COUTTS, Alta. – Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says a truck convoy that’s blockaded a highway at a busy U.S. border crossing as part of a protest against vaccine mandates violates the province’s Traffic Safety Act and must end immediately. The Canada Border Services Agency said the U.S. border crossing at […]
COVID-19
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK (AP) – Following protests of Spotify kicked off by Neil Young over the spread of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation, the music streaming service said that it will add content advisories before podcasts discussing the virus. In a post Sunday, Spotify chief executive Daniel Ek laid out more transparent platform […]
THE CANADIAN PRESS
The waiting has become excruciating for Shelley Brownlee and her partner, Jonathan Clow. Brownlee, who’s been diagnosed with a form of cancer in her abdomen, has been waiting months to undergo surgery at a hospital in Toronto. Her doctor said he had hoped to proceed with it next month but […]
THE CANADIAN PRESS
TORONTO – Canadian pop-rock band the Elwins say they’ve decided to break up as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to challenge the future of touring life. The Newmarket, Ont.-founded quartet announced the news on social media saying it “feels like the right way forward” after more than a decade of making […]
THE CANADIAN PRESS
OTTAWA – The Canada Revenue Agency is sending out a new round of letters to pandemic aid recipients to verify they were eligible for the help, and warning of potential need for repayments. It’s the second time the agency is mailing Canada Emergency Response Benefit recipients as part of a […]
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON (AP) – Fewer Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week following three straight increases amid a surge in cases of the omicron variant of COVID-19. Jobless claims fell by 30,000 to 260,000 last week, the Labor Department reported Thursday, fewer than the 265,000 analysts were expecting. The four-week average […]
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
JOHANNESBURG (AP) – The African continent is on course to reach its target of vaccinating at least 70% of its population against COVID-19 by the end of 2022, the head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told reporters on Thursday. The continental public health agency said it […]
THE CANADIAN PRESS
To prepare for this year’s Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Krista McCarville and her rink from Thunder Bay, Ont., spent time with a sports psychologist learning how to cope with the excitement and pressure of playing for the Canadian women’s curling championship in front of a hometown crowd. Instead, because of […]
BEIJING (AP) – For journalists covering the Beijing Winter Olympics, China’s strict pandemic measures are creating a surreal and somewhat frustrating experience. China requires electronic confirmation of the health status of those participating in or covering the Games and shunts them into a closed loop bubble upon arrival. That kept […]
Staff writer
abradbury@fortfrances.com
The Fort Frances and District Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee issued an urgent plea for help to district government representatives. A letter sent to MPP Greg Rickford and MP Marcus Powlowski is urging the provincial and federal government to assist the region in securing more doctors. “The status of physician […]
Staff Writer
abradbury@fortfrances.com
Financial support flowing through the Rainy River Future Development Corporation (RRFDC) was a factor in the survival of many small businesses across the District, according to a report presented to the Rainy River District Municipal Association annual meeting by RRFDC Executive Director Geoff Gillon. The organization has dispersed $2.9 million […]
Staff Writer
abradbury@fortfrances.com
The national women’s curling championship will take place over the next week at Thunder Bay’s Fort William Gardens as planned – but with virtually no live spectators, at least at the outset. The tournament was given the go-ahead last week from the Ontario Health Ministry, following a modified plan proposed […]






