Liberal Leader Comes To See Flood Damage First Hand

"It really opens your eyes when you see someone's driveway ripped apart."

That word from Provincial Liberal Leader Brian Gallant after touring the devastation in St. Stephen caused by Friday's flood. On July 26th, 2013, St. Stephen was drenched under 165mm of rain.

Gallant meeting in Border-town with St. Stephen Mayor John Quartermain, Deputy Mayor John Ames, and MLA for Charlotte-The Isles Rick Doucet to tour the devastation in flood-prone areas.

Gallant tells Tide News it's imperative that we find out exactly why this happened. "You hear people talking all over the community and they keep saying, 'We thought last time was a once-in-a-hundred-year storm and we'd never get it again,' and obviously two and a half years later having something very similar happen raises concerns."

Gallant tells Tide News he supports local MLA Rick Doucet in his push for amending the Emergency Measures Act. "As Liberal leader, if there is ever anything we think we can push in the legislature, we'll be glad to do so. Rick Doucet, he is obviously very attuned to this, and he has proposed many legislations and many ideas as to how we can make sure that this doesn't happen again and doesn't affect communities in the future, so we will continue to do that as a Party."

Gallant says they are working with Doucet to organize public consultation so everyone can fully understand the impact of the situation from engineers and other officials.

A public meeting has been scheduled in St. George at the Magaguadavic Place on Tuesday, August 13th.

Poverty Seen As The Key Factor Affecting Your Health

A newly released report concludes how much you earn, what sort of housing you have, early childhood development and how well you eat are viewed as key factors that affect your health. 

Those conclusions were reached after the Canadian Medical Association held a series of town hall meetings and heard from something like a thousand people.

The provincial co-ordinator of the Common Front for Social Justice Jean-Claude Basque isn't surprised at the extent of food insecurity in New Brunswick. He says the main problem is that people in the province on the lower end of the income ladder just don't make enough money.
 
He claims if you're working, you should not be in a position where it's tough to eat well because you're not making enough money.

Basque tells Tide News if you have to rely on food banks, as more and more people in the province are doing, you likely won't have access to fruits and vegetables.

Pension Coalition Hires Lawyer

The New Brunswick Pension Coalition is pulling out the legal big guns in their fight to get the provincial government to adopt the Shared Risk Model for its pension plan on a go-forward basis only. 

Coalition spokesperson Clifford Kennedy tells Tide News their goals haven't changed since they've hired Toronto lawyer Ari N. Kaplan, who has a track record of successfully counseling public sector pensioners. He says they simply want the existing agreement to be respected.
 
Kennedy says they decided to hire a lawyer now because the government has been clear that they want to go ahead with the Shared Risk Model---and the Coalition wants to make sure the plan members are protected.

Pair Arrested In Norton Home Invasion

The RCMP have arrested a man and woman who allegedly forced their way into a home in Norton and threatened the owner.

The 25 year old homeowner fired a shot into the floor of the house, after which the pair took off in a car. He was arrested but later released.

Police say this was an isolated incident. The homeowner and one of the suspects knew each other.

Another Attempt Finding Common Ground On Shale Gas

The Atlantica Centre for Energy taking another step toward trying to find common ground on the energy future of the province with the release of another video. 

Opinion is divided right down the middle on shale gas and it doesn't appear as if minds can be changed. Atlantica's John Herron tells Tide News the videos will be offering up different perspectives on how the province should proceed.

He says neither industry nor the government should lead the discussion and believes it could be the Energy Institute through Louis LaPierre with a citizens roundtable.

Herron warns protests happen when people don't think they're being listened to.

Green Party Leader Unimpressed With Plans To Protect More Wilderness

The Alward Government plans to double the percentage of protected wilderness in the province. 

That might sound like a good thing to most people but not to the leader of the Provincial Green Party David Coon who tells Tide News there's less to this than meets the eye.

Coon argues the areas that will be protected are those where companies have been restricted to select cutting which is more expensive than clear cutting which he claims is continuing on an unimaginable scale.

He claims New Brunswick is facing a crisis when it comes to protecting habitat and the province is caving in to pressure from the forestry industry.

Parking Meter App Gaining Ground In The Province

After getting the green light from Fredericton for a pilot project, the founder of a parking app has set his sights on Saint John. 

Phillip Curley is a student at UNB and the CEO of Hot Spot Parking, a program that lets you pay for on-street parking through your smartphone.

