod earlier that night but she didn't know their names or keep track of who stayed and left as the night went on The men wanted her to lie down on a bedsheet on the floor of the room and seemed to be laughing at her as they discussed sexual acts they wanted her to perform including some involving golf balls and golf clubs She described feeling as though she was watching everything happen from outside her own body "I felt like I didn't really have any other option," she said explaining she didn't know how they would react if she tried to say no or leave "It seemed like the only safe thing to do was to give them what they were wanting." Dillon Dube and Callan Foote have all pleaded not guilty to sexual assault McLeod has also pleaded not guilty to an additional charge of being a party to the offence of sexual assault All five were members of Canada's 2018 world junior hockey team Court has heard many of the team's members were in London the night of the encounter for a gala celebrating their gold-medal win at that year's championship CAUTION: The following paragraphs contain graphic content some readers may find disturbing The woman said men towered over her as she lay on the sheet and three pulled down their pants "They just started putting penises in my face," she testified Some shouted commands as she performed oral sex and a fourth man did the splits right over her head The woman said she heard some of the men encouraging each other saying one of them should have sex with her It felt like she didn't have control over the situation She said she cried and tried to leave at various points She didn't see McLeod much after their initial one-on-one encounter adding he briefly left and came back with food the woman testified that she had oral sex with McLeod again and multiple people slapped her while that was happening It seemed like they were trying to hit as hard as they could The woman was shown two cellphone videos taken about an hour apart in the early morning of June 19 Prosecutors have said both were taken by McLeod someone asks the woman twice if she's "OK with this," and she agrees both times She testified Monday that her words in the video did not reflect her feelings at the time that she was "going along" with what she was being told the woman smiles as she holds a towel against her body and says it was "all consensual." The woman told the court Monday that McLeod had been "hounding" her to say it before the recording was made and it "definitely wasn't" how she truly felt She testified that she believed she was holding a towel because she had gotten in the shower with McLeod at his request They'd had vaginal and oral sex again in the bathroom one last thing she felt she needed to do before she could leave her mind seemed to re-enter her body and the emotions she'd been blocking came flooding back "crying uncontrollably," feeling ashamed and wishing she had responded differently in the moment She took an Uber home and showered when she arrived McLeod later reached out to her on Instagram McLeod expressed concern that the woman had spoken to police and asked her what she could do to "make this go away." The woman replied that she was "not trying to push this any farther" and apologized for "any trouble it might have already caused." McLeod checked in a few more times to see if she had spoken to police again He thanked the woman when she confirmed she told police it was "a mistake." The woman testified Monday she felt nervous and scared when McLeod reached out to her and was telling him what he wanted to hear so he would leave her alone One of McLeod's lawyers suggested during cross-examination that the woman was happy to hear from his client adding she could have blocked him or not answered if that wasn't the case David Humphrey also suggested the woman was upset when she left the room because she had cheated on her boyfriend and felt guilty The woman maintained that she felt worried after McLeod contacted her She agreed that she felt guilty for cheating on her boyfriend but said she told him what happened in the days that followed Ontario Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia told jurors Monday that they could only make limited use of evidence related to the woman's initial encounter with McLeod She told them they must not infer that if the woman willingly left the bar with McLeod and had consensual sex with him it is more likely that she consented to other sexual activity or she is less worthy of belief Hart and Dube are accused of obtaining oral sex from the woman without her consent and Dube is also accused of slapping her buttocks while she was engaged in a sexual act with someone else Formenton is alleged to have had vaginal sex with the complainant without her consent inside the bathroom Foote is alleged to have done the splits over her face and grazed his genitals on it without her consent The Crown alleges McLeod also vaginally penetrated her without her consent at the end of the night This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 5 New data from the Public Health Agency of Canada reveals a troubling rise in cardiovascular disease across Canada an estimated 120,000 Canadians will be diagnosed with heart failure More than 800,000 (827,560) people (aged 40 years and older) live with heart failure in the country Heart failure touches 1 in 3 people in Canada either because they have it themselves or because it affects a family member or close friend; yet just as many Canadians do not know that heart failure is on the rise President of the Canadian Heart Failure Society emphasized the significance of National Heart Failure Awareness Week “While we’ve made tremendous progress in preventing the rise in heart failure cases highlights the urgent need for continued awareness we remain committed to informing Canadians about the warning signs of heart disease to help save lives.” CHFS has partnered with the Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) Canadian Council of Cardiovascular Nurses (CCCN) Canadian Association of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (CACPR) HeartLife Foundation and Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research to provide toolkits and helpful resources for the general public for healthcare providers and for people living with heart failure Todd Murray of Brantford was an active sports referee and school teacher until 2020 he began experiencing shortness of breath and anxiety A friend noticed something was wrong during a bike ride but doctors initially dismissed his concerns After persistent issues and a medical leave heart scans finally revealed his diagnosis of heart failure Todd Murray is urging Canadians to take heart failure detection seriously: “Canadians need to recognize the warning signs and potential risks It’s never too early to seek medical attention.” With the theme "It Is Not Normal To Be Breathless," the primary goal of the 2025 Heart Failure Awareness Week is to raise awareness and provide a better understanding of this chronic condition and other cities across Canada will be lighting up landmarks in red in honor of the awareness week TORONTO — New research that analyzes emergency department visits during Ontario's unprecedented 2023 wildfire season suggests public-health messaging such as air quality advisories and ensuring people have their medication can help asthma sufferers avoid trips to the hospital "There was a substantial increase in asthma-related ER visits in the first episode in early June which was largely absent in the second episode that occurred near the end of that month," said Hong Chen lead author of the study published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal Although more research is needed to determine why there were fewer asthma visits during the later wave of wildfire smoke the authors believe public awareness during the first wave led people to take measures to protect themselves and their children Those protective measures could have included staying indoors using air cleaners and having asthma medications ready who is a research scientist at health data organization ICES The researchers analyzed Ontario emergency department records from April 1 to July 31 2023 — a period starting eight weeks before the first episode of heavy wildfire smoke in early June to four weeks after the second episode in late June That was the worst wildfire season the province had ever experienced They found asthma-related ER visits increased between 11 per cent to 24 per cent per day during and after the first wave of smoke They did not find any increases during the second wave of smoke a few weeks later The researchers used ER visits for anything that wasn't respiratory or heart-related as a control outcome over the study