Mixed reviews from Windsor drivers over a call to reduce the speed limit on the Expressway.

   Councillor Fulvio Valentinis wants the issue studied.

    Some drivers Ali say reducing the speed limit on EC Row will cause more problems, others believe the speed is already too high.

   Valentinis wants the speed reduced because he says it would be safer as traffic volumes increase.

   Essex MPP Taras Natyschak is keeping up the pressure on the Liberal government over casino closures and layoffs.

   Natyschak quizzed Finance Minister Dwight Duncan over continued layoffs at Ceasars despite the closing of the Raceway Slots.

   Duncan defended the decision to keep a single gaming facility here.

   Duncan pointed to the increasing competition across the border for gaming revenue.

A suspect is in OPP custody after border agents seized a large cache of weapons at the Blue Water Bridge near Sarnia.

Canada Border Services Agency reports three handguns, three switch-blade knives, a stun gun and nunchucks were found in a vehicle entering Canada last Wednesday.

A Nevada resident is facing a long list of charges, including smuggling and unauthorized possession of firearms.

    There's a new plan to retool the local workforce to be ready for jobs in Green energy.

    Workforce Windsor-Essex has spent a year examining the jobs that are coming in renewable energy - many of which have already opened in this area.

    Denny Timm is the project officer for Workforce. He says despite some green energy plants closing or laying off workers, there is a future for jobs in the industry.

     A study in Essex county on the pollution being put out by greenhouses is prompting action by the Ontario government.

     Those huge, foul algae blooms that pop up each summer, often cloaking parts of the Lake Erie shoreline, are attributed to phosphorous discharges into the lake.

     And a recent study of some waterways in Leamington and Kingsville where greenhouses discharge waste water, (including Sturgeon Creek) show high levels of fertilizer ingredients - phosphorous, nitrate and copper - higher  than anywhere in Ontario.

     Environment Minister Jim Bradley tells AM800 News that they'll be inspecting more greenhouses and monitoring the waterways to clean up the discharge.

     Everyone's a winner at this year's Special Olympics in LaSalle.

     Over 300 special education students from 39 elementary schools took
part in today's event at Sandwich Secondary High School.

     Matthew is a Grade 2 student at Talbot Trail Public School. He says
this was his first time running the 50 meter race.

     "I think I did good, kind of, not really that much. Forth place. I'm
still proud of myself though, this is my first time racing."

     Students competed in 50 and 100 meter races, ball throwing and
standing long jump.

     The Greater Essex County District School Board hosted the 2012 Special Olympics.

     The CEO at the Windsor Public Library will be off for an additional week on medical leave.

     Barry Holmes has been off sick since May 2nd and was supposed to return today.

     But AM 800 News has learned Holmes will be returning to the office on Wednesday, May 15th.

     In his absence, Chris Woodrow has been asked to step in as acting CEO.

      It's going to take longer than expected to get the Jiimaan back in service.

     The Pelee Island ferry is in drydock for repairs and won't be back in the water by this weekend as promised.  Officials at Owen Sound Transportation says it may be the end of the month before it's ready to go.

       The Pelee Islander, meantime, is expected to return to service  following sea trials May 15th.

     There's a call  for a lower speed limit on the E-C Row Expressway.

      It's 100 kilometers per hour right now, but ward 3 councillor, Fulvio Valentinis, thinks 90 might be more appropriate.

     He says Windsor-Essex Parkway construction has added to congestion on the expressway, especially in the stretch between Central and Dougall Avenues.

   To learn the details of the KPMG audit of the Windsor Public Library...we'll have to wait.

   Windsor Council is deferring that report.

   Councillor Joanne Gignac wants to have Library CEO Barry Holmes at the table to answer questiosn when the document is presented.

   A pair of St. Joe's High school students are bringing home a thousand dollars.

   They won an Ontario wide business competition last week.

   Andrew Matlob and Bojan Pajik finished ahead of 5-thousand others in the CA-Sprott Business Compeition.

   Contestants tested their marketing, accounting and sales skills while managing a virtual company.

   New production plans mean that Ford Motor Company will idle 13-plants for just one week instead of the traditional two this summer.

   This will allow the automaker to produce 40-thousand vehicles more than originally projected.

   The change is in line with Ford's plan to increase annual production by 400-thousand units this year.

    The summer changes affect plants in Michigan, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky and Ohio as well as the Essex Engine plant in Windsor.

     Al Maghnieh will stay on as Windsor city councillor for Ward 10.

     In a news conference heard 'live' on AM800, Maghnieh thanked his family and friends for their support and asked the voters of Ward 10 for forgiveness.

     Maghnieh resigned in disgrace as chair of the Windsor Public Library Board after it was learned he used a corporate credit card for personal expenses.

     He says he has paid back all expenses -- both business and personal -- and is vowing to pay another $18,000 to cover the cost of the library audit.

     Maghnieh is taking full responsibility for his actions, saying that he used the credit card so that he could be a "big shooter."

     He also says that he will continue to get personal counselling.

     Some good news in the strike at Reliance Home Comfort.

     The company and the union, CEP, will meet on Thursday to resume talks.

     42 employees in Windsor are among those at nearly 300 other locations across Canada who walked off the job last Wednesday.

     The company says service is not being interrupted.

     A much anticipated night at Windsor city council.

     The issue of the future of City Councillor Al Maghnieh will be addressed.

     Maghnieh will announce if he is staying on  or resigning after a credit card scandal at the Library Board that he chaired.

     AM800 will go live with part of the meeting starting shortly after 7pm  when council starts to deal with the auditor's report on the Library finances.

     Parents of students at a local Catholic elementary school slated for closure are voicing their concerns.

     St. Theresa's in Amherstburg is one of the schools the catholic board has recommended to close.

     Parents claims it doesn't make sense since 15-hundred homes are being built in the area.

     Parent Bob Goggin has a daughter at St. Theresa's in grade 7 and believes a lot of the parents will just transfer their child over to the Public School Board.

      The board is recommending the closure of St. Theresa's school and transferring students over to St. Bernard.

     A mom who gave birth in a Windsor Tim Horton's bathroom this morning is speaking out about the ordeal.

     Shireen Anderson (seen below at Windsor Regional Hospital) says she didn't realize she was having contractions when she needed to go to the bathroom at Tim Horton's.

     That's when she realized she was having a baby.

     She screamed for help and an employee at the coffee shop helped to deliver a healthy baby girl named Azauria

     Anderson says thankfully, an employee in the coffee shop helped her out.

    "One of the employees, I think her name was Judy, was calming me down and they were on the phone with EMS, of course I wasn't listening too much because I was in pain at the time",  says Anderson.

      Anderson gave birth within an hour of getting the contractions. This is her second child.

     Colchester residents are calling for changes to a multi-million dollar harbour improvement plan.

     They don't like a proposed parking lot and boardwalk along the beach, saying it limits access to the water.

     Resident, Greg Schlosser, says high bacteria counts in the water also need to be addressed.

     A public meeting is set for May 15th at the Harrow Arena.

     An angry Eddie Francis has responded to a call to have him removed as Chair of the Windsor Police Services Board.

     The Windsor Police Association claims  the mayor has missed too many  meetings and has repeatedly made disparaging comments about officers.

     Francis believes there's a motive behind the complaint -- to have him removed from contract negotiations and the search for a new police chief.  Francis says he answers only to the voters and it's his job to reflect the views of the community.

     The Association has filed a complaint with the Ontario Civilian Police Commission asking for an investigation into the mayor's conduct.

     The Mayor of Essex wants fewer police officers on the day shift and more on duty at night.

      Ron McDermott says night time is when the majority of crimes are committed and he plans to raise this issue at today's Police Services Board meeting.

    The OPP replaced the town's municipal force 3 years ago and overall, says McDermott,  policing has improved.

     Design plans for a new multi-use recreation facility in Lakeshore have been made public.

     The initial plan calls for 3 ice pads, a double gym, 8,000 square foot library and a multi-purpose room.

     The Ontario government has already pledged $17 million toward the $40 million cost. The federal government is being asked for funding as well.

   Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis is incensed over a complaint by the Windsor Police Association.

   They've asked the Ontario Civilian Police Commission to look into the Mayor's conduct and performance.

   The association says the chair of the police services board has bashed its members and often isn't at board meetings.

   Francis shot back he never bashed the police officers and he thinks it has more to do with removing him before a contract is negotiated or the new police chief is chosen.

     It's Massive Music Monday...and hundreds of Windsor-Essex high school students joined up with students across Canada to play one song at the same time.

    The annual event involved thousands of students participating from coast to coast at 1 PM.

   Jesse Ropat is a Grade 12 student at Herman High School....and says music can link an entire country.

    Herman High School music teacher Bernadette Berthalotte says the event brings all kinds of students together to do the same thing at the same time.

     Talks have broken down with Oakley Industries.

     Third Vice President of CAW Local 444 Dave LaRue says the union is going to approach Chrysler to see what role it can play in reaching an agreement with the auto parts supplier.

     LaRue hopes Chrysler can provide some help in talks. He says the union will now start talks with Chrysler to see if there is a resolve.

     He says at this time the union is not going to strike Chrysler with Oakley.

     A Windsor family is in mourning following a fatal crash on the weekend.

     Saturday night around 11 p.m., a Ford Explorer rolled a number of times on the EC Row Expressway west of Banwell Road.

     The driver of the car, 21 year old Lana Markovic died.

     Three others in the vehicle suffered minor injuries.

     The expressway was closed for nearly nine hours while police investigated.

     Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews says she's pleased to see Windsor Regional Hospital CEO David Musyj take full responsibility for a mistaken lumpectomy.

     As AM 800 News reported last Friday..a woman had unnecessary surgery last month after a pathologist at the hospital incorrectly identified the patient.

     Matthews says the hospital is taking steps to make sure this doesn't happen again.

     The minister says they're focusing on quality when it comes to hospitals.  Matthews says those quality indicators are important because it's important to understand what went wrong and to ensure it doesn't happen again.

     Musyj says the mistake was made in the pathology department and that the surgeon did nothing wrong.

     The pathologist has taken a voluntary, two-week leave.

     The Windsor Police Association has filed a formal complaint against Mayor Eddie Francis, the chair of the Windsor Police Services Board.

     Association Administrator Ed Parent says Francis takes every opportunity to bash the organization.

     The Association is asking the Ontario Civilian Police Commission to investigate misconduct by the chair and if it finds that Mayor Francis has committed misconduct, to impose the maximum penalty by removing Francis from the board.

     Parent says as chair of the board, Francis should be helping the organization instead of tearing it down. 

     Parent says Francis is really not supporting the police service when he talks to the public.  

      Windsor Police Services Board Vice Chair of the Board Toni Scislowski calls the complaint upsetting and disheartening.

     Scislowski says the board met this morning to discuss the complaint.

     In case of a natural disaster, Windsor Fire and Rescue wants to ensure the public is prepared.

     Emergency Preparedness Week starts today and runs through Saturday. Officials say many people aren't equipped to handle sudden emergencies.

     Chief Fire Prevention Officer Lee Tome says families need to have a kit that will make them self-sufficient for at least three days.

     Tome says things like flashlights, batteries, a radio and batteries or a crank radio because if there is no power you won't be able to listen to your radio and TV to see what the situation is in your community.

     Officials say lives can be saved by simply having a plan in place in case of a natural disaster.

     For a complete list of what should be in your emergency kit, visit www.emergencymanagementontario.ca

     Chrysler is recalling nearly 120,000 vehicles because of an electrical problem.

     2011 and 2012 Dodge Chargers and Chrysler 300's are involved.

     The automaker says the anti-lock brake and stability control systems may be affected.

     Windsor is below average when it comes to the price of gasoline these days.

     Most area gas stations are at less than $1.28  a liter.

     According to gasbuddy.com, the average price across the country is just over $1.29 per liter.

     Windsor is about to become the first city in North America with long-range, all electric buses on the road.

     As a pilot project, 2 will be purchased from the Chinese company BYD.

     Mayor Eddie Francis says the long-range goal is for the company to set up a manufacturing plant in Windsor.

     The cost per vehicle is $600,000.  The first could be on the road this fall.

     Workers at TRW and HBPO in Windsor have ratified new 3-year agreements.

     Each calls for a 9% wage increase as well as improvements to pensions, benefits and 4 more paid holidays a year.

     The agreements cover 210 employees at TRW and 96 at HBPO and are similar to those already ratified by workers at Syncreon and Dakkota.

     A 23 year old male is facing charges after an incident involving a knife.

     Police say they were called to the 500 block of Pierre around 8:30 last night for a report of a domestic situation.

     When officers got there they found a large number of people gathered out on the street, and a 24 year -old male victim lying on the ground outside a residence suffering a 4-5 inch gash to his right thigh.

     A 23 year old male suspect who fled the scene was found and arrested about 10 min later in the 1400 block of Wyandotte Street East

    The victim was taken to hospital with a serious but non life threatening injury.

     The suspect was taken into custody and will be facing assault charges.

     Close to 100 Zellers employees, their friends and family and various union representatives are maknig sure they are heard.

     They held a rally yesterday at the Devonshire Mall location.

     Workers are asking for fairness as U.S. discount retailer Target prepares to convert 24 Zellers locations across the country, including Windsor.

     Patti Pattenten has worked at the Tecumseh Mall location for 15 years and says nobody has been guaranteed jobs when Target takes over.

     Target's first batch of Canadian stores, including the Windsor locations, are set to open in the spring of 2013.

     Windsor Police say they aren't releasing any names until next of kin have been notified.

     Police, Fire and EMS responded to a one vehicle crash on the Expressway around 11:00 last night.

     Officers discovered that a 1997 Ford Explorer had rolled a number of times.

     The 21 year old female driver died at the scene and three other occupants were slightly injured.

     The Windsor Police Collision Reconstruction Team was called in to investigate the technical aspects of the crash and had the road closed from the time of the crash untila bout 8:00 this morning.

     One person is dead and three others taken to hospital after a serious crash on the Expressway.

     Westbound lanes just re opened around 8:30 this morning between Banwell and Lauzon Parkway.

     Windsor Police say they responded around 11:30 last night to a vehicle that had flipped multiple times.

     The Windsor Hum is getting big airplay this weekend on a Detroit TV station. WXYZ will air an investigative report on the Hum will air tonight at 11pm.

     Senior reporter Bill Proctor says he has no doubt it is real.

     He says his report will put forward an alternative theory. He won't give away those details before the report airs.

     The report will also be online at WXYZ.com.

     A local winery is celebrating it's win at the 25th annual International Tasters Guild Wine Competition.

     Muscedere Vineyards took nine medals, amongst over one thousand wines entered in the competition from all around the world.

     The local winery won a gold for their 2011 Riesling and silver medals for the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2011 Vidal Blanc.

     The Tasters Guild is a U.S. organization with 40 chapters.

     They have a yearly competition for their members who are writers, sommeliers and other experts in the wine business.

     Two 20 year old Windsor males are in custody after a break and enter.

     Shortly after midnight residents living in the 400 block of Flora in east Windsor were returning home when they noticed the lights on in their house.

     When they opened the garage door they saw a male standing in the garage. The suspect was chased into the house by the resident while his wife called 911.

     The suspect was caught in back yard while the suspect was trying to jump the fence.

     A short while later another call came into police regarding a male going through parked cars.

     Police responded and arrested another 20 yr-old male and while searching him, property from the Flora Street Break and Enter was found.

     He was believed to have also been involved in the break and enter but fled the scene prior to police arrival.

     The Chief of Pathology at Windsor Regional Hospital says it will review what happened after a woman had an unnecessary lumpectomy.

     Dr. David Shum says it was a serious human mistake.

     The woman had the surgery last month but when the tissue that was removed was tested, it wasn't in line with her original biopsy.

     That's when the error in patient identification was discovered.

     Dr. Shum says the pathology department is distraught over what happened.

     The acceptable standard in the industry for pathology errors is about 10 per cent of cases.

     The hospital deals with 30-thousand surgical cases a year.

     Leamington Highschool will be the site of an emergency exercise this morning.

     Spokesperson for the Greater Essex County District School Board Scott Scantlebury tells The Afternoon News the mock emergency is an active shooter scenario with an OPP officer playing the bad guy and shooting blank ammunition.

     Scantlebury says the purpose is to identify gaps in communication. 18 students and 4 staff are participating in the mock emergency.

     The exercise will happen between 8:30-am and 11:30-am and is an evaluation of existing protocols and emergency response.

     Work has begun on restoring a historically important home in WIndsor.

     And heritage experts are thrilled that the Low-Martin house will be brought back to it's original state.

     Vern Myslichuk owner of Better Made cabinets, bought the home last week and has already started removing outside windows, there are 154 panes of glass, and repairing them at his shop.

      John Calhoun, the city's heritage planner, says he's pleased with the new owner's efforts to bring it back - and live in it:

     Inside the home - some ceilings and stairwells are under the heritage designation - while outside it includes the roof, landscaping and the stonework.

     A milestone at St. Clair College.

     Dr. John Strasser is now the longest serving president in the college's history.

     He has surpassed the tenure of Bruce McAusland, who served nearly 12 years ending in April 1989.

     Under Strasser, the college says enrolment has increase more than 50 per cent..and new construction and property acquisitions total more than 160-million dollars.

     Tentative agreements have been reached between CAW Local 444 and two major supplier firms for Chrysler.

     The deals are for TRW and HBPO.

     Details of the agreements will be released after ratification meetings.

     Those sessions are scheduled for Sunday at noon and 2 PM at the union hall.

     A Windsor man has been arrested in connection with a child pornography investigation.

     Police executed a search warrant at a home yesterday after receiving a tip that a person was in possession of child sexual abuse material.

     Police say officers seized two laptops, C-Ds and D-V-Ds from the home.

     Stuart McKay, 43, is charged with possession of child porn.

     Windsor Regional Hospital President and C-E-O Dave Musyj is taking full responsibility after a lumpectomy was performed on the wrong patient.

     Musyj says the mistake was not the surgeon's fault.  He says this was a case of incorrect identification of a patient -- not a misdiagnosis.

     The hospital is now investigating how the mistake happened.

     Musyj says the pathologist involved has taken a voluntary leave and is remorseful for what has happened.

     The new owner of the historic Low-Martin house in old Walkerville is promising a huge makeover - in about a year's time.

     Vern Myslichuk is the owner of Better Made Cabinets, and bought the landmark home last week. He says he has wanted it for a very long time and he'll be able to do work more quickly through his company and the tools he already has.

    Mylichuk says he'll work on the exterior first to give the house it's old curb appeal.

    Then he'll start on heating, cooling and electrical before restoring the interior - some of which has fallen down or peeled off.

     Windsor Raceway has announced a closing date of August 31, 2012.

     It says an interim access funding agreement has been reached with the OLG until that date.

     Raceway President Pat Soulliere says beyond that date, the Raceway is in jeopardy to close.

     If it closes, 70 people at the facility-alone will lose their jobs.

Soulliere says the current agreement is only until effect this summer.

     "We have reached an interim access agreement with the OLG until August 31st to give them time to remove the slots and it will provide payments which we will split with our horsemen," says Soulliere.

     This follows the removal of the slots at the Raceway April 30th.

     A grade 4 student at a South Windsor school is sporting a new hair cut.

     Sam Kilbride (seen below  before the hair cut with his mother Karen) has been growing his hair for the past 3 years after his uncle and grandmother died of cancer.

     He decided to donate the hair to "Wigs to Wellness" for children who are financially disadvantaged and need wigs.

     Sam cut about 10 inches of hair.

     An assembly took place this morning at Southwood Public School to watch Sam cut his hair.

     It takes 8 to 10 hair donations to make one wig.

     Staff and students at St. John's Elementary School in Windsor may soon be on the move.