It works like this: when you sign up for the app online, you register your phone number, and when that number phones the Hot Spot Parking system, it will deduct money from your existing balance.

Curley tells Tide News he's been in talks with Uptown Saint John to set up meetings with retailers to get them on board. Through the app, retailers can choose to pay for their customers' parking.

The pilot project in Fredericton starts on Thursday, and Curley says he wants roll out the app in Saint John by September. He says installing the app in the city may come with an integration fee.

Secret Shopper Scam Targeting New Brunswickers

If you get a suspicious cheque in the mail, beware. A secret shopper scam is targeting New Brunswickers.

The Financial and Consumer Services Commission says a 13 year-old Minto girl received a cheque in the mail for $3,900 saying she qualified as a secret shopper. Her parents intervened by calling police, sharing their story on social media and reporting it to the commission. 

The commission says scams like this one have been making the rounds across the country. At least three other people have been approached.

The scheme starts when you get a cheque and letter from a company asking you to spend the money at a certain store, then asks for a certified cheque or a money transfer in return telling you that you can keep the rest of the money as compensation.

If you've been the target of a scam, get in touch with the Financial and Consumer Services Commission by calling (866) 933-2222.

RCMP Identify Man In Bus Crash

The Mounties have identified the man killed in a crash between a coach bus and a car on Friday as 31 year-old Jean-François Audrain.

They say Audrain is originally from Montreal, but was living in Welsford. He was the driver and only person in the car that collided with the bus on Highway 7, about halfway between Saint John and Fredericton. 

They're still investigating the cause of the crash, however, heavy rains are believed to have been a factor.

Local MLA Calls For Changes To Emergency Measures Act

A carbon copy of the flood of the century is how one local MLA describes what happened in St. Stephen over the weekend. 

With the devastating 2010 flood still fresh in the minds of residents, MLA for Charlotte-The Isles Rick Doucet is calling on the Alward government to do more when it comes to preparing for floods and helping people avoid flood damage.

Doucet tells Tide News he'll be re-introducing an amendment to the Emergency Measures Act to provide better coordination of emergency measures for those in charge of critical infrastructure in flood-prone areas. 

Many people have voiced their frustration to him about the dam in particular. He says they want more communication coming from the operators of the dam so that people are aware of what they're doing and when.

In an effort to get input from residents, he's organized a public meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 13 at 7pm at the Magaguadavic Place in St. George.

Residents Urged To Report Flood Damage

Residents in Charlotte and York Counties whose properties were damaged during the latest flood this past weekend are being asked by the Department of Public Safety's New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization to report the damage to Service New Brunswick.

On Friday, July 26th, St. Stephen was hit hardest in New Brunswick with 165 mms of rain falling on the town.

To report damage, you can call toll-free at 1-888-298-8555. Phone lines are open Mon-Fri from 8:30am-8pm, Saturday until 5pm, and Sunday from 9am-5pm.

The EMO says these reports will help officials assess the damage.

Mayor Says Changes Needed After 2nd Flood

Despite washed out streets and over 40 waterlogged basements, St. Stephen's mayor says with more than 165mm of rain falling onto our town, the situation could have been much worse.

Mayor John Quartermain tells Tide News he was on his way back from his lakeside cottage when he first heard about the flooding. On his way back into town, he says he pulled off of the new highway onto King Street and saw the road was completely covered in five or six feet of water.

He says they're trying to arrange meetings with the provincial government next week to find out how to handle the flooding issue. He says it's happened before, referencing the devastating 2010 flood, and chances are it will happen again. 

The forecast is calling for more rain for Charlotte County this week.
(Picture - The King Street traffic circle in December 2010)

Queen Square Farmers Market Gets Electricity

The Queen Square Farmers Market in Saint John is getting plugged in. Organizer Jody Kliffer tells CHSJ News the market is finally getting an electrical hook-up.

Kliffer believes it's going to have a positive impact on the market. He says electricity means the market can offer a wider variety of hot food items for sale.

The market occasionally used generators in the past, but Kliffer says they're clunky, noisy and emit gas fumes. He says it wasn't in the spirit of the market.

Now, he says, vendors only need to bring an extension cord to get electricity flowing to their stand

Maritime Delegation On Mission To Save Oyster Industry

A group of Maritime delegates are visiting New England for a week to learn how they've dealt with a deadly oyster disease that could have devastating consequences for Atlantic Canada's aquaculture industry. 