time period Chen said the results show that people can take measures to protect themselves from wildfire smoke "The scale of the wildfires such as we observed in the year 2023 will likely happen in the future," he said People need to protect themselves and their children even in seasons when the wildfire smoke isn't as intense "No level of exposure to wildfire smoke is completely safe So that means that we really need to do everything we can to limit exposure," he said has two children with asthma and also has it herself She remembers frightening trips to the hospital due to wildfire smoke during the summer of 2023 "Our normal medication that we would take just wasn't doing it anymore," she said "My kids both have actually been on high flow oxygen and just seeing that and thinking what's the next steps if this would continue to get worse you just hope and pray that it doesn't get worse." was the worst-affected and had to stay inside for much of that summer missing favourite activities such as swimming and camping Peyton controls her asthma with three inhalers a pill every morning and a monthly injection from an allergist The family also has air purifiers throughout the house DeVries and both kids usually have the hardest time with their asthma during spring and fall because of allergies but wildfire smoke means summer can now be a risky time too The CMAJ study comes as wildfire season has already begun in British Columbia and dealing with poor air quality has unfortunately become a new normal the scientific director of environmental health services at the BC Centre for Disease Control "What we consistently see is that wildfire smoke has a bigger effect on acute respiratory outcomes than other types of air pollution," said Henderson who wrote a commentary accompanying the study in the CMAJ Wildfire smoke is different in several ways from other sources of pollution "When it comes to the particles in wildfire smoke they're far more complex than the particles from those other sources the types of fuels that are burning matter The meteorological conditions at the time of the fire matter," Henderson said wildfires also can't be controlled at the source through regulations But action from governments and other "top-down" measures are critical to controlling the effect of the smoke pollution by improving air quality rather than just leaving it up to individuals to protect themselves with masks "Your ability to take individual measures is often going to be tied to your socioeconomic status It's just not an equitable way to try to protect people from this exposure that we know is going to keep happening for the decades ahead," she said Canada needs to set an "indoor air quality standard," she said mandating buildings to keep the concentrations of particulate matter that is small enough to get deep into people's lungs at concentrations below a certain level through air filtration Legislation to protect outdoor workers from poor air quality is also needed Asthma Canada offers advice on how people with the condition can stay safe during wildfire season at https://asthma.ca/wildfires/ wear a well-fitting N-95 mask and keep your reliever inhaler (usually blue) with you -Use high-efficiency (HEPA) air purifiers inside your home use the recirculation setting so you're not bringing outside air inside -Develop an asthma action plan with your health-care provider as a guide on what to do if your symptoms get worse Canadian Press health coverage receives support through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump says he is directing his government to reopen and expand Alcatraz the notorious former prison on a hard-to-reach California island that has been closed for more than 60 years In a post on his Truth Social site Sunday evening who will never contribute anything other than Misery and Suffering we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals and keep them far away from anyone they could harm to reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt ALCATRAZ to house America’s most ruthless and violent Offenders," he wrote adding: "The reopening of ALCATRAZ will serve as a symbol of Law The prison — infamously inescapable due to the strong ocean currents and cold Pacific waters that surround it — was known as the “The Rock" and housed some of the nation's most notorious criminals including gangster Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly It has long been part of the cultural imagination and has been the subject of numerous movies including “The Rock” starring Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage Nearly all were caught or didn’t survive the attempt The fate of three particular inmates — John Anglin his brother Clarence and Frank Morris — is of some debate and was dramatized in the 1979 film “Escape from Alcatraz” starring Clinton Eastwood Alcatraz Island is now a major tourist site that is operate by the National Parks Service and is a designated National Historic Landmark The closure of the federal prison in 1963 was attributed to crumbling infrastructure and the high costs of repairing and supplying the island facility because everything from fuel to food had to be brought by boat A spokesperson for the Bureau of Prisons said in a statement that the agency “will comply with all Presidential Orders.” The spokesperson did not immediately answer questions from The Associated Press regarding the practicality and feasibility of reopening Alcatraz or the agency’s role in the future of the former prison given the National Park Service’s control of the island The island serves as a veritable time machine to a bygone era of corrections The Bureau of Prisons currently has 16 penitentiaries performing the same high-security functions as Alcatraz including its maximum security facility in Florence which is home to the federal death chamber The order comes as Trump has been clashing with the courts as he tries to send accused gang members to a notorious prison in El Salvador, without due process. Trump has also directed the opening of a detention center at Guantanamo Bay Cuba,to hold up to 30,000 of what he has labeled the “worst criminal aliens." The AP’s investigation also exposed rampant sexual abuse at a federal women’s prison in Dublin President Joe Biden signed a law strengthening oversight of the agency after AP reporting spotlighted its many flaws Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani in West Palm Beach and Michael Balsamo in Washington contributed to this report Conservative candidate Fred Davies has been elected as the new Niagara South MP The regional councillor from Port Colborne fought off five challengers including incumbent Liberal MP Vance Badawey and NDP’s Chantal McCollum "I'm feeling really good,” Davies told ThoroldToday at his election night party at San Marcos in Port Colborne It's been about a year and a half for me Davies received 47.8 per cent of the vote That means he collected 2994 more votes than runner-up Badawey who managed to get 43.9 per cent of the vote Third runner-up, McCollum, received 5.6 per cent of the vote Davies' election ends a three-term streak for Badawey and it marks the first time since the 1980s that a conservative has been elected in the riding The 2025 Federal election brought some changes to the Niagara South riding. The boundaries of the district formerly known as Niagara Centre were redrawn to include Fort Erie.  For a full breakdown of votes, click here Thorold residents hungry for a gourmet grilled cheese now have a new place to go a Meltwich franchise opened up on Pine Street North “We're not like a fast food chain,” owner Nick Green tells ThoroldToday “We categorize ourselves as a quick service restaurant So everything should be able to be made seven minutes and under without sacrificing the quality or fresh ingredients.” This is Green’s second Meltwich location as he also owns a franchise in Niagara Falls Green says his Meltwich journey started about three years ago “I always wanted to get into franchising I just didn't know where to begin,” he says “I decided to go to the franchise convention in Toronto I bought into [Meltwich] pretty much right away.” The Meltwich franchise was founded in Mississauga in 2015 “It’s a fairly new brand,” says Green It obviously originated with grilled cheeses and then they kind of branched out.” He points to his favourite thing on the menu right now: the spicy Nashville chicken sandwich Green took over the Niagara Falls Meltwich location last summer and he says it was a no-brainer to come to Thorold next “I’m born and raised in the Thorold and St Obviously the closer you are to universities Between Brock and the fact that there weren’t many restaurants in Thorold Meltwich Thorold had its soft opening on Thursday