Osborne to Discuss Contracts for Urgent Care Centres on Northeast Avalon
Minister of Health and Community Services Tom Osborne will make an announcement related to increasing access to health care services on the northeast Avalon.
The announcement will take place at the former Costco Building on Stavanger Drive in St. John’s, at noon.
Osborne will be joined by Dr. Greg Browne, Senior Medical Director, NL Health Services, Eastern-Urban Zone.
MUNFA Executive Concerned by PSC Announcement
The MUNFA Executive is concerned by an announcement by the Presidential Search Committee that a private executive search firm will once again be used to find Memorial University’s next president.
MUNFA President Josh Lepawsky said, “No private search firm should be making decisions about which candidates make it into the total pool of candidates being considered for the job of University President.”
MUNFA Executive asks that the role of such a firm be limited to facilitating information collection and wants the names of shortlisted candidates and their CVs to be made public, and all shortlisted candidates meet and take questions from the various stakeholder groups.
Over 2,000 New Child Care Spaces in Development
Education Minister Krista Lynn Howell provided an update on childcare space creation on Wednesday.
There are more than 9,100 early learning and childcare spaces operating at $10 a day or less in the province, with over 1,500 childcare spaces created since January 2023.
There are currently 2,206 early learning and childcare spaces in various stages of development throughout the province, with timelines for operation ranging from one to 24 months.
In the metro region, there are 1,191 spaces, 465 spaces in Central, 465 in Western, and 85 spaces in Labrador.
Temporary Disruption of Medical Imaging Services at Baie Verte Peninsula Health Centre
Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services says that there is a temporary disruption of medical imaging services at the Baie Verte Peninsula Health Centre effective immediately due to equipment malfunction.
Walk-in services are not available as a result. Patients may choose to travel to another facility for medical imaging services. Laboratory services are not affected at this time.
The emergency department remains open; however, if it is determined you require medical imaging services, you may be redirected to another facility.
Two sent to hospital after disturbance in St. John’s
Just after 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday evening, the RNC were called to a disturbance at a west end home in St. John’s.
Responding officers located two residents in the home who had been assaulted when the offenders forced their way in. The suspects had fled the home prior to police arrival.
The two victims were transported to the hospital for medical attention.
The matter remains under investigation.
Paradise home destroyed by late-evening fire
A home on St. Thomas Line in Paradise was destroyed by fire late Wednesday evening. Fire crews responded to the blaze shortly after 10:15 p.m.
Mike Hall, Platoon Chief with the St. John’s Regional Fire Department (SJRFD), stated that the initial call came from the homeowner, who reported a smell of smoke in the home. Within minutes multiple calls were received reporting the blaze. Responding fire crews fought through thick fog on the way to fire, arriving a short time later to find heavy smoke and fire coming from the home.
Firefighters took a defensive approach to fighting the fire, using a master stream from a fire engine to pour thousands of gallons of water on the blaze. It took crews nearly an hour to bring the fire under control, using the master stream and hand lines. The home was completely destroyed.
A family of four managed to escape the fire unharmed, however a pet cat reportedly perished.
Fire crews worked for several hours before handing the scene over to the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary for investigation.
Snow-covered roads in central Newfoundland
Across most of Central Newfoundland, roads are partly snow-covered with slushy patches and fair to good visibility. Roads are bare and wet across the west coast, Burin Peninsula, and Avalon Peninsula.
Roads across Labrador are bare and dry with good visibility.
The MV Kamutik W is out of service and all crossings for today are cancelled. Marine Atlantic is on schedule and other provincial ferries are on time.
At the St. John’s International Airport, WestJet flights 264 and 265 are delayed. Air Canada flights 686 and 691 are cancelled, and Air Canada Flight 698 is delayed. At the Deer Lake Regional Airport, Westjet Flight 9147 is cancelled. Flights are on time in Gander.
School closures in central Newfoundland
There are a few school closures in central Newfoundland. The following schools are closed for the morning with an update to follow:
Botwood Collegiate
Cape John Collegiate
Copper Ridge Academy
Cottrell’s Cove Academy
Greenwood Academy
J.M. Olds Collegiate
Leading Tickles Primary
Lewisporte Academy
Lewisporte Collegiate
Lewisporte Intermediate
M.S.B. Regional Academy
Memorial Academy
Phoenix Academy
Point Leamington Academy
Riverwood Academy
Twillingate Island Elementary