     With enrollment well below capacity and a further decline expected, the catholic school board is looking at shutting it down and moving students to Assumption High School.

     A public meeting is planned for May 10th at 6 o'clock at St. John's school.

      A Canadian fishing boat suspected of fishing illegally has been seized on Lake Erie.

     It happened yesterday off Ohio in a joint operation involving the U-S Coast Goard and Natural Resources officials from Ohio and Ontario.

     The boat, its gear and catch were seized near North Bass Island south of Pelee Island.

     After 5 years as President, Rick LaPorte is leaving the CAW Local 444 executive.

     He did not seek re-election saying internal politics has taken a toll on his health.    

     Dino Chiodo has been acclaimed and officially takes over the post later this month.

     There's been an arrest in a fatal hit and run.

     It happened on County Road 2 near Rochester Town Line just after 7:30 last night.

     Police say a 49-year old woman was walking on the shoulder of County Road 2 when she was hit by a red pick-up truck which then fled the scene.

     The victim was rushed to Hotel Dieu Grace Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

     OPP Constable Shauna Coulter says witnesses provided  police with enough information  that they were able to track down the suspect.

     A 24-year old Lakeshore man faces 3 charges including impaired driving causing death and failure to remain.

     No names have been released.

   Lakeshore OPP are looking for a red Dodge pickup truck after a hit and run sent a female pedestrian to hospital.

   Just after 7:30 this evening the woman was struck on County Road 2 at Rochester Town Line.

   The woman was rushed to Leamington hospital suffering from life threatening injuries.

   The OPP Technical Traffic Collision Investigation team is investigating and County Road 2 will remain closed at that location for some time.

   Rick Laporte has chosen to step down as the President of CAW Local 444, choosing not to run for the position in election at the local today.

   Dino Chiodo has been acclaimed to the position.

   Laporte has not said what he plans to do next but says moving to the national CAW office with former local president Ken Lewenza is an option.

   He also mentioned city politics or retirement.

     A young Windsor man died this morning after police were called about a man acting strangely in the area of Jacob Drive, in Remington park.

     An officer found the 22 year old who was having difficulty  breathing.

     Police say the officer put the man in a recovery position and another officer arrived to assist, but the man was soon 'vital signs absent'.

     Paramedics rushed him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

     Ontario's Special Investigations Unit has been called in to probe the circumstances surrounding the custody death of the man.

     One Windsor hotel is doing its part to fight cancer.

     Holiday Inn and Suites on Huron Church Road collected $700 in donations from guests and associates as part of its "Stick It" to cancer campaign during April.

     This morning, staff decided to duct tape hotel general manager Robert Lamoureux to a pillar in the lobby -- for a donation.

     The colours of duct tape represent the different types of cancer.

     Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis wants to make some changes at the Windsor Public Library to prevent a repeat of the current credit card scandal.

     Under provincial legislation, the city can not take over the Library, but Francis hopes to begin talks to merge certain departments like finances and I.T.

     Francis believes it would add more oversight and another level of scrutiny.

     He adds, it would also save taxpayers money by the city providing those services.

     Francis will raise the issue at Tuesday's council meeting during discussions of the library audit. He says the changes would need to be supported by the library board.

     Talks continue this afternoon to avoid a strike at auto parts suppliers.

      CAW local 444 negotiators are hammering away at the economics, trying to avoid a strike that could have happened at midnight last night.

      The CAW is also working with HBPO , trying to reach a deal, and spending some time on Oakley too.

      They're hoping to secure contracts - like they have with Dakkota - although a short strike happened there, before workers voted in favour.

     A drug bust on McEwan Avenue this morning has landed two men behind bars.

     Windsor Police showed up at 1035 McEwan with a search warrant, just before 1:30am.

     As officers approached the home, they spotted a man in a vehicle in the driveway - and arrested him. Police say they found a small quantity of heroin and cash on him and inside the car, they seized crack and more cash.

     Inside the home, police arrested a second man and seized cocaine, crack and some cash - as well as equipment consistent with drug trafficking. Police say the value of the seized drugs is approximately 65 hundred dollars.

     A Toronto man and a Windsor man are facing several drug charges.

     Windsor's newest fire station is officially open.

     With a bagpiper and the honour guard marching to the doors - Station 7 on Lauzon Parkway at Lauzon Line played host to dignitaries and firefighters this morning.

     The 10-thousand square-foot station is the first new station to be built in nearly 30 years.  There are three truck bays as well as living quarters, a workout room and office space.

     Even though Al Maghnieh hasn't yet announced if he plans to give up his Ward 10 city council seat, there's at least one potential replacement waiting in the wings.

     Helmi Charif, a candidate in last fall's provincial election, says he would be honoured to represent the ward and would be a trustworthy councillor.

     He got 11,000 votes in last fall's election.

     In the 2010 civic election, Maghnieh beat out Jeff Gaudet and Paul Borrelli.

      He's off sick, he has not resigned.

      Despite rumours of his resignation, Windsor Public Library CEO Barry Holmes has booked off sick until next Wednesday, the day after former Library Board Chair Al Maghnieh is to announce whether or not he plans to stay on as a city councillor in Ward 10.

       There have been calls for Holmes to step down over the Maghnieh credit card scandal but acting Board Chair, Hilary Payne, says that hasn't happened.

     Holmes reportedly warned Maghnieh about his personal spending on a corporate credit card but that spending continued.

  Safety improvements are in the works for the intersection of Renaud Line and County Road 42 in Lakeshore.

   It's been the site of several fatal crashes -- the latest in February when the driver of a pick-up truck was killed in a collision with a tractor trailer.

   County Engineer Tom Bateman says rumble strips, oversized stop signs and flashing lights are being considered.

   More improvements may be made once the new Lakeshore recreation centre is complete.

     Fraud charges against a Windsor man have been withdrawn.

     Souheil Yazbec faced 11 counts after an investigation into dealings at 2 local car dealerships - 'Big Three Pre-Owned Auto Sales' and '5 Diamond Auto'. In all, 16 victims were identified.

     The Crown has decided to drop the charges after deciding there's no reasonable prospect  of a conviction.     

     Two others are charged in the case but both have left the country.

    Detective Van Buskirk is facing even more punishment.

   During a news conference carried live on AM 800, Acting Windsor Police Chief Al Fredrick announced he's suspended the 24-year veteran without pay.

   Frederick also referred to the event that prompted the resignation of the former Police Chief Gary Smith in saying things are changing at the service.

   He apologized to Dr. Tyceer Abuhassan and commented that the assault on him prompted project accountability"

   Along with being suspended, Van Buskirk is also facing a charge of deceit, discreditable conduct, unncessary exercise of force and unlawful arrest under the Police Services Act.

     Just 2 hours after being sentenced, a Windsor police detective is out on 5 thousand dollars bail.

     Dave Van Buskirk, a 24 year veteran of the Windsor police force, was sentenced to 5 months in jail for assaulting an innocent Windsor Doctor 2 years ago.

     Immediately after the sentence was handed down, his defence team applied for bail to keep him out of jail while they appeal the sentence.

     The judge found there's no risk to the public and admits there's an uphill fight for the appeal which will likely take place in the fall.

    A bail hearing is underway for a Windsor Police officer who was sentenced to a jail term for an assault.

    Minutes after Detective Dave Van Buskirk was sentenced to 5 months in jail he was transferred into another courtroom for a bail hearing - to be out as he appeals the sentence.

    The sentencing judge called the assault on a Doctor two years ago "a short and vicious attack by an out of control police officer".

   The defence wanted a conditional sentence, not jail time.

    The guilty plea and sentence comes from an assault on a doctor by Van Buskirk who mistakenly thought the physician had harassed his daughter outside a Windsor tennis club.

     A Windsor nurse has received the 5th annual Lois Fairley Nursing Award at a ceremony at the Hospice Village this morning.

     Ursella DeBono, a pediatric oncology satellite coordinator at Windsor Regional Hospital, works closely with the London Health Sciences Centre to treat children with cancer.

     DeBono was nominated by several parents of patients in her care. They describe her as compassionate and caring and committed.

     It's down to the wire for CAW local 444 in talks with TRW Automotive in Tecumseh.    There's a strike deadline at midnight, tonight.

     TRW is a supplier of parts for Chrysler's Windsor Assembly plant. The workers voted in favor of strike action if an agreement cannot be reached.

     Workers at another parts supplier, Dakkota Integrated Systems in Lakeshore, went on strike Monday morning but held another vote that day and ended their strike hours later.

     Windsor Police Detective David Van Buskirk has been sentenced to five months in jail.

     The 24-year veteran pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm following an attack on Dr. Tyceer Abouhassan outside the Jackson Park Health Centre in April 2010.

     Acting Chief Al Frederick will address the issue at a news conference at Windsor Police Headquarters this afternoon.

     Rising costs and shrinking grant money mean times are tough at the Greater Essex County district School Board.

      With the exception of small increases for utilities and insurance, there's no extra money for things like text books and office supplies, despite increasing inflation.

     But Business Superintendent  Penny Allen thinks layoffs are unlikely.  She's expecting a large number of retirements which would offset the need for layoffs. That, combined with expanded all-day kindergarten, Allen says they may be looking to hire more elementary teachers.

     There's cardboard, plastic, glass and tin and Windsor-Essex residents may one day be putting food waste at the curb on recycling day.

     The Solid Waste Authority is considering the move as a way to increase waste diversion rates but spokesman Cam Wright says a decision may be a year or two away.

     The waste diversion rate was down slightly last year over 2010  but recycling was up 4%.

       It's a change of heart at the Syncreon plant in Windsor.

     A tentative contract agreement which had been rejected by the membership on Sunday has now been approved by a margin of 89%.

     CAW Local 195 President Jerry Farnham calls it a fair deal and says cooler heads have prevailed.

    It's a 3-year agreement calling for a wage increase to $18.50 by the 3rd year. It also includes a signing bonus and improved language and benefits.

     Job losses at Parks Canada are hitting Essex County.

     Mike Fummerton with the Public Service Alliance in southwestern Ontario says 15 employees at Point Pelee National Park have been issued layoff notices.

     He says 10 of those workers have been deemed surplus by Parks Canada.

     Fummerton says P-SAC has not received any word on possible layoffs at Fort Malden National Historic Site.

     38-hundred civil servants were told yesterday they're jobs are on the line because of federal budget cuts.

     Parks Canada took the biggest hit with more than one-thousand employees being notified.

     Windsor Police have given the "all clear" after a bomb scare in the 15-hundred block of Hall Avenue late this afternoon.

     The Explosives Disposal Unit was called just before 3:00 p.m. after police were called about an explosive device at a home.

     The scare delayed the release of students from three nearby public grade schools and closed off streets in the neighborhood.

     But police say after a "thorough sweep" of the home, no explosives were found. 

     Syncreon Automotive workers in Windsor are re-voting on a tentative agreement.

     It's the same 3 year deal that was rejected by 56 per cent during a vote on Sunday.

     The 387 workers at the Tier 3 supplier do sequencing work for Chrysler.

    But CAW Local 195 President Gerry Farnham says workers are better informed on what's in the contract and hopes cooler heads prevail compared to Sunday's vote.

     Another information session is set for 5 o'clock (at CAW local 195 on Somme) where Farnham expects another vote to take place.

     The current contract for the workers expires on May 8th.

    The University's pub is becoming a cafe and bookstore.

    A formal agreement has been signed between the University's administration, the students alliance and the organization of part-time students.

   The former Thirsty Scholar will become a large retail book outlet and student cafe space that will serve alcohol - but in a different manner.

    The pub was closed after a stabbing incident in March. A 21 year old man is facing assault charges after 3 people were stabbed outside the pub.

     The Wall Street Journal is running a story about the Windsor Hum on the front page today.

     The paper's headline is about the racket Canadians are making about the Windsor Hum. And it focuses on the unexplained noise that has spurred a diplomatic fracas at the Detroit border.

     Following a visit by Parliamentary Secretary Bob Dechert, over a week ago, the paper visited Windsor and River Rouge, Michigan to talk to people about the hum and it's apparent origins.

    Chrysler is seeing an increase in sales for its minivans in Canada.

    After a slide of 13 percent in March - the Chrysler Canada is reporting a gain in April of 7 percent for the Grand Caravan, and 42 percent for the lesser selling Town and Country.

    Chrysler remains the number one seller of vehicles in Canada for the first four months of this year and has 29 consecutive months of year over year sales growth.

    The automaker says it was the best April sales since 2002 with sales up 3 percent for cars and trucks. Year to date - sales are up over 9 percent.

      It's going to cost you more to flip that switch today.

     Electricity rates are on the rise.

     The average household using about 800 kilowatt hours a month can expect to pay $6 more. For those on smart meters or time-of-use pricing, the increase is $4 dollars a month.

     The opposition blames the province's push toward green energy for the increase.  Energy Minister Chris Bentley says that little to do with it. The rise in rates is due mainly to modernizing the system and bringing on new generation.

      Former Windsor West MPP Sandra Pupatello is in for a special honour.

      She's the latest recipient of the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award to be presented next month.

     Pupatello held office for 16 years and served on various boards, clubs and committees.

     Past recipients of the Chamber Lifetime Achievement Award include former Windsor Raceway owner Tom Joy, the Teppermans and local lawyer Doug Lawson.

     The final spin has taken place at the Windsor Raceway.

     The slot machines have been shut down in a  move by the Ontario government to modernize the gaming industry.

     To help with the transition, the OLG will continue financial contributions to the city of Windsor and payments to the operator of the racetrack as long as live racing takes place through March 31st, 2013. 

     Saying his integrity and credibility have been called into question, the city of Windsor's striking committee has removed ward 10 councillor Al Maghnieh from all boards and committees.

     It's the latest fallout from Maghnieh's fall from grace in the wake of the library board credit card scandal.

     He sat on several boards and committees  including the Social Development Health & Culture Standing Committee and the boards of Transit Windsor, the  Essex Region Conservation Authority and the Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority.

       As AM800 News reported yesterday, Maghnieh has delayed a decision on his possible resignation from city council.

   The Windsor Library board has a new member. 

   Ward 6 Councillor Joanne Gignac has been appointed to the position.

   Earlier in the evening the Striking Committee of Council voted to remove Ward 10 Councillor Al Maghnieh from all of his committee appointments and end all his related pay.

   Maghnieh has chosen to take an extra week before announcing whether he'll resign his seat in the wake of the credit card scandal.

   Council has also called on the Integrity Commissioner, Bruce Elman, to probe the situation at the library.

   Two information meetings are set tomorrow for the unionized workers at Syncreon.

   The 387 members of CAW Local 195 who work at the west Windsor plant rejected a tentative deal Sunday.

   Local 195 President Gerry Farnham says the sessions tomorrow are to update the membership on negotiations with the company.

   The meetings at the Somme Avenue Hall take place at 11 AM and 5 PM.

   The judge in the 2nd degree murder case against 2 Windsor men will consider the options and make a decision in June.

   Timothy Carter and Donald Dodd were found guilty of second degree murder in the 2008 beating deaths of Peter Kambas and Vaios Koukousoulas.

   The crown is calling for a parole eligibility to start in 20 years...while the defence is calling for that term to be 12 to 13 years.

   The sentencing will resume June 8th.

     Embattled city councillor Al Maghnieh will not be attending tonight's city council meeting.

     In a statement issued by Maghnieh today, he says he came to the decision after "careful consideration and advice from Mayor Francis."

     Maghnieh says he will seek professional and personal counselling over the next week and will address the public at next week's city council meeting.

     Maghnieh has been under pressure by the public and some members of city council to resign in the wake of a credit card scandal at Windsor Public Library.

     He charged more than $8,000 in personal expenses to the credit card when he was chair of the library board, but has since repaid all personal and business expenses.

     Acting board chair Hilary Payne says an auditor's report on the expenses will be released at tonight's meeting of the Executive Committee.

     The strike at Dakkota is over.

     Unionized workers have voted a second time on a tentative agreement and have approved it by 75 per cent.

     They say the deal was improved with language that will guarantee them a 40-hour work week, and short-shifting will be compensated.

     Workers walked off the job this morning after turning down the three-year deal yesterday that included wage hikes of nine per cent, a 500-dollar signing bonus and four additional holidays.

     Operations at the Windsor Assembly Plant will return to work today on the afternoon shift.

     A  Windsor Public Library Board member is  asking for an apology from former Board Chair Al Maghnieh

    Denny Timm says the past couple of weeks have been both stressful and disappointing because of the fallout from Maghnieh's admitted corporate credit card abuse.  He says his stress level has 'skyrocketed' and he deserves an apology.

     Timm is moving to Thunder Bay and had intended to resign at the last Board meeting. He has decided to stay on until June.

     A shooting victim has undergone surgery in a Windsor hospital and is listed in stable condition.

    It happened early Saturday morning at 1091 Marentette Avenue.

     Police say the victim - a 28 year old man from Toronto - suffered multiple gunshot wounds but his injuries are not life threatening.

     Several witnesses have been interviewed and police say they're making steady progress in the case.

     Anyone with information is asked to call Windsor Police or Crimestoppers.

     Embattled city councillor Al Maghnieh says he has paid back the remaining balance on the library board credit card.

    Acting Chair Hilary Payne confirmed to AM800 News yesterday that Maghnieh had paid nearly $13,500 for both business and personal expenses.

     With the former library board chair now repaying the remaining $195, that brings the total paid for business and personal expenses to $13,691.19.

     Payne says Maghnieh called to notify him that the payment had been dropped off at the library, and he says it will be picked up Monday morning.

     An emotional but informative ceremony at Charles Clarke Square.

     On Saturday, about 100 people participated in the National Day of Mourning march and ceremony.

     Tammy Lewis, who lost her sister Cindy five years ago after she was crushed by coils of steel while on the job says the community needs to come together.

      Yesterday marked the the National Day of Mourning, to remember workers across Canada that were injured or killed on the job.

     There's a new look to the Leamington District Chamber of Commerce board of directors and executive.

     Larry Verbeke takes over as president..and Dave Campbell and Barb Towns are first and second vice-presidents.

     John Barnett has been named treasurer. The chamber's board now has 19 members.

      Transit Windsor is working on a stroller policy and will be reaching out to the community to determine people's needs.

     Transit Windsor Chair Bill Marra wants the policy to include walkers and wheelchairs to include everyone and allow drivers to do their jobs safely and in a timely fashion.

      Marra says the idea is to improve customer service. He says strollers are a growing problem that needs to be addressed.

     The Windsor Worker's Action Centre says wage theft is a big problem across the province.

     Spokesperson Paul Chislet tells AM800 News it's a multi-million dollar problem and the action centre is there to help workers who need help fighting their claims.

     Chislet says the centre sees 2 or 3 workers a week with wage complaints. He says a lot of workers are afraid to speak out for fear of losing their jobs.

     Wage theft could be not getting paid overtime, vacation pay or severance pay. Visit the Windsor Worker's Action Centre if you need help at www.wwac.ca.

     A 28-year-old Toronto man is in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after an early morning shooting in East Windsor.

     Police say the man suffered several gunshot wounds at a residence in the one-thousand block of Marentette Avenue around 6 a.m. Saturday.

     The shooting is not considered to be a random act, and police say the victim and the suspect or suspects are associates.

     Police have not made any arrests and are searching for the weapon.

     Anyone with information is asked to call Windsor Police or Crime Stoppers.

     Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis has called a meeting of the city's striking committee for 5pm on Monday.

     Acting Library Board Chair Hilary Payne tells AM800 News..the committee will fill the vacancies on the Windsor Public Library Board.

     Once a board is re-established, it will hold a meeting to approve the release of audit findings regarding former chair Al Maghnieh's misuse of the library's corporate credit card.