and word about the new franchise in town travelled fast “I wasn't expecting the support we got Friday and Saturday,” Green says “We had a line wrapped inside the restaurant and out the door for probably three hours Having the immediate support of the community meant a great deal to Green “Everybody tends to know everybody in Thorold,” he says Just the support and word of mouth has been amazing.” Green is hoping to have a grand opening for the restaurant soon “With the support we've had and how busy we've been they’ve had to learn quick,” he laughs “Everybody's pretty much up to speed for the most part We just want to give back to the community and say thank you.” Meltwich Thorold is located at 9 Pine Street North. For updates on the grand opening, keep an eye on the franchise's Facebook page Battery-processing plant EVSX in Thorold South is hoping to start processing lithium-ion batteries but Thorold City Council wants to make sure that the facility is safe Last year, EVSX opened a battery recycling facility in the Multimodal Hub in Thorold South. While they are currently only processing alkaline batteries, they recently installed a multi-chemistry line to process other types of batteries as well During Tuesday’s city council meeting gave a presentation in which the facility's safety protocols took centre stage “Our goal at EVSX is to put the community’s mind at ease,” Peres told council members “It’s our top priority and we’re here to make sure that we can answer any questions that not only councillors may have Peres explained that EVSX specializes in the mechanical separation of batteries The goal of the company is to recycle the batteries without any parts going to a landfill After making sure the batteries are completely discharged “The primary shredder is where the batteries are initially shred,” said Peres “The emissions first go through a secondary furnace with two burners to treat the air It goes through another one that we call the spray tower where you have porcelain and water Then it goes through a catalytic unit...By the time it gets to the final fan that pulls the air up as emissions we are confident that they’ve been scrubbed.” While the fire risks with alkaline batteries are minimal councillors are mostly worried about the plans for the recycling of lithium-ion batteries the lithium-ion batteries would be sealed in industrial drums which are only opened when they are ready to be processed The facility will also use wheeled carts with lithium extinguishers should something go wrong “We’ve actually partnered with a group that has come up with a powder that when mixed with solution can extinguish lithium fires,” said Peres “We have the technology and the extinguishers.” different battery chemistries would never be mixed and the facility is thoroughly cleaned before switching between battery types Peres also explained that there is a fully monitored alarm and security camera system in place along with heat and smoke detectors.  Fire Chief Terry Dixon was asked if he had ever heard of this lithium-extinguishing technology but he had not “Lithium-ion is still quite new to all of us,” he said “Hearing about these extinguishers is hopefully good news.” Dixon also explained that there is no preparedness plan currently in place should something go wrong.  there was a big explosion involving lithium batteries at Clean Harbors Canada in Port Robinson and councillors don’t want a repeat of that tragedy “I really do not have a lot of concerns for what they’re processing at this point in time,” said Dixon Once the facility starts processing lithium-ion batteries EVSX wants to invite the community to answer any lingering questions “We’re obviously still waiting for the permit before we can move on to the other chemistries,” said Peres “The plan is to actually have an unveiling of the plant We would invite the community to come in and have a look and respond to any questions they may have.” NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump is opening a new salvo in his tariff war In a post Sunday night on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he has authorized the Department of Commerce and the Office of the U.S Trade Representative to slap a 100% tariff “on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands.” “The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death," he wrote complaining that other countries “are offering all sorts of incentives to draw" filmmakers and studios away from the U.S "This is a concerted effort by other Nations and It wasn’t immediately clear how any such tariff on international productions could be implemented It’s common for both large and smaller films to include production both in the U.S Big-budget movies like the upcoming “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning," for instance Incentive programs for years have influenced where movies are shot increasingly driving film production out of California and to other states and countries with favorable tax incentives Yet tariffs are designed to lead consumers toward American products American-produced movies overwhelming dominate the domestic marketplace China has ramped up its domestic movie production culminating in the animated blockbuster “Ne Zha 2” grossing more than $2 billion this year its sales came almost entirely from mainland China The Motion Picture Association didn’t immediately respond to messages Sunday evening The MPA’s data shows how much Hollywood exports have dominated cinemas the American movies produced $22.6 billion in exports and $15.3 billion in trade surplus in 2023 Trump has made good on the “tariff man" label he gave himself years ago slapping new taxes on goods made in countries around the globe That includes a 145% tariff on Chinese goods and a 10% baseline tariff on goods from other countries Trump has exerted extraordinary influence over the flow of commerce creating political risks and pulling the market in different directions set to be subject to new tariffs in the weeks ahead Trump has long voiced concern about movie production moving overseas Shortly before he took office, he announced that he had tapped actors Mel Gibson Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone to serve as “special ambassadors" to Hollywood to bring it "BACK—BIGGER U.S. film and television production has been hampered in recent years, with setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hollywood guild strikes of 2023 and the recent wildfires in the Los Angeles area The group's annual survey of executives, which asked about preferred filming locations, found no location in the U.S. made the top five, according to the Hollywood Reporter Central Europe and Australia came out on top The problem is especially acute in California. In the greater Los Angeles area, production last year was down 5.6% from 2023 according to FilmLA Gavin Newsom proposed expanding California’s Film & Television Tax Credit program to $750 million annually Chicago and San Francisco have also used aggressive tax incentives to lure film and TV productions Those programs can take the form of cash grants “Other nations have been stealing the movie-making capabilities from the United States,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Sunday night after returning from a weekend in Florida “If they’re not willing to make a movie inside the United States we should have a tariff on movies that come in." Associated Press writer Gary Field contributed to this report from Washington The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) will be starting construction on the Thorold Tunnel beginning Monday MTO will start with one Westbound lane closure in the north tube There will be a full closure of the Westbound lanes in the north tube in the evenings from 8:30 p.m The full closure Westbound traffic will be redirected to:Davis Road (Highway 58) > Lundy's Lane (Highway 20) > Hwy 406 Sorry for any inconvenience during this construction project If there are any further inquiries regarding the project please reach out to Clearwater Structures Inc (MTO's contractor for this project) at the contact below Igor Kuzminskiy, CETAssistant Project ManagerClearwater Structures Inc.IgorK@clearwaterstructures.ca © 2018 The Corporation of the City of Thorold Phone: 905-227-6613 Fax: 905-227-5590 TTY: 905-227-6206 Email us The City of Thorold is committed to providing high quality customer service We welcome your comments to help us monitor and improve our services and experiences Report a Concern as we continue to grow and build a thriving vibrant community for both residents and visitors alike and take part in outdoor activities and vibrant local festivals – making it a hidden gem in the Niagara Region.” Manoj Dilwaria “Explore the charm in the City of Thorold’s Downtown come down to the Battle of Beaverdams Park and discover the stories that shaped our community Whether you're enjoying the warmth of our welcoming locals Thorold offers an unforgettable experience and make lasting memories in our beloved city!" Mayor Terry Ugulini Natalie SticklesCommunity Relations Specialist natalie.stickles@thorold.ca905-227-6613 ext Editor's note: This article originally appeared on Parliament Today a Village Media newsletter devoted exclusively to covering federal politics Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives missed their shot according to the results available by 2 a.m who has reportedly dreamt of becoming prime minister since his youth and saw former prime minister Justin Trudeau’s dwindling support in the fall as his golden ticket In a speech early Tuesday morning in Ottawa he vowed to continue to hold the Liberal government to account “The promise that is made to me and to all of you is that anybody from anywhere could achieve anything through hard work “It will be an honour to continue to fight for you,” Poilievre added to chants of “bring it home.”  