Good morning, Greater Sudbury
Here are some stories to start your day.
Fatal motor vehicle collision on Skead Road:
Skead Road was closed for several hours on Feb. 1 after a motor vehicle collision claimed the life of one woman. The collision occurred early Wednesday morning when a transport truck and a passenger vehicle collided. One woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Greater Sudbury Police have not released the name of the deceased. The road was closed from around 8:45 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. while GSPS officers investigated the collision. More on this story can be found here.
Arrest made in connection to recent graffiti:
A 26-year-old Sudbury man was arrested by the OPP Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement (R.O.P.E.) Squad on Feb. 1 on an outstanding Canada-wide Parole Warrant. The man was also charged under the Criminal Code of Canada for four counts of Mischief Under $5,000 by GSPS in connection to the recent graffiti that occurred between Jan. 22 and Jan. 25. The accused allegedly spray painted graffiti on the following locations; the Sudbury Secondary School building, the Rainbow District School Board building, the welcome sign at Laurentian University and Golder & Associates building. Read the full story here.
Sudbury Transit aims to reverse decline in ridership:
With ridership flat or in decline at about five million users a year, Sudbury Transit is looking to shake up its routes this year with an eye on attracting more riders. Last year, for example, fare revenue was about $240,000 less than forecast. Transit Director Michelle Ferrigan said a route optimization study will begin sometime in the next few months. The goal is to get a better understanding of why more people are taking the bus, and what changes would lead to more ridership. Find the full story here.
Mine Mill members OK four-year deal with Glencore:
Members of Mine Mill Local 598 have approved a four-year contract with Glencore Integrated Nickel Operations, an agreement the union says was negotiated under tough circumstances. Low nickel prices and the fact local Glencore officials are seeking approval for $1.4 billion investment to keep Sudbury mines operating long-term were major factors at the bargaining table, Richard Paquin, Mine Mill's lead negotiator, said Wednesday. After soaring six years ago well above $10 a pound, nickel has been hovering around $4.30 in recent years. The contract was approved by 78 per cent of the roughly 800 members eligible to vote, which includes miners and mechanics. Check back with Sudbury.com later today for more on this story.
New rules protect consumers against door-to-door salespeople:
New rules came into place on Jan. 1 to better protect households and small businesses in their dealings with energy retailers. Door-to-door energy retailers can present consumers with information at the door of their home at certain times, but they can no longer sign them up for a contract when they are there. This gives residential consumers more time to consider whether an energy contract is right for them and make an informed decision. Thanks to these new regulations, it is now illegal for door-to-door energy retailers to sign you up for an energy contract while they are at your home. As a result, residential consumers won’t have to feel pressured to make a decision on the spot. Read more on this story here.
Sneak peek at the 2017-18 season at SSO:
The Sudbury Symphony Orchestra is breaking out of its mould with a bold and diverse 2017-18 season spread out over several Greater Sudbury venues. Sudbury.com will bring you all the details of what to expect from the SSO with our sneak peek later today.
Meeting with CN fails to get railway to limit delays at crossings:
Following complaints from residents, the city's emergency services committee will get an overview next week on the rules governing how long trains can hold up traffic. The report follows a motion passed in November from Ward 7 Coun. Mike Jakubo that called for a limit of 12 minutes for trains to clear public crossings. What prompted his motion was the fact that in Capreol, trains have blocked roads for as long as 30 to 40 minutes. And Capreol residents who attended a town hall hosted by Nickel Belt MP Marc Serré in October raised concerns about the unusually long delays causing public safety concerns at the Young Street rail crossing. Find the full story here.
Thursday weather:
A little bit of everything is in the Thursday forecast. Mix of sun and cloud to start the day then mainly cloudy into the afternoon. Chances of flurries throughout the day with a high near -10. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