     Acting Library Board Chair Hilary Payne says embattled city councillor Al Maghnieh has now repaid a total of $13,496.19 in business and personal expenses the former chair charged to a corporate credit card.

     Payne says there is still an outstanding balance of $195.

    In an e-mail, Payne says he is still trying to schedule a board meeting to approve the release of the audit findings.

     He says the board currently has three members, and one member is out of town all week.  Three members are needed for the board to have a quorum.

     If the vacancies are filled immediately, a meeting will be held by the middle of next week.

     A 34 year old man sentenced for a violent attack in West Windsor will likely be deported.

     Mark Perine was sentenced to 4 years in prison after pleading guilty yesterday to robbery and choking.

     Back in October, Perine approached a woman walking alone in the early morning hours at Mill Street and Indian Road.

     He wrapped a rope around her neck and choked her unconscious.

     Perine was originally born in the U.S and will likely be deported after serving his sentence.

     Perine has already spent more than five months in custody. The court heard Perine snapped after the victim flicked a cigarette butt at Perine's truck.

     Downtown Windsor will be under the microscope for the next few months.

     The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health is bringing a mobile research lab to Windsor.

     They will be studying the link between alcohol and violence in this area and the experience of people using addiction services.

     Researcher Dr. Samantha Wells told AM800 listeners on the Afternoon News this is the second location they've set up the mobile lab, it is coming from Port Colborne.

     Wells says they are looking for applicants to take part in the "Consumer Journey" study of the experience of using addition and mental health services.

     They'll be putting up posters around the core area and have a website www.rhoc.ca

     Ridership at Transit Windsor is up 4-percent during the first 3 months of the year.

     General Manager Penny Williams tells AM-800 News the 4-percent jump is equal to an extra 69-thousand rides.

     Transit Windsor is expected to have a 210-thousand dollar fuel deficit this year if gas prices stay high.

   A 27 year old Windsor woman has been arraigned in court on charges of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder. 

   Mary Agpaoa was originally arrested for a domestic assault earlier this month,

   During the investigation police found some text messages which pointed to an intentions to kill her husband.

   She's been remanded in custody.  The charges have yet to be proven in court.

   There are a couple of options available to the city in the event Ward 10 Councillor Al Maghnieh resigns his seat.

   Maghnieh has said council chambers is the correct place to address the growing calls for him to step down.

   There's an Executive Committee Meeting Monday night.

   Supervisor of Records and Elections Chuck Scarpelli says the options are to hold a by-election or appoint someone to the position.

   Scarpelli says if a by-election were to be held...the cost would be up to 65 to 70-thousand dollars.

   A tentative 3-year deal has been reached for the 387 workers at Syncreon.

   The members of CAW Local 1-95 cast ballots on a ratification vote Sunday Morning.

   The contract was to expire May 8th for workers at the company that does sequencing work for Chrysler.

     Work is officially underway for the $5.3-million children's centre.

     Windsor Regional Hospital held the official groundbreaking this morning at the Tayfour Campus.

     The new centre will include a family learning place, gymnasium and pool.

     It will replace the current regional children's centre which was built in the 1970s.

     Last May, the province announced $4.35-million in funding, and the W-E Care For Kids will contribute $1-million.

     Construction will last 12 months.

     A personal support worker in Windsor has been sentenced to four years in prison for a violent attack last fall.

     Mark Perine has pleaded guilty to robbery and choking.

     Back in October, Perine approached a 41 year old woman who was walking alone in the early morning hours at Mill Street and Indian Road.

     Court was told Perine wrapped a rope around her neck and choked her unconscious until she fell and stole her purse 

     Windsor Police Detective Scott Ritchie says this was a heinous crime -- one of the worst cases he's seen in his 26 years as a police officer.

     Ritchie says two citizens came to the victim's rescue to prevent the situation from becoming worse.

     Perine's explanation for his actions was that he was sitting in his truck when the victim flicked a cigarette at this vehicle.

     Perine was a personal support worker working with people with mental disabilities.

     There's a trucking protest today on Matchette Road near the expressway.

     Dumps trucks working on the Windsor-Essex Parkway project are lined up along Matchette Road.

     Drivers are upset over what the trucking companies are being paid by Amico Construction.  They're demanding more money to cover the cost of rising fuel prices.

     But, Amico senior vice-president Cindi Prince says increases were negotiated and agreed to and go into effect on May 1st.  Prince says she's at a loss to understand today's actions.

     Prince thinks there's a lot of misinformation among drivers as to what the province is paying for trucking.

     Prince says trucking is a key component of the $1.4-billion parkway project, and Amico is intent on treating the companies fairly.

     Senior administrators from Amico are on scene trying to resolve the dispute.

     A Windsor woman is all smiles today.

     31-year-old Tanya Harrison has won $100-thousand in the March 24th Encore draw.

     The mother of two thought the lottery machine was malfunctioning when she realized she had won big.

     Harrison plans to bank her windfall.

     She says she's been playing the lottery for 15 years..and this is her biggest win ever.

     A federal offender wanted on a Canada-wide warrant is believed to be in the Windsor area.

     44-year-old Kenneth Froude is wanted for breaching parole.

     He's serving a 19-month sentence for criminal harassment and two counts of breaching his long-term supervision.

     The offender was originally serving a two-year, six-month term for break and enter and sexual assault and sexual assault with a weapon for offences committed in London in June 2004.

     Froude is known to frequent the London and Greater Toronto areas, but information has been received by law enforcement officials that he's currently in the Windsor area.

     Anyone having contact with Froude should use caution.  Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is asked to call the Provincial ROPE Squad at 1-416-808-5900 or toll free at 1-866-870-7673.

    If travel plans include the 401 this weekend there's a closure to keep in mind.

    The highway will be closed in both directions between Manning and Provincial Roads from 1 o'clock on Saturday morning until 1 a.m. Sunday.

     Construction crews are installing concrete deck panels for the new bridge at North Talbot Road.

      A lower speed limit is in the works for a busy Tecumseh intersection.

     A cut from 80 to 60 kilomters per hour is being recommended after a number of collisions at South Talbot and Walker Roads. Rumble strips have also been suggested.    

     Council votes on lowering the speed May 8th.

     Declining enrollment gets the blame for layoff notices at the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board.

     About 20 library assistants are being let go and the Superintendent of Human Resources, Jamie Bumbacco, says teacher cuts are coming as well.

     Enrollment is expected to drop by about 600 students in September.

     A strike has been averted at a major parts supplier for the Windsor Assembly Plant.

     A tentative agreement has been reached between CAW local 444 and Dakkota which makes the instrument panel for Chrysler minivans.

     The deal covers 268 unionized members whose contract expired at midnight.

     Details of the new agreement won't be released until a ratification vote set for this Sunday at the local 444 Hall on Turner Road.  Job security and wages were among the main issues.

   An 8 or 9 year old girl injured when struck by a vehicle on Drouillard Road has been transferred to a hospital in Detroit.

   Drouillard remains closed from Reginald to Alice while Windsor Police investigate what happened.

   The girl suffered a head injury in the collision at about 4 PM...but was conscious when rushed to hospital.

    The Director of Education for the Catholic School board says he accepted the resignation of Communications Administrator Al Maghnieh, with regret.

     Paul Picard says he spoke with the embattled City Councillor this morning when he told that Maghnieh would step down.

     Picard wouldn't say if there was any pressure on Maghnieh to leave, but says the administration's thoughts and prayers are with him as he deals with his 'personal difficult issues'.

    A partnership between Transit Windsor and the Wyandotte Town Centre is aimed at bringing new customers to the area.

   People showing their bus pass will get a discount at businesses in the area.

   Wyandotte Town Centre B-I-A Executive Director Caroline Postma says they're hoping more people take advantage of shopping in their district.

   There are 90 different businesses in the stretch from McDougall to Gladstone...and 24 of them are participating in the program.

    A Windsor man is gearing up to begin a 56-hundred kilometre bike ride across Canada to raise money for the Cardiac Cath lab at Hotel-Dieu Grace hospital.

   Mike Jones suffered a heart attack nearly 4 years ago - and was saved by a stent inserted in a blocked artery - at the Windsor Cath lab.

   Jones says its his way to give back for saving his life.

   His employer Stantec has been generous with the gift of a bike and trailer as well as the 3 and a half months for the ride.

   He'll start in Dawson City ,Yukon and work his way back.

   Donations can be made at www.support-hdgh.org

     There's been a delay in the release of an audit report into the misuse of a corporate credit card by the former chair of the Windsor Public Library Board.

     Al Maghnieh has given his permission for the report to be released.  But, Acting Chair Hilary Payne says the board's solicitor has advised him that the report cannot yet be legally released.

     Payne says the procedure requires the report to be received and approved by the finance committee, then sent onto the board for approval and its release.

     With the resignations of Maghnieh and Alex Cameron, the board is now down to three members.  Payne says the board now lacks a quorum to conduct business.

     He says he will urge Mayor Eddie Francis to call a meeting of the striking committee to fill the vacancies on the board.

     Payne says it will be next week at the earliest before the library board could meet.

   A Windsor Police detective who mistakenly beat up a local doctor has pleaded guilty.

   During a court appearance this morning, Detective David Van Buskirk pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm.

   In April 2010, Dr. Tyceer Abouhassan suffered serious facial injuries after a confrontation with an officer in plain clothes in the parking lot of the Jackson Park Health Centre.

   The out-of-town Crown is asking for a jail term of 6 to 8 months for Detective Van Buskirk.

     (Detective David Van Buskirk is on the left)

     Embattled city councillor Al Maghnieh is resigning from his position with the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board.

     Maghnieh says he met with Director Paul Picard this morning to inform him of his decision.

     Maghnieh says it's unfair to put the school board in the middle of the ongoing library credit card scandal.

     He says he does not want to distract from the board's important business.

     Maghnieh says he told Picard that he appreciates the board's confidence in him.

     Maghnieh was the board's Strategic Planning and Communications administrator.

     A body found in the Thames River Tuesday night has been identified as 53 year old Paul Duncan Grisdale-Verschoore of Chatham.

     The cause of death has not been released.

     Chatham-Kent police are seeking help from the public. Anyone with information is asked to call them or Crimestoppers.

      It seems Chrysler is well on the road to recovery just three years after a brush with financial death.

     The automaker reports a first-quarter profit this year of $473-million, its best quarterly profit in 13 years.

      Sales have jumped 39%  as customers buy more Ram pickups, Chrysler 200 sedans, and Jeep Grand Cherokee S-U-Vs.

      'Pier 19' is no more.

     The Michigan Department of Transportation has torn it down and will build a new truck route in its place.

     Demolition has been carried out under orders from a Wayne County judge for M-DOT to finish the Gateway Project linking the Ambassador Bridge to Detroit area freeways.

    The Bridge company built 'Pier 19' as part of a plan for a second span linking Windsor and Detroit.

     Mayor Eddie Francis hopes to meet face to face with embroiled city councillor Al Maghnieh this weekend.

    The two will go over Maghnieh's options amid mounting pressure for his resignation over the library board credit card scandal.

      The latest to call for him to step down is fellow councillor Joanne Gignac. She says the scandal has tainted everyone on council.

     Francis says the controversy over the Library board credit card scandal can't interfere with city business.

    Only Maghnieh can decide if he'll step down. He plans to address that at city council on Monday night.    

     Mayor Francis, meantime, has confirmed that the Integrity Commissioner will review what has happened.

      The Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce has saluted the very best at the annual Business Excellence Awards.

     11 have been handed out including 'Start Up of the Year'. It goes to Red Piston, a mobile app company and co-founder, Andy Kale, says the award reaffirms the decision by his colleagues and him to stay in Windsor-Essex. They had been considering a move to Detroit or Toronto.

     The coach of the University of Windsor's women's basketball team, Chantal Vallée, wins the Athena Award.

     Others in the winner's list include Gary Kalaci: "Rising Star of the Year", Motion Specialties: "Mid-Size Company of the Year",  Frank Abbruzzese:Entrepreneur of the Year,  William J. Willis: 'Professional of the Year',  the 'Go Green Award' goes to 'Unconquered Sun', 'Small Company of the Year': Clarke Chevrolet Buick GMC, 'Large Company of the Year': Vistaprint , the 'Taste of Windsor' award winner is Viewpointe Estate Winery. Dr Fouad Tayfour of the Windsor Laser Eye Institute wins the 'Believe Windsor Essex' Award.

  The board of the Windsor Public Library wants to make sure there are no longer corporate credit cards in place.

   Auditor K-P-M-G reviewed all board credit card purchases and found the resigned chair Al Maghnieh failed to follow policy in his use of the card issued to him.

   Auditor Nick Thomas says at least 87-hundred dollars was charged for personal items like clothing, food and trips.

   Thomas says they're delving deeper to determine what's personal expenses and what's business including a double hotel charge in Chicago on CEO Barry Holmes' card.

   Ward 6 Councillor Joanne Gignac is voicing her opinion that fellow councillor Al Maghnieh should step down.

   She's angry that she and other local politicians are being seen in a tainted light as a result of the credit card scandal.

   Gignac says Maghnieh should resign because the damage is irreparable.

   Gignac says it's clear to her the community has lost faith in Maghnieh.

   The local Catholic School Board is looking at relocating St. John's elementary school.

   A committee has been set up to look at moving students to the Catholic Education Centre.

   Superintendent of Education Cathy Geml says board offices would be renovated or relocated.

    Geml says St. John's is under capacity and needs major renovations.

   A public meeting on the issue will be held May 3rd.  

   Despite a rebound in the Canadian Auto Parts sector...the position worldwide has slipped.

   In 2007 Canada had the 6th largest exports for auto parts.

   The latest Scotiabank "Global Auto Report" shows we're now at number eleven.

   Scotiabank Auto Industry watcher and Senior Economist Carlos Gomes says countries like the Czech Republic have made significant in-roads in emerging markets like China.

   Gomes says there is optimism with the re-growth of auto production in North America.

     A 22 year old Windsor man has now been charged in a series of armed robberies in the city this month.

     Wesley Thomas Nicholl is facing 18 charges including robbery, pointing a firearm, having his face masked and possession of a weapon for the purpose of committing an offence.

     He's charged after a number of armed robberies at convenient stores and take-out restaurants.

     No weapon has been recovered.

     Police will be executing search warrants at the suspect's home and vehicle which should take place later today.

     Further charges are pending.

     A wacky unique fundraiser for Cystic Fibrosis.

     The Canadian-Anglo Club in East Windsor and CF Canada are taking registrations for the first "Human Foosball Tournament."

     A team of 8 enter an inflatable foosball arena, hold on to horizon poles, move side to side and play the game.

     President of the Canadian-Anglo Club Geoff Lambert says its a lot of fun.

     "This is the craziest thing we have done, we have many fundraisers, small and big. We bought this human foosball arena and i think its the only one in the area," says Lambert.

     The tournament takes place June 16-17 and they are hoping to get 36 teams.

     Cystic Fibrosis is hoping to raise 10 to 15-thousand dollars in this event.

     It wasn't just a balmy March, it was so warm that records were being set across most of Ontario

     A stationary, abnormally strong high-pressure area across Eastern North America was the cause for the historic warm spell across Ontario which started around March 14.

     Record temperatures tumbled by the dozen every day.

     Windsor recorded a full 10 consecutive days of 20 degrees or more - shattering the record for the warmest March day.  It hit 28.4 degrees on March 21 - breaking the 1998 record of 27 degrees in March.

     The infamous "pier 19" on the Ambassador Bridge property in Detroit is gone.

     The Michigan Department of Transportation has torn the supports down and the portion of new bridge above it, a bridge that was planned to span the Detroit River to Windsor, as a twin to the Ambassador Bridge.

     MDOT was given authority to finish the Gateway project by a Wayne county circuit court judge after the Ambassador Bridge company was found guilty of contempt for not living up to a court order to finish the work.

     Work continues in and around the Bridge plaza to finish other connections to freeways.  A new truck route will be built where the Pier 19 supports were standing.

(photo courtesy of Gateway Project)

     It's welcome news for a group of residents who live near Windsor-Essex Parkway construction.

     In an interview with AM800 News, Windsor West MPP Teresa Piruzza has confirmed that the Ministry of Transportation will be in talks with residents bordering the construction site about purchasing their properties.

     The areas involved include Chelsea Drive, Eastbourne Road and Shadetree Crescent.  Residents say construction is closer, noisier and dirtier than they were told it would be.

     Chelsea Drive residents had retained a lawyer and said time was running out before they filed a lawsuit. 

     Piruzza says she is thrilled to announce the news, and the residents involved will be contact by the MTO shortly.

    Windsor's Integrity Commissioner may get involved in the Al Maghnieh credit card scandal.

     Fellow city councillor Percy Hatfield says it's clear that policies have been broken and action by the Commissioner may be necessary.

     Maghnieh resigned as Chair of the Windsor Public Library Board after admitting that he racked up $8,700 in personal expenses on a library credit card that he shouldn't have been issued in the first place.

     The Chair of the Library Board's Finance Committee, Alex Cameron, has also resigned.

     Employees at the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit have a new contract. It includes a 4% wage increase retroactive to the first of this month.  

     The agreement also includes a one-time, $750 payment for all unionized employees.

     The contract covers employees from several different groups including public health inspection, oral health, health education specialists, nutritionists and clerical support.    

     Windsor Police have a suspect in custody after a string of armed robberies over the past month.

     A 22-year old Windsor man has been arrested without incident after police pulled over a vehicle at Wyandotte Street East and Marentette Avenue about 7 o'clock last night.

     He's suspected in 5 hold-ups including one on Monday night at a take-out restaurant on Wyandotte Street west.

     Police say,  in all cases, a man with a similar description and a handgun made off with some cash.

     The suspect is scheduled to appear in court today.

   Ward 10 Councillor Al Maghnieh is changing his mind over a commitment to Crimestoppers.

   The councillor at the centre of the library board credit card scandal had pledged $500 to the organization last May.

   A Crimestoppers official says they haven't been able to collect the amount and had been told it would not be paid.

   Maghnieh now says he will deliver the cheque to Crimestoppers Wednesday.

   Speeding boats in the channel leading to Ranta Marina have one boater ticked off.

   Chris Yoell wants the speed on that waterway posted...but has been told by the town of Amherstburg that's the responsibility of Transport Canada.

   Yoell says docks and boats are being damaged by wake from the high speed boats.

   He'll be contacting MP Jeff Watson ans sending a letter to Transport Canada.

     A campaign has been launched locally to end animal testing for cosmetics.

     Humane Society International, the Animal Alliance of Canada and Lush Cosmetics have partnered in the campaign.

     Manager of Lush in Windsor Deanna Morris says animal testing for cosmetics is not reliable and its cruel to the animal.

      A petition is available at Lush to lobby the government to get involved and ban the testing. People are also being asked to sign the window at Lush.

     A Windsor city councillor embroiled in a credit card scandal has backed out on a pledge to a local charity.

     Al Maghnieh had pledged 500 dollars in May of last year for Crimestoppers Bail or Jail.

     But Crimestoppers Program Manager Ron Funkenhauser says he's recently learned that Maghnieh has no intention of paying it.

     Funkenhauser says he's not judging Maghnieh because things happen in someone's life that prevents them from following through on a pledge.

      Maghnieh got 1650 dollars in pledges and only 525 dollars was actually collected.

      Funkenhauser admits sometimes people don't follow through on pledges.

     Maghnieh tells AM 800 news that he has personal reasons for not paying the pledge.

     Essex-Windsor EMS is intrigued by the concept of a mega-hospital for the area.

     Speaking on the Lynn Martin Show, Chief of Essex-Windsor EMS Randy Mellow admits there may be some efficiencies in unloading patients at the hospital if there is just one facility to go to.

     He says 500 times a year, an ambulance is used to transfer a patient from one hospital to the other.