He described the Liberals’ win as a “razor-thin minority,” before congratulating Prime Minister Mark Carney on his campaign.  the results were not yet in for Poilievre’s riding of Carleton but Poilievre was trailing the Liberal candidate as the final polls were being counted.  That didn’t stop the CPC leader from celebrating with his supporters A crowd of people wearing “Pierre for prime minister” sweatshirts and hats with the words “Canada First” emblazoned on the front waited until the early morning to hear him speak about the party’s accomplishments.  Poilievre touted the many things the party had to celebrate We got the highest share vote our party has received since 1988,” he said.  with the polls indicating a two-way race between the CPC and the Liberals from the get-go.  Poilievre was the strongest proponent for an early election He spent most of the fall legislative session blocking government business from moving through the House and putting forward motions of non-confidence He had pledged to try to topple the government again when Parliament returned after the winter break noting that “Parliament has been paralyzed for months after what has been the longest session of a minority parliament in Canadian history.” Carney called an election shortly after the Liberals chose him as Trudeau’s successor.  the Conservatives struggled to gain ground in the polls including Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s campaign manager criticized the Poilievre campaign for using messaging that was too similar to that of U.S The polls are set to close in Ontario at 9:30 p.m with the first polls closing in Newfoundland at 8:30 p.m. NDT (7 p.m EDT) and the last polls closing in the west at 7:00 p.m. PDT (10 p.m About one in four eligible voters cast their ballots before election day According to preliminary figures from Elections Canada 7.3 million people voted in advance polls — a 25 per cent increase from 2021 Liberal Leader Mark Carney triggered the election on March 22 after serving as prime minister for just over a week he has positioned himself as the best person to take on U.S President Donald Trump and lead the country through an economic crisis Carney said the question voters must answer is this: "Who's going to be negotiating with President Trump and who's going to be managing the finances of this country?" Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has run on a platform of change asking voters to deny the Liberals four more years in power change," he said in Hamilton last week "Change so you can afford food and housing Change so we can bring home our jobs and strength Public polling shows that the Liberals opened up a lead over the Conservatives at the outset of the campaign Those polls have not been kind to Jagmeet Singh's New Democratic Party which has been polling in a distant third place Singh has been urging voters to rally around NDP incumbents and send them back to Ottawa to hold what he expects to be a Liberal government accountable The Green Party and its co-leaders, Jonathan Pedneault and Elizabeth May are hoping to protect the party's incumbents May in Saanich—Gulf Islands and Mike Morrice in Kitchener Centre and re-elect former MP Paul Manly in Nanaimo—Ladysmith The party has also singled out Pedneault's riding of Outremont as well as Fredericton—Oromocto and Guelph Meanwhile, Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet recently made headlines for riling up his sovereigntist base for calling Canada "an artificial country with very little meaning." You can follow the results of the election as they come in here, and on our Canada Votes home page on Monday after fire broke out in a second-floor apartment Thorold firefighters remove their breathing apparatus after extinguishing a fire that broke out of a second-floor apartment on Front Street South The fire started in the living room of a second-floor unit and was extinguished within minutes There were no injuries — just a lot of commotion — as Front Street South in Thorold was shut down late Monday afternoon while firefighters made short work of a fire in a second-floor apartment where they found smoke coming out a window facing the street All of the occupants of the three-storey building including ground-floor storefront businesses and about a dozen apartments on the second and third floors Deputy Chief Mike DeGasperis said the living room fire is believed to have started with couch cushions on the floor though the actual cause is to be determined There were no injuries as a result of the fire and there were no occupants in the unit when it started adding he’s not sure who first reported the fire DeGasperis said crews had the fire under control within three minutes There were working smoke alarms in the hallway of the building “That’s something our fire prevention division will be following up on,” DeGasperis said Mike Zettel is a reporter for Niagara This Week OTTAWA — The Liberals rose from the ashes under Prime Minister Mark Carney but the party's failure to sweep many of its targeted ridings last night denied it a resounding majority mandate A big part of that failure happened in Ontario where the party lost many incumbents — even as Carney called for a strong mandate to deal with the threat posed by U.S Abacus Data CEO David Coletto says the party fell short in Ontario lost seats in the Greater Toronto Area and the York region and failed to break through in the Prairies the Conservatives performed much better than expected in those areas where the cost of living and the price of housing remain major issues Carney opted not to hold a press conference the day after the vote but told reporters in French Tuesday morning in Ottawa that he's feeling very good and energetic Carney warned in his election-night speech that the coming days and weeks will not be easy as Canada returns to the challenge of convincing Trump to back away from his punishing tariff agenda This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 29 Niagara Region is asking the public to cast votes on what they would like the St Davids roundabout and its gateway feature to look like Residents can have their say starting next week on two options for the roundabout at York and and Four Mile Creek roads there was controversy over whether it would be the best solution for the St including a petition that collected 1,400 signatures of people who are opposed to a roundabout Town council even sent recommendations to the Region saying the municipality was also against this traffic feature being installed.  But the Region is moving ahead and is asking for residents' input into its design Votes can be submitted online or at one of 11 in-person sessions being held between May 5 and 16.  there are historical and traditional options as well as agricultural and contemporary.  The gateway is proposed to sit at York and Tanbark roads.  An open house was held at White Oaks Resort earlier this year that drew about 80 people who shared ideas about the traffic feature in the St The option that receives the most votes in the upcoming input campaign will be recommended to town council for implementation explained Niagara Region communications consultant Jason Misner in a statement to The Local.  “They will ultimately make the decision on what gets built which will likely be dependent on the budget for the upgraded streetscaping,” he said.  There have also been concerns over land expropriation necessary before construction starts which the Region is currently working on.  “The Region is still working on finalizing any property acquisition needs prior to reaching out to the impacted parties,” said Misner.  