MSX, or Multinucleate Sphere X, is caused by a microscopic parasite that kills oysters. The disease decimated Nova Scotia's aquaculture industry in 2001. Executive Director of Nova Scotia's aquaulture industry, Bruce Hancock, says New England has developed fast-growing oyster strains that are also MSX-resistant. Hancock says the cost of the disease in Atlantic Canada is about a million dollars a year.

The aquaculture associations of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island are leading a group of about 16 researchers, industry delegates and government officials. The group will travel to Maine, Massachuetts and Rhode to talk about technology and policy approaches against MSX.

The disease poses no threat to humans.

Residents advised to report damages from Heavy Rainfall

Persons whose properties have sustained damage as a result of the heavy rainfall on July 26, 2013 in South-western NB (Charlotte and York counties) are requested by the Department of Public Safety’s New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization to report the damage to Service New Brunswick.

They may do so by calling toll-free, 1-888-298-8555(today, from 3:30pm – 5pm, Sunday 9am – 5pm and regular hours Mon. to Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m) or online.  These reports will help officials assess the damages.

Health and safety information, and tips for flood clean-up, are available on the River Watch website.

LINKS:

•

Service New Brunswick (forms): www.snb.ca/emo

•

River Watch: www.gnb.ca/RiverWatch

 

One Dead In Highway Crash Between Coach Bus And Vehicle

A man is dead after a fatal crash between a car and a coach bus on the highway. 

RCMP say it happened at 5:20pm on Highway 7 near Petersville, which is located about halfway between Saint John and Fredericton. 

The driver, who was the only person in the vehicle, died at the scene. Three of the nine people on the Maritime Bus coach were treated for minor injuries. 

What caused the crash isn't yet known, however, the Mounties say heavy rain may have played a role in the collision. They don't believe speed or alcohol are factors.

A collision re-constructionist is helping with the investigation.

Vehicle Flips On Highway

One person brought to hospital after a vehicle flipped over on the highway. 

It happened at noon on Highway 1, near the Fox Farm Road exit. Division Chief Mark Wilson of the Saint John Fire Department says when fire crews arrived, the person was out of the vehicle and being checked out by EMS. 

He says the person's injuries are not life-threatening.

Basement Blaze On Millidge Avenue In Saint John

Fire crews battling a basement blaze for over two hours.

Acting Platoon Chief Roy Byers of the Saint John Fire Department says they received the call of a structure fire at 876 Millidge Avenue just before 6pm, and the first firefighters on the scene reported seeing smoke. 

Byers says they were able to keep the fire from spreading, nobody was hurt and the cause of the fire has been deemed accidental.

Stay Off Roads

Motorists asked to stay off roads

The New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization has issued the following public alert:

Due to localized flooding, motorists are asked to stay off the roads in St. Stephen and other areas that have recently received high amounts of rainfall.  

The public is reminded that the best way to access emergency services is to call 9-1-1.

All residents should continue to monitor conditions and local forecasts, as conditions could worsen.

A list of weather warnings is available from Environment Canada. A variety of self-help advice is available at the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization public alerts site.

LINKS:

●    Environment Canada http://weather.gc.ca/warnings/?prov=nb

●    New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization http://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/public_safety/emo.html

Traffic Delays For Some Islanders Starting Today

Traffic delays starting today for some islanders.

The Campobello-Lubec International Bridge at the island will be reduced to one lane and stay that way for the summer.

The Department of Transportation says there will also be at least 3 full bridge closures during low traffic times.

DOT says structural repairs will be made as well as pier reinforcement and the work will be completed by September 30th.

Extra Funding Will Make Playground Wheelchair Accessible

Many dreams coming true with a huge donation.

A whopping $41,000 being donated to the St. Andrews Community Playground Restoration.

Chair of the Fundraising committee Isabelle Micheud tells Tide News with the extra funding they can now make the playground wheelchair accessible.

She says the wood chips will be changed to a rubber surface and equipment will be installed that children with mobility issues can use.

Save-Easy Owner Joey Craswell presenting a cheque of $20,000 yesterday to Vincent Massey Principal Leslie O'Leary and the St. Andrews Community Playground Restoration Fund. He says, "This is a community project and everybody really pulled together on this. I'm just so happy that PC Children's Charity has stepped up with a donation." Craswell says that PC usually chooses only one child to help and this time they've picked an entire community.

Another $20,000 was matched by St. Andrews resident Joe Clark and the Huntsman Marine donated $1460.

Two Arrested In Quispam Break & Enter

Rothesay Regional police are looking for a 29 year old man after 3 people tried to steal items from a home under construction in Quispamsis.

A neighbour across the street alerted police around 1130 last night and officers surrounded the home arresting a man and a woman while a second man took off.

A 26 year old man has a court appearance this morning while a 49 year old woman has a future court date.

Small Savings At The Pump

A teeny tiny break at the pump for some drivers this morning.

Regular self serve is down nearly two pennies to 135.7.

The cost of diesel is up more than a cent a litre to 137.4 and home heating oil is also up to 117.4 a litre.

Propane is also more expensive at 97.8 cents a litre at the weekly setting.

Vets And Many Other Benefit From Biker Festival

Our international biker festival being very beneficial to our veterans.

Canadian Chair of the Rally In The St. Croix Valley,  Bob Hamel tells Tide News they delivered a couple cheques worth $15,500 to the Ridgewood Veteran's Wing in Saint John on Saturday. He says $500 came from the 2nd CAV mambers with the other $15,000 being raised by events such as the annual Harley Draw.




Hamel says on top of raising the money for Ridgewood, other charities benefited. He tells us the Red Knights MC made $820 from the Peter McBride Memorial Poker Run to be donated in Peter's name to a charity. The 2013 Fundy Rugby team made over $950 to fund a trip to compete in a major tournament.

 Hamel says 1951 bikers registered this year and the St. Stephen Legion reported the biggest event fund total in 10 years.
He estimates that over the course of the two and 1/2 day rally, over $250,000 was spent locally on food, fuel, housing and goods.

Apartment Building Destroyed By Fire In Milltown

Seven tenants are temporarily homeless after a fire in an older two-storey wooden building in St. Stephen on Sunday afternoon around 2:30pm.

Red Cross disaster volunteers providing help for six tenants.

One woman was checked briefly at hospital due to a pre-existing medical condition and one firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation.

Firefighters from St. Stephen, Calais, Moores Mills, and Oak Bay responding to the blaze at 57 and 59 Queensway.

A cause is not yet known.

Ben & Marcia Will Wed By The Sea

Tell them congrats next time you see them....Ben Vienneau and Marcia Belyea are the grand prize winners of Win & Wed by the Sea.

The couple found out this morning they are the winning couple who win a wedding in St. Andrew's By the Sea worth more than $20,000.

Courtney and Chris from St. Stephen don't go away unhappy winning $2500 dollars for second place.

Crimestoppers Looking For Who Damaged Lot In Elmsville

Two vehicles spinning out causing some serious damage to a parking lot in Elmsville. 

St. George RCMP and Crimestoppers looking for any information the public may have about the incident, which happened on the evening of July 20.

The first vehicle is a newer model white, four-door, Ford 150 with a chrome push bar, side-steps and dark tonneau cover. The second vehicle is a white, two-door, Chevrolet Cobalt with a spoiler. 

You can contact Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

BREAKING NEWS : It's A Boy For Will And Kate

Duchess Catherine has given birth to a son weighing 8lbs 6 oz. The birth occurred at 4:24pm.

The baby will be third in line for the British throne after Prince Charles and William.
 

BREAKING NEWS: Severe Weather Watch Issued

Environment Canada issuing Severe Thunderstorm Watches across the province. 

The watches have been issued for Saint John and County, the Kennebecasis Valley, Sussex, Kings County, St. Stephen, Charlotte County, Grand Manan, and more.

The weather service says the storms are likely this afternoon or evening with the potential for strong winds heavy downpours and possibly hail.

Click here for the latest weather information.

Artists Create Works To Benefit John Peters Humphrey Foundation

Over 30 artists are in Hampton this weekend creating tiny works of art — they're taking part in Bloomin' Artists, a biennial fundraiser for the town's John Peters Humphrey Foundation.

Participating artist Alison Murphy tells us there are six gardens open for the artists to take inspiration from. They'll create their works of art in the garden, and the public is welcome to watch them work. The art itself will be small enough to fit inside a 12-inch pizza box.

The viewing of the finished art takes place at the Lighthouse River Centre at 1075 Main Street starting on both Saturday and Sunday at 11:30am with auctions at 2pm and 4:30pm.

This year, the John Peters Humphrey Foundation contributed funds towards a Hemmings House film about Humphrey called The Boy Who Was Bullied, a documentary about the human rights advocate. The film premiered on CBC Atlantic earlier this month.

Police Make Arrest In Hotel, Gas Station Robberies

A man arrested in connection with two robberies taking place within the span of half an hour. 