     A committee has been set up to get public input on a new mega-hospital concept which would cost about 1.2 billion dollars.

     Ontario's minority Liberal government has easily survived a confidence vote on its budget, after striking a deal with the NDP to impose a surtax the wealthy.

     The New Democrats abstained, but that allowed the Liberals to out vote the Progressive Conservatives 52 to 37 and pass the budget motion, avoiding a second election in less than a year.

     There was little doubt the budget motion would pass after Premier Dalton McGuinty agreed to the NDP's demand to impose a two percentage point surtax on incomes over $500,000.

     The Liberals calculate the surtax on what the NDP call the "ultra wealthy'' will bring in $470 million a year, all of which McGuinty said would go towards the $15.2 billion deficit.

     McGuinty also said "the NDP surtax'' would be scrapped when the budget is balanced in 2017-18.

 

     A serial robber in Windsor has struck again.

     This time, a take-out restaurant in the 21-hundred block of Wyandotte Street West was robbed.

     A suspect entered the front door just after midnight, immediately pointing a gun at the employee behind the counter.  The suspect took some cash from the till and fled.

     Police believe the same suspect is responsible for 4 possibly 5 armed robberies this month.

     The suspect in the latest robbery is white, 25 years old, five foot-seven about 170 pounds. He was wearing a dark scarf over the lower half of his face and he was armed with a black semi-automatic handgun.

     It's going to be a noisy day at the old Villa Maria nursing home in west Windsor.

     Police are conducting explosive forced entry training from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.  today.

     They're advising the public that it's just a drill and a number of police vehicles will be on-site.

     Described mainly as an eyesore, 4, 90-foot silos near downtown Essex may soon become a giant work of art.

     The town is looking at contracting Winnipeg muralist Charlie Johnson to transform the concrete tubes.  Into what, says project Chair Chris Gelinas, depends on public input and support 

     Johnson has painted murals all over North America.  The cost of the Essex project  would be about $300,000 but Gelinas says they're looking for corporate sponsorship as well as federal and provincial funding, not taxpayer money.

     A decision is expected in a couple of months.

     The man at the centre of the Windsor Public Library Board credit card scandal, Al Maghnieh, will not lose his job as communications person with the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board.

     Director of Education, Paul Picard, admits he's disappointed but says he still has faith in Maghnieh.  School board Chair,  Barb Holland, says it's time to forgive and move on. 

     Maghnieh resigned as Library Board Chair on the weekend after disclosing that he'd racked up $8,700 in personal expenses on a library credit card.

     Maghnieh was issued a school board credit card a couple of months ago but Picard says everything adds up.

     The Windsor Public Library  Board credit card scandal has claimed another casualty.

     The Chair of the Library Board's Finance Committee, Alex Cameron,  has  tendered his resignation effective immediately.

     In a letter to acting Library Board Chair Hilary Payne, Cameron says he must accept responsibility for the actions of others and he accepts calls for his resignation. Among those urging him to step down was Mayor Eddie Francis.

     Cameron lists several positive events that have taken place at the Library Board over the past year but says they' ve been overshadowed by recent events surrounding the use of a library credit card.

     On the weekend, Ward 10 city councillor Al Maghnieh resigned as Library Board Chair after disclosing that he'd racked up $8,700 in personal expenses on a library credit card.

   A University of Windsor Political Scientist believes Councillor Al Maghnieh will be able to weather the storm of the credit card scandal.

   Lydia Miljan agrees things are tough for the Ward 10 councilor right now, but she thinks the negative image won't last long.

   Miljan says Maghnieh has paid back the money and resigned from the Library Board and she doubts it will be an issue at the next election in 3 years.

   She does not think Maghnieh should resign from his council seat.

   Three local families are sharing stories to stress the importance of organ donation.

   A campaign is underway to get people in Windsor-Essex to sign the on-line registry.

   Heather LeDoux has a daughter Emily who is waiting for a liver transplant.

   The Trillium Gift of Life Network says 15-hundred people in Ontario are waiting for an organ transplant every three days one of them dies waiting.

   You can register on-line at 'be a donor dot ca'. 

   The NDP has been able to squeeze some concessions out of the Liberals for tomorrow's budget vote.  

   Premier Dalton McGuinty has agreed to a tax on the rich and some help for the horse racing industry.

   Essex New Democrat MPP Taras Natyshak is glad they're able to make the budget more fair.

   But he wishes the funds raised by those earning over half a million a year should go to investments rather than paying off the debt.

   Lots of hands-on engineering at the Canada South Science City over the weekend.

   Members of the "Engineers in Residence Program" worked with kids on a variety of programs like building tall structures to see if they could handle heavy winds.

   Science City Board President Bill Baylis says the students had a blast and he's hoping the program returns to Science City again.

     Students in Windsor-Essex are getting their hands dirty as part of the 2012 Ontario Youth Volunteer Challenge.

     The province-wide initiative encourages students to volunteer in their community.

     Today, about a dozen students helped to prepare the University of Windsor Campus Community Garden for planting to help the needy.

     The local event was organized by the United Way and CEO Penny Marrett hopes more students sign up to help.

      The Community Garden Project take place until May 5th.   Students from all three school boards are taking part.

     In Windsor-Essex, the goal of the project is to get 375 students to take part.

     Chrysler is announcing it's return to the Chinese market.

     Chrysler will be selling the 300 sedan in mid 2012 while the Grand Voyager - the Chrysler Town & Country here - is planned to follow in the 4th quarter of this year.

     The Ontario-made vehicles will be imported into China from Canada.

     The company stopped selling in China in 2009 but research tells them it's a good time to start bringing vehicle back there.

     A suspect wanted in a trio of robberies in Windsor may have struck again.

     Around 9 o'clock last night, a man wearing a blue scarf over his face walked into a convenience store in the 36-hundred of Seminole Street.

     He walked up to the counter and pointed a handgun at the clerk demanding him to open the cash register.

     The suspect then began to empty the till of cash while continuing to point the gun at the clerk.

     He stuffed the cash into his pocket and fled.

     The suspect is a white man, 20 to 25 years old, blonde hair, blue eyes, five foot seven with a skinny build.

     He was wearing a large blue and grey hooded sweat shirt with a hood up, a blue scar over the lower half of his face and black gloves. He was carrying a black semi-automatic handgun.

     Detectives are investigating the possibility that this suspect is responsible for three other gunpoint robberies.

     Anyone with information is asked to call Windsor Police or crimestoppers.

     The former chair of the Windsor Public Library Board wants the chance to rebuild public trust.

     Speaking on the Lynn Martin Show, Al Maghnieh says even though he has resigned from the Library Board, he wants to continue his work as city councillor despite calls from the public for his resignation as councillor.

     Maghnieh has admitted he charged about 87-hundred dollars in personal expenses on the board's corporate credit card, which he has paid back.

    Maghnieh told the Lynn Martin Show, Library CEO Barry Holmes and the Finance Committee Chair Alex Cameron issued the credit card

      Windsor Public Library CEO Barry Holmes says as an employee of the Library, he believes it would be inappropriate for him to comment on the situation.

     Three local families are sharing their stories about the importance of organ donation.

      And the Trillium Gift of Life network in Windsor-Essex wants people to know how easy it is to register consent online to be an organ and tissue donor.

      There are nearly 1500 people in Ontario waiting for an organ transplant.  Every 3 days, one of them dies while waiting.

      Every donor has the potential to save up to 8 lives and enhance dozens more by being a donor.  The LeDoux family are hoping for a liver transplant for their daughter Emily.

     The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada reports a successful walk in Windsor on the weekend.

     More than 700 participants raised nearly $128,000 for M.S. treatment and research. 

     There's more fallout from the credit card scandal that has rocked the Windsor Public Library Board.

     As AM800 News first reported on the weekend, Board Chair Al Maghnieh has resigned after admitting to racking up $8,700 in personal expenses on a corporate credit card.

     Now, Andrew McAvoy, the former Chair of the Library Board's Audit and Finance Committee, is calling for the resignation of current Finance Chair Alex Cameron.  McAvoy says Cameron must have known about the abuse from the start.

     Mayor Eddie Francis agrees that Cameron should resign.

     In a statement released this morning, Cameron says he'll be available for comment later this week.

     Ward 10 Councillor Al Maghnieh has resigned from the Windsor Public Library Board.

     It was announced this week that Maghnieh admitted to not following policy and spending thousands of dollars on a corporate card, which he later paid back.

     Former chair of the Windsor Public Library Board Alan Halberstadt says he's disappointed.

     Finance Minister Dwight Duncan is describing a "Possible New State of the Art" Hospital for Windsor as being in the early stages.

      Duncan says a committee has been launched, that will speak to the community, and will see if they're in favour of a new facility.

He says to build a new hospital, it will cost about 1.2 billion dollars. The possible new facility would merge Windsor Regional and Hotel-Dieu Grace.

     Duncan says the process could take between 5 to 10 years.

    The committee includes Windsor West MPP Teresa Piruzza, Dave Cook and Tom Porter.

     Ford City is a bit brighter today.

     On Saturday, more than 20 volunteers installed over 800 LED bulbs in the area on residential front porches.

     The bulbs were donated by Enwin and residents are being asked to turn the light on every night...to keep the the neighbourhood safe, while conserving energy with low energy bulbs.

     As of tomorrow, the long awaited third shift will start at the Essex Engine plant. CAW Local 200 President Chris Taylor says 108 peple have been called from layoff.

Ford announced last month it was expanding production of the 5-litre V-8 to 3 shifts to meet demand.

     Toronto Police have issued an Amber Alert for an eight-year-old Toronto boy who they believe has been abducted.

     Joshua Low is described as Asian, four feet tall, between 40 and 45 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, and blue and yellow shoes.

     Joshua is believed to be in the company of his mother, Jessica Yi Qing Low-Zheng, a 45-year-old Asian woman of a thin build, with long black hair and brown eyes. She is five feet one inch tall.

     Police say Low-Zheng left the family home with Joshua on April 13. On Friday, they received information that prompted concern for the child's safety.

     The pair was last seen in a four-door, brown 2000 Toyota Corolla, with an Ontario licence plate BAME 697.

     Anyone with information on Low-Zheng and Joshua's whereabouts is asked to contact police at 416−808−3300 or Crime Stoppers at 416−222−TIPS.

     Canadian Club whisky made in Windsor is having a resurgence in popularity because of two television shows.

     Increased exposure on Mad Men and Boardwalk Empire has boosted sales by nearly 8-percent.

     Manager of the Canadian Club Brand Centre in Walkerville Tish Harcus tells AM800 News Boardwalk Empire depicts the prohibition era and wanted to feature Canadian Club because it was the number one whisky distributed in the U.S. during that time.

     Canadian Club has been produced in Windsor for 154 years.

    Essex MP Jeff Watson is pleased with the results of the day-long visit of the Parliamentary Secretary for the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

     MP Bob Dechert travelled to the Windsor area to assess the issues around the "Windsor Hum."

     The series of meetings with various officials on both sides of the border was characterized as a 'fact finding' trip.

     Watson admits he is surprised the 'hum' isn't a big deal to people in Michigan

     Watson can't say if federal funding for more studies will be coming from this visit. He says it will be discussed once Parliamentary Secretary Dechert reports to Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird.

     If you've been noticing an influx of butterflies in Windsor-Essex, you are not alone.

     Naturalist Paul Pratt says the early spring and the winds last weekend, have resulted in thousands of "red admiral butterflies" migrating here.

     Pratt says there's no downside from the influx but it is something to appreciate.

     The influx happened across the province including Windsor-Essex, Lambton County up to Niagara region.

     The City of Windsor is looking to be more involved in the War of 1812 bicentennial commemoration.

    Administration is asking residents for their celebration ideas over the next 3 years.

     Ward 2 councillor Ron Jones says staff is doing a good job organizing events in Windsor.

     Forward ideas to the Manager of Culture in Windsor at cmasterson@city.windsor.on.ca

   Officials at Workforce Windsor-Essex are anxious for a meeting next month with Mayor Eddie Francis.

   In his State of the City speech he referred to a joint program with the group and the city, but offered few details.

   Workforce Director Donna Marentette says the Mayor is scheduled to speak with the board soon to map out a strategy.

   Marentette says the idea of the 'Workforce Ready' program is exciting and has a lot of potential..and she wants to get into the details soon.

   A 31-year-old Hamilton area man is facing charges after being found in the downtown wearing "brass knuckles."

   Windsor Police were alerted to a man who had been in a fight in a Pelissier Street bar early this morning.

   The doorman at the establishment had escorted the man out and told officer he had seen them on the man's hand.

   When police spotted the man, he had his hands in his pockets.

   He dropped the silver coloured knuckes when requested.

   Kirk Townsent of Dundas is charged with possession of a prohibited weaopn, carrying a concealed weapon and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace.

   Windsor Police are calling on the public to help identify a suspect involved in a knifepoint robbery in south Windsor .

   3 teenaged boys were approached by a masked man with a knife Monday night near Glenwood and Grand Marais.

   The man grabbed a skateboard and fled in a new silver Ford Escape with 2 other men.

   The suspect is described as a white male, 6-feet tall, average build and wearing a grey hoodie with black and green camouflage shorts.

     A 27 year old man has been found guilty of attempted murder after shooting a Windsor man in the head.

     A judge found Roger Ronaldo Williams raised a gun and fired it at Tracey Marcoux's  head.

     The shooting happened over drugs in Marcoux's Bernard Road home in October 2006.

      The 47 year old Marcoux  survived the shooting but lives with the brain trauma and disability.

      Outside the courthouse, Marcoux (below) said he didn't feel lucky by surviving the gunshot.

   "I would have been happier dying than live my life with what he caused, living with a disability is hard enough", he said.

     Williams's family calls the verdict unfair.   The defence during the trial had argued the shooting was accidental. 

      The defence is exploring an appeal.

     A sentencing hearing takes place June 25th.

     3 young teens have been taken home to their parents by Windsor Police - after being caught in a woodlot with pellet guns.

     A daycare worker in a nearby centre saw the boys with the rifles in the woods behind South Windsor Arena and called police.

    Officers found the boys with the Air Soft pellet guns and took them home.

    They are 12, 14 and 15 years old. They were released to their parents.

     Canada's foreign affairs office is taking a personal interest in the Windsor Hum today.

     Parliamentary Secretary Bob Dechert is visiting Windsor, Detroit and Zug Island today. He's trying to identify ways to address the issue of the Hum.

     The Foreign Affairs office says they're prepared to collaborate with stakeholders and other levels of government to identify the source of the problem so that some mitigation measures can be implemented.

     Dechert has met with Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis this morning, and is meeting with people from the Great Lakes Commission, council of Great Lakes industries, the southeast michigan council of governments and the IJC. He'll tour Brighton Beach, across the river from Zug Island.

     A 77-year old woman with dementia has been found safe and sound in Kingsville.

    She was reported missing from her apartment late yesterday morning.

     A specialist with the OPP was called in and was able to locate the woman  through her 'Project Lifesaver' tracking bracelet within about 15 minutes.

     Windsor Police are investigating what they describe as a 'slashing incident' early this morning.

     It happened shortly after 5 o'clock in the 800 block of University Avenue east.

     Police say they know of at least one victim but there may be more.

     So far, no arrests have been made.

      It's a life and death decision.

     The owners of race horses in Windsor-Essex are warning that the animals may have to be put down if the province follows through with a plan to pull the slots out of the Windsor Raceway and end a revenue-sharing agreement with the horse racing industry,

     Horse owner Karen Duck says horses are expensive to keep if they aren't racing and earning prize money. Some owners will have to choose between keeping their horses or looking after their family.

     The revenue-sharing agreement is slated to end next spring.

   A 32-year-old Cottam woman faces drunk driving charges after being pulled over this morning near a school in Kingsville.

   The OPP were called when a woman was seen driving a car with a flat tire and front end damage.

   She tested at 4 times the legal limit.

     Windsor Public Library Board Chair Al Maghnieh has issued an apology after admitting he misused a corporate credit card. 

     The Ward 10 councillor says he made purchases that he shouldn't have totaling about $3,000. The purchases were not directly related to Library Board business.  

     Maghnieh has paid back the money, surrendered the credit card and says it won't happen again.

     The Mayor has spoken to the head of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming commission - and is in the process of setting up a face to face meeting.

     Mayor Eddie Francis says he told the CEO, Rod Phillips, that he wants some type of program to help the employees at the Slots at Windsor Raceway, and from the horse racing industry, to retrain for new jobs.

     As for going back and reversing the decision to close the Slots at Windsor Raceway, Francis says he doesn't think that is going to happen.

     A generous benefactor has come to the rescue of a grade 8 class that was robbed.

     As AM800 News reported yesterday - a safe at Immaculate Conception school was discovered stolen yesterday morning.

     Inside, was 6 thousand dollars that was raised by students and parents to pay for a leadership camp trip that takes place next week.

     Today - a donor, who wants to remain anonymous, brought in 6 thousand dollars cash to make up for the theft.

     The school, now without a safe, has deposited the cash at the Motor City Credit Union.

     Diageo Canada has been named one of the country's best workplaces.

     It's the fourth straight year the alcohol beverage company has made the list compiled by the Great Place to Work Institute.

     Diageo ranks 21st among companies with more than one-thousand employees.

     The company bottles Crown Royal whiskey at its plant in Amherstburg, employing 250 people.

     It's all smiles at St. Clair College.

     In the latest Student Satisfaction ratings, the college is 2 percentage points above the provincial average for "student satisfaction" and is now at its highest level (78.8 per cent) in this category.

     The ratings were released by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities for the time period between March 2011 and February 2012.

    The Ford city neighbourhood will soon be lit up with new bulbs on every front porch.

    Project Porchlight will begin Saturday with distribution of more than 800 LED bulbs that will be installed in front porch lights by volunteers.

    Residents will be asked to turn those lights on every night - to keep the neighbourhood safe, while conserving energy with low energy bulbs.

    The bulbs are being donated by Enwin - at a cost of about 17 dollars each.

     Business owners in Windsor-Essex are being urged to hire someone with a disability .

     The request comes from Ontario Lieutenant-Governor David Onley who was diagnosed with polio at the age of 3.

     He told a Windsor-Essex Rotary Club dinner last night that the current national unemployment rate for people with a disability is greater than the total unemployment rate during the great depression .

      Onley says people with a disability tend to have a lower rate of  absenteeism and are good problem solvers because they're faced with problems everyday.

      Moving the slots from the Windsor Raceway to Caesar's Windsor is part of a move to privatize the gaming industry -- at least according to people involved in horse racing.

     The plan, says Brian Tropea of the Ontario Harness Horse Association, is to divide the province into 29 gaming zones, each with its own gaming establishment.  Each zone would be run by a private company.

     Tropea believes the slots are being moved to make the casino more attractive to potential bidders.

     He expects an RFP to go out as early as this fall.

      It's a working weekend for Chrysler employees in Windsor.

     The automaker wants all hourly production and skilled trades workers to report for their shifts this Saturday at the Windsor Assembly Plant.

     That includes CAW members at supplier plants.    

     Chrysler says any other employees who are needed will be contacted by the employer.

      A Leamington business owner is accusing Ontario's Community Safety and Correctional Services ministry of dragging its feet.

     Kathy Edwards, the owner of a halfway house, is suing the province, claiming she was forced to take convicted sex offender Sarah Dahle as a resident.

     Edwards' house is next to an elementary school and was the target of protests by parents concerned for their children's safety.

     She claims her business has suffered as a result.

     A lawsuit was filed last fall but lawyer Adam Paglione says,  to date, there has been no response.

      He's given the province 2 more weeks or will consider the ministry in default which means it agrees with what's claimed in the lawsuit. He will then seek damages from the court.