The proposed single-lane roundabout will fit a standard tractor-trailer size vehicle and have a six-metre-wide circulatory road as well as a three-metre-wide mountable truck apron.  “This will allow large trucks and farm equipment to use the roundabout and keep speeds low for smaller vehicles,” said the Region in its news release.  Raised islands with curbs will be on all approaches to control entry speeds.  “This will also create safe areas for pedestrians and prevent wrong-way movements,” the Region said in its release.  Pedestrian crossovers will be at each leg of the roundabout Motorists will yield to pedestrians on the crossovers An alternative to this is 1.8-metre-wide sidewalks and 1.5-metre-wide one-way cycle tracks on either side of York and Four Mile Creek roads.  Streetscaping and storm water management are also components of the project being considered.  There are two locations that in-person voting is taking place:  Niagara Region hosted a flag ceremony at regional headquarters today honouring the National Day of Missing and Murdered Women Community members gathered for the event, also known as Red Dress Day (May 5) The event featured local Indigenous drummers followed by a commemorative walk to raise awareness and remember those lost to gender-based violence TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel approved plans Monday to seize the Gaza Strip and to stay in the Palestinian territory for an unspecified amount of time, two Israeli officials said, a move that, if implemented, would vastly expand Israel’s operations there and likely draw fierce international opposition which was approved in an early morning vote by Israeli Cabinet ministers also calls for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to move to Gaza’s south That would likely amount to their forcible displacement and exacerbate an already dire humanitarian crisis Details of the plan were not formally announced and its exact timing and implementation were not clear Its approval came hours after the Israeli military chief said the army was calling up tens of thousands of reserve soldiers The plan may be another measure by Israel to try to pressure Hamas into making concessions in ceasefire negotiations said the new plan would not begin until after U.S President Donald Trump wraps up his expected visit to the Middle East this month allowing for the possibility that Israel might agree to a ceasefire in the meantime All three officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing military plans Later Monday, the Israeli military targeted Houthi rebels in Yemen’s Red Sea city of Hodeida with a punishing round of airstrikes. The strikes came a day after the Iranian-backed rebels launched a missile that hit Israel’s main airport The rebels’ media office said at least six strikes hit the Hodeida port setting off what is believed to the be the worst humanitarian crisis in nearly 19 months of war The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages Israel’s offensive has displaced more than 90% of Gaza’s population and The officials do not distinguish between combatants and civilians in their count At least 42 people were killed by Israeli strikes from Sunday through Monday afternoon according to hospitals and the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza The Israeli military offered no immediate comment on the strikes Israel is trying to ratchet up pressure on Hamas Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday cabinet ministers had decided on a “powerful operation in Gaza," including “a movement of the population to protect it.” The plan also imposes Israeli control over aid distribution Israel accuses Hamas of diverting aid for its own use or to distribute to strengthen its rule in Gaza denied there was significant diversion of aid employs “a solid system to monitor and prevent” such theft The officials said Israel was in touch with several countries about Trump's plan to take over Gaza and relocate its population under what Israel has termed “voluntary emigration." That proposal has drawn widespread condemnation and rights groups have warned it could be a war crime under international law Israel has been trying to ratchet up pressure on Hamas to get the group to agree to its terms in ceasefire negotiations But the measures do not appear to have moved Hamas away from its negotiating positions The previous ceasefire was meant to lead the sides to negotiate an end to the war Israel says it will not agree to end the war until Hamas' governing and military capabilities are dismantled has sought an agreement that winds down the war without agreeing to disarm Israel's expansion announcement angered families of hostages who fear that any extension of the conflict endangers their loved ones urged Israel's decision-makers to prioritize the hostages and secure a deal quickly called on soldiers “not to report for reserve duty for moral and ethical reasons." Some reservists have indicated they will refuse to serve in a war they increasingly view as politically motivated Israel wants to prevent Hamas from handling aid The defense official said the plan would “separate” Hamas from the aid by using private firms and by using specified areas secured by the Israeli military The official added that Palestinians would be screened to prevent Hamas from accessing the aid According to a memo circulated among aid groups and seen by The Associated Press, Israel told the United Nations that it will use private security companies to control aid distribution in Gaza said it would not participate in the plan as presented The memo summarized a meeting between the Israeli defense body in charge of coordinating aid to Gaza It was written by a group briefed on the meeting and sent Sunday to aid organizations all aid will enter Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing Some 500 trucks entered Gaza every day before the war The memo said that facial-recognition technology will be used to identify Palestinians at logistics hubs and text message alerts will notify people in the area that they can collect aid COGAT did not immediately respond to a request for comment The UN accuses Israel of wanting to control aid as a ‘pressure tactic’ After Israel said it was going to assert more control over aid distribution in Gaza Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs sent an email to aid groups urging them to reject any “draconian restrictions on humanitarian work." which OCHA sent Monday to aid groups and was shared with the AP further stated that there are mechanisms in place to ensure aid is not diverted OCHA said in a statement that the plan would leave large parts of the population It said the plan “appears designed to reinforce control over life-sustaining items as a pressure tactic — as part of a military strategy.” Aid groups have said they are opposed to using any armed or uniformed personnel to distribute aid that could potentially intimidate Palestinians or put them at risk Hamas decried Israel’s efforts to control distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza as a violation of international law the militant group said the effort is “an extension of the starvation policy” adopted by the Israeli government in Gaza Associated Press reporters Wafaa Shurafa in Deir al-Balah and Josef Federman contributed to this report Follow AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war Hydro One has selected the preferred route for the proposed Welland Thorold Power Line will help meet electricity demands and support future growth in the Niagara region we have been conducting a Class Environmental Assessment (EA) under Ontario’s Environmental Assessment Act to build a new 230-kilovolt This proposed transmission line will extend from our existing Hydro One corridor in Thorold and connect into the Crowland Transformer Station (TS) in Welland These included using portions of an existing transmission corridor near Crowland TS upgrading an existing transmission line between Crowland TS and Allanburg TS in Thorold and building a new corridor north of Schisler Road in Welland we gathered environmental and technical data along with input from Indigenous communities Based on this information and the feedback we received B2 and C1/C2 have been selected and together make up the the preferred route for the new transmission line (see map below) The Class EA is expected to be complete at the end of 2025 The project will also require approval from the Ontario Energy Board under Section 92 (Leave to Construct) We invite you to attend our upcoming community open house to learn more about the project speak with our project team and share your feedback to 7:00 p.m.Location: Royal Canadian Legion For more