Nova Scotia news feed - MSN CA

Family speaks out after mall refuses cart for autistic child

2013-05-24T17:26:02

The Lavallee's say there aren't enough resources in public places for families with special needs.

School workers in children's mouth-taping incident off the job

2013-05-24T15:18:32

The Halifax Regional School Board says two assistant instructors are no longer employed with the board following complaints that an after-school monitor taped shut the mouths of several Nova Scotia students last week as a punishment.

Big hurricane season expected this year

2013-05-24T16:44:15

Canadian forecasters are warning warmer-than-average ocean waters and the lack of an El Nino warming of the central Pacific Ocean will contribute to an "active" hurricane season this year.

Rare albino lobster caught in Cape Breton

2013-05-24T16:38:50

Rocket's Lobster Pound in Cape Breton says a 77-year-old fisherman caught a white lobster this week in Lingan.

Man crashes car, climbs Dartmouth transmission tower

2013-05-24T08:17:47

More than 4,000 Nova Scotia Power customers in Dartmouth were without power early Friday morning after a man climbed a transmission tower and had to be talked down by Halifax Regional Police.

Kentville man faces child porn, luring charges

2013-05-24T15:07:56

Nova Scotia RCMP have arrested a 26-year-old Kentville man and charged him with possession of child pornography and trying to lure a child for a sexual purpose over the internet.

PGA Tour Canada schedules tournament in Cape Breton

2013-05-24T15:17:29

The inaugural PGA Tour Canada series has scheduled one of its tournaments in Cape Breton, with The Lakes Golf Club in Ben Eoin hosting the Cape Breton Celtic Classic in September.

Maritime Link rejection urged by consumer advocate

2013-05-24T09:30:58

Nova Scotia's consumer advocate is asking the Utility and Review Board to reject the Maritime Link deal as currently proposed by Nova Scotia Power's parent company, Emera Inc.

Bats may be wiped out by deadly fungus: researchers

2013-05-24T09:39:02

A Nova Scotia biologist says he and others in the scientific community are perplexed that the federal government has not declared bats an endangered species.

Prom dress donations pour in for grads on a budget

2013-05-24T09:31:48

A community group in Sydney Mines gathering prom dresses for graduates in need says it's been overwhelmed with donations.

Chained-teen's mom wants man who pleaded guilty 'to suffer'

2013-05-23T14:11:10

The mother of a teen who was chained up and sexually assaulted at a Nova Scotia home said after David James Leblanc pleaded guilty to some charges that she wants him "to suffer."

Jury duty no-shows lead to crackdown by 2nd N.S. judge

2013-05-23T21:37:08

A judge in Nova Scotia Supreme Court has ordered sheriffs to round up more people who didn't show up in court after being summoned for jury duty.

RCMP find 850 marijuana plants in Annapolis Valley

2013-05-23T21:39:33

Two people are in custody after police found hundreds of marijuana plants in two homes on Wednesday.

Student survey shows 'concerning' mental health numbers

2013-05-23T19:44:31

A new survey says Nova Scotia students in four selected grades who attend junior and senior high schools were most likely to try alcohol over drugs last year.

Beer, wine should be sold in grocery stores: Tories

2013-05-23T17:44:08

Nova Scotia's Finance Minister says she has no plans to change the province's liquor laws after the Progressive Conservatives called for the sale of alcohol in grocery stores.

Fever medicine for infants, children under recall

2013-05-24T07:40:48

Quality concerns with a Chinese producer of acetaminophen have prompted a recall of four fever medications meant for infants and children.

Canada Post campaigns against 'no flyers' mailbox signs

2013-05-23T17:56:04

Canada Post has been mailing more than 900,000 letters across the country to people to try to convince them to remove "no flyer" signs from their mailboxes.

Atlantic hurricane season forecast to be busy

2013-05-23T16:33:52

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting is busier than average Atlantic hurricane season with up to 20 named storms, including as many as six major hurricanes.

Parishioners protest closing of C.B. church

2013-05-23T18:10:21

About 30 people in Sydney Mines held a protest Thursday outside a Catholic church that's slated to close in June.

Man charged with drunk driving 2 days in a row

2013-05-23T14:40:46

A 62-year-old Lower Sackville man has been charged two days in a row with driving drunk, say RCMP.