   The Windsor Licensing Commission wants to close a "loop hole" when it comes to city cab colors.

   That's not sitting well with the General Manager of Veteran Cab.

   The current by-law allows a maximum of two colors for cabs but proposed changes would include the color of door jams and the trunk interior.

   General Manager Walt Bezzina contacted 7 companies in 7 municipalities and none of them have a similar by-law.

   Bezzina adds this will add another 500 to 800-dollars cost per vehicle when the industry is already hurting.

   The Principal at a Windsor school is trying to reassure students that a robbery won't stop their trip.

   Sometime overnight, someone took the safe from Immaculate Conception School on Tuscarora and took six-thousand dollars.

   Principal Carol Wilk says the money was raised for the Grade 8 trip to Muskoka Wood Leadership Camp next week

   Some of the money was also raised for new laptops.

   Things are starting to move quickly in the hunt for a new Police Chief in Windsor.

   The firm hired to develop an assesment and create a profile will be in the city soon.

   Mayor Eddie Francis says the representatives from Odgers - Berndtson have a lot to do.

   Francis says over the next 6 to 8 weeks the profile will be developed.

   He expects to have resumes from across Canada and internationally being reviewed by mid-summer.

     Things are  running better for truck traffic heading across the Ambassador Bridge today.

     There was a backup that began yesterday afternoon as M-DOT closed down a lane exiting the cargo inspection area for construction.

     MDOT officials say the closed lane is generally used by less than 20 percent of the truck traffic - but the real problem was a malfunctioning traffic light that the truck traffic was stopping at.

     That light is now working and the second lane is now open.

     The Ambassador Bridge placed the blame solely on the shoulders of MDOT, the state department that has been put in charge by the court for completing construction work to link the Bridge to area freeways.

     MDOT is removing large supports that are holding up a partially completed ramp to a proposed new bridge that the Ambassador Bridge  company began a few years ago. 

     The supports, or pier 19 as it's known, have to come down to open up a road for trucks to access the freeways.

    Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis is vowing he won't give up on fighting for the horse racing industry in this area.

    Francis says he received a letter from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission, indicating they have done the accounting on the final year of payment from the Slots at Windsor Raceway and they want the city to sign off on the deal.

     Francis says the cities of Sarnia and Fort Erie are also getting the same letter, and the Mayor of Sarnia certainly feels the same way Francis does.  

     Francis says he is scheduled to have a phone conversation with the CEO of the OLG Thursday where he'll be discussing the letter, and all the matters of the closing of the Slots at Windsor Raceway.

     The University of Windsor has unveiled its plans for the downtown.

     The university will be renovating the Armouries, The Windsor Star building and the old bus depot and moving programs and students into those facilities.

     Drawings and architects' renderings were shown off by university president Dr. Alan Wildeman during a news conference today.

     Wildeman says the historic aspects of the buildings will be preserved and their interiors will be gutted to make room for the School of Music and Visual Arts, the Film Production program and the School of Social Work.

     He says the next step is to have construction drawings completed and to begin the work on the renovations.

     The aim is to have all three buildings open in the summer of 2014.

     The Paul Martin Building in downtown Windsor has been evacuated after postal workers found a white powdery substance on the floor this morning.

     Ouellette Avenue at Pitt Street West is closed to traffic as emergency personnel investigate.

     About 200 federal workers have been forced out of the building.

     Windsor city council is asking provincial New Democrats to withhold support for the new provincial budget unless the Liberals reverse their decision to remove the slot machines from the Windsor Raceway.  

     Mayor Eddie Francis doesn't think the NDP is doing enough to save the slots and the hundreds of jobs that go along with them.  He has a phone meeting with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation tomorrow morning to plead Windsor's case.

     The province plans to move the slots to Caesar's Windsor and end a revenue-sharing agreement with the horse racing industry to help eliminate Ontario's $16 billion deficit.

     We should hear more about a month from now in the on-going debate over removing fluoride in Windsor's water.

     The group 'Fluoride Free Windsor' is advicing the city of its legal responsibilities, calling the addition of fluoride forced medication'.

     The Windsor Utilities Commission is seeking legal advice before presenting a report to city council.

     Critics argue that fluoride in drinking water is unsafe and unnecessary. Windsor's Medical Officer of Health maintains its both safe and effective in preventing cavities.

     The Greater Essex County District School Board wants to get the aroma out of reading, writing and arithmetic.

     It's not banning the use of perfumes and colognes but Education Director, Warren Kennedy,  says they are hoping to increase awareness that some people have sensitivities. Signs will be posted in the schools.

      Many schools already deal with the issue but this is the first time there's been an official board policy.

     Too much work and too few employees. That's the complaint among custodial staff at the University of Windsor.

     They say garbage is being allowed to pile up in the halls but administration refuses to hire more help.

     It's so bad, says employee Stephanie Enriquez, she will not send her kids to the school, despite free tuition, even if it means having to borrow money or remortgage her house.

     Custodians say the university used to be a great place to work but now they feel like they're no longer wanted.

   The councillor representing the downtown wants more information before getting on board the party bandwagon.

   Downtown bars are proposing 4 themed weekends where patios will be extended to the street.

   Ward 3's Fulvio Valentinis told AM800 listeners on the Afternoon News proper protocols must be followed to have successful events.

   Valentinis says noise, traffic and police costs are concerns and he would like to have daytime parties along with night-time celebrations to involve everyone.

   Provincial Police pulled over a car for speeding on Highway 3 near Walker at around noon, only to find the passenger had suffered an injury.

   The 29-year-old Amherstburg man was being rushed to hospital after his finger was severed while working on a motorcycle.

   The officer transferred the victim to her cruiser and rushed him to Hotel Dieu Grace Hospital where doctors are attempting to re-attach the finger.

   The officer is being commended by the OPP for her quick actions during the traumatic event.

   A natural gas leak in the Colchester area has been repaired.

   OPP and Essex Fire rushed to Crystal Beach in Essex this afternoon evacuating several homes and closing County Road 50.

   The leak occurred as a result of a person digging in the area with a backhoe.

   Everyone has returned home and the road has re-opened.
 

   The Salvation Army in Windsor is putting out the call to find new warehouse space.

   It's for the Christmas Hamper Program which used to distribute toys and food vouchers from the downtown Armouries.

   Now that the building has been turned over to the University...it's no longer an option.

   Salvation Army Spokesperson Perron Goodyear says they need about 3-thousand square feet between October and December.

     It's been a warm welcome for an Alberta-based company that has opened a plant in Windsor.

     Dynamic Solutions opened its production facility in Windsor April 2nd on St. Etienne Boulevard.

     The company specializes in the design, manufacturing and operation of down-hole tools used in well-bore technology for the oil and gas sectors.

     About a dozen people have been hired and the company hopes to employ as many as 40 people within the year.

      General Manager Leigh McDiarmid says he's been really happy with the decision to locate here.

      McDiarmid hopes to employ as many as 40 people at the plant within the year, depending on demand.

      A 47 year old woman has been identified at the victim of a fatal crash on the 401 in Chatham-Kent.

   Jennifer Mott of Merlin was driving an eastbound car that was hit by a westbound transport truck that crossed the median near Mull Side Road.

   A passenger in the car, a 19-year-old Blenheim woman, suffered non-life threatening injuries in yesterday morning's crash.   So did the driver of the big rig, a 29-year-old Windsor man.

   Provincial Police say charges are pending.

     Windsor Police continue to investigate a collision between two of their own cruisers on the city's east side yesterday.

     Police say one of the unmarked cruisers - a grey sedan -  pulled out to pass an unmarked pickup truck on Riverside Drive East at Buckingham and ended up with heavy front end damage on a front yard. It had hit a fire hydrant and a tree on the property.

     Police say the grey sedan, driven by a plainclothes officer involved in an investigation, was headed westbound and pulled out to pass the pickup truck when the truck began a left turn, hitting the passing sedan.

    The officer driving the sedan received minor injuries. No other vehicles were involved.  Charges are pending.

     The date has been set for this year's "Target Fireworks".

     It takes place Monday, June 25th.

     The display choreographed by Zambelli Fireworks Internationale is one of the largest fireworks displays in the world with more than 10-thousand pyrotechnic effects lighting up the sky.

     It takes place during Windsor's Summerfest along the waterfront.

     A Leamington teenage who survived a fiery crash earlier this year is improving in hospital.

     18-year old Johan Bergen has been upgraded from fair to good condition at London's Health Sciences Centre.

      He and two other teens were in a vehicle that crashed into a ditch in Tilbury on  February 5th and burst into flames.

      The two others, 18-year old Jake Fast and 17-year old Frank Wiebe,  both died.

     Those fighting to keep the slots at Windsor Raceway now have  the City of Windsor in their corner.

     In a unanimous vote, Council has approved a resolution asking the Province to reverse a decision to close the slots and end a revenue-sharing agreement with the horse-racing industry .

     Mayor Eddie Francis speaks with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation on Thursday morning in an effort to save the slots.

     The Province says the closure is necessary to help eliminate its $16 billion deficit.

     It's business as usual at the Vollmer Recreation Complex in LaSalle today.

     It was closed yesterday because of roof damage caused by strong winds but the roof has been secured and all programs are running normally today.

     LaSalle's Director of Culture and Recreation, Terry Fink, blames Mother Nature for the problem. He says sustained winds reached 80 to 90 kilometers an hour.

       If downtown Windsor bar owners have their way there'll be several big block parties this summer.

      They want to close Ouellette Avenue from Park to Riverside Drive as well as parts of Pitt, University, Chatham and Pellisier.

     Bar owner Dave Haas says 4 themed weekends are planned with patios extended into the street. Themes include 'Downtown Goes Motown' and 'Downtown Goes Rock and Roll'.

     Talks are underway with the BIA.

   Chatham-Kent Police are investigating a theft from a house on Peterborough Drive.

   More than 40-thousand dollars in jewellry and electronics have been stolen.

   The home was broken into sometime between Friday afternoon and Sunday morning.

   Investigators are appealing to residents in the neighborhood to call police if they saw any suspicious vehicles or activities in the area over the weekend.

   3 people were rescued from a boat in Lake Erie this morning.

   The 18-foot pleasure craft was taking on water at about 10 this morning near West Sister Island off Pelee Island.

   The U-S Coast Guard got the distress call on marine-band radio.

   All on board were wearing life jackets and the Coast Guard commends them for taking proper action and using correct safety gear.

   This afternoon's strong, gusty wind is causing a closure at the Vollmer Centre in Lasalle.

   Town officials say the flashings on the southwest corner have separated from the roof structure and parts of the roof are flapping.

   The complex is closed as a precaution and police have also shut Laurier Drive from Malden Road to Disputed Road for safety reasons.

   Officials expect the complex to re-open tomorrow.

    Dollarama hasn't decided what it's going to do about it's burned out east-end location. But in the meantime, employees from that store are being temporarily re-located at other Dollarama stores to keep working.

    A company spokesperson says they are investigating the future of the east-end store but it is too early to say what they'll do.

    Fire ripped through the discount store on Tecumseh Road East and Roseville Garden Drive on April 9th.

     Fire investigators have determined it was intentionally set but have not identified who may have set the fire. Damage is pegged at 4 million dollars.

     A senior St. Thomas man has been convicted of smuggling guns into Canada at the Windsor border.

     75 year old John Thomas - who used to winter in Florida - was charged with numerous counts after 4 handguns were found in his recreational trailer as he crossed the border in 2009.

    Thomas' lawyer, Dan Scott, says the man had bought the guns at a Florida flea market and was going to sell them at an Ohio auction, but forgot they were in a closet in his trailer when he crossed the border to go home to St. Thomas.

     He faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 3 years in prison for the gun convictions.

     "Twin powers" were on display over the weekend in Trenton, Michigan.

     Belle River twins John and Michael Kopcock took gold at the Cabela's Masters Walleye Fishing Circuit.

     They beat out nearly 200 anglers in the two-day tournament on Lake Erie with a final weigh-in total of 71.7 pounds.

     The brothers take home $15,000.

     Windsor Police are following up on several tips after last week's multi-million dollar Dollarama fire.

     Detective Glen Gervais says the scene has been turned over to the insurance company and police are still waiting for results from testing.

     He says police have no persons of interest yet in the investigation.

     A week ago, a fire destroyed the Dollarama on Tecumseh Road East near Lauzon Parkway and heavily damaged nearby businesses.

     Damage is pegged at more than 4-million dollars and police have ruled the fire was intentionally set and highly suspicious.

     Windsor Police are searching for a suspect believed to be responsible for 3 armed robberies in the past 3 days.

     The first happened Friday morning at a convenience store on Strabane.  The second happened last night at a convenience store on Wyandotte Street East and minutes later, a Subway shop on Lauzon Road East was hit.

     In all three cases, the suspect is armed with a black handgun and his face covered.

     "At this stage, it looks like the suspect is acting calmly, there is no violence being threatened.   He is pointing the gun but he is very calm and we are asking clerks to be calm themselves," says Windsor Police Sergeant Brett Corey

      Police are treating the gun as real.

     A 50 year old man witness saw the suspect running away from one of the robbery on Wyandotte Street East and police would like to speak to that man.

     The suspect  in the two Sunday night robberies is described as white, between 5'5" and 5'8" tall, wearing a dark coloured hooded sweat shirt, baggy blue jeans and white running shoes.  His face was covered by a red and blue scarf.

     Windsor Police are also checking to see if the suspect could be responsible for two armed robberies in Sarnia.

     Ontario's governing Liberals are calling a crucial vote on the budget on April 24th.

     It will be a nail biter, as the minority government could be defeated, triggering another election.

     The Liberals need at least two opposition votes to survive, but have yet to strike a deal with the N-D-P.

     Government House Leader John Milloy says no one wants an election, and Ontario's fragile economy needs certainty and stability.

     There's been a pair of armed robberies in east Windsor and the same person is suspected in both.

     They happened just minutes apart last night.

      Police say a convenience store in the 8100 block of Wyandotte Street was robbed by a man with a gun shortly before 9 o'clock.  He made off with some cash but the clerk wasn't hurt. Then, a few minutes later, a sub shop in the 200 block of Lauzon Road was hit.

     In both cases, the suspect had a handgun and a red and black scarf over his face.

     Not true -- the response from the City of Windsor's engineering department.

     City Engineer Mario Sonego says the Riverside Drive re-construction project from the Little River bridge to the Solidarity Towers Apartments is not to blame for an increase in truck traffic along Lesperance Road.

     Tecumseh residents have complained about increased volumes but Sonego says truck routes are pre-determined and Lesperance isn't one of them.

     He says eastbound trucks use Banwell Road to the 401. Westbound trucks use Wyandotte.

      Some fine-tuning is underway on the design for a new HealthPlex at St. Clair College.

     The project includes 3 gyms, an indoor track and a fitness centre.

     College President, Dr. John Strasser, says fundraising is underway to help pay for the $23 million facility. He expects construction to begin by the end of the summer.

     Leamington's commercial district is about to take on a new look.

     Improvements planned over the next few months include bike racks and small, outdoor cafes.

     Mayor John Paterson says the goal is to make the area more pedestrian friendly and visually pleasing.

     $60,000 has been set aside for the project this year and Paterson says there'll be more in the 2013 budget.

     The City of Windsor is considering a new fee waiver policy.

     Various organizations ask the city from time to time to waive their fees and the new policy would help city council and administration in considering and managing requests.

     Councillor Bill Marra says council will still have flexibility to award waivers but the new policy will avoid knee jerk decisions.

     Councillor Percy Hatfield says a reserve fund is needed based on the benefit to the community.

     CAO Helga Rydel will have authority to approve all requests for waving fees below 3-thousand dollars.

     The 2nd annual "Spring Fever" Event at Century Secondary School has come to an end.

     On Saturday, staff and students held the event to raise funds for the west-end school.

     Vice Principal Rick MacMillan says the event featured aesthetics and hair styling, bingo, wood crafts and a bake sale.

     Last year, about one thousand dollars was raised, MacMillan hopes that amount is passed this year.

     A "Falls Prevention Program" launched a few years ago seems to be working.

     The program was launched in 2010 by the Erie St. Clair Local Health Integration Network.

     It has assessed 400 seniors for potential falls in their home and 300 grab bars have been installed.

LHIN CEO Gary Switzer says through the program, a registered occupational therapist visits the seniors in their home to provide consultations, education and recommendations to prevent falls.

     The Windsor Chapter of the Syrian Canadian Council is calling on the community to speak out.

     Chapter Spokesperson Tarek Alsmoudi says it's time for the bloodshed to be stopped in Syria.

     He says thousands of innocent people have been killed and Syria President Bashar al-Assad must be removed.

     Alsmoudi says the Canadian Government needs to do something.

     The goali s to get 50-thousand signatures on the petition which can be found out local chapter's Facebook page

     Windsor Police say the cause of fire on Elliot Street is not criminal. It was caused by a pot of oil on the stove.

     Just before 5:30 yesterday afternoon, fire crews were called to 350 Elliot Street where flames did damage to the fourth floor.

     Residents were termporarilty sheltered on three Transit Windsor buses and in the community room at Waterworld.

     A Windsor criminal lawyer believes the Rick Vaive drinking and driving case will have a huge impact on future cases across Canada.

     The former Leafs captain was cleared of drunk driving this week.

     Lawyer Brian Ducharme specializes in drinking and driving cases and tells AM800 News video evidence is what saved saved Vaive.

     Ducharme says the video was crucial in exonerating Vaive and can have the same effect in others cases.

     Mayor Eddie Francis is cautiously optimistic about talks with BYD, the maker of electric buses in China.

     He's been negotiating with the company to establish a facility in Windsor to assemble buses for the North American market.

     The pilot project would allow the company to make sure the buses meet Canadian and Ontario standards so they can be sold here.

     Francis says some of these type of investment files take a lot of work and a lot of time and he's hoping to test a couple of them out on Windsor streets this summer.

     New regulations to reduce pollution from heavy vehicles like trucks and busses will make lower emissions easier to attain.

      Makers of those vehicles have had to struggle with a patchwork of regulations up to now based on whatever state or province the vehicle was being sold in.

     The Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers Association is applauding the move. Association President Mark Nantais told AM800 listeners on the Afternoon News the savings will end up benefitting everyone.

     These new rules align the Canadian standards with those in the US.

   A high rise apartment fire in the downtown has turned into a bigger problem.

   Crews were called to 350 Elliott Street just before 5:30 this afternoon.

   Flames did significant damage to a unit on the 4th floor and the cause is under investigation.

   But water from putting out the fire damaged the building's electrical system.

   All power is out and the residents are temporarily being sheltered in 3 Trandit Windsor busses.

   Enwin officials are working to restore power.

   A British firm has set up shop in Windsor...and is now looking for office space.

   Mayor Eddie Francis mentioned the successful luring of the firm here during his State of the City speech.

   K M & T is a consulting firm that helps companies become more efficient and plans to begin working with Canada's health care system.

   Managing Director Scott Middleton says they're starting small - but expect to expand to 20 position in 3 years.

   The majority of their consultants come from the automotive industry - learning downsizing and efficiencies and turning that information into a business that can help many industries.

   Members of the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce now have the tools to begin doing business with the province of Ontario.

   About 30 people from the chamber participated in a procurement round table discussion with the Minister of Government Services Harinder Takhar.

   Chamber President and CEO Matt Marchand says it's time for more companies to do business with the province.

   Marchand says the province buys 6.3-billion dollars worth of goods and services and local businesses deserve a chance to get a piece of that pie.

     Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis has highlighted 7 possible job investments in his State of the City Address.

     Speaking to a crowd of about 800 business people and community leaders, Francis spoke of the city's attempts to attract companies specializing in medical isotopes and electric buses.