Saint John Police say at 5:30am this morning, a man went into the Hilton demanding cash. Then, just before 6am, the man entered the Garden Street Irving, demanding cash and left with an undisclosed amount of money. 

He was nabbed after a vehicle chase, which turned into a foot chase, ending on Prince Edward Street. The man is in court today, and is charged with two counts of robbery.

Province's Black Bear Population Increasing

The number of black bears in the province is growing, and one scientist says the upswing is directly related to the economic downtown across the border.

Kevin Craig, a wildlife biologist for the Department of Natural Resources says because of the financial conditions in the United States, fewer Americans are taking trips to the province to hunt the bears. Craig says the decrease in visiting hunters and more habitat has led to their numbers ballooning to 17,000 in the last few years.

There's been an increase in bear sightings in residential areas, however, Craig says people can reduce the number of encounters with bears by not leaving out garbage and bird feeders at night. To re-locate them, the Department of Natural Resources has set many live-traps in a variety of areas.

St. Stephen CAO John Ferguson Resigns

He's not heading out west -- but he is leaving St. Stephen.

Chief Administrative Officer John Ferguson has resigned.

The Town releasing a statement this morning that says Ferguson has accepted the position of CAO for the municipal county of Annapolis, Nova Scotia.

Ferguson states, " It has been a wonderful experience in St. Stephen. I am so impressed with the community's effort to move your beautiful border town forward. Please continue the wonderful work with each other and with your great neighbour: Calais, Maine."

He adds, "I wish St. Stephen well in their transition. St. Stephen has a bright future and excellent citizenry. Thank you St. Stephen. I look forward to shared opportunities to work with your great town on economic possibilities that affect all of us in Atlantic Canada."

Three Men Arrested In McAdam For Attempted Break-In

Three men have been arrested for attempted break and enter in McAdam.

RCMP say two men, ages 18 and 28, both from McAdam, were arrested Monday morning around 2am while trying to break into a shed.

A 33-year-old Blacks Harbour man was arrested on Wednesday in connection with the incident.

Police say all three are scheduled to appear in court at a later date.

Irving Oil Named In Lawsuit

Irving Oil has been added to the list of defendants in a proposed class-action lawsuit stemming from the train derailment in Lac-Megantic, Quebec.
    
The oil in the train cars that derailed and exploded was destined for Irving's refinery here in the city
    
An Irving spokesperson says the company did not own or control the oil or its transportation at any time.

Illegal Smokes Seized

About 260 thousand illegal cigarettes have been confiscated by the RCMP with two men from Burton now facing charges and hefty fines.
    
Police say the seizure of 26 cases of illegal tobacco happened after the two were stopped in Charters Settlement.
    
An 81-year-old man and 54-year-old man have court appearances scheduled in September. Their names won't be released until they are formally charged in court.

Tolls Again On The Harbour Bridge?

Social media was abuzz this morning with rumors that Transportation Minister Claude Williams had said there was a possibility of re-instating the toll on the Harbour Bridge.

The comments were made to the media yesterday. According the Honorable Dorothy Shepherd, the rumor was the result of a miscommunication when the Minister was talking about tolls in general.

Shepherd did say tolls are definitely on the table as an option for generation revenue--but not on the Harbour Bridge. It was a platform promise of the Tories to remove the toll, which was widely believed to unfairly penalize locals.

Point Lepreau Could Experience 2 Week Outage

The Point Lepreau Generating Station is currently operating safely at 95 per cent according to the New Brunswick government.

NB Power is considering the advantages of a two-week outage this fall so technicians can make adjustments to a steam valve.

NB Power stated its intent to have a two-week outage back in June. Fixing the valve would take care of steam line vibration issues, allowing the plant to return to 100 per cent reactor power.

If an outage is required, rates for NB Power customers would not be effected.

Referendum On Senate Gets Lukewarm Reaction

Liberal Senator Joe Day of Hampton isn't disputing the need to reform the Senate but he's not crazy about the idea of holding a national referendum on its fate which is being called for by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

Day tells Tide News the Senate isn't the only government institution in need of reform. He argues the House of Commons is in need of reform as evidenced by the mini revolt staged by some Conservative M-P's over their treatment at the hands of the Prime Minister's Office and the control being exerted over them by the P-M-O.

One former Conservative M-P from Alberta who's now sitting as an independent complains they were being treated like trained seals.

BREAKING NEWS: 9 Sex Charges Withdrawn Against City Doc

A big surprise in court this morning.

All 9 charges of sexual assault against a Saint John City doctor have been withdrawn.

At a court appearance this morning all 9 charges were withdrawn but a reason has not been given.

8 of the 9 charges against Dr. Alan Cockeram were laid back in February.

Defence lawyer Brian Munro got into a heated exchange with the judge over the reason the charges were withdrawn, which was not revealed.

Munro says his client's name has been dragged through the mud for 14 months.

Green Party Leader Calls Shale Gas Regulations "A Myth"

Provincial Green Party leader David Coon isn't buying assurances from Premier David Alward about provincial regulations being strong enough to protect the environment when it comes to shale gas testing.
 
Coon says the regulations are more like conditions that can be negotiated away.

He can't believe SWN Resources got a blanket exemption to carry out seismic testing for shale gas in provincial wetlands.

Nearly $30,000 Worth Of Pills Seized At Jail

Correctional Officers at the Atlantic Institution have nabbed a visitor trying to bring drugs into the maximum-security federal penitentiary.

The officers seized 25 g of Hydromorphone beads as well as Dilaudid, worth nearly $30,000 inside.

The visitor was arrested by the police and may face criminal charges. From April 12 to July 08, 2013 staff at the Institution have had a total of 7 drug seizures valued at over $65,000 and resulting in four visitor arrests.

The jail uses tools like ion scanners and drug dogs to search buildings, offenders and visitors.

Airport Enjoys Big Increase In Passenger Traffic

Things are going well these days at Saint John Airport which is reporting a ten per cent increase in passenger traffic for the first half of the year. That represents the highest rate of growth of any airport in the Atlantic region. 

The airport also announcing Sunwing is planning its seventh season with direct flights and vacation packages next year from Saint John to Mexico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic starting in February.

The economic impact of the Airport on the Saint John economy is estimated at 66 million dollars as well as the creation, directly and indirectly, of 570 jobs.

Green Party Leader Says Lepreau Refurbishment Not A Good Deal For Province

Even with cost overruns of over a billion dollars, provincial Energy Minister Craig Leonard is calling the refurbishment of the Point Lepreau nuclear power plant, a good deal for New Brunswick

The leader of the Provincial Green Party -- and Charlotte County local -- David Coon is scoffing at that, saying if Provincial Energy Minister Craig Leonard considers that a good deal, he would hate to see what a bad deal is.
 
Coon, who formerly was at the Conservation Council, points out the plant is still not up to full power and predicts there will be new problems cropping up to force it to shut down for more repairs.

Buskers On The Boardwalk Kicks Off Tomorrow

It's one of Saint John's most iconic summer events--and the kids will be especially excited to hear the 23rd edition of Buskers on the Boardwalk starts tomorrow.

The pay-what-you-can shows feature every variety of act from fire-juggling to sword-swallowers, contortionists to comedy. Stephany Peterson of the Hardman Group tells Tide News that's not all you can expect: events like zip-lining, bouncy rides, bumper boats and more making the event a magical one for families.

Performers from across the globe will be performing their unique routines from Thursday until the 21rst. For a full schedule and description of the performers click here.

Fire Ban For All Of New Brunswick

After the recent spell of hot, dry weather, the Department of Natural Resources has put a no burn order in effect for the entire province.

They're also reminding the public that all grass fires require permits, written burn plans and pre-inspection by a forest service officer.

The order stands until at least 2pm tomorrow...but there are some showers forecasted for late tonight and overnight which could help quell the dry conditions a little.

Ayla Reynolds' Father In Trouble With The Law

A year and a half after his daughter disappeared -- a man from Waterville, Maine is in the news again.

Portland Police say 26-year-old Justin DiPietro is charged with domestic violence assault after an officer watched him grab and push a woman on July 6th.

Police say the woman, who is DiPietro's ex-girlfriend, was not hurt and the two were arguing when the incident happened.

DiPietro has since been released on bail.

Back in December 2011, 20-month-old Ayla Reynolds was reported missing from her father's home.

Police confirmed Ayla's blood was found in DiPietro's basement, but no charges were ever laid in the child's disappearance and she was never found.

Humidex Advisory For St. Stephen

It's official. The dog days of summer are here, and they're scorching.

A humidex advisory is in effect for St. Stephen today, among many other places across the province, including Fredericton, Oromocto and the Kennebecasis Valley. 

The communities will see a high of 35 today, with a high UV index.