information on this project:www.HydroOne.com/WTPL NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks closed lower on Wall Street Crude prices fell to a four-year low Monday after the OPEC+ group of oil-producing nations said it plans to increase output The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.2% Drops in Big Tech stocks like Apple helped pull the Nasdaq composite down 0.7% Berkshire Hathaway slumped after legendary investor Warren Buffett announced over the weekend that he would step down as CEO by the end of the year after six decades at the helm NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks slipped in in mixed trading trading on Wall Street Monday and oil prices fell to a four-year low as the OPEC+ group announced plans to increase output The benchmark index is coming off of its ninth straight gain The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 94 points There were slightly more gainers than losers within the S&P 500 index but the market was weighed down by losses in technology stocks and other big companies Berkshire Hathaway fell 4.2%. Legendary investor Warren Buffett announced over the weekend that he would step down as CEO by the end of the year after six decades at the helm Buffett will still be chairman of the board of directors The OPEC+ group of eight oil producing nations announced over the weekend that it will raise its output by 411,000 barrels per day as of June 1 benchmark crude oil fell as much as 4% overnight before moderating crude oil prices fell 1.8% to $57.22 per barrel Many producers can no longer turn a profit once oil falls below $60 Prices are down sharply for the year over worries about an economic slowdown Markets are coming off another winning week as they absorb the shock of tariffs and a growing trade war President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on a wide range of imports Many of the more severe tariffs that were supposed to go into effect in April were delayed by three months with the notable exception of tariffs against China The delays have provided some relief to Wall Street though uncertainty about the impact from current and future tariffs continues to hang over markets and the economy “Uncertainty remains elevated and economic data will likely weaken in the coming months meaning further bouts of volatility are likely," said Ulrike Hoffmann-Burchardi chief investment officer of global equities at UBS Global Wealth Management That uncertainty will overshadow the Federal Reserve’s meeting this week The Fed is expected to hold its benchmark interest rate steady on Wednesday It cut the rate three times in 2024 before taking a more cautious stance The central bank was concerned that inflation was still stubbornly hovering just above its target rate of 2% Concerns about inflation reigniting have only grown amid the global trade war sparked by Trump’s tariff policy The economy has shown some signs that it is feeling the impact from tariffs and the uncertainty over Trump's policy economy is still showing signs of resilience Economic activity in the services sector continued expanding in April according to a survey from the Institute for Supply Management The services sector survey and the latest consumer confidence updates also reflect growing concerns over the economy's direction Trump’s rapidly shifting policies on trade have kept the Fed and markets on edge The on-again-off-again approach has left businesses households and economists at a loss in trying to forecast where the economy might be headed and planning accordingly The latest salvo in the trade war from Trump came Sunday night in a post on his Truth Social platform. He said he has authorized a 100% tariff on movies that are produced outside of the U.S as it is common for films to include production at multiple locations around the world Shoemakers posted gains following the announcement that Skechers is being acquired for $9 billion and taken private by the investment firm by 3G Capital The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.36% from 4.31% late Friday AP business writers Jiang Junzhe and Matt Ott contributed to this story EVSX Corp.‘s battery recycling facility is in Thorold’s Bioveld Multimodal Hub Ian Peres addressed concerns about the Thorold South operation just weeks after the city's fire chief said he has no concerns about public safety Ian Peres addressed concerns about the Thorold South operation just weeks after the city’s fire chief said he has no concerns about public safety Just more than a month after Thorold’s fire chief expressed no concerns for public safety in the wake of a battery-recycling facility’s expansion the company president also appeared before city council to allay fears who is also chief executive officer of EVSX told councillors this week how the business operates in hopes worries are put to rest EVSX recently installed a new chemistry line to process various battery types at its operation in the Bioveld Multimodal Hub Peres said the company invested in numerous precautions including lithium-ion-specific fire extinguishers and industrial fire blankets to contain any chemical fires should one ever occur “We’ve partnered with a group that has come up with a powder that “We will have the extinguishers installed on various locations roughly 25 feet apart in addition to a couple of 250-gallon tanks if there’s a larger incident.” Tim O’Hare asked Peres if he is confident “they’ll do the job Peres said videos demonstrate how an electric vehicle fire is contained within minutes using these extinguishers which opened operations at the Thorold Multimodal Hub last summer An aspect of the refining process for recycling batteries involves using a furnace to dry components destined for landfills Councillors asked if environmental concerns are present during that stage go through a secondary furnace with two burners to treat the air and then it goes through a catalytic unit … and that is yet another part of the overall air scrubbing.” Councillors also asked about EVSX’s recent application to the province to increase its waste output “The proposal under the waste permit,” Peres said “is to go from 350 tonnes to 480 tonnes that is the request we’re looking to have approved The waste permit technical amendment allowing us to do that has not been approved “The approval is in the final stages and should be issued imminently.” Account processing issue - the email address may already exist the City of Thorold hosted an official plaque unveiling at the new Development Services office located at 8 Carleton Street South to mark the completion of this project This new location will be officially open to the public on Monday The office hours will be Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m The building has an accessible-friendly ramp Residents can obtain building permit applications and land use planning applications at this new location. To learn more about Building, Planning and Development Services The City of Thorold is recruiting passionate Thorold residents to join a committee or board of management for the remaining 2022 to 2026 term Recruitment is taking place for the following: Applicants for appointment must be at least 18 years of age and either a landowner Eligible individuals are encouraged to submit an electronic application available on the City’s website at the link below or pick up and submit a hard copy application to City Hall reception by Monday Applications will be reviewed by City Council on Tuesday Successful candidates will be contacted thereafter by the City Clerk Learn more and/or apply at www.thorold.ca/committees Clerks Department Clerk@thorold.ca | 905-227-6613 ext Thorold was officially incorporated as a city we’re excited to unveil a new logo to celebrate our 50th anniversary The logo will be featured throughout various events and activities planned for the year and we invite the community to join in the celebration Thorold is growing fast – and it’s easy to see why Ranked as the 4th fastest-growing city in Ontario and the 8th in Canada our city is full of energy and opportunity Our council and staff are committed to ensuring it remains that way for years to come the City of Thorold has grown and evolved into a hub of culture This important milestone is a testament to those who have built and strengthened our city for generations,” Mayor Terry Ugulini "As we celebrate 50 years of Thorold becoming a city we honour our rich history and the strong community that has shaped us we’re excited for the opportunities and progress that await all while staying true to the spirit of unity and resilience that defines our future." Manoj Dilwaria Natalie Stickles Community Relations Specialist natalie.stickles@thorold.ca 905-227-6613 ext After