     Francis also announced that a global firm named "K.M and T" that applies LEAN processes to health care programs has made a decision to locate in Windsor.

     "Working throughout Europe and Australia, KM and T have helped to improve front line health care services while identifying efficiency savings worth millions and millions of dollars a year," he says.

     Francis closed his remarks by stating that the plan to attract jobs is working and what is making the city irresistible to investors is the skilled workforce here.

     A new patient-centered philosophy has been launched in Windsor-Essex to try and maintain senior's independence.

     It's called "Home First" which is a partnership between the Local Health Integration Network, the Community Care Access Centre, Hospitals and Long-term Care homes.

     The goal is to get enough community support to allow seniors to live safely with the right care in their homes as long as possible.

     Director of Geriatrics at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto Dr. Samir Sinha says its about the right care, in the right place at the right time.

      Dr. Sinha says the right shift is going on in Ontario to invest more in community support and less on hospital budgets.

     The Ambassador Bridge company has had its appeal application to gain back control of the Gateway project denied.

     Last month (Mar.8), the Wayne county circuit court put control of finishing the 230 million dollar freeway connection project into the hands of the Michigan Department of Transportation after the Bridge company failed to comply with a court order to finish it's end of the project.

     The Bridge company launched an emergency appeal before construction work starts on Monday.

     The Michigan Court of Appeals has denied reversing the decision saying that the order was 'just and equitable'.

     A motion to 'stay' the project has also been denied.

     MDOT officials say they're pleased that the courts continue to support the state's efforts to fulfill the mandate to finish the project to help the flow of goods and people between the U.S. and Canada.

     The ferry to Pelee Island is out of commission for the next couple of weeks.

     The 'Jiimaan' is undergoing repairs to it's propeller shaft, leaving only air service for anyone who needs to get to or from the island.

    The Jiimaan's back-up,  the Pelee Islander, is undergoing a retro-fit and won't be available until early May.

     Island Mayor Rick Masse is frustrated. He says break-downs are a common problem and a new ferry is needed.

     A multi-million dollar fire this week at the Dollarama store in east Windsor is being called 'highly suspicious' but hasn't yet been confirmed as arson.

     It started on a shelf while the store was open and, while that's unusual, says Windsor Police Detective Glen Gervais, they don't know yet if it was intentional.

     He says there's no apparent reason for the fire to have started where it did but more information is needed before arson is confirmed. Forensic testing is being done.

     Damage is pegged at between $3 million and $4 million.

      Three volunteers with the Windsor-Essex branch of the Red Cross about to gain some notoriety.

     They're being featured in a photo exhibition called "Hometown Heroes, Ordinary People, Extraordinary Volunteers".

    The 3 volunteers -- Dennis and Andre Marentette and John Trepanier  --  will be in Toronto next week for the photo exhibition's official unveiling. Red Cross Disaster Management Coordinator, Donna Girard, says the recognition is well-deserved.

    The search for a suspect is underway after an armed robbery in east Windsor.

    Police say  at about 3 o'clock this morning, a man with a  handgun demanded cash from a clerk at a convenience store in the 200 block of Strabane Avenue.

     He then fled with an undisclosed amount of money but the clerk wasn't hurt.

     Police are still piecing together a description of the suspect.

   It IS highly suspicious...but it's not yet an arson.

   Windsor Police Detective Glen Gervais of the Arson squad says there was no reason for the flames to start in the east end Dollarama where they did.

   Samples have been recovered and sent away to try and determine if the multi-million dollar blaze on Tecumseh Road near Lauzon Parkway Monday night was either accidental or deliberately set.

   Gervais says it's a criminal investigation until they prove otherwise.

   He says they've ruled out electrical or natural gas as causes for the 4-million fire.

   The marina breakwall in Leamington should be safer in time for this coming boating season.

   Three people were killed in June last year when their boat slammed into the breakwall at night.

   A Request for Proposals has been issued by the Ministry of Transportation to install lighting and radar deflectors.

   Leamington Mayor John Paterson says the province is hoping to see the devices installed and working by late May or early June.

    The Second annual "Work with the Environment" art show is set to go at Devonshire Mall next week.

   The event April 16th to the 22nd showcases the artistic talents of local students who have produced works on the subjects of labour and the environment.

    Awards for the artists are being sponsored by CAW Local 200 and 444.

   You can also buy the art in a silent auction with proceeds going to the Citizen's Environment Alliance.

   Job losses at the Canada Border Services Agency in southern Ontario.

   122 letters have been sent out to intelligence officers and clerical support staff in Windsor, Sarnia, Niagara and Fort Erie.

   41 border officers have also been put on notice.

    Two K-9 units in southern Ontario will also be cut.

     A Dover Township man is facing sexual assault charges for alleged incidents dating back 45 years.

     76-year-old Gerald Lucier was arrested by Chatham-Kent Police yesterday.

     Police say the alleged assaults on a number of victims occurred between 1966 and 2011.

     Police are continuing to investigate and are asking anyone with information on the allegations or other possible incidents to contact the Criminal Investigation Division.

     Damage from Monday's massive fire in East Windsor now tops $4-million dollars.

     Investigators from Windsor Fire and Rescue and the Ontario Fire Marshal's Office are back on scene today looking for the cause.

     They have pinpointed an area of the Dollarama store in the East Park Centre where flames were seen before the store was evacuated.

     Crews will continue to work today and tomorrow remove the charred remains of the building.

     Buckle up or pay up -- the warning from Provincial Police.

     Their annual seatbelt campaign starts on Saturday and runs through April 22nd.

     Nine people have died on OPP patrolled roads so far this year and failure to buckle up is listed as the reason.

    Police will also be looking at child restraints. They say a correctly installed booster seat can cut a child's risk of injury in a crash by 75%.

     The fine for failing to wear a seatbelt is $240 and 2 demerit points.

     Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis makes his  'State of the City' address tomorrow and among those planning to be there is Jim Wood.

     The President of CUPE Local 82, representing the city's outside workers,  is hoping to hear about job creation and keeping the city clean. He says his members have done a good job maintaining the city's parks and gardens and that should help to attract new investment and new jobs.

     The Mayor's speech is expected to start about 1 o'clock tomorrow afternoon and it will be carried live here on AM800.

     It's promising to be a dusty summer around the Windsor-Essex Parkway construction site.

     Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Allen Heimann, has some advice for people with breathing problems;  use air conditioning, change filters frequently and don't exercise outdoors.     

     In extreme cases, he says, a dust mask might be advisable but he's not expecting a jump in serious respiratory problems as a result of construction.

     Customs officers at the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel and the Ambassador Bridge are bracing for job cuts.

     1140 are being cut at the Canada Border Services Agency as part of the new federal budget that slashes 19,000 public sector jobs across the country.

     We find out today how many of those jobs are in Windsor.

     The M-P for Windsor West, Brian Masse, says longer delays at the border will result.  He says the cuts will also mean a less secure border and more guns and drugs on Canadian streets.

   Windsor Police are asking for your help in locating a red Ford Escape and its driver.

   It was involved in an crash on the expressway last Thursday morning.

   Shortly after 10:00 a blue Ford Fusion left the roadway and hit the pillar of the pedestrian walkway at Dougall Ave.

   Police say that the blue car was forced into the median by the red car that exited at Matchette, leaving the scene.

   The woman in the blue car was taken to Hotel Dieu and treated for minor injuries, her car was totalled.

   Some progress is reported in the investigation of Monday's massive plaza fire in east Windsor.

   Union Gas has isolated gas lines allowing an excavator to get onto the site and start removing debris from the collapsed roof.

   The southeast corner of the store has been cleared and investigators have an area of interest.

   Today's investigation has concluded but resumes tomorrow morning.

   It's expected to take several days to determine the cause of the multi-million dollar fire.

   The Town of Lasalle is gearing up to relocate its administration temporarily to Windsor Crossing.

   During the Victoria Day Long Weekend in May, the town's administration facilities including engineering, financing and all town hall operations will be relocated.

   Mayor Ken Antaya says the town will be at the mall for 18 months.

   The town is making the temporary move to begin construction on the new 32-million dollar town hall.

    The Canada Border Services Agency has made a cocaine bust at the Ambassador Bridge.

    Customs officers seized 250 grams of cocaine April 2nd worth 25--thousand dollars.

    A male suspect was arrested and turned over to Windsor Police.

    Students at L'essor secondary school are getting set for the second annual Zachary D'Souza "smiles 4 miles" soccer tournament.

     It's a fundraiser for the Sick Kids Foundation - in memory of 17 year old Zach D'Souza who succumbed to cancer in the fall of 2010.

     He was a grade 12 student at L'essor and an avid athlete.

     Last year, the tournament raised 35 thousand dollars with 90 teams of 6 people each participating.  The entry fee is 20 dollars per person and information can be found at "smiles 4 miles 4x4 soccer.com"

     Housing starts are up in the Windsor area.

     Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation reports work began on 34 homes in March, up sharply from 13 for the same month last year.

     C-M-H-C says recent stability in full-time employment is a key factor in the surge.

     March starts included 26 single-detached homes and eight townhouses.

     It's being called a vicious attack on the poorest people in society.

     A movement is underway by CUPE, a Hospital Union and the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty calling for an increase in social assistance rates.

     It made a stop in Windsor today.

     They say the Ontario budget which freezes the rates will make poverty worse and will only save the province 90 million dollars.

     John Clarke with the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty says the rates are far below what they should be.

     "A single person on social assistance on Ontario Works gets today a maximum 599 dollars a month, if adjusted for inflation they would get 938 dollars a month", he says.

      A rally is planned later this month at Queen's Park to challenge the austerity agenda. 

     The movement is calling for an increase in taxes for the rich and rolling back corporate tax cuts.

     Two Windsor brothers have been charged after the discovery of a chop shop in the city.

     On Monday, Windsor Police received information that a 2010 BMW that was reported stolen, was at "All Star Auto" in the 11-hundred block of Crawford Avenue.

     Officers went to the business and saw through a window what appeared to be a frame of a 2010 BMW.

     Officers seized the BMW frame and many other parts which had been stripped off the vehicle.

     34 year old Khalil Abdulsater and his brother 19 year old Rida Abdulsater are facing a charge of possession of stolen property obtained by crime exceeding 5-thousand dollars.

    The HMCS Windsor is being re-introduced to water today.

    As one of Canada's four problem-plagued submarines, it is slowly being lowered into the water today in Halifax harbour, more than three years after a refit was due to be completed.

     The sub will eventually move to a neighbouring berth to undergo further testing and preparations for sea trials, but it's not clear when that will happen.

     Initially scheduled to be completed by 2009, Windsor's refit has taken almost five years.

     The HMCS Windsor is named after the city of Windsor, Ontario and it's crest sports the same lion as is seen on the city's coat of arms.

     Investigators return to the scene of a multi-million dollar fire  today in east Windsor.

     They'll use heavy equipment to remove debris and peel back the roof of the Dollarama store at Tecumseh Road east and Roseville Garden Drive.

     Several neighbouring businesses suffered heavy smoke and water damage when the fire broke out Monday night.

     Investigators say they have an idea of where it started but not yet how.

    First the public board, now the catholic school board in Windsor-Essex is targeting playground equipment in budget cuts.

     The cost of repairs is being downloaded onto individual schools and Trustee Joan Courtney believes playgrounds will eventually become a thing of the past.

     Also, effective immediately, no new playground equipment will be installed on any board property.

   There'll be no ward system in Amherstburg.

    By a vote of 4 to 3, town council has rejected a call to review the electoral system.

    Councillor John Sutton is among those to vote 'no' and believes a ward system would only serve to divide the community and pit one area against another.

     Oldcastle residents are upset over plans to dump tonnes of excavated dirt from the Windsor-Essex Parkway project onto prime farmland.

     The location is a 146 acre site bounded by Oldcastle and Walker Roads and the Chrysler Greenway.

     Plans call for 100 thousand truckloads of dirt to be dumped there over the next 3 years.

     Residents says it's a waste of highly-productive agricultural land. They're also concerned about the noise, traffic and dust.

     But Parkway spokesperson Cindy Prince says, when the dust settles, the location will be turned into prime parkland.

     A public meeting is being arranged. Tecumseh council also wants to talk to the Essex Region Conservation Authority about the environmental impact.

  Heavy equipment is expected on site tomorrow morning to allow inspectors into the burned out Dollarama in East Windsor.

   The machinery will remove debris and peel back the unstable roof of the structure.

   The Ontario Fire Marshall's Office is leading the investigation.

   Windsor Fire Chief Fire Prevention Officer Lee Tome says damage will be at least 3-million dollars.

   Quite an achievement for the Windsor Assembly Palnt.

   The manufacturing facility has been awarded "bronze status" for efforts in implementing World Class Manufacturing.

   It's the highest ranking of any of Chrysler's North American manufacturing facilities, equalled only by the Dundee Michigan Engine plant.

   The result has been less waste as well as better productivity, qualiity and safety.

   There will be an added feature at this year's Lasalle Strawberry Festival.

   Their first "Wine Garden" with wines from Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery will be unveiled.

   Festival Chair John Gray says the idea of a beer tent was rejected because of problems in the past, but a "Wine Garden" attracts a different crowd.

   Gray says the Wine Garden holding around 350 people will be close to the stage which will give it a nice atmosphere.

    The 25th annual Lasalle Strawberry Festival kicks off Thursday, May 31st.

     Pictures of last night's raging fire at an east side Windsor plaza. Photos courtesy of St. Clair College student Jason Viau.

     Premier Dalton McGuinty is walking a fine line to get his government's budget passed.

     He's trying to appease the NDP to get enough votes to have it passed, in order to avoid an election.

     Dalton McGuinty took a tour of Omega tools in Oldcastle this morning,  a mold company that is running 3 shifts with an order book full.

     He used it as an example of how Ontario is coming out of the recession strong.

     McGuinty also defended his government's decision to cut some support for horse racing saying that Ontario spends more than 10 times what is spent in B.C., Alberta and Manitoba combined on horse racing:

     The Premier needs the support of one party or the other to get his budget approved.

     In the last 5 years, there were more in-camera meetings at Windsor city hall, but less time spent behind closed doors.

     A report shows from 2007 to 2011, there were 211 in-camera meetings compared to 193 meetings in public.

     But that amounts to 267 hours behind closed doors compared to 516 hours in public.

     Speaking on the Morning Drive, Mayor Eddie Francis says a vote is taken before going in-camera and city council has to approve it.

   "The bulk of the time spent in camera during those years was because of the CUPE strike and the border discussion.  If you go back three or four years, that was the topic.  Are we making more of an effort to stay in public, absolutely," says Mayor Francis. 

     Francis says there are legitimate reasons to go in-camera.

     The report on time spent in open session compared time in-camera goes before Windsor City Council on Monday (April 16).

     An investigation is underway to figure out the cause of a multi-million dollar plaza fire in East Windsor.

     Fire crews were called to the Dollarama in East Park Centre on Tecumseh Road East around 8:30 last night.

     A customer in the store had complained about smoke in one of the aisles. The store was evacuated but the fire quickly spread.

     Chief Fire Prevention officer Lee Tome says the plaza at the Dollarama has been deemed unsafe to enter.

   "We are going to have to bring in heavy equipment to pull the roof off the remaining structure to start our investigation," Tome says.

     The Dollarama and a couple of businesses to the west were damaged.

     The Ontario Fire Marshall has been called in to investigate.

     Cross border travellers should notice a much better flow of traffic by mid-May.

     The Michigan Department of Transportation has now awarded the contract to finish the Ambassdor Bridge Gateway project to a Michigan company.

     M-DOT spokesman Rob Morosi says, if all goes according to plan,  trucks from Canada into the U-S will no longer use residential streets but  head directly onto the freeway system.

     A major road reconstruction project gets underway today in east Windsor.

     It involves the closure of the eastbound lane of Riverside Drive from the Little River bridge to the Solidarity Towers apartment building.

     Ward 6 councillor Joanne Gignac admits it's going to be a major inconvenience but says its necessary. She recommends using Wyandotte Street instead.

     The $1.6 million project includes watermain work, road reconstruction and sidewalk upgrades.

     Completion is slated for July.

     Fire has destroyed the Dollarama store in a plaza at Tecumseh Road east and Roseville Garden Drive.

     Firefighters were called to the scene about 8:20 last night and were  there until early this morning dumping water onto hot spots.

     Several neighbourhing stores suffered heavy smoke and water damage, including the Ming Wah restaurant, Fancy Nails and Fantastic Sam's.

     The Ontario Fire Marshall has been called in to investigate the cause of the fire.

     Damage  is well over $1 million. (Photo courtesy of AM800 listener Greg).

     The M-S fundraising walk in Windsor-Essex later this month marks a milestone for a local woman.

     It'll be the 21st year in a row that Lindsay Thrasher-Gyori has taken part. She's been involved since age 7 when her father was diagnosed.

     It's her life mission, she says, to help find a cure so that no other family has to go through the devastation of the disease.

     This year's walk takes place April 22nd. Registration starts at 8 a.m. at Assumption High School. The 5 or 10 K walk starts at 10.

     To register on-line or more more information, visit www.mssociety.ca/walk.

The Dollarama in east Windsor has been destroyed by a large fire.

Flames and thick, black smore were seen shooting from the roof at the plaza on Tecumseh and Rose Ville Garden Drive just west of Lauzon Parkway around 8:20-pm.

Windsor Fire spokesperson Lee Tome says crews contained the blaze to the Dollarama but at least 5 surrounding stores suffered smoke and water damage.

The Ontario Fire Marshal has been called to investigate because damage is expected to be at least one million dollars.

Crews will be on scene for several hours putting out hot spots.

Up to a thousand people gathered to watch the inferno.

Surrounding homes were briefly evacuated but people were allowed to return home just before midnight.

Ontario's Education Minister is asking teachers to return to the bargaining table.

The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario left talks after just an hour last month and Laurel Broten wants the discussion to continue.

She says a provincial forum has been useful in setting a framework for contracts.

Collective agreements expire in August.

One person has been sent to hospital after an apartment fire in Leamington.

It broke out around 10:30 Monday morning in the 100 block of Erie Street South.

Officials say it was a cooking fire.

Flames were contained to one unit but damage is pegged at 45-thousand dollars.

A woman was treated for smoke inhalation.

     An Amherstburg councillor is pushing for the town to look into a ward system for the municipality.

     Bart DiPasquale will make a motion tomorrow night asking administration for a report with recommendations.

     He says he has heard from some residents who want a ward system but has also heard from others who are against it.

      DiPasquale is hoping council supports his motion.

     He says if it gets turned down, some residents plan on starting a petition.

     The Director of Parks and Rec in LaSalle is asking for the public's help.

     Terry Fink is reminding the community to stay off the soccer fields at the Vollmer Centre.

     He says the ground is still soft and the grass is not ready.

     "We have actually had to ask teams to leave the field," he says.  "They just show up and it's the enthusiasm of an early spring and people want to get out and kick the soccer ball around.  Once we approach them and explain the issue of protecting the fields for the future, they understand it."

     Fink says the plan is to have the fields open by the end of the month.

     Still no change in the condition of a Lasalle man injured in an ATV crash.

     Essex OPP say Friday night, the 33 year old was operating the machine along a private driveway near Concession 5 in Essex when he lost control and crashed.

     He is still listed in critical condition in the hospital.

     He was not wearing a helmet and alcohol has not been ruled out.

     It's short-term pain for long-term gain at the Blue Water Bridge between Sarnia and Port Huron.

     U-S Customs and Border Protection is adding inspection booths on the Port Huron side of the border in an effort to boost efficiency.

     The project should take about 2 months to complete and means the temporary closure of  3 lanes.

     The annual Chrysler Canada Greenway Nature Trail Clean-Up takes place this weekend.