Duffy expense claims reveal more about campaign travel

2013-05-23T16:45:15

Election spending records show additional days Senator Mike Duffy spent on the campaign trail in the 2011 election, including days he told the Senate he was on business, and days on which Deloitte auditors couldn't track him.

Cape Breton harness racing cancelled over virus fears

2013-05-23T17:39:27

Harness race cards at Northside Downs and Inverness Raceway in Cape Breton have been cancelled this weekend as a precaution against the spread of a potential virus.

Deep Panuke gas production 'on track' for June

2013-05-23T10:36:44

The Dutch company hired to build, commission and operate the Deep Panuke offshore natural gas production facility says the project is "on track" to produce its first natural gas before the end of June.

Grieving father warns of scam citing N.S. lottery winners

2013-05-23T08:45:40

A grieving father in Connecticut is warning others to be cautious after he was the target of scammers claiming to be members of a Nova Scotia family who gave away most of their huge lottery winnings.

Halifax Mooseheads clinch berth in Memorial Cup final

2013-05-23T10:05:47

The Halifax Mooseheads have clinched a berth directly into Sunday's final at the Memorial Cup tournament, courtesy of the Portland Winterhawks' win over the Saskatoon Blades on Wednesday night.

Rothesay man charged with 2nd-degree murder

2013-05-23T12:34:50

Adam Prest, 39, has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of his common-law wife Tanya Shand in Rothesay on Wednesday.

Needed: New approaches to defuse 'suicide contagion' among teens

2013-05-23T12:12:29

Mental health experts say we need to find new ways to refer to and discuss suicide, particularly now that a large medical study has confirmed that teens are more susceptible to the idea if they know a schoolmate who died that way.

Allegation that students' mouths were taped shut probed by police

2013-05-22T20:35:57

The Halifax Regional School Board says a second assistant instructor has been sent home on paid leave following complaints that an after-school monitor taped shut the mouths of several Nova Scotia students last week as a punishment.

Electrocution victim remembered by fire chief

2013-05-22T21:28:27

The 39-year-old man who was electrocuted in a Halifax industrial accident is being remembered as a dedicated family man and loyal firefighter.

Senate scandal draws sharp words from N.S. PC leader

2013-05-22T18:11:31

Nova Scotia's top Tory politician says it's time the prime minister changed the rules to help clean up the "mess" that's going on in Ottawa around Senator Mike Duffy.

Dog survives fall down deep sinkhole in Sydney Mines

2013-05-22T19:30:19

People in Sydney Mines are calling for someone to fill a large sinkhole on a property after a dog fell down it one week ago.

Suspicious package call shuts down Gottingen Street

2013-05-22T18:09:25

Halifax Regional Police closed off part of Gottingen Street for several hours on Wednesday after a report of a suspicious package at the Juno Tower on CFB Stadacona.

'Hitman' scam targets Halifax cellphones

2013-05-22T16:03:32

Halifax Regional Police say several people in the city have received text messages from someone claiming to be a hitman who has been hired to kill them.

Gaps in oversight of foster kids, says auditor general

2013-05-22T13:19:30

Foster children and other kids in care are not being adequately monitored and investigations into alleged abuse are taking too long and are slow to start, Nova Scotia's auditor general said in a report that highlights failings in the province's child welfare system.

Man beaten and robbed in north-end Halifax

2013-05-22T10:35:07

Halifax Regional Police are looking for four people after a man said he was assaulted and robbed in north-end Halifax on Tuesday night.

More safety investigators urged after electrocution

2013-05-22T09:34:02

The head of the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour is renewing his call for specially trained safety investigators and prosecutors to deal with workplace safety after a 39-year-old worker was electrocuted on the job.

Cape Breton man receives support after deck vandalism

2013-05-22T14:46:36

A Cape Breton man with cerebral palsy says he's overjoyed by the support he's received from people across Nova Scotia after he had part of his property destroyed by vandals.

Friends fundraising for boy with rare brain cancer

2013-05-22T07:40:44

Family and friends of a 20-month-old toddler from Eastern Passage are appealing for help to send the boy to Texas to treat a rare form of brain cancer.

Blood donation ban lifted for some men who have sex with men

2013-05-22T11:19:47

Health Canada will allow men to donate blood if they haven't had sex with a man in the last five years, a change in policy to take effect in the coming weeks.

Children's mouths allegedly taped shut at N.S. school

2013-05-22T11:38:57

An assistant instructor at a school in Bedford, N.S., is under investigation by police after allegedly taping shut the mouths of several students.

1/3 of Canadians live paycheque to paycheque, survey suggests

2013-05-22T13:47:42

Almost a third of Canadian households report never or almost never having any money left to save after paying their bills, according to a new study issued Wednesday.

Dartmouth man reports roofers not wearing safety gear

2013-05-21T21:46:14

A man who lives in a Dartmouth highrise says he frequently sees roofers without safety gear on as they build a new subdivision nearby.

Man electrocuted in Halifax industrial accident

2013-05-21T17:00:54

Halifax Regional Police say a man has died after being electrocuted while working at a building on Chain Lake Drive.

Pink Shirt Day co-founder seeks Tory nomination

2013-05-21T21:42:56

The Nova Scotia co-founder of the anti-bullying campaign known as Pink Shirt Day announced Tuesday he wants to run for the Progressive Conservatives in the next provincial election.

Annapolis Valley apple orchard quarantined

2013-05-21T20:30:05

An orchard in Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley has been placed under quarantine after the detection of apple proliferation phytoplasma, a plant pest that is considered one of the most critical diseases of apple trees.

Sudden death of Digby man investigated

2013-05-21T14:09:49

Nova Scotia RCMP are investigating the sudden death of a Digby man who was found shot on Monday.

Patience urged for former Bowater plant renewal

2013-05-21T08:20:19

The chair of the government agency spearheading a new business plan for the former Bowater-Mersey paper mill in Nova Scotia's Queens County is warning not to expect immediate results.

Dominion Beach closed as berm construction begins

2013-05-21T14:39:51

While the Victoria Day long weekend marked the opening of most of Nova Scotia's provincial parks for the season, Cape Breton's Dominion Beach remained closed as part of a major construction project to stabilize the beach.

'Very upset' Harper wants fast Senate spending reform

2013-05-22T01:17:30

Prime Minister Stephen Harper told the Conservative caucus this morning that he's "very upset" about the recent conduct of some senators and his own office, and he wants Senate spending rules tightened quickly.

Porters Lake woman dies in fatal Cole Harbour crash

2013-05-20T17:04:50

RCMP in Nova Scotia are investigating a fatal head-on crash in Cole Harbour that killed a 51-year-old woman and sent a 72-year-old man to hospital on Monday.

Halifax man rescued after 24 hours stranded in the woods

2013-05-20T16:04:11

A Halifax man can thank police, a concerned friend and his dog for saving him after a dramatic rescue near Musquodoboit Harbour on Monday.

Conservative MP remains tight-lipped on Duffy scandal

2013-05-20T15:43:18

Revenue Minister and P.E.I. Conservative MP Gail Shea isn't offering an opinion on whether Senator Mike Duffy should resign in light of the unraveling expenses controversy.

Halifax woman prepares for big Gambia run

2013-05-20T09:40:13

As thousands of Nova Scotians recover from running in Bluenose Marathon events, a Halifax woman is preparing to run 17 half-marathons in 17 days — in Gambia.

Halifax musicians rally behind guitarist Rick Edgett

2013-05-20T11:22:11

Halifax musicians are fundraising for local guitar player Rick Edgett, who's dying of cancer.

Cape Breton fishermen pray as lobster season begins

2013-05-20T08:08:25

Nova Scotia lobster fishermen and their families gathered on their boats in Main-a-Dieu on Sunday for the annual Blessing of the Fleet ceremony.

N.S. tobacconist won’t appeal charter challenge ruling

2013-05-19T15:09:07

A tobacco store owner in Kentville will not appeal a court decision forcing him to hide its products.

Harper to address Tory caucus amid Senate scandal

2013-05-21T05:18:53

Conservatives gathered Monday night to mourn the passing of a key architect in their rise to power — and to brace for the toughest test Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government has faced since taking office on a promise to clean up politics in the national capital.

Cape Breton police investigate Caledonia Club robbery

2013-05-19T19:14:08

Cape Breton police are investigating an armed robbery at the Caledonia Club in Glace Bay, N.S. Saturday night.

Police find bodies of 2 missing New Brunswick fishermen

2013-05-19T11:54:57

Two bodies have been found close to a submerged boat off the coast of New Brunswick, a day after a boat capsized with three crew members on board.

Man, 80, dies on fishing outing near Bridgewater

2013-05-19T13:14:01

An 80-year-old Nova Scotia man has died after he fell into the water on Wentzell's Lake near Bridgwater, say police.

Man charged after throwing a bucket at an RCMP officer

2013-05-19T14:47:55

A 61-year-old man is facing charges of assaulting Halifax RCMP officers after an incident in the North Preston area Saturday night.

Blue Nose Youth Run draws thousands

2013-05-18T18:44:27

Thousands of people joined the Blue Nose Youth Run Saturday morning.

Sydney 'hackathon' challenges techies

2013-05-19T11:52:55

Cape Breton techies are building computer programs from scratch in Sydney`s first hackathon.

Worker falls in ocean in Digby accident

2013-05-18T15:19:01

RCMP in Nova Scotia are investigating after an excavator and its operator plunged into the ocean Saturday.

Harper chief of staff resigns amid Senate expense scandal

2013-05-20T01:21:39

Nigel Wright has resigned as Prime Minister Stephen Harper's chief of staff, following revelations he wrote a $90,000 cheque to repay living expenses claimed by Senator Mike Duffy.

Rescue attempt over for New Brunswick fishermen

2013-05-18T20:20:41

The rescue attempt for two missing fishermen has been called off in New Brunswick, hours after one body was found.

Roundup of Bluenose Marathon street closures

2013-05-17T21:23:48

Thousands are gearing up for this weekend's 10th annual Bluenose Marathon and motorists are being advised of street closures.

Sailor fighting cancer says AWOL charges dropped

2013-05-17T18:23:56

All charges against a Nova Scotia woman in the Royal Canadian Navy who is fighting cancer, and who was charged with being absent without leave and facing a court martial have been dropped, the woman and her lawyer say.

Mother of worker who died calls for more site inspections

2013-05-17T21:26:45

The mother of a worker who died last week on the job is calling for more labour inspectors and regular workplace inspections.

Man sentenced to 7 years in Spryfield shooting

2013-05-17T15:43:15

A 19-year-old who was involved in the killing of a man in Spryfield who was out for a walk has been sentenced to seven years in prison.

Luck changes for $3.2M lottery winners from Cape Breton

2013-05-17T18:24:06

The lucky owners of a $3.2 million winning lottery ticket sold in Cape Breton's Victoria County have come forward.

Police not responsible for man who died in custody

2013-05-17T18:24:12

Cape Breton police officers were not responsible for the death of a man who died in their custody last December, Nova Scotia's Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) has concluded.

Family homeless after fire near Shubenacadie

2013-05-17T18:24:01

Two boys were sent to hospital to check for smoke inhalation after escaping their burning home with their mother early Friday morning.

Wolf cubs among new arrivals at C.B. wildlife park

2013-05-17T12:56:19

Two Rivers Wildlife Park in Cape Breton is welcoming new arrivals to its family while other parts of the park are receiving a facelift.

Marine Atlantic accepting bids for new N.S. terminal

2013-05-17T15:43:28

Two requests for proposals have been issued for the construction of a new ferry terminal in North Sydney, N.S.

Future of Cogswell Interchange excites Haligonians

2013-05-17T12:11:33

Hundreds of people attended a meeting Thursday night to talk about what might replace the Cogswell Interchange.

Cohon challenges Maritimes to support new CFL team

2013-05-17T12:45:37

CFL commissioner Mark Cohon believes the maritime region could support a tenth team and said he will work towards a new franchise during his time as commissioner.

Fracking water banned from Debert sewers

2013-05-17T07:52:06

Nova Scotia's Colchester County is blocking a company's plan to dump fracking waste water in the sewer in Debert, a system that is connected to the Bay of Fundy.

Man seriously injured after car crashes, catches fire

2013-05-17T10:03:12

A 41-year-old man is in Cape Breton Regional Hospital with serious injuries after his vehicle rolled off Highway 125 and caught fire.

Green Gym removed from Dartmouth park

2013-05-17T08:11:39

A popular set of outdoor exercise equipment is gone from a Dartmouth park after pieces broke and the equipment was deemed unsafe.

Memorial Cup littered with storylines

2013-05-17T07:50:30

The annual 10-day Memorial Cup to decide the CHL champion begins Friday with the host Saskatoon Blades facing the OHL's London Knights in a game that features teams that took very different routes to get here.

Senator Mike Duffy quits Tory caucus

2013-05-17T07:53:53

Senator Mike Duffy has resigned from the Conservative caucus amid controversy over his living and travel expense claims.

Duffy claimed Senate expenses while campaigning in 2011

2013-05-17T11:16:15

Liberal MPs in Nova Scotia are reacting to news that Conservative Senator Mike Duffy was submitting Senate expense claims on days he was also campaigning for the party during the last federal election.

Reward offered in 2-year-old unsolved homicide case

2013-05-16T21:27:08

A two-year old homicide case in Halifax has been added to a program in Nova Scotia that pays rewards for tips that lead to arrests and convictions in unsolved crimes.

Bus/pedestrian collision sends man to hospital

2013-05-16T21:27:17

Halifax Regional Police are investigating a bus/pedestrian collision that sent a man to hospital Thursday afternoon.

Accused in chained-teen case to enter guilty pleas

2013-05-16T12:03:20

The lawyer for David James Leblanc, the accused in the case of a teenage boy who was found chained after escaping a Nova Scotia home last year, says his client will plead guilty to a number of charges next week.

RCMP, volunteers comb woods looking for missing woman

2013-05-16T18:17:53

RCMP and dozens of volunteers are combing the woods in rural Cape Breton searching for a woman who has been missing for nearly two weeks.

Lucky Cape Bretoner holds winning $3.2M lotto ticket

2013-05-16T18:18:09

Some lucky lotto player in Cape Breton's Victoria County is $3 million richer today.

HRP officer facing assault charge for off-duty incident

2013-05-16T16:08:53

A Halifax Regional Police officer is facing an assault charge after an incident earlier this month in Lower Vaughan, located in Hants County, N.S.

Sunwing engine-fire scare returns flight to Halifax airport

2013-05-16T14:32:05

An engine-fire scare sent a Cuba-bound plane leased by Sunwing with seven crew members and no passengers aboard back to Halifax Stanfield International Airport, just minutes after takeoff early today.

Military to march cup into Saskatoon

2013-05-16T08:39:30

The military will march the Memorial Cup into Saskatoon today as the face off for the Canadian Hockey League Championship nears.

Sydney road improvements inadequate, say residents

2013-05-16T13:12:58

People who live near the Kytes Hill drive intersection on Grand Lake Road say the province's plan to improve road safety in their area doesn't go far enough.

Duffy claimed Senate expenses while election campaigning

2013-05-16T11:29:49

Conservative Senator Mike Duffy submitted expense claims while Parliament was dissolved during the last federal election, reporting he was on Senate business on days he appeared to be campaigning for the party.

Tree-killing beetle leaves New Brunswick

2013-05-16T11:31:29

The brown spruce longhorn beetle is no longer considered an active threat in New Brunswick, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Man dies after being hit by car in Halifax

2013-05-16T10:33:03

Halifax Regional Police said a 73-year-old man died overnight after being hit by a car Wednesday.

Halifax mom wants head lice checks back in schools

2013-05-16T09:20:57

Robyn Berman said she had no choice but to shave her boys' long, curly hair after both were infested with the pests.

N.S. spending $12K to help girls at risk

2013-05-16T10:32:57

Premier Darrell Dexter said Wednesday that the program will allow about 20 girls to participate in job training and other activities that will help build positive support networks.

UFO sightings in Canada in 2012 doubled previous record

2013-05-15T18:11:03

More Canadians say they are seeing unidentified flying objects than ever before, with 2012 numbers nearly doubling the record number of sightings recorded in previous years.

Indian company outlines $3B LNG terminal in Guysborough

2013-05-15T21:13:04

A company based out of India is outlining plans to build a $3-billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in the Strait of Canso.