Loblaw announced in January that it would not continue to operate the building beyond today.

The shelves were bare in the final days of operation (VOCM News)

At the time, Loblaw said the closure would allow them to dedicate more resources to its stores on Stavanger Drive and Blackmarsh Road.

The building is also home to Cygnus Gymnastics, which is also affected by the store closure.

There is no word on any future plans for the building.

Dr. Wendy Cukier was a keynote speaker at the recent AI, Future Skills, and Productivity Conference in St. John’s.

She believes, based on how quickly the technology is evolving, that AI will impact all jobs, and the question is how quickly that will happen.

She says Canadians need to prepare for the use of AI, which she believes will be “disruptive, but will also create opportunities” for businesses. She says even if people aren’t using it in their jobs, everyone needs basic AI literacy to protect against AI cybersecurity threats and fraud.

There was an increased focus on travelling within Canada in 2025 as trade tensions with the United States made many rethink where they wished to go.

In this province alone, the company says last year Airbnbs generated $145-million in economic activity through hosts and guests, and over $44-million in tax revenue, all the while supporting over 1,600 jobs.

Spokesperson Alex Powell says the money doesn’t just go to the hosts who are renting out their spaces – there is also the spinoff activity in stores, restaurants and the like.

She says 87 per cent of their hosts recommend shops, restaurants, and attractions in their immediate area – which means spending stays very “hyper-local.”

MHA for St. John’s West Keith White raised the matter with Justice Minister Helen Conway Ottenheimer in the House of Assembly after the young man was reportedly set upon by multiple people armed with weapons, sending him to hospital.

“People are asking how violence to this extent is happening in our communities and wondering what immediate action is this government taking to address the rise in serious violent crime and assaults” White asked.

Minister Conway Ottenheimer says public safety is a priority for government as is evidenced in “significant historic investments in justice” in the most recent provincial budget.

CEO Dennis Hogan says the airport has expanded its parking availability by about 20 per cent, and this year they are adding roughly 160 spaces.

Even with that, they are finding that their parking lots are quite often filled up.

Without any more options to expand parking on the ground, Hogan says they are now looking to build up with money set aside for the planning of a new parking garage.

He believes it would be a valuable addition to the airport given the challenging Newfoundland climate. As well, he says it would be a strong revenue source for the airport.

The Friends of the Festival event is taking place on June 7 at the St. John’s Convention Centre.

Interim Board Chair Jean Hewson says the Folk Arts Society has been part of the “cultural fabric” of the province for decades, and the event is a chance for people to support its future.

She says every ticket purchased will help them address their debt, rebuild the Folk Festival, and support their programs.

The lineup includes Jim Payne and Fergus O’Byrne, Matthew Byrne and original members of the legendary Figgy Duff.

Tickets for the event go on sale at noon, Thursday May 14th through the St. John’s Convention Centre website.

The Opposition says those changes could mean some municipalities could lose up to $800,000 in essential funding.

Liberal MHA and former Corner Brook Mayor Jim Parsons told VOCM Open Line with Brian Callahan that it used to be a three-year program that was predictable, allowing municipalities to plan.

Now, the per capita funding model has been changed, meaning some municipalities have been dropped from the program altogether.

“So, this was a real shocker the other day, that of the 22…15 were kicked out of the program (and) lumped into the other municipal infrastructure program, municipal capital works, which is on a project by project funding basis, and they put a bit more money in that program, but they’ve left the other 7/11 we call them. It’s now a four-year program not three.”

Transportation and Infrastructure Minister, Barry Petten (VOCM News)

Infrastructure Minister Barry Petten says the grant was previously administered without a formula, saying he inherited a mess that he did not want his name attached to in any future AG reports.

Petten says the multi-year capital works program was designed for seven of the largest municipalities in the province.

“It ballooned to 22, and there was no parameters, there was no rhyme nor reason, there was no mechanism how one got more than the other. It was just whatever the government or the minister of the day chose, and I was not going to be that minister.”

Happy Times Preschool received three citations concerning the incident several weeks ago.

Owner Gail Sullivan and her staff are horrified by what happened, and while she’s not downplaying the incident, she takes exception to the way in which it was cited.

The government website suggested that staff did not assess the children for injuries, and failure to do so delayed the opportunity for medical follow-up in a timely manner.

Sullivan says staff conduct a survey of the property every day before children go outside, and in this case, the needle was actually dug out of the ground by the children in question.

She says the children presented the needle to staff “laughing and giggling” and obviously not injured. “And it’s conjecture…on whoever wrote the violation at the department, that’s conjecture, ‘likely harmed’? that has huge implications.”

Sullivan says because of her location, she and staff are extra vigilant about potential hazards in the vicinity of the child care centre. She thanked RNC for the “awesome” work they’ve been doing in keeping a visible presence in the area and putting families and staff at ease.

The car collided with a transport truck on the Trans Canada about 1 km west of the Little Harbour East turnoff.

The crash caused extensive damage to the car, which ended up in a ditch, and sent the 34-year-old driver to hospital. The driver of the truck was not injured, but the crash resulted in a fuel spill.

The departments of Transportation and Conservation and Climate Change were involved in the fuel clean-up, while paramedics and volunteers with the Sunnyside Fire Department attended to the crash scene.

The investigation continues, and charges under the Highway Traffic Act are possible according to RCMP.

During Question Period, each accused the other of saying things that were untrue during a testy exchange.

A visibly angry Hogan responded; “he said I did not meet with Equinor. That is not true. He said that there was a national energy agreement that I did not sign, and that is not true. I say to the minister, stop saying untrue things in this House about me. Do your job, show some credibility, and stick to the facts, I’m not standing for it anymore.”

Parrott, undeterred, raised the “secret bonuses” the former government voted for themselves..and how “he came in as premier and he knew nothing about it” saying Hogan should “look in the mirror.”

Opposition House Leader Lisa Dempster and Government House Leader Lloyd Parrott both rose ahead of Question Period yesterday on Points of Order about the exchange.

The Points of Order were raised a day after Speaker Paul Lane expressed frustration with having to deal with “trivial and childish” Points of Order.