last night’s Special Council meeting Council has approved the 2025 operating and capital budgets The budget reflects a 5.18% net levy increase For the average home valued at $278,000 (MPAC 2016 valuation date) this will mean an increase of approximately $89 The approved budget for major infrastructure projects includes; a reconstruction of Sullivan Avenue or Clairmont Street from Ormond Street to Pine Street and enhancements to the Battle of Beaverdams Park The major carry forward projects are the reconstruction of St David’s Road Phase 2 (Townline Road) from Foley Crescent to Ormond Street Decew Road from Ivy Crescent to Richmond Street New Mausoleum at Lakeview Cemetery and Rolling Meadows Park “I extend my sincere thanks to the City Council and Staff for their dedication and commitment throughout the 2025 budget process This budget will continue to drive our city’s progress ensuring the delivery of vital infrastructure and services to support both our residents and businesses.” said Mayor Terry Ugulini "I would like to express my gratitude to the City Council for their strong leadership and forward-thinking vision in approving key infrastructure projects My sincere thanks also go to the City Staff for their unwavering dedication and hard work throughout the 2025 budget process we remain committed to fiscal responsibility while providing exceptional customer service to our community.” stated Chief Administrative Officer For further details on the 2025 budget, please visit the City’s website at this link.Watch the Council Budget Meeting at this link. Office of the CAOnatalie.stickles@thorold.ca905-227-6613 x439 OTTAWA — More than three quarters of Canadians believe misinformation had an impact on the outcome of the federal election which sampled more than 1,500 Canadian adults from April 29 to May 1 suggests that 19 per cent of people think false information or misinformation had a major impact on the election Almost a third (32 per cent) said it had a moderate impact while 26 per cent said it had a minor impact on the election's outcome Only nine per cent of Canadians said misinformation had no impact on the election at all which was conducted online and can't be assigned a margin of error suggests that people in Alberta were the most likely to think misinformation affected the election 76 per cent of people in Ontario and 73 per cent of people in B.C While 80 per cent of men said misinformation played a role Voters aged 18 to 34 were most likely to think misinformation affected the election compared to 77 per cent of people aged 35 to 54 and 74 per cent of people aged 55 and older Liberal supporters were the least likely to think misinformation had a role in the election compared to 83 per cent of Conservative voters and 87 per cent of NDP voters Leger's executive vice-president for Central Canada said there has been lots of talk over the last few years about foreign interference in Canadian politics and the issue may be in the back of voters' minds Canadian security officials said they spotted a foreign online operation targeting a federal Conservative candidate opposed to Chinese government policies The Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections Task Force also said it spotted an online information operation linked to the Chinese government that focused on Prime Minister Mark Carney assistant secretary to the cabinet for communications said in late April that Canadians could head to the polls with full confidence in the integrity and security of the system Federal officials also said that voters should be on the lookout for online disinformation tied to the election debates Enns said that "misinformation" is a large umbrella term and that poll respondents may have cited things like rumours and claims about candidates while filling out the Leger survey "I think it could be sort of a catch-all," he said "Canadians tend to not like negative campaigns and negative campaign ads and so sometimes I wonder … does that get lumped into sort of that misinformation as well?" The poll also suggests that just under two-thirds of Canadians (65 per cent) trust that the election results were accurate Thirty-six per cent said they trust the results "a great deal," while 29 per cent said they trust them "a lot." 16 per cent said they trust the results only "a little" and 13 per cent said they don't trust them "at all." People in Quebec were most likely to trust the results 62 per cent in Ontario and 53 per cent in Alberta More people aged 55 and older said they had trust in the results compared to 61 per cent of people aged 18 to 34 and 59 per cent of those aged 35 to 54 Liberals were the most likely to trust the results compared to 74 per cent of NDP voters and only 44 per cent of Conservatives Enns said the results point to an unfortunate but "very real" deterioration in people's faith in institutions "There's a party break in the trust where the Conservative supporters are less trusting adding that mistrust could be due to people hearing about interference or being exposed to conspiracy theories Enns said Leger did not ask Canadians about misinformation or trust in results after the 2021 election The Elections Canada website says that about half (52 per cent) of people who responded to a National Electors Study thought the spread of false information online was a problem during the 2021 election — 50 per cent said the same thing about the 2019 election The study found that a quarter of respondents thought foreign countries or groups trying to interfere with the election or the political opinions of Canadians had been a problem in the 2021 election Elections Canada says close to one in 10 respondents thought false information had a major impact on the outcome of the 2021 election and 20 per cent thought it had a moderate impact Eighteen per cent of respondents said it had only a minor impact on the outcome while only two per cent said it had no impact The agency says those results were similar to those obtained after the 2019 election Elections Canada says four per cent thought that problems of foreign interference had a major impact on the outcome of the 2021 election nine per cent thought it had a moderate impact 10 per cent thought it had a minor impact and one per cent said it had no impact says online surveys cannot be assigned a margin of error because they do not randomly sample the population This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3 The City of Thorold will be offering six free public skating times at the Frank Doherty Arena during this holiday season with festive music playing in the background Residents are invited to come out for the following free skating times: The Frank Doherty Arena will be closed for the following statutory holidays: The following scheduled programming will continue around these statutory holidays: For children 10 years and under with parents on Wednesdays from 11 a.m For children 12 years and under on Wednesdays from 4 p.m For youth 16 years and under on Wednesdays from 12 p.m For adults 18+ years on Thursdays from 9:30 p.m For adults 45+ years on Wednesdays from 1 p.m For active adults 55+ years on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m to 1 p.m. Please Note: The 55+ Skate on Tuesday December 31st will be replaced by the Holiday Free Skate listed above Residents are reminded they can view the Frank Doherty Arena programming schedule on the arena calendar located on the City’s website Niagara Jazz Festival presented by TD through the TD Ready Commitment, will host MUSIC in the PARK in Battle of Beaverdams Park on Sunday This award-winning not-for-profit music festival is celebrating its 12th season of programming jazz and world music throughout the year in Niagara "We are delighted to partner with the City of Thorold for our 12th annual jazz festival season with our free community event This event holds a special place in my heart and is one of my favorite summer festival experiences Providing access to jazz and world music is important to me Growing up in Vancouver I had the privilege of attending similar events and music festivals – sharing these music festival experiences with the greater community brings me great joy and satisfaction With the City of Thorold hosting Blues on June 30th and Canada Day celebrations on July 1st it's shaping up to be a truly spectacular weekend. The Niagara Jazz Festival team and I eagerly anticipate seeing everyone on June 29th and throughout the long weekend at Battle of Beaverdams Park." Juliet Dunn Festival Co-Creator and Executive Artistic Producer The Niagara Jazz Festival will kick-off a three-day spectacular event in Battle of Beaverdams Park The festivities will continue with the popular Rock ‘n Blues event on Monday We hope to see