     About 200 volunteers have signed up so far and more are welcome.

     Organizer Dave Lavasseur says the event is ideal for high school students looking for volunteer hours.

     The clean-up starts Saturday morning at 9 o'clock in Oldcastle, McGregor, Harrow, Kingsville and Ruthven.

     It's followed by a free lunch at noon at the Lucier Estates Community Centre for those who take part.

     After a flooding problem last fall at the Vollmer Recreation Complex, town council in LaSalle looks at possible solutions this week.

     Mayor Ken Antaya says there are 3 options on the table. They range from $20,000 to $124,000 to implement. 

     Antaya describes the storm as a 1 in 100 year event that took place after the ground was already saturated.

     It's Easter Monday and that means a number of closures to keep in mind.

     Municipal offices are closed.  So is the public library and Transit Windsor is running on a holiday schedule.    

     The Public Drop-off Waste Depot on Central remains open today until 4:45.

     All community centres and pools in Windsor are open today and it's business as usual for most retail operations.

     Starting in July, a stretch of County Road 10 in Amherstburg will be shut down.

     County Engineer Tom Bateman says the bridge over the Long Marsh Drain is in need of some repairs.

     He says the area near the bridge will be off limits for two months. The cost of the upgrades is 343 thousand dollars.

     The President of the Ontario Convenience Stores Association will be in Windsor later this month.

     Dave Bryans will speak to the city's Public Safety Committee on April 18th.

     Bryans is hoping the committee will pass a motion to help put an end to contraband and illegal tobacco in Windsor.

He says he has already talked to some city councilors on the committee.

     It's OHL Draft Day and the Spits have selcted Josh Ho Sang of the Toronto Marlboros with their fifth overall pick.

Spits GM Warren Rychel tells AM800 Sports, Ho Sang will have the fans out of their seats and he expects him to be on the top two lines next season.

     Erie had first pick and they selected Connor McDavid also with the AAA minor midget Toronto Marlboros.

     McDavid was granted exceptional player status by Hockey Canada last month, becoming just the third player to be given the draft exemption behind New York Islanders forward John Tavares and current Barrie Colts defenceman and Belle River native Aaron Ekblad.

     An arrest after a firearms complaint.

     Around 2pm on Friday, Windsor Police were called to the 1600 block of Cadillac.

     The female complainant said she was washing her car and when bending down to get a wash brush, heard a popping sound as saw the water in her pail splash and start leaking out.

     She looked over across the street and saw a neighbour kid crouching behind a fence with what looked like to be a barrelled firearm.

     The youth was pointing the object towards her so she screamed to the father of the youth who was across the street and ran inside to call police.

     When police got there, the suspect had fled but was apprehended shortly after and pellet rifle was seized.

     A 15 year old youth was arrested and will be facing a number of firearms related charges.

     An Amherstburg resident is thanking the community.

     Yesterday, Melissa Martin held a fundraiser outside of the Sobey's store to raise money for childhood cancer research.

     Martin says last September she was introduced to Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. It's a foundation that was started by two parents, after their daughter Alex lost her battle with cancer.

Martin says she experience a similar situation, as one of her closest friend's daughter passed away from a brain tumour at the age of two.

She says money raised will assist the foundation. The goal was to raise six thousand dollars.

     Martin says she should know the final total by Monday.

     The owner of Lilly Kazzilly's says the construction on Riverside Drive East needs to be done but doesn't like the timing of it.

     Mike Niziolek says construction is starting at a time where business is picking up.

     As heard on AM 800 news earlier this week, the eastbound lanes on the "drive" will be closed from the Little River Bridge to the Solidarity Towers Apartment Building this coming Tuesday.

     Niziolek says despite the construction he believes his loyal customers will still come to the restaurant.

     The 1.6 million dollar improvements include water main work, sidewalk upgrades and road re-construction.

     This is phase one, stage one of the Riverside Drive Vista Project. Construction is set to wrap up in July.

     Improvements are on the way for a park in Harrow.

     The playground equipment at McAffee Park is in need of some touch ups and members of the Youth & Family Resource Network will volunteer their time to help with the improvements.

    Wanda Rodrigues is the Program Co-ordinator for the Resource Network and says two youths approached her with the idea, to fix up the park.

     ERCA has donated three trees that will be planted at the park. The clean up will happen on Friday April 20th.

   Chatham-Kent police have released more information on an assault in Wallaceburg.

   Police attended a home on Bruce Street yesterday morning to arrest a 35-year old who allegedly attacked his mother with a brick.

  Police say the suspect refused to answer the door and the Incident Command Team and Critical Incident Response Team were called in.

   The man was taken into custody.

   He's charged with assault, assault with a weapon, having a weapon dangerous to the public, aggravated assault, choking, and threatening.

   The victim was taken to hospital with injuries. 

   LaSalle Police are investigating a theft of gas.

   It happened yesterday afternoon at the Super 6 Store on Huron Church Line.

   Police say a man pumped 100-dollars worth of gas into a red pick-up then drove off without paying.

   The suspect is described as white, about 30-years old, with a goatee and was wearing a brown plaid button-down shirt, a brown hoodie and jeans.

   The vehicle is an early 2000 model red GMC Seirra four-door truck with a chrome step up bar and tinted windows.

   Anyone with information should call police.

     The clock is ticking in a dispute between residents along Chelsea Drive in LaSalle and the Ministry of Transportation.

     Residents want the Ministry to expropriate their property, claiming Windsor-Essex Parkway construction is much closer than expected and their street in no longer safe.

     Resident Mike Beneteau has contacted a lawyer and is giving the Ministry two more weeks to make a decision before taking possible legal action.    

     Despite assurances to the contrary by the Ministry, Beneteau says residents are being ignored.

     Construction and detour signs are at the ready along Riverside Drive east.

     Starting on Tuesday, the eastbound lanes will be closed from the Little River bridge to the Solidarity Towers apartments.

     Windsor's Senior Engineer, Anna Godo, says work  will take several months to complete. The project includes watermain work, road re-construction and sidewalks.

      The total cost  $1.6 million.

     They're cute and cuddly but require a long-term commitment.

     Parents are being asked to think twice this Easter weekend about giving a live rabbit as a present.

     The Executive Director of the Windsor-Essex Humane Society, Melanie Coulter,  says many families act on impulse but rabbits can be expensive and time-consuming.

     She says they make wonderful pets but require the same level of care as a cat and live 5 times longer than the average hamster.

     Damage is pegged at $100,000 after a house fire in east Windsor.

     Fire crews were called to a home in the 400 block of Riverdale Avenue about 3:30 yesterday afternoon.

     The fire started in a sunroom at the back of the house. There were two people home at  the time. Both got out safely.

     The cause of the fire is listed as 'undetermined'.

An oil leak near Colchester Thursday afternoon has been cleaned up.

A pipe from an oil well started leaking and gave off a strong odour.

The Ministry of Environment was notified and a cleanup company from Tilbury was called.

No environmental impact is expected.

The Windsor Assembly Plant got a prestigious honour Thursday.

Sources tell AM-800 News the plant has become the first assembly plant in the Chrysler Group to receive "bronze certification" from World Class Manufacturing.

The plant scored high on productivity, quality and safety.

     A common law couple are facing numerous charges in connection with two fires in Windsor over the weekend.

     On Friday around 10pm, fire crews were battling a fire in a garage at a duplex in the 800 block of Pilette Road. The duplex was vacant but doors on the lower and second levels were forced open.

     Police found numerous gas containers and flares throughout both levels and found gasoline had been poured throughout the duplex but failed to ignite because of the high concentration level of gasoline inside the building.

     On Sunday morning, police and fire were called back to the same address for another working fire.

     The upper unit was fully engulfed in flames and an investigation found that the plywood used to secure the unit the day before had been removed.

     Police discovered that the former tenants, a couple and their 10 year old son, had been evicted a week earlier.

      Through the investigation, it was determined that new furniture was purchased just before the fires, delivered to the Pillette Road address and then it disappeared. The furniture store returned a few days later and found the duplex vacant and the furniture gone.

     Police discovered it was transported to an address on Hall Avenue, where they found the former Pillette Road tenants living.

     As a result of the fraud investigation,  a common law husband and wife were arrested and charged with fraud.

     The furniture was recovered and returned to the business.

     36 year old Colleen Reardon of Windsor is charged with fraud and 34 year old Jean Paul Blanchette of Windsor is facing several charges including fraud, obtaining credit by false pretence and 3 counts of arson. He remains in custody.

     Windsor Regional Hospital has crunched the numbers and its doesn't look good.

     It was projecting a 1 per cent budget increase, but instead its budget has been frozen which translates to a two-million dollar hit.

     Hospital CEO David Musyj says everything will be on the table from patient services that includes job cuts.

      He says to make matter worse, expenses are going up and there are still 100 long-term care patients taking up hospitals beds which haven't been resolved yet.

      Musyj says a one per cent budget increase would have kept the hospital at status quo.

     Musyj adds Windsor Regional Hospital is one of the better financially secure hospitals in the province, so he can't imagine what other hospitals are going through.

     A somber ceremony today to remember a former St. Joseph's High School student.

     The school has donated more than 14-hundred dollars to Autism Services in memory of 18 year old Amy Wagner who died last month.

     Wagner was in a canoe with her boyfriend on Lake St. Clair when the boat capsized.

     He made it back to shore, but she didn't.

     Amy's sister Sarah Wagner is glad her sister hasn't been forgotten.  She says "we are happy that her legacy was able to live on in this ceremony and hoping that other people learn from this tragedy."

      Amy Wagner worked at Autism Services for two summer.

     A cherry tree has also been planted in front of the school which grows pink and     purple blooms, Amy's favourite colours.

     No change in Windsor's jobless rate.

     It stood at 10.7 per cent last month, the same as in February.

     StatsCan says the Canadian economy added 82-thousand 300 jobs last month, most of them full time.

     The national unemployment rate is down to 7.2 per cent from 7.4 per cent in February.

     Windsor still has the highest unemployment rate in the country...but Abbotsford B.C sits at 10.6 per cent.

      It's 7 in a row for the AM800 News team.

     RTDNA Canada - the Association of Electronic Journalists - has awarded AM800 News the Byron McGregor Award for the best radio newscast for a medium market in Central Canada.

     It's the 7th straight year for the honour and the 8th time in the last 9 years.

     They're gearing up for a busy day at Transit Windsor.

     Extra busses have been added to accommodate the flood of baseball fans headed to Comerica Park for the Tigers home opener.

     8 extra busses have been added to the cross-border fleet today. Fans are reminded to have their passports or other official documentation needed to enter the United States.

     More interviews are being conducted in a 9-year old Windsor murder case.

     It was February of 2003 when 29 year old Deedee Williamson and her 4 year old son, Xavier Rucker, were found dead in their Tilston Drive home.

     Williamson kept a detailed journal and police are using it to take another look at the case. Police have been in contact with Williamson's boyfriend and are looking to re-interview others.

      A $10,000 reward is offered for information leading to an arrest.

      A fatal crash has prompted  changes at a  Tecumseh intersection.

     One person was killed when an impaired driver hit another vehicle on New Year's eve at County Road 11 and South Talbot Road.

   County Engineer Tom Bateman says safety improvements will be made over the next few weeks. They include lowering the speed limit from 80 to 60, improved signage and the installation of rumble strips leading up to the intersection.

The Rona Store in East Windsor is downsizing.

Sources tell AM-800 News the store on Catherine Street will shut down and relocate to a smaller site.

Staff was informed of the decision at a staff meeting on Wednesday.

It's unknown if the relocation to the smaller store will effect the current staff.

AM-800 News has called the company for comment.

4 Windsor Police officers have made the shortlist to replace Brett Corey as Public Information Officer.

The change is part of the new Project Accountability announced earlier this year.

Acting Chief Al Frederick says the Public Information Officer will act as the face for the Windsor Police.

The position will relay daily occurences in the city to all media including social media.

     Local wineries would benefit from seeing a nearly-century old trade law in Canada thrown out.

     A private member's bill is gaining support across the country that would eliminate the 1928 rule that restricts cross-provincial wine sales.

     Supporters say Canadians should be able to order wine directly from vineyards and stores across the country and not be limited by provincial control boards, like the LCBO.

     SWOVA president Tom O'Brien says local wineries would love to be able to ship their wines across the country.

     About 25 law students at the University of Windsor rallied this afternoon wearing hoodies.

     They are hoping to highlight the issue of racial profiling as a call for justice in the shooting death of Florida's Trayvon Martin.

     The 17 year old Martin was shot dead in an affluent neighbourhood after a scuffle with a 'neighbourhood watch' captain.

    The crew for Bellator 64 is in town and setting up for a huge event Friday night at the Colosseum.

    Bellator Fighting Championships is the largest tournament-based mixed martial arts organization in the world.

    The tournament allows competitors the opportunity to fight for a world championship in their desired weight class.

    The fights on Friday night start at 7pm.

     Another day and another arson in Windsor.

     The latest happened around 4 o'clock this morning after a garage was set on fire at 775 University Avenue East.

     Arson has been listed as the cause.  Damage is pegged at 25-thousand dollars. Items next to the garage were set on fire and spread.

     Fire crews were also called to fire at a vacant home Monday night in the 800 block of Chatham Street East.  This one was also intentionally set.

     Chief Fire Prevention Officer Lee Tome says Windsor Police and Windsor Fire need the public's help to stop these arsons from happening and to keep an eye on vacant homes.

     Tome is also asking people to not store their garbage next to their garage to prevent people from igniting the garbage on fire.

     Cats and dogs at the Windsor and Essex County Humane Society are a little more comfortable today thanks to local brain injury survivors.

     They made 25 pet beds for the animals and donated the items this morning.

     Laura Kay is the Executive Director of the local Brain Injury Association. She says it was a win-win for the humane society and the brain injury survivors.  She says " it was just to give back to the community, give something for the brain injury survivors to do in the community to make them feel like they are accomplishing something and its something for the pets here."

   Cathy Pintus suffered a brain injury in 1991 and made some of the beds. She says she enjoyed helping the animals to make them feel comfortable, relaxed and have an easier life.

     The Brain Injury Association felt this was a good way to help the humane society and to recognize that people have skills and abilities like sewing even after a brain injury.

     Brain injuries are the number 1 killer and disabler of people under 44.

     'Inspire, Inquire and Influence, Make a Difference'  is the theme of the Greater Essex County District School Board's annual summer conference this year and the keynote speakers are a perfect fit.

     Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy,  the real life couple in the story of NFL player Michael Oher, are coming to town. They were portrayed in the movie 'The Blind Side' starring Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw.

    The Tuohys will address the conference August 22nd.

     The newest member of  the Canadian National Amputee Hockey Team is a local war vet.

     Mike Barnwell lost his right foot  in 2006 when he stepped on a land mine while serving in Afghanistan.

     After what he describes as a nerve-racking tryout, he got an e-mail this week telling him he'd made the team.

     LaSalle's Kevin Delaney is also on  team Canada.

      There's a  tournament in Finland at the end of this month. Barnwell's friends are hosting a fundraiser at Dirty Jersey's April 13th to help cover the cost.

     The clean-up continues after a garage fire in Windsor.

     Firefighters were called to 775 University Avenue East about 4 o'clock this morning and found the garage fully involved.

    The fire was declared out 20 minutes later.

     No injuries are reported and there's no word yet on the cause of the fire.

     Construction hasn't started yet but an expected wind farm in LaSalle is already generating opposition.

     The location is just off Disputed Road north of County Road 8.

     Nearby resident, Tim Parent, was among 50 people at a public meeting last night.     He's urging LaSalle residents to sign a petition opposing the development.

     The group is also sending a letter to the owner of the property and to Essex MPP Taras Natyshak.

The Prime Minister of Canada is promising a new bridge connecting Windsor to Detroit before he leaves office.

Stephen Harper made the bold statement in Washington Monday at the North American Leaders Summit.

Harper also took a shot at Ambassador Bridge owner Matty Maroun saying Maroun's claim that he owns the entire span is ludicrous.

The Prime Minister says the federal government continues to work with Michigan.

A small but vocal protest was held Tuesday at the University of Windsor over a cost-saving move by the school to close "Cafe Chez Vanier".

The cafeteria at Vanier Hall is slated to close in September.

The closure will impact 40 to 48 part-time workers.

A petition to save the cafeteria has already collected one-thousand signatures.

    Another great month for Chrysler Canada. The automaker is celebrating it's 28th consecutive month of year over year sales growth - up 8 percent from last March. And Chrysler was the top seller in Canada for the first quarter.

    But the news isn't so good for the Windsor-built minivan - the Grand Caravan's sales dropped nearly 13 percent from last March with sales of just over 45-hundred.   Year to date sales of the minivan are down nearly 16 percent.

    Yet the Grand Caravan continues to lead sales in that segment.

    The company is reporting it's best March retail and total sales in Canada since 2000.

--------

    Ford of Canada is pleased with solid performances across their line-up in March, although sales were down by 3 percent compared to the same month last year.

    Last March - Ford was very strong - setting a 12 year record for sales.

     The company was the best-selling automaker for this March - with big increases in sales of the Ford Focus, the Edge and the Flex. Sales of F-series trucks were up 3%.

    Today is the 38th anniversary of a deadly tornado that hit Windsor killing 9 people and injuring more than 20 others.

     On April 3, 1974 - an F3 twister touched down near Devonshire mall damaging the structure for a new department store, then lifted over the Expressway and touched down again tearing the roof off the paint facility which was vacant.

     It headed east across a vacant field and struck the Windsor curling club on Central Avenue at 8:09pm.

     9 people were killed when the large roof was torn off the building, sending pieces of it into the neighbourhood and causing the back wall of the curling club to collapse on the people inside.

     It's an historic first step for outpatient cardiology in Canada and its happened here in Windsor.

     The Windsor Cardiac Centre on Ouellette Place has received accreditation for high standard of testing for the heart. Its the first time an outpatient facility has received the recognition.

     The only three other facilities to get this type of accreditation in Canada are hospitals.

      The Centre sees about 100 patients a day and provides 8 different tests of the heart with immediate results.

     Director Dr. Wadea Tarhuni says it was a long process to earn this recognition.  He says "it took us about 2 years, they went through every single procedure and made sure we meet the highest standard of care."

     The centre opened in 2004 and employes about 50 staff. A patient must be referred to the centre by a doctor.

      Every 7 minutes in Canada, someone dies from heart disease or stroke.

     Ontario's Liberal government is facing a $1-billion lawsuit for imposing a moratorium on offshore wind farms.

     SouthPoint Wind of Leamington filed suit in Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Windsor, claiming damages for the confiscation of its property and reimbursement of its costs.

     The company tried to develop wind power projects near the communities of Leamington, Union and Kingsville before the government announced a moratorium on offshore wind farms in February 2011.

     SouthPoint says the government arbitrarily cancelled applications for offshore wind development without notice, and did so with the intent to stop its projects.

     The allegations have not been proven in court.

     Energy Minister Chris Bentley says SouthPoint did not have a contract with the province, and the government intends to defend the lawsuit.

 

     Two people have been arrested in connection with two arsons on the weekend.

     Two separate fires broke out in the same vacant home in the 800 block of Pillette Road on Friday night and again Sunday morning.

     Windsor Police have arrested one man and one woman since Sunday..

     The investigation continues and more arrests are pending.

     An expanded sanitary sewer system is moving ahead for 33 homes along a stretch of Erie Road in Colchester South.

    The move has been approved by Essex Council after 2 hours of debate.

     The Ministry of the Environment put the town on notice last month after raw sewage was found in municipal drains in the area.

     The area affected stretches from 1415  to 1635 Erie Road.

     Residents will cover the cost. 

   Job cuts are coming to the University of Windsor.