everyone out to enjoy the celebration on the Canada Day long weekend in the City of Thorold “I am thrilled to welcome the Niagara Jazz Festival back to the City of Thorold for a second year One of the most anticipated events of the summer this partnership highlights our cultural identity and love of music This world–class festival significantly contributes to our vibrant music community and the celebration of incredible local and international musical talent and I encourage you all to join us at Battle of Beaverdams Park.” Mayor Terry Ugulini Learn more about the 2025 Canada Day 3-Day Music Event on our website natalie.stickles@thorold.ca905-227-6613 x439 Marvel’s Thunderbolts proves that even villains can have heroic hearts Geraldine Viswanathan and Julia Louis-Dreyfus Now Playing at Film.Ca Cinemas Cineplex Winston Churchill & VIP and Cineplex Oakville & VIP The superhero trope of “let the bad guys be good guys” is a genre classic but Marvel’s Thunderbolts gives fresh life to a group of likeable anti-heroes with one of the studio’s most gritty and entertaining films in years Director Jake Schreier (best known for leading Netflix’s megahit Beef in 2023) stays focused by using Marvel characters in their best environment - real people with select training and technology trying their best to be heroes despite their questionable pasts this is a property where despite all the characters from several past movies you don’t need to be caught up on 30+ other superhero movies to follow what’s going on Passive action movie fans can also have a good time enjoying the stunts big production values and the story’s intrepid heart the Thunderbolts are a group of secret agents who’ve all worked for fictional CIA director Valentina (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) government for her unethical projects.  most of the plot sees the new team led by assassin Yelena (Florence Pugh) suddenly forced to work together to bring down Valentina and one of her new super-recruits Marvel’s key theme hold strong in Thunderbolts: it’s not about who you’ve been but it’s about what you can aspire to be when surrounded by the right (or wrong) people Even though much of Valentina’s workforce are past villains from other Marvel franchises What’s most surprising is that the film slowly reveals itself to be a positive advocate for mental health both highlighting the positive impacts of treatment and the dangers of negligence That proves especially true when a surprise villain literally crawls out from the shadows Florence Pugh cements herself here as a bona fide movie star leading her team, and she’s surrounded by a great ensemble cast (including past standout Hannah John-Kamen, returning as Ghost from 2018’s Ant-Man and the Wasp.) Read more here: Review: Ant-Man and the Wasp is a winning sequel The biggest scene-stealer is Lewis Pullman in his real big break playing newcomer “Bob” an amnesiac with some cool powers and great comedic timing It’s true that the criminals going good schtick was done with greater panache and uniqueness in the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy but that was also fantasy and the mirror to real-world politics from this film makes it easier to connect with some of the headliner characters So who are the ‘good guys’ and ‘bad guys’? The best Marvel movies blur the lines and have an interesting commentary on the morality of heroism. Thunderbolts is both entertaining and has something to say; it’s maybe the most balanced MCU movie since 2021’s Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings Read more here: The modern legend of Shang-Chi Valentina ominously warns at one point that “Righteousness without power is just an opinion,” and that kind of introspection into how to responsibly manage and exercise power would be equally welcome in Marvel as it would in true American politics these days.  Thunderbolts is a compelling action story that shows both sides of how a true hero can wield the responsibility of being righteous TORONTO — Manager John Schneider has faith the Toronto Blue Jays offence will emerge from its early-season funk The Blue Jays dropped the final two outings of their three-game set against the Cleveland Guardians because of a lack of clutch hitting Schneider's lineup left a whopping 25 runners on base in the series but dropped 5-3 and 5-4 decisions to close against the Guardians The Blue Jays especially struggled to score late on Saturday and Sunday against the Guardians' strong bullpen After snatching a 3-0 lead in the fifth inning on Saturday their final 12 hitters were retired in order the Blue Jays left runners on third in the eighth and ninth innings The eighth inning was particularly painful because Toronto had runners on second and third after an Ernie Clement sacrifice run for the first out But Myles Straw and Nathan Lukes popped up for the final two outs "You're trying to scrap across a run there," Schneider said "You get a good bunt from Ern and we just couldn't get it done there with those with those pop-ups there's going to be match-ups you like and there's going to be match-ups that are going to be tough The Blue Jays also got caught taking chances early After Bo Bichette led off the first inning with a double and moved to third on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s single a potential big inning was snuffed out by a Guardians double play and then Bichette got caught in a rundown between third and home I think the best possible outcome was Bo stays at third But you're trying to score early and those things happen." Gold-glove outfielder Daulton Varsho was given the series finale off to rest his lower back Varsho missed the first 28 games after offseason right shoulder surgery He played in five straight before taking Sunday off to rest and I'm not taking any chances with him after what he's been through," Schneider said The Blue Jays have yet to confirm they have signed veteran right-handed pitchers Spencer Turnbull and Jose Urena before we hit the (plane)," replied Schneider when asked if he'll have some additional help when his club begins a six-game trip on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Angels This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 4 Niagara Regional Police are investigating after several posters containing defamatory statements about an identifiable person were found taped to utility poles and other public locations in Thorold Several posters were found taped to utility poles and other public locations in late March Posters containing defamatory statements targeting an identifiable person have been found throughout Thorold Niagara Regional Police said several posters were found taped to utility poles and other public locations across the city in late March Police said the posters featured a photo and personal contact information of the victim along with unfounded and defamatory allegations Police said they do not yet know who is responsible for creating and distributing the photos police said they will not be releasing any details of the content of the posters Anyone with information is asked by police to call 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1009610. Information can be submitted anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or going to CrimeStoppersNiagara.ca Police caution that posting defamatory content in this manner is illegal It is a criminal offence that can lead to charges Defamatory libel refers to any published matter that is likely to harm a person’s reputation by exposing them to hatred This is not protected under freedom of expression laws The City of Thorold is excited to announce the opening of our first off-leash dog park located at 1884 Beaverdams Road The official ribbon cutting is planned for October 8 at 3:00 p.m The new park will provide a safe and fun environment for dogs and their owners to socialize The dog park features a fenced area for off-leash play with two separate entrances; one for small dogs and one for large dogs benches and solar lights for evening playtime with your pets “We’re thrilled to announce that Thorold’s first off-leash dog park is officially opening” says Mayor Terry Ugulini Lipscombe for their generous land and bench donation which has allowed us to facilitate the build of our dog park.” “The opening of the new off-leash dog park aligns with the City’s ongoing efforts to create more vibrant and inclusive neighbourhoods as outlined in our strategic plan,” says Manoj Dilwaria “This new park is an ideal spot for dog owners in our community to enjoy outdoor recreation time” Learn more about this project at https://letstalk.thorold.ca/dog-park-construction Natalie Stickles Community Relations Specialist, Office of the CAOnatalie.stickles@thorold.ca289-929-7201