   About 40 part-time positions are being lost with the closure of Cafe Chez Vanier.

     University spokesperson Holly Ward says the restaurant-style cafeteria is being shutdown in September as a cost-cutting measure.

     Ward says Cafe Chez Vanier was originally designed to accommodate 1800 students during the double cohort in 2003-2004.  That capacity is no longer necessary.

       There's a possible delay for the Schlegel Villages long-term care development at St. Clair College.

    Two neighbours are appealing the height of the building, claiming it'll block the sunlight from their backyards in the afternoon.

    They plan to plead their case to the Ontario Municipal Board.

     There's been another suspicious fire in Windsor - this one in the 800 block of Chatham Street east.

     Firefighters were called to a vacant house about 7:30 last night and remained on scene for about an hour.

     The area has been secured by Windsor Police and an investigation into the cause of the fire gets underway today.

Suicide rates for Canadian girls between 10 and 19 are increasing.

The same can be said for Windsor-Essex.

A new study by the Public Health Agency of Canada looked at figures between 1980 and 2008 and found a slight jump.

Doctor Jocelyn Warwaruk of the Windsor Teen Health Centre says parents should be concerned if they notice any changes.

The suicide report found that suffocation is the most common method of suicide for young males and females.

The downtown Windsor Mission wants your pennies.

It's taking advantage of the coins being taken out of circulation and hopes to collect enough pennies to run its soup kitchen.

Donation boxes will be at all TD Banks starting Tuesday.

It costs the Mission $2.97 to provide a hot lunch for someone homeless or in need.

     A former Windsor real estate lawyer has been given a term of house arrest for fraud.

     43 year old Scott Sullivan was sentenced to two years less a day after being found guilty of breach of trust.

     The court found that over a 90 day period, he mishandled about 200-thousand dollars of client's money which he has been ordered to pay back.

     Sullivan was disbarred last year.

     The court heard that an undiagnosed bipolar disorder contributed to Sullivan's behaviour.

     Sullivan is currently living on disability because of his mental health diagnoses.

     After his sentence, he will be on probation for 3 years.

     Sullivan was also a member of the board of governors at the University of Windsor, a member of the Tecumseh Police Services Board, taught business law at St. Clair College and was involved in the PC party.

     A newly refurbished patient care room has been unveiled at Leamington District Memorial hospital.

   Transition to Betterness began the program to refurbish hospital rooms in 1997 when they started with oncology rooms in Windsor.

     Mary Del Ciancio, a long time supporter of Transition to Betterness, has raised over $100-thousand for the organization, helping to support many of their ongoing programs.

     Mary and her family sponsored the room in Leamington.

     The room will be used for end-of-life care.

     The United way of Windsor-Essex has reached its fundraising goal.

     It has taken a couple of extra months - but the campaign reached $- million to support community agencies.

     79 organizations receive support from the United Way campaign.

     Over the course of a nine-month period, more than 230-thousand people, in Windsor and in Essex County, were supported by strategies funded by United Way.

     A Port Lambton man is facing charges after 2 people died in a rollover crash on Walpole Island Saturday morning.

     Police say an SUV with 6 people inside was backing into a driveway, around 5:30am, when it tumbled upside down into a water filled ditch.

     3 of the occupants were able to get themselves out but 3 others in the backseat were trapped in the partially submerged vehicle.

     Walpole Island volunteer firefighters used the jaws of life to get into the SUV and get one passenger out but were unable to save the others who were trapped underwater.

     Autopsies confirmed the cause of death of the 2 passengers as drowning.

     36 year old Jaclyn Natalie Shipman and 33 year old Harold Kris Nahdee, both of Walpole Island, died.

     Walpole Island Police have charged 27 year old Owen Francis Myers from Port Lambton is facing 2 counts of criminal negligence causing death.

     The Charter Class of medical students at the satellite campus of the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry are being honoured as they graduate.

     A set of banners has been hung from lamp poles along a stretch of Ouellette Avenue in front of Hotel-Dieu Grace hospital, which has been symbolically renamed "Schulich Way" for the month of April.

     The students were the first class after a long battle to bring the medical school to the University of Windsor. There are many more students now in attendance.

     Three local high schools have made the grade when it comes to the latest rankings by The Fraser Institute.

      All have made the top 100 in province wide E Q A O testing.

     In a survey of more than 700 Ontario schools, Belle River comes in 50th, Villa Nova is 68th and Massey ranks 84th.

    The rankings are based on 7 key indicators.

      A Windsor land owner is accusing the Ministry of Transportation of highway robbery.

     Mohammed Khan owns 1.3 acres along Huron Church Road between Todd Land and Pulford Street. The property has been expropriated for the Windsor-Essex Parkway project.

     Khan says it's been appraised at $800,000 but the Ministry is offering just $200,000.

     He pleads his case before the Ontario Municipal Board next month.

      A charge of impaired driving has been laid after a crash in the 9100 block of Riverside Drive East .

     It happened about 4:15 yesterday morning.

     Police say a westbound vehicle spun into the eastbound lanes and ended up in a convenience store parking lot where it slammed into a parked van, then hit a sign post.

     The 25-year old driver suffered a head injury and had to be freed from the vehicle.

     He's charged with  Impaired Operation of a motor vehicle and Dangerous Driving.
 

     It's another successful Easter Seals telethon in Windsor-Essex.

     Just under $221,000 has been raised and District Chair, Ram Sridhar, says the money does more than buy equipment and send kids with disabilities to camp. It also helps to make them feel a part of the community.

     The amount raised on the weekend tops last year's total by more than $2,000.

     Three area secondary schools have landed in the top 100 of the Fraser Institute Rankings.

     Belle River District High School ranks 50th with a score of 8.2 out of 10.  St Thomas of Villanova in LaSalle scored an 8.0 out of 10 and sits in 68th. Vincent Massey in Windsor scored a 7.8 out of 10 for 84th place.

     The survey of 718 public, Catholic, and francophone secondary schools across the province is based on seven key indicators using data from the annual provincewide EQAO tests.

     Autopsies are planned for two people who died trapped in a partially submerged S-U-V on Walpole Island.

     Police say the car rolled into a water-filled ditch while backing into a driveway.

      Four people, including the driver, managed to get out but emergency crews weren't able to save the two stuck in the back seat.

     Investigators say post-mortems will determine the exact cause of death

     The Humane Society is asking everyone to 'like' it's Facebook page.

     The Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel in Windsor has offered to donate 1 dollar - up to a maximum of 1 thousand dollars - for every 'like' by the end of April.

    You can find their page at facebook.com/windsor humane.

     Forster High School in West Windsor is celebrating its 90th anniversary.

     It is holding a reunion in May, inviting former students and teachers for a weekend of celebrations.

     The re-union takes place May 18-19th and will include dinner, bowling and golf.

     Forster first started as a grade school in 1922 and later become a high school. Former students can register on-line or at the school.

     Tecumseh's Cornfest is receiving a large provincial grant.

     Tecumseh councillor Joe Bachetti tells AM-800 News the summer festival is getting 75-thousand dollars.

     Cornfest has been named one of the top 100 festivals in Ontario.

     Volunteers have been meeting twice a month since December to come up with the best Cornfest ever.

     A suspicous house fire in East Windsor.

     The Arson squad is now investigating after both Windsor Police and the fire department attended a house fire in the 800 block of Pillette.

     Windsore Police tell AM800 news the home was for sale and the fire destroyed a detached garage.

     Damage is estimated at 25-thousasnd dollars.

    The Jiimaan will start it's seasonal operations today (Sat.) from Leamington to Pelee Island.

    Island mayor Rick Masse says it's a good sign for the season. He says the businesses on the island will take a few weeks to get up and running.

     The University of Windsor is partnering with De Souza Institute to offer a graduate diploma in Advanced Practice Oncology and Palliative Care Nursing.

     Dean of Nursing Doctor Linda Patrick tells the Afternoon News specialised education and care will now be available closer to home so people can die with dignity.

    The course starts in September.

     It will be lights out at some downtown Windsor restaurants tonight.

     As part of Earth Hour, some restaurants are turning off their lights from 8:30 until 9:30 tonight so patrons will eat by candlelight.

     Chanoso's and Oishii Restaurants are taking part for the fifth year in a row.

     Caesars Windsor will shut-off its non-essential exterior lights and marquees tonight.  The casino says it's part of a year round effort to reduce its carbon footprint.

     Members of the horse racing industry in Essex County rallied outside the Windsor office of Windsor-Tecumseh MPP Dwight Duncan.

     Nearly 100 people turned out in the pouring rain and hail to voice displeasure with the recent announcement of an end to the Slots at Windsor Raceway that will hurt the horse racing business.

     The group wants the decision reversed.

     The Regional Tourism Information Centre on Huron Church in Windsor will remain open.

     Windsor West MPP Teresa Piruzza says the province has decided to extend the current agreement until March 31st of next year.

     It was suppose to close tomorrow but local tourism officials were worried that its closure, would harm tourism.

     About 14-thousand visitors stopped in that facility last year.

      The province owns that facility and had been asking for 90-thousand dollars a year in rent to keep it open. The centre will stay open at no cost to the city.

     A Windsor lawyer and her assistant have been charged with immigration fraud.

     The RCMP claim the two women told a client to tell the Immigration and Refugee Board "fraudulent stories" to get refugee status.

     They were arrested yesterday.

     Sandra Zaher and Diana Al-Masalkhi are charged with counselling misrepresentation and one count of fabricating evidence.

     They will appear in court April 26th.

     Some last minute discussions on the future of the Regional Tourism Information Centre on Huron Church Road in Windsor.

     The centre is set to close tomorrow which has local tourism officials worried.

     Windsor West MPP Teresa Piruzza is scheduled to meet with city councillor Drew Dilkens and Tourism CEO Gordon Orr.

     Dilkens expects some sort of proposal to be table so he's cautiously optimistic.

     The province owns the facility and had been asking for 90-thousand dollars in rent.

     14-thousand visitors stopped at that centre last year and if it closes, tourists coming off the Ambassador Bridge will likely travel to Tilbury to get tourism information.

     A federal government incentive program that encourages workers to leave areas of high unemployment and find jobs elsewhere may have a negative impact in Windsor.

    University of Windsor business professor Mark Meldrum says pushing workers out the door will hurt economic development by creating a shortage of skilled labour.

      Meldrum says fewer skilled workers makes Windsor a less attractive place for investment and puts pressure on housing and rental prices.

      A well-known Windsor police officer is calling it a career.

     Staff Sergeant Gerry Corriveau retires today after 30 years on the job.

     His work has included investigations into homicides, financial crimes and arson.

     While he's grateful for the opportunity to serve and protect the public,  he says the job has taken a toll both mentally and physically.

     He's not sure what comes next but plans to start with a long vacation.

     A single-vehicle crash closed the southbound lanes of Dougall Avenue for five and a  half hours  just north of the E.C. Row Expressway.

     Police say speed may have been a factor when a car slammed into a concrete wall about 3:30 this morning.

     The driver is in hospital with what are described as 'serious' injuries. No name has been released.

      Local cancer research is getting another financial boost.

     For a 4th straight year, the Windsor-Essex Cancer Centre Foundation is getting a $250,000 research grant.

     Since 2009, the Foundation has received $1 million in grant money.

   A house fire this afternoon in east Windsor has caused 50-thousand dollars damage.

   The flames originated in a laundry basket in the basement, but the cause is listed as undetermined and unintentional.

    Crews were called to the 800 block of Lawrence Road around 3:30.

   The woman living in the home suffered minor burns to her hands and smoke inhalation trying to put out the fire.

   She was taken to hospital for observation.

   With the mild winter, the city may not be as grubby as normal following the melting of deep snow.

   But April is the time to buff up the areas that are a little dirty.

   It's time to register for the Rose City's Spring Clean Sweep.

   Environmental Services Supervisor Colleen LaButte says they try to encourage those who register to work within their neighbourhood.

   You can register by calling the city's 3-1-1 system.

   You'll be paying more for water in Windsor.

   The Windsor Utilities Commission is upping the rate 3-percent for the coming year.

   Board Chair Bill Marra says the increase was agreed up on two years ago.

   Marra says all the money will go to capital, which means more funds being spent on waterlines, and on broken water mains

     Cross-border shoppers will soon be able to bring back more goods duty free.

     As of June 1st, today's federal budget says travellers returning to Canada after 24 hours away will be able to bring in 200-dollars worth of goods free of duty or taxes.

     That's up from the current 50-dollars.

     The duty-free allowance for foreign stays of more than 48 hours will double to 800-dollars.

      The changes will harmonize the levels with those of the United States and streamline the border-crossing process.

    An upbeat Warden's luncheon took a serious tone today when it came to the horse racing industry.

    About 175 people turned out to the 5th annual Warden's luncheon - at the Belle River K of C hall.

    Warden Tom Bain praised the cooperation of local municipalities.

     He then turned his attention to the plight of people in Essex County working in the horse racing industry.

    Bain says it's part of the county's agricultural sector and he's going to press the government for money for re-training.

     15 people are out of work after a new company in Windsor decided to close its door.

     Windtronics moved to Windsor on Sprucewood Avenue back in 2009 to make residential and small commercial wind turbines.

     The province invested 2.7 million dollars in the company which was expected to create 200 jobs by now.

     Minister of Economic Development and Innovation Brad Duguid says the province will look to recover some if not all of the investment.

     Calls to the company have not been returned.

     The Ontario NDP wants to know what you think about the budget before voting on it.

     It has launched a toll-free hotline and website to get feedback on Tuesday's provincial budget.

     Essex MPP Taras Natyshak says a lot depends on the response they get.  He says "if it is a budget to make their lives better, more affordable or harm them, we are reaching out to get as many people as we possibly can."

     The website is www.ontariondp.com and the toll free number is 1-855-668-2348.

     The Tories and N-D-P will be able to make one amendment to the budget motion before the crucial confidence vote, which is expected no later than April 24th

     A Windsor woman is facing serious charges by the RCMP after a sale of fake boots was made.

     Acting on a complaint by a customer - members of the Windsor and the Calgary RCMP launched an investigation.

     Police say the UGG boots were bought through a Facebook account and once the customer received them, they were found to be counterfeit.

     The RCMP says that counterfeit goods represent a financial loss to legitimate businesses , governments and taxpayers.

      Courtney Wight of Windsor is charged with one count of passing off wares contrary to the criminal code and one count of fraud. 

     After slamming her head on the window of a Transit Windsor bus 2 years ago, a passenger is suing the bus company and Windsor Police for $250,000.     

      It happened when the bus driver slammed on the brakes for a police cruiser that was making a U-turn.

     60-year old Edie Grainger says she's had dizziness, headaches, neck, back and shoulder problems ever since.

   She says she's not a bad person or looking to win the lottery but her life has been disrupted and she deserves compensation.

     Her claims have yet to be proven in court.

     What's in a name? Quite a bit, apparently,  if it's spelled incorrectly.

     That's the case with Matchette Road.

     Named after farmer and pioneer, Alfred Matchett, somehow an 'e' got added to the end and has remained there for nearly 100 years.

     Great, great grandson Allan Matchett wants it removed but has been told by LaSalle it would be too expensive and disrupt mail service.

      LaSalle has agreed to put up a plaque acknowledging  the name is misspelled.

     Allan says he's disappointed but he's not giving up. He plans to approach the province and the city of Windsor.

     There's a warning from Provincial Police about another on-line scam making the rounds.  It involves the Town of Lakeshore and the Bank of Montreal.

     Police say BMO customers are sent an e-mail with the Lakeshore logo at the bottom.  It asks them for personal information, including credit card numbers and on-line banking passwords.

     Police say don't do it. The e-mail is not legitimate.

     An autopsy, performed on a Lakeshore man found dead in his hotel room in Belize, lists the cause of death as sudden death syndrome linked to an arterial hemorrhage.

     51 year old Jan Peter Sol was found on Monday slumped under a table with a gash to his head. Foul play is not suspected.

     He was an avid scuba diver and was vacationing with friends.

     His body is being returned to Canada for a funeral next week.

   A vandalism spree has left 7 school busses badly damaged.

   Lakeshore OPP says the busses were smashed Sunday morning in the 400 block of County Road 34.

   Windows were smashed, the mirrors and windshields were broken and the stop arm was bent.

   The OPP are looking for any information about who did the damage.

   Job growth is the Windsor-Essex region is being increased by the so-called "creative class."

   Workforce Windsor-Essex has put together a report on the upcoming jobs and sectors for the next 3 years.

   And the creative class - which includes web and app design - is expanding with jobs waiting.

   Research and Trend Analyst Tania Antoniw says their message is to shape the training for students to these up and coming jobs.

   She says there's a real sense of optimism that Windsor-Essex can promote itself as a digital and social media hub and attract that business here.

   The President of the OPSEU local that represents workers at St. Clair College is questioning the deficit number in the provincial budget.

   Local 1-37 President Florry Foster also disputes the term 'wage freeze' saying it's really a wage cut.

    Foster says what the Ontario government faces is a revenue problem...not a spending issue.

     More lawsuits have been launched against a former Windsor priest.

     This time, the four lawsuits worth 3 million each date back to the 1960's when Father William Hodgson Marshall was a teacher in the Sudbury area.

     Last month, four lawsuits worth 3 million each were launched in Windsor.

     The 89 year old priest is currently serving a prison sentence for abusing 17 children.

     London Lawyer Robert Talach, who is representing the alleged victims says at least two parents complained to the school and Basilian officials in Sudbury about Marshall's conduct.

   Talach says his law firm is handling 11 lawsuits but he expects more will come.

     Provincial Police are investigating a suspicious house fire in Essex early this morning.

     Fire crews, 23 of them plus 6 pieces of equipment, were called to a home in the 500 block of County Road 50 near Pigeon Beach Road around 1am.

     The huge home, over 5000 square feet, was engulfed in flames and crews were on the scene until 4am fighting it.

     Fire chief Ed Pillon says the home was vacant and was unfinished.

     He says they're working with the OPP to start a criminal investigation today.

     The cause is undetermined and there's no damage estimate yet.

     A steady flow of applicants for a job fair for Premier Aviation.

     The maintenance, repair and overhaul hangar at the Windsor Airport is opening soon and the company is hiring people with aviation backgrounds.

     The job fair opened at 10 this morning but as of 8:30, there was a line-up of 50 to 100 people.

      A spokesperson for Premier Aviation would not say how many jobs it is looking to fill.

     The hangar is suppose to open by June.

     A good news story for laid off autoworkers in Windsor.

     As AM800 News reported earlier this month, Ford of Canada has been looking at adding a third shift at the Essex Engine plant but was waiting to make sure demand stayed in place and supplier issues were ironed out.

     That's done and CAW local 200 president Chris Taylor says it's great news.

      On the downside, more than 100 workers are losing their job at the Windsor Aluminum plant as production for Ford wraps up this week.

      With the recall for the third shift there are still nearly 700 Ford workers on layoff in Windsor.

     A Thamesville woman has been sentenced to 5 years in prison for attempted murder.

     Donna Jenkins pleaded guilty in December to stabbing Brett Gibson with a steak knife as he slept on a couch in their Thamesville apartment.

     The judge acknowledged that Gibson was supplying Jenkins with drugs and that she'd been the victim of assault but said that's no excuse for her actions.

     A leash-free dog park in LaSalle is on hold.

     Councillors want more information before moving ahead.

     Ray Renaud has several concerns, including liability and rules enforcement.

     The proposed $60 thousand project is planned for the Vollmer Complex and will be debated during 2013 capital budget deliberations.

     Damage is still being assessed after a fire in Essex overnight.

     Fire crews were called to a home under construction at Pigeon Beach Road and County Road 50 shortly after midnight and remained on scene for more than 4 hours.

     No injuries are reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation.