CHRW News and Spoken Word

94.9 CHRW News - Wednesday January 26, 2011

2011-01-26T16:39:00.003-05:00

Presented and written by Ashley Bushfield

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Free KD, Info On Concrete Beach
USC Elections Forum Round Two
Two Election Signage Votes Tonight

Free KD, Info On Concrete Beach
Today on Concrete Beach, representatives from OUSA were giving students a mouthful and an earful. As part of the Blue Chair awareness campaign, free cider, hot chocolate, and Kraft Dinner were distributed along with information about the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance and what they are doing to help students. Meaghan Coker, OUSA President and VP University Affairs for the USC says this awareness event is all about highlighting issues of access to post secondary education.They ran out of Kraft Dinner and hot chocolate only a couple of hours into the event but they will be back tomorrow.

USC Elections Forum Round Two
Round two of an open forum on USC elections is being held tonight in Council Chambers at 5:30 pm. Students are invited to attend to discuss the rules governing USC elections, a document known as By-Law #2. This forum comes a week after a similar event was attempted. That event was notably underattended with only 1 person from the community at large in the room. More advertising effort has been put forward for this go round. CHRW will be there and will bring you coverage on what transpires.

Two Election Signage Votes Tonight
The landscape of USC elections could be changing significantly. Tonight at the USC council meeting, a vote will be held on a motion that would see outdoor signage banned during the election. Councilors Marino Felice and Emily Jarvis have brought the motion forward though the issue has been discussed for the last few years. Some issues associated with presidential signage include the visual clutter, the very real litter that can result from abonded signs, and the impact driving sign supports into the ground can have on campus grounds and utilities. The Board of Governors will also be voting on signage laws tonight. If passed, the oversight body would restrict USC elections signage to specific locations and dimensions.

'Napalm Girl' To Speak At Western
Tonight, Campus For Christ is bringing the subject of one of the most well-known photos of the 20th century to Western to speak. Kim Phuc, known better as the 'Napalm Girl', was pictured in the Nick Ut nobel prize winning photograph running naked from a napalm attack in South Korea when she was nine. Something's Broken is the name of the event and it is taking place tonight at 7pm in Room 101 of the North Campus Building. The event is free to attend with the donation of a non-parishable food item.

Charity Ball About Charity With A Good DJ
A reminder that Charity Ball is fast approaching. This year, an increased focus has been put on the charity aspect of the ball including a You Tube video released today about why the Boys & Girls Club was chosen as this year's beneficiary. Alicia DeBoer, this year's Charity Ball organizer, says the impact of their proposal was something important to bring to Western students. DeBoer says attendees can also expect some quality entertainment.

In previous years, Charity Ball was held during the election season. While some may be concerned that this would present a drop in attendance what with election entourages not even finalized yet, DeBoer says it could be a positive for the ball. Students are warned that tickets are not gauranteed to be available at the door. They are however available now and all week for $25 plus tax at InfoSource or by visiting charityball.ca. The big event all goes down this Saturday at the London Convention Centre. A reminder to students that cabs really aren't available that night when you stumble out, so arrange your ride ahead of time or bring walking shoes.

94.9 CHRW news - Tuesday, January 25th, 2011

2011-01-25T16:33:00.007-05:00

Presented by Kyle Hutcheson

Written by Kyle Hutcheson and Ashley Bushfield

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Controversy Over Goldman Sachs Donation to Ivey
UWO Researches Develop Artery Watch iPhone App
The Cold Is Gone But The Flu Is Here To Stay

Controversy Over Goldman Sachs Donation to Ivey
There is some small controversy today surrounding a new donor to the Ivey School of Business. The Senate Committee on Academic Planning and Awards along with VP External for the university, Kevin Goldthrop, will be reviewing a proposed MBA scholarship award put up by Goldman Sachs. The review comes after concerns about the generous donation were raised by the associate dean of the Faculty of Information and Media Studies. Dr. Nick Dyer-Witheford, said that the financial giant is considered one of the orchestrators of the recent financial crisis and that maybe this isn't the best association for Western. He presented a series of questions and facts about Goldman Sachs that will be answered and addressed by the review, which is set to be released next week.

UWO Researches Develop Artery Watch iPhone App
Are you worried about clogged arteries? Researchers at UWO have made sure there is an app for that. iThink Research Labs, which is run out of the Lawson Health Research Institute on campus, is behind the development of the iPhone app. People who have a risk of stroke can use the secure application to view an ultrasound image of their arteries. This along with tips on keeping a healthy lifestyle to avoid stroke. The thinking behind the app is that providing high risk patients with a visual depiction of their disease may make them more dedicated to the process of getting well.

The Cold Is Gone But The Flu Is Here To Stay
Here at Western we are over the cold, but what about the flu? Last week, London hospitals were transferring patients to other facilities due to lack of beds caused by, among other things, an influx of people coming in with the flu. Experts say fewer Canadians are getting the flu shot this year as concerns about HINI have wained. CHRW took to campus to ask students if they have gotten their flu shot. Students didn't seem to agree on whether or not the flu shot is a good idea
The government assures us that the vaccine is a safe and healthy way to prevent the flu. Of course, we are free to make our own decision on the matter. Still, flu shots are free to residents of Ontario and students that want it can set up an appointment at Student Health to get theirs.

Soph Information Night Tonight
Any students who have any interest in sophing for OWeek 2011 are encouraged to attend an info session tonight at 10pm in room 2050 of the Social Science Building. This year, the USC has made efforts to address the possibility that the soph selection process is discriminatory. Last week, students were asked to answer questions about the culture of sophing and whether or not ethnicity plays a role in soph selection. Today, the USC via a twitter account associated with the Student Life department advocated a diverse soph population, telling all students they are welcome. Again, any student wanting to know more can attend the sophing info session tonight at 10pm in room 2050 of the Social Science Building. Soph applications are due next week on February 2nd.

94.9 CHRW News - Monday January 24, 2011

2011-01-24T16:58:00.003-05:00

Presented by Ashley Bushfield

Written by Ashley Bushfield and Brad Bangsboll

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UWO Beats $600,000 United Way Donatin Goal, Sets Record
Meal Exchange Western Hosts Hunger Awareness Day
Friends Collecting For UWO Student Memorial

UWO Beats $600,000 United Way Donatin Goal, Sets Record
Cold weather is not the only thing breaking records in these parts. Today, UWO, represented by President Amit Chakma, presented the United Way with the largest fundraised amount ever given to the local chapter. In total, $631,487 was raised by the Western community throughout the campaign. Since the fundraising partnership began between UWO and the United Way in 1994, Mustangs have raised over $6.9 million for the cause. The United Way distributes money to local social organizations to help with issues ranging from poverty to abuse to hunger.

Meal Exchange Western Hosts Hunger Awareness Day
Today Meal Exchange Western encouraged students to literally pop the Western bubble when it comes to awareness of hunger issues in our community. The club's annual Hunger Awareness day included various games, including a balloon (or bubble) popping game, and information stations set up to teach students facts about hunger in Canada and introduce them to local anti-hunger intiatives. President of Meal Excahnge Western, Heather Andraghetti, says UWO students are affected by hunger though many do not see the extent of it. Though the display set up in the atrium wasn't exactly a flurry of activity, Andraghetti says students can get involved with the club, which offers many opportunities to directly impact our community. For more information, visit them online.

Friends Collecting For UWO Student Memorial
Friends of the UWO student who died after falling several stories from a balcony are now accepting donations to create a memorial to him on campus. Twenty-two year old David Edmonson fell off of his 15th floor Richmond St. apartment balcony back in October. He was a fourth year UWO student and for some, the incident left them shocked. Today, friends of Edmonson were in the atrium along with EnviroWestern collecting donations to plant a tree in his memory. They need $1000. Nicole Bakker, Enivirowestern Coordinator says the tree planting will be part of Project GROW at Western. Anyone wishing to donate will find the group collecting in the UCC atrium again this Wednesday January 26th.

Thousands Without Hydro On Coldest Day
Equipment failure is what's being blamed for power outages in the London area. Around 5800 people spent parts of this very cold day without power in two isolated areas and incidents. About 3000 residents of West Lorne were without power starting in the wee hours of the morning. Schools in the area were closed as they were without power or heat. Warming stations were set up in the area at the Rodney Fire Hall and West Lorne complex where chilly residents could show up for complimentary coffee and generator powered heat. Another 2800 Hydro One customers were without power today in the St.Thomas area. For their part, Hydro One planned to have everything operational by 1pm today and a quick visit to their outages map online shows no more trouble in the area.

Beyond The Cheers

2011-01-24T12:51:00.003-05:00

Family Balance: Life with Kids in Sports

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Do you feel you have no life outside of your kids’ sports?

Rest assured you are not alone. There are more parents than you think maintaining the hectic pace of juggling work, children, sports and family life. Many spend the majority of their spare time as a taxi service, volunteer coach or just being part of a sports organization or audience at every game or event.

Plus there are many parents that are living their dream through the sports lives of their children pushing them to excel past a point that they themselves could not achieve. Some may even be forcing their kids to compete or placing them into elite leagues where they don’t necessarily belong. Many feel that their kids need the extra edge that sports activities provide to springboard them in to college, university or a career path that matches their own desire, regardless of the child’s goal. Sure there are those who had a great time in youth sports and only wish their child to live the same experience. But many see it as an opportunity, regardless of the odds of their own child making it to the big leagues.

Team sports are great—kids can get good, healthy exercise, have fun and learn values like sportsmanship, courage, discipline and focus that will serve them later in life.
But what has become distorted in recent years?

Kids today, along with their parents, are being run ragged at the hands of organized sports. The measuring stick of normalcy has shifted from years gone by and unfortunately, not for the better. Kids are far too active and driven in sports, thus putting the core of the family unit at risk.
You have to stop and think. Where does one draw the line?

- Children are going from one activity to another with little down time.
- Constant focus is on competition.
- Parents get caught up in the competitive cycle that emphasizes win, win, win.
- Unhealthy habits are formed from skipping meals or eating “on the road”.

“Parenting has become the most competitive sport in the world,” according to
Dr. Alvin Rosenfeld. How did we get here and how do we get back?

Listen to the conversation with author Regan McMahon of Revolution in the Bleachers on BEYONDtheCheers.

94.9 CHRW News - Friday, January 21, 2011

2011-01-21T16:27:00.009-05:00

Presented by Kyle Hutcheson and Brad Bangsoll

Written by Kyle Hutcheson and Brad Bangsoll

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"Me to we" Hosted at Kings in Support of Free the Children Foundation
First Cold Weather Alert of 2011 for Middlesex-London
Campus for Christ Promotes Upcoming Event

"Me to we" Hosted at Kings in Support of Free the Children Foundation
Labatt Hall was filled to maximum capacity as children’s rights activist, Craig Kielburger, spoke at Kings College yesterday. The event was part of Kielbugers “Me to We” motivational speaking tour in support of the “Free the Children” foundation. At the age of 12, Kielburger founded the youth oriented charity group that specializes in the creation of better education and living conditions for children in the developing word. Kings College is part of the “Adopt a Village” program, a subsidiary of “Free the Children” currently building a school in Africa. Kielburger urges for more schools and community youth to get involved in programs such as “Adopt a Village”.
Kielburger said that it is the media and individuals have a responsibility to improve society through awareness of social justice issues.
For more information or to learn how to get involved, check out the “Free the Children” page on Facebook.

Campus for Christ Promotes Upcoming Event
Campus for Christ had volunteers promoting their upcoming event, Something's Broken. The event highlights Vietnam war survivor Kim Phuc, known as the 'Napalm Girl', who was the center focus in what is considered one of the Photos of the Century. Ariel Webster, a member of the organization said this is an event you won't want to miss. Check out their event on January 26th at the North Campus Building in Room 101, at 7pm.

Soph Information Session Coming up
A soph information session is being held on Tuesday, January 25th at 10pm for those interested. If you have any questions about sophing information or the Orientation program itself, feel free to attend the session in Social Science Centre Room 2050. Check out their facebook page by searching 'Soph Information Session 2011'.

First Cold Weather Alert of 2011 for Middlesex-London
Middlesex-London Health Unit issued the first cold weather alert of 2011. Forecasts predict that temperatures will drop to -15Celsius between Saturday and Monday. The Health Unit urges people to dress with layers, leave no skin exposed, and limit the amount of time spent outside. Local homelessness agencies are expecting an increased demand for their services, prompting donation requests for warm blankets, non-perishable foods, sleeping bags, and warm clothing. The Men's Mission and Rehabilitation Centre, Salvation Army Centre of Hope, and the Unity Project are accepting donations. Agencies see these donations as crucial. The Health Unit warns that prolonged exposure to the cold may result in hypothermia and loss of consciousness. Frostbite is also a definite concern. Anyone experiencing these cold-related diseases are advised to seek medical attention.

94.9 CHRW News - Thursday January 20, 2011

2011-01-20T17:03:00.004-05:00

Presented by Ashley Bushfield and Nick Workman

Written by Ashley Bushfield and Nick Workman

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Atwood Improvises Talk; Answers Question About Student Debt
UWO Community Walks Out On Talk In Protest
Public Forums All The Rage Except For Students

Atwood Improvises Talk; Answers Question About Student Debt
Last night the UWO was privileged to enjoy an evening with Canadian literary icon Margaret Atwood. The posters said that Ms. Atwood would be speaking about the role of the artists in social change. When Ms. Atwood took to the stage though, she said that she instead would be giving an improvised lecture. She improvised on the topic of the role of the artist in society, and on the topic of environmental justice. On the environment, she said that humans have the capacity for aggression and that we should stop rewarding it and instead focus on our capacity for empathy. On the artist in society she said that not all artists are good for society and that it is a mistake to think so. She did however point out that art is very powerful, because it is not easy to control, and that art combines reason and emotion. After the lecture, Mrs. Atwood did answers questions on her thoughts on science fiction, and on her role in the invention of the long pen, but before the lecture, CHRW was able to secure an interview with Ms. Atwood. CHRW’s Ashley Bushfield asked a vital question about what Ms. Atwood thought about the amount of debt students are expected to take on to get a degree. Her answer? "Horrific".

UWO Community Walks Out On Talk In Protest
Amid the excitement of Atwood's visit, controversy brewed at another campus talk. Last night, Israel on Campus brought an Israeli soldier to Western to speak about his experience being on the front line of the occupation of Palestine. The event's Facebook page encouraged all people interested in discussing the topic of Israeli-Palestinian conflict to attend. Well, a group of concerned activists from the UWO community and members of a Toronto peace organization showed up in droves. They're concern: that the soldier brought to speak on campus is a Zionist war criminal. As a You Tube video depicts, the protesters overwhelmed the audience. One attendee of the event says they were lined up out the door to get in. The concerned group stood up and walked out on the talk as a form of protest.

Public Forums All The Rage Except For Students
The USC has been turning to students for input with what seems like little success. Last night, a forum held to address concerns about election procedures and By-Law #2 was very sparsely attended. The conversation was dominated by USC executives and members of the Gazette. It seems Twitter was the only USC-driven advertising for the event, perhaps leading to the dismal attendance. Another go at a public forum is happening tomorrow, however. This time, on Soph application reform. The Student Life Department and Ethno-Cultral Services are posing the following questions to students:
Is Soph Culture a reflection of white society?; Does Soph Culture exclude students of different cultural/ethnic backgrounds?; Do you think you would be selected as a Soph? Why/Why not? They plan to ask more questions in this vein and will be recording the answers from students to be used as part of the training process for Head Sophs. Anyone interested in sharing their view is encouraged to attend sometime tomorrow between 9:30am and 4:00pm in Room 370 of the UCC.

CHRW News - For Your Consideration: Does UWO need a General Assembly?

2011-01-20T13:52:00.004-05:00

Does UWO need a General Assembly? Are corporations and private funding unduly influencing academia and the pursuit of knowledge? Should non-administrative bodies have a say in how universities are run? Some members of the U of T community certainly think so.

As reported on CHRW News yesterday, concerned students, faculty, and staff of the University of Toronto assembled last night to discuss a new direction for university governance.They called it the U of T General Assembly. Concerned by trends towards what they call a corportization of the university landscape, organizers planned to meet and discuss ways to make their concerns not only known, but acted upon. CHRW spoke with one of the students involved in turning concern into assembly and action, Faraz Vahid Shahidi. You can download the audio of the interview here or listen now:

Vahid Shahidi claims that the problems he sees at U of T are common to universities across North America. So is it a problem here? Comment on this post to let us know what you think!

For more information, consider reading the following:
UWO President Chakma's priorities

MIT Prof's October 2010 letter to the Gazette about corporate interest at UWO

Counter Stryker: a UWO effort to end a research relationship between the university and General Dynamics

U of T student declines PhD in protest of corporatization

U of T profs challenge prioritization of the Munk School of Global Affairs

94.9 CHRW News - Wednesday January 19, 2011

2011-01-20T12:19:00.004-05:00

Presented by Ashley Bushfield

Written by Ali Millington and Ashley Bushfield

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Public Forum On USC Election Reform
Police Find Woman Beaten In South End Apartment
U of T Community Assembles To Challenge Governance

Public Forum On USC Election Reform
Changes to USC election procedures could be coming. Tonight at 5:30pm the USC elections committee is holding a public forum to allow students an opportunity to voice concerns about the rules governing the election process. Those rules are known as Bylaw 2. Adam Smith, Chief Returning Coordinator for the USC says he knows students would like to see changes and they could be coming for next year. Smith says that student criticisms have largely centred around outdoor signage and presidential spending. CHRW will bring you highlights from the meeting tomorrow but if you would like to attend again the event is at 5:30pm tonight in the USC Board Room.

London Hospitals Out Of Beds
London's University and Victoria hospitals are out of beds due to flu, respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses, and are asking patients with non-life-threatening emergencies to consider going elsewhere for care. Patients needing to be admitted have been waiting as long as 30 hours to get a bed. The Middlesex-London Health Unit has reported that flu activity in the community continues to increase, and the city has recorded two influenza-related deaths so far this season.

Police Find Woman Beaten In South End Apartment
Police are seeking the public's assistance after an apparent assault at 370 Wonderland Rd S Tuesday night. A woman, whose name and age has not been released, is in critical condition after being found in her apartment at 11:30 PM last night. The police are asking that anyone who saw someone leaving or coming to the building around that time or saw something suspicious call them or Crime Stoppers.

U of T Community Assembles To Challenge Governance
Today in Toronto, concerned students faculty and staff of the University of Toronto are assembling to discuss a new direction for university governance. Concerned by trends towards what they are calling a corportization of the university landscape, organizers plan to meet and discuss ways to make their concerns not only known, but acted upon. CHRW spoke with a student involved in turning concern into assembly and action, Faraz Vahid Shahidi. He says that he hopes the meeting will help university stakeholders feel empowered and that the ultimate goal would be to see a more democratic way of governing academia. Vahid Shahidid says the problems he identifies at U of T are common to most universities and encourages UWO students to get in touch if they are interested in promoting the same kind of initiatives.

94.9 CHRW News - Tuesday January 18, 2011

2011-01-18T18:19:00.003-05:00

Presented by Kyle Hutcheson

Written by Kyle Hutcheson and Ashley Bushfield

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Last Effort for Student Refugee Program
WIN Presents Annual Anti-Fashion Show
Missing Woman's Body Believed Found

Last Effort for Student Refugee Program
A last effort is being put forward today by members of a USC club to secure further funding for a program that sponsors a student refugee to study at Western. Before the winter break, the UWO chapter of the World University Service Canada were involved in putting a motion to council that would see students deciding on continued and increased funding from a student levee to support the Student Refugee Program. The motion passed and a referendum question was drafted to put to undergraduate students on the February election ballot. But at the last USC meeting, a new motion was put forward and was passed to stop the referendum question. This new effort came from the Finance Committee, the same committee that supported the original motion who now say they need to better regulate the ways in which student groups affect change to the student fee structure. Students who support SRP were left with another option to get a referendum question: taking it directly to the students and gathering signatures on a petition. Anna Martin, the coordinator of SRP says that while they support the USC's agenda, the program could be threatned by the new process.

Because of the timing, the club only has until tomorrow to collect around 4000 signatures if they plan to get their question on the February ballot. Yesterday, they still needed over 2600 to reach that number. For more information, search SRP on facebook to find the page dedicated to the debate. CHRW will have more on this story, including an interview with current SRP supported student, Nathaniel Kuch, so stay tuned to CHRW news this week.

WIN Presents Annual Anti-Fashion Show
Today in the UCC atrium, a catwalk dominated the scene and the Women's Issues Network presented their annual Anti-Fashion Show. Just in time for students looking for ideas for Charity Ball outfits, WIN presented clothing from second-hand stores promoting the idea of socially and environmentally friendly fashion.

The outfits featured casual and business looks as well as party dresses. Winter and new spring wardrobe options were showcased with black background floral prints and shades of coral and pink dominating the spring selections while cable-knit sweaters and cool tones featured heavily in the winter duds. Retro 80s was a big theme with intricate and bountiful shoulder designs featuring heavily throughout.

The models are always a hot topic of the event, featuring body and beauty choices of all sorts to offer a different representation of the fashionable woman. And if counter-culture and feminism are your thing, be sure to check out Purple Sex this week. $5 at the door of the Wave this Thursday night at 9pm gains you access to a show featuring monologues about gender and sexuality written and performed by students. Purple Sex is being brought to us by VDay Western with all proceeds benefitting local anti-violence intiatives.

Missing Woman's Body Believed Found
After a week of searching, Brenda Duncan's body is believed to have been found near a Tavistock cemetery. Duncan has been missing from her Woodstock home since last Tuesday morning. After finding her car near the Tavistock cemetery Sunday, police searched the area however the snow made it difficult. The body is yet to be officially ID'd and no information has been given about the cause of death although an autopsy is planned for Wednesday. Early in the case last week, police announced that they did not suspect foul play. Unbenounced to her family, Duncan called in sick for work the morning she was last seen. Anyone with information about the case or who knows someone who may have been in the area is asked to contact Woodstock Police or Crimestoppers.

Best Pleads Guilty
Tim Best plead guilty to one charge of failling to remain at the scene of an accident today. Best will face 5 more charges as the trial continues. The first accident had Best is accused of occured on Highway 401, near Putnam Road, where the driver of the car struck by Best's SUV had to be taken to hospital. Some drivers followed Best's SUV to a Tim Horton's on Dorchester Road, where they witnessed his vehicle hitting a second vehicle. Police arrested Best after he fled the vehicle on foot. The charges laid on Best include impaired driving causing bodily harm, two counts of failing to remain at the scene of an accident, and one for dangerous driving.

Decisive Game Tomorrow For Western Women's Basketball
Now taking a look at sports, A decisive game is expected tomorrow as Western's Women's Basketball team takes on the Windsor Lancers. This game determines the number one seed, as well as who will host a playoff game. The teams currently sit at the top of the OUA West standings. The Lancers currently sit in third place, with the Mustangs sitting in second place with a current 7 game winning streak. Tip-off takes place in Windsor on Wednesday January 19th at 6pm.

94.9 CHRW News - Monday January 17, 2011

2011-01-17T15:52:00.002-05:00

Presented and written by Ashley Bushfield

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Students Help Students Butt Out
Atwood And Kielburger At Western This Week
Best On Trial: Won't Be Taking Plea

Students Help Students Butt Out
All this week, students at UWO are being asked by their peers to Leave the Pack Behind. The initiative to encourage students to quit smoking is sponsored by the Ontario Ministry of Health and administered by students here on campus. One of the volunteers running the program, Mathew Chui, says it has been particularly good at reaching university age students. Mathew says that smoking is a problem for university students and has more of an impact than we usually think about such as the negative affect smoking has on a man's ability to achieve an erection. The program includes a contest to quit as well as a contest for students who never start smoking. You can visit them between 10:30am and 3:30pm every day in the UCC atrium this week for more information.

Atwood And Kielburger At Western This Week
UWO's social card is quite full this week with a series of unforgettable events. This Wednesday, the Arts and Humanties council is bringing Margaret Atwood to campus. Tickets are on sale at Info Source in the UCC for 15 dollars for students and 25 dollars for non-students. And my friends, those prices include tax. Doors for the event open at 6:15 with the talk starting at 7pm in Alumni Hall. The university has ponied up free parking for the event in the Springett lot which is located across the street from main campus in front of Brescia. The King's University Students Council is bringing another big guest to campus this week. Craig Kielburger, the social justice prodigy who started Free the Children when he was just 12 years old will be speaking at King's on Thursday. Tickets are on sale now at info source or from the King's pro shop for $10 for students and 20 dollars for non-students. Kielburger will be speaking on the topic of individuals impacting large social change. The talk is taking place in Labbat Hall at King's with doors opening at 6:30pm. CHRW is sending reporters to both events and will have more for you this week.

Best On Trial: Won't Be Taking Plea
Big news today in London, husband of former mayor Anne-Marie Dicicco Best, Tim Best, faced his frist day of trial. Best is facing charges related to an alleged drunk driving incident that took place in January of 2009. The trial has been delayed several times most recently because a key witness was deployed. Best is charged with several offences including impaired driving and leaving the scene of the accident. He was arrested back in 2009 after OPP witnessed a vehicle collide with another on the 401 and then again in town. Best exited his vehcile after the collisions and fled on foot but was tracked down by police and taken into custody without incident. Best could face jail time and rumours that he is seeking a plea deal were dispelled by his lawyers this morning. There is a media ban on the trial.

Ontario Government Kicks in $73 Million To Help Students Transfer
Dalton McGuinty made an announcement today that will have an impact on post-secondary transfer credits. New funding and initiatives were laid out that will hopefully make it easier for students who change post-secondary institutions to get credit for work they've already done. There are already some 500 transfer credit agreements between colleges and university across the province. The 73 million dollars being pledged over five years would see incentives for institutions to reach new transfer agreements. There will also be online support for students wishing to take advantage of transfer programs. The most popular being those that offer advanced standing for students entering univesity from college. The programs will kick-off in September and the government says they are hopeful that the program will increase the number of Ontario residents with post-secondary credentials.

Jobs Taking a Medical Leave From Apple
Steve Jobs announced today via email to his employees at Apple that he will be taking a medical leave. Citing health as the reason for taking a break, Jobs will still act as chief executive of Apple but Tim Cook will take over the day-to-day operations and decision making for the company. Pundits note that Jobs announced his decision on a holiday in the states when the stock market is closed, possibly as insurance against plunging shares. The Apple maverick's medical history is checkered having fought cancer in 2004 and received a liver transplant in 2008. Jobs said in his email that he does intend to return to work as soon as possible.

94.9 CHRW News - January 14, 2011

2011-01-17T10:42:00.002-05:00

Presented by Kyle Hutcheson
Written by Kyle Hutcheson and Brad Bangsboll

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Activist Group Challenges Campus Food Policy
Mustang Athletes to be Educated on Performance-Enhancing Drugs
Former Real Estate Lawyer Charged With Fraud

Activist Group Challenges Campus Food Policy
Activist group, Progressive Portions, was at King's University defending student's rights today and creating awareness through distribution of home-cooked and healthy food alternatives. Progressive Portions is a locally based community food initiative designed to provide members of both the community and student body with a sustainable food supply. David Basu-Roi, one of the founders of progressive portions explains how the program provides a valuable resource to those unable to provide for themselves. One of the group's main concerns is that currently, student groups are not allowed to exchange or sell food such as for potlucks. Basu-Roi says that paying students should have the right to share food. For more information or to get involved search Progressive Portion on Facebook.

Mustang Athletes to be Educated on Performance-Enhancing Drugs
Mustang student athletes will be getting an education in the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs. The Taylor Hooten Foundation presented to over 100,000 athletes in the United States and Canada in 2010 alone and they are set to speak this on campus this Sunday. Attendance is mandatory for several varsity teams. Chuck Mathies, the Manager of Intercollegiate Athletics believes that this event will benefit students, as they become more aware of issues and realities of performance-enhancers.

Former Real Estate Lawyer Charged With Fraud
A disbarred London real estate lawyer was arrested and charged today with offences relating to the allegation that he defrauded clients for upwards of one million dollars. Alec John Dobson has been under investigation for breach of trust and theft relating to his former practice since 2008. The 56 year old man was temporarily disbarred after the investigation began and has been permanently disbarred as of November 2009. There is evidence to suggest that Dobson was withdrawing large amounts of money from trust accounts belonging to six different clients. He faces 30 criminal charges including 11 counts of Breach of Trust, 11 counts of Theft of Entrusted monies over $5000 and 8 counts of uttering falsified documents.

London Crosswalks To Be More Accessible
The city of London plans to overhaul over 400 city crosswalks. The city budgeted $12 million, as much as $32,000 per intersection, for the project. The buttons are being updated to increase accessibility and help the visually impaired. The planned overhaul is set to take several years as intersections need renovations across the city, mostly located close to government, medical, and social services frequented by the blind.

Are Sock-Eye Salmon the Canary in the Coal-mine?
Large numbers of sockeye salmon are dying in the B.C.'s Fraser River. New research suggests the presence of a mysterious virus. Fraser River is one of the largest breeding grounds in the world for fresh-water salmon, however the rate of fish dying has increased since the early 1990s. An estimated two million fish have died in recent years, healthy fish suddenly stop swimming and turn belly up. The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans and three Canadian universities have been researching explanations.

Tunisian President Flees Amidst Protests
A state of emergency has been declared in Tunisia and the president has fled the country after a series of violent protests . The government has now decreed that no more than three people can gather together in public, as well as imposing a police-enforced night-time curfew. Security forces have been authorized to fire upon those breaking these new rules. Protesters were making claims of corruption, unemployment, and hyper-inflation as reasons for protesting. Human rights groups claim that at least 60 civilians have been killed since the protests began on December 14.

94.9 CHRW News - Thursday January 13, 2011

2011-01-13T17:23:00.004-05:00

Presented and written by Ashley Bushfield

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USC Adopts New Service
Elections Upon Us: Expect No Purple
LTC: Fare Hike Possible

USC Adopts New Service
At last night's USC council meeting, a motion to fund the I Know Someone campaign passed. The program, which seeks to educate on sexual violence, began two years ago with funding from the government. That funding was not renewed. Instead, the USC will now fund the campaign as a service under the Campus Issues portfolio. Scott Kerr, the current VP campus issues, told CHRW that the plan approved last night includes a budget with ceiling of $3600. Though the government grant ran out, the local organizations partnered with the USC to bring the programming to campus will still play a role in the programming. Kerr said the program has the potential to change the culture on campus. A Coordinator for the new service will be selected in the spring along with all other USC coordinator and commissioner positions.

Elections Upon Us: Expect No Purple
Other highlights of the meeting last night include a motion to peruse 24/7 library access during the spring exam season and banning the colour purple as a campaign colour for USC elections. And speaking of USC elections, faculty council and USC presidential election nominations officially opened this morning at 8:30am. Anyone looking for more information on the elections can visit voteusc.ca. University elections for the Senate and student Board of Governors positions also open for nominations today. Information about those positions and elections are available here.

LTC: Fare Hike Possible
Days after assurances from the LTC Chair Frank Berry that a fare increase would not be used to balance a zero per cent budget increase, the London Transit Commission now says a fare hike is possible. The board met last night to discuss budget options to present in the zero per cent budget increase report Mayor Joe Fontana has tasked all boards and commissions with. They approved a budget increase of 7.8 per cent and will be asking council for $1.7 million more than they received last year. If Council doesn't approve the budget, the LTC says a fare hike is very likely.

Search For Woodstock Woman Continues
Woodstock police have reissued a plea for information from the public in the missing persons case involving 57 year old Brenda Duncan. She was last seen yesterday morning between 8 and 8:30 am leaving for work. She did not arrive. Police say her absence is uncharacteristic. They have received several tips from the public so far but with no real leads yet. Duncan is Caucasian, stands 5 foot 7 inches tall with a slim build. She has shoulder length brown hair with bangs and may be wearing black trousers and a red velvet blazer. Duncan may be driving a red or burgandy 2008 Mazda 5 with the Ontario license plate BCSJ 791. Anyone with information is asked to contact Woodstock police at 519.537.2323

HBC Sells Zellers To Target
The fate of 59 Zellers locations across Canada is unclear today after a deal announced between the Hudson's Bay Company and Target. 220 of HBC's 279 Zellers locations have been sold to the American discount retail giant. This marks Targets first expansion outside of the US. As for the other locations, HBC says they are considering maintaining some Zellers stores but are also considering selling some to other department stores like Walmart or JC Penney. The Hudson's Bay Company was acquired by the US firm NRDC Equity Partners in 2008.

Catcher In The Rye 'Sequel' Barred From North America
A settlement was reached today between the estate of late author JD Salinger and a Swedish novelist who wrote a book billed as a sequel to Catcher in the Rye. Frederik Colting will be able to publish and sell copies of his book but not in Canada or the US. Part of the settlement bars Colting from dedicating his work to Salinger and he must change the name. The case began as a copyright suit after the book, once called 60 Years Later: Coming Through the Rye, was first published in 2008. Colting was granted appeal in May resulting in the new publication guidelines passed down today in a settlement. Colting calls his work a literary commentary as opposed to a sequel. We will be coming up on the first anniversary of Salinger's death on the 27th of this month.

94.9 CHRW News - Wednesday January 12, 2011

2011-01-12T17:19:00.003-05:00

Presented and Written by Ashley Bushfield

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USC Support Service Centre Revealed To Public
UWO Prof Authors Research Revolutionizing Deep Space Distance
Woodstock Police Investigate Missing Woman

USC Support Service Centre Revealed To Public
Today, the USC support services are holding the official opening of their new centre. After rennovation setbacks and a budget of nearly 30,000 dollars, the new facility in the basement of the UCC has been home to Ally Western, Pride Western and the Women's Issues Network since December but hasn't been officially revealed to the campus public until today. I arrived early in the afternoon to last minute work being done installing a swipe card access device. I found the Women's Issues Network Coordinator, Laura Beaulne-Stuebing inside who says the new facility will allow for better programming. Gucio Poweski, who volunteers with the various services, adds that the new space can help build community. Signs are yet to go up directing the public to the new centre, but Laura reamains confident the services will be able to touch more people in their new digs. The new facility is located in Room 38 of the UCC, beside the day care centre in the basement.

UWO Prof Authors Research Revolutionizing Deep Space Distance Calculation
A study released in an astronomy journal authored by a UWO prof could have widespread implications for the way in which the size of the universe and distance between celestial bodies is determined. Professor Pauline Barmby of the Physics and Astronomy department was the head author on a study that shows that the science used to determine distance in deep space may be flawed. In particular, the research shows that the unit of measurement, a 'standard candle', based on the brightness of certain stars called Cepheids, could be inconsistent based on other factors such as loss of star mass or accumulation of gas around the stars. Cepheids and using illimunation to measure distance in space are based on calculations made by Edwin Hubble in the 1920s. This is the first major proof that the standard candles are not-so standard after years of hypothesizing around the problem.

Woodstock Police Investigate Missing Woman
Police are looking for the public's assitance in locating a Woodstock woman who has been missing since Tuesday morning. 57 year old Brenda Duncan was last seen yesterday morning between 8 and 8:30 am leaving for work. She did not arrive. Police say her absence is uncharacterisitic and is being investigated as a missing persons case. Duncan is caucasion, stands 5 foot 7 inches tall with a slim build. She has shoulder length brown hair with bangs and may be wearing black trousers and a red velvet blazer. Duncan may be driving a red or burgandy 2008 Mazda 5 with the Ontario license plate BCSJ 791. Anyone with information is asked to contact Woodstock police at 519.537.2323

New Trade Agreement Will Send Seal To China
The sealing industry in Canada may be getting a boost tomorrow as a new trade agreement is set to be signed with China. The agreement would allow not only skins but meats and oils from seals killed in Canada to be sold in China. The industry took a major hit in 2010 after anti-sealing interest groups succesfully lobbied the EU to ban the trading of seal products between its member countries and Canada. Since then, sealing outfits have been selling small ammounts of seal products to Japan and Korea. The exact dollars and cents the deal with China is expected to generate has not been released by the government but officials say it will be profitable and could open up a larger market to include East Coast hunting and expand Inuit-run operations in the north.

TO Standoff May Have Mental Health Link
Reports today that the man involved in the lengthy police standoff in Toronto yesterday morning suffers from mental illness. Details about the incident are spotty with police saying a woman called in a tip that a man in a vehicle was waving a gun just before 7 am Tuesday. What followed involved 20 police cruisers and the blocking off the Yonge and Gerrard area for around 2 hours. Nigel Elder remained locked in his car while police called in a negotiator. Upon exiting the vehicle, Elder was arrested and has since been charged with marijuana possession and driving without a license. No gun was found. Today his mother told the press that he has suffered from mental health problems including bipolar disorder and schizphrenia for many years and that this is not the first time Elder has been approached by police on suspicion of a weapon. Toronto police were also investigating bomb threats not from the scene of the stand-off at the time that the report of a weapon was called in.

Vinyl Sales Way Up in 2010
More signs that your record player isn't dead. Sales of albums released on vinyl saw an uptrending in 2010 against an overall downturn in the sale of music. According to numbers released earlier this week by SoundScan, vinyl sales went up 14 per cent last year with total sales of about 2.8million records. The best sellers included The Arcade Fire's Suburbs and a reissue of The Beatle's Abbey Road. Sales of vinyl are now back above numbers seen in 1991 at the beginning of the compact disc's retail life. However, total music sales inlcuding digital formats dropped 13 per cent overall.

94.9 CHRW News - Tuesday January 11, 2011

2011-01-11T17:02:00.004-05:00

Presented by Kyle Hutcheson

Written by Ashley Bushfield and Kyle Hutcheson

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'Get Involved' at UWO
Warrant out for Careless Driving Charges
Recent Evidence leads to Underwater Search in the Thames

'Get Involved' at UWO
Today the USC held it's second day of 'Get Involved', a week-long event in the UCC to showcase various charities and organizations. This year, that includes a series of new clubs. One of them, The Transitional Justice Club, aims to bring awareness to campus about transitional justice issues which largely centre around community rehabilitaion after crisis, such as in the case of civil war or natural disaster. Rachel, the vice-president of Finance says the club also emphasizes academic aspects of transitional justice.

Local Organizations look for Volunteers
In addition to new clubs, several organizations were in the UCC looking for volunteers. As many as 10 organizations were on hand to promote their local causes. One such organization was the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada. Tanya Giannelia, the volunteer services specialist for the organization, told CHRW that they are currently looking for volunteer particpants for their fast approaching Spring Sprint occuring in April.

Warrant out for Careless Driving Charges
An update on the pedestrian accident that left one 18 year old dead and one 16 year old in hospital. Today police have issued a summons charging an unnamed 47 year old U-Need-A cab driver with careless driving. Shawn Cullion, a student of John Paul II secondary school, was killed around 4 am new years day while walking with his back to traffic along Cheapside near McNay. Last week police sought the public's assitance in locating the cab's fares from earlier in the evening. A court date has not been announced.

Recent Evidence leads to Underwater Search in the Thames
The search for a missing woman took London firefighters and police to the icy banks and waters of the Thames today. The search team, made up of fire fighters, plunged into the river and scanned the banks near the London Canoe Club looking for signs of Theressa Eva Wilson. The woman who was last seen in late November, is also known to have gone by several aliases and police say she lived a high risk lifestyle. Constable Dennis Rivest said today that it may be the case that she has just left town but that new information lead them to the search for evidence today. Wilson is 30 years old, described as a native who looks caucasion with long brown hair, stands 5 foot 1 and weighs 100 pounds.

Board sets itself to Review Inclusion and Equity Policies
Amid online community based efforts to push the Halton District Catholic School Board to allow gay straight alliances, the board has issued a written statement about their policy and questionable comments made by their Chair. Last week, in response to concerns that student groups called a 'gay straight alliance' are not allowed in any of the board's schools, Chair Alice Anne Lemay was quoted in the press as saying the schools don't have Nazis groups either. The statement from the board released Friday says her comments were presented out of context and that she was merely listing other types of groups and not meaning to equate them. The statement further explained that the board's policy is in place to ensure that students don't have to identify with a certain sexuality to be part of a group. The board is currently reviewing their inclusion and equity policies.

Facebook Still Can't Escape it's Past
A few days after talk about Facebook going public, more legal trouble for the social networking giant waits in the wings. The Harvard graduate twin brothers and their friend who claim they came up with the idea for Facebook have made moves towards suing again. Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss and Divya Narendra have asked a San Francisco court to throw out a settlement from 2008 which saw Facebook paying out 20 million dollars in cash and 45 million dollars in stock. It was said at the time that Facebook paid out to put an end to so-called "rancourous litigation". If the court obliges, the three plan to sue again for more money which they say is owed them, claiming Facebook was undervalued at the time of the original settlement. Zuckerberg maintains that he did not steal the idea.

Mustangs Perform Strong this Past Weekend
Looking at some Mustangs action now. A big weekend for games with mixed results. A great performance on Saturday by point gaurd Ryan Barbeau swho aw perfection at the free-throw line but an ulitmate defeat for the Mustang Men's basketball team against McMaster who won 95-80.

However on Friday and Saturday, the Mustang Men's volleyball team took on Ryerson then York winning both matches 3-0. The team is now 12 and 0 for their OUA season and will take on Guelph followed by McMaster on the road this Friday and Saturday.

94.9 CHRW News - Monday January 10, 2011

2011-01-11T12:33:00.002-05:00

Presented by Brad Bangsboll
Written by Brad Bangsboll and Ashley Bushfield

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USC Election Nominations Open Thursday Morning
Impaired Driving Arrest Leads To Attempted Bribery
Norwalk Containted At Second London Hospital

USC Election Nominations Open Thursday Morning
Nominations for elected USC positions open this Thursday morning at 8:30 am. Nicole Fassina, the USC's communications officer says there are many seats to be filled each with their own requirements for the nomination process. Nomination forms can be found at triple double u dot usc dot uwo dot ca or can be picked up in the USC main office on the third floor of the UCC. Nominations close January 31st at 4pm. For more information visit www.usc.uwo.ca.

Impaired Driving Arrest Leads To Attempted Bribery
London police were kept busy this weekend by impaired drivers with one incident leading to a charge of bribery. A total of 6 impaired driving cases were investigated this weekend with 4 involving minor collisions. In one incident, the driver refused to give a breath test at the scene of the accident and was therefore arrested. The 48 year old London man then allegedly offered his arresting police officer money to let him go. Harjit Sahota now faces bribery charges in addition to those associated with the accident and impaired driving.

Norwalk Containted At Second London Hospital
The suspected Norwalk outbreak at Victoria Hospital has been contained. On Friday, the oncology wing was closed to visitors after 5 patients started to exhibit symptoms of the Norwalk virus. This marked the second reported outbreak by the London Health Sciences Centre as parts of University Hospital were closed last Tuesday in a similar attempt to stop the spread of the virus. Hospital officials ask that anyone exhibiting flu-like or other symptoms of illness exercise caution and stay away from entering hospitals as a visitor. Update: At least one case of Norwalk virus was confirmed at Victoria Hospital.

Ontario Puts Up $5 Million For Bedbugs
The Ontario government announced today that they will be investing $5million to manage recent bed bug infestations. Local and regional media has been peppered with reports of the rise of bed bug populations in Ontario, and now local health units can apply to the province for special funding to help combat the problem. As the name implies, the little critters live in beds as well as furniture, clothing, fabrics, and even cracks in floors and walls. Bed bugs feed on blood and can leave itchy and painful marks that can become infected. They can live up to 18 months without feeding, which is why the infestations can be so difficult to get rid of. In addition to the new spending, the province has also launched a public education website bedbugsinfo.ca.

Sask. Court: Same-Sex Discrimination Outweighs Religious Freedom
The Saskatchewan superior court ruled today that the province's marriage commissioners cannot refuse to marry same-sex couples. The court was asked by the province to rule on two proposed pieces of legislation that would allow either some or all commissioners to refuse a ceremony based on religious beliefs. The decision found that a commissioner's religious freedom does not outweigh the unconstitutionality of denying partners of the same sex a marriage ceremony. The court's decision applies only to public servants who perform civil ceremonies.

Minute Of Silence For Arizona Shooting Victims
A national minute of silence was lead by Barack and Michelle Obama this morning honouring the victims of this weekend's shooting in Arizona. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is in critical condition in hospital after being the apparent target of a gunman who killed 6 and injured 8 others at a public meeting hosted by Giffords in a supermarket Saturday. Today she remains in a medically induced coma though has been observed responding to simple commands. 22 year old Jared Lee Loughner is currently being held in a Tuscon penitentiary facing 5 charges as the alleged shooter including attempting to assassinate a member of congress. Police have not released any information regarding the motivation for the crime.

94.9 CHRW News - Tuesday January 4

2011-01-04T17:09:00.003-05:00

Presented by Ashley Bushfield
Written by Kyle Hutcheson and Ashley Bushfield

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USC Club Travel Policy Changes Again
Fontana Remains Optimistic About Jobs After Keiper Closure
Harper Shuffles Cabinet

USC Club Travel Policy Changes Again
A policy banning USC club members from carpooling to official club events has recently been changed. Now, under certain circumstances, sharing a ride is allowed. For more information students are urged to contact Becky Ambrose, the Student Organizations Administrator for the USC. The decision to ban ride sharing to official club events came alongside other travel policy changes for clubs including a ban on travel to the US. These changes were made as part of a renegotiation process with the USC's insurers back in November.

Fontana Remains Optimistic About Jobs After Keiper Closure
Two-hundred automotive workers from the Kieper automotive plants were let go yesterday and the plant is now closed. Meanwhile, Mayor Joe Fontana remains optimistic that his Economic Development plan will bring 10,000 new jobs to London. Part of his plan includes working with an economic development council of over 85 members of the local business community, said to be meeting later this week. The council had been working with head office of the US based Johnson Controls International, that had recently bought out Kieper. The council hoped to salvage what it could from the plant.

Harper Shuffles Cabinet
Prime Minister Harper announced changes to his cabinet today. The biggest news seems to be the appointment of Peter Kent to the position of minister of the environment and newly elected Julian Fantino to minister of state for seniors. Interestingly this makes Fantino a junior of seniors as the 'Minister of State' is a title given to junior cabinet members of which there are now 12 in Canada. Fantino won his Conservative seat in the by-election in November of 2010 against Liberal Tony Genco. He recieved criticism from pundits during the election for his lack of campaigning. Many alleged he ran on the merit of his law enforcement history which included a time as Chief of Police in London.

Queensland Cities On Alert Again
Flood waters continue to be a threat in Australia. The town of St George, like many others of its kind located in the state of Queensland had to be evacuated today after water levels began to rise again after some relief over the weekend. Officials are calling for more flooding which is said to be reaching its peak early next week. Hospitals and several nursing homes in the area have begun flying patients to other facilities. Some residents have taken to crafting their own moats in an effort to prevent damage to their homes.

94.9 CHRW News - Monday January 3

2011-01-03T16:17:00.002-05:00

Presented by Ashley Bushfield
Written by Ashley Bushfield

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USC Gives Away Almost 2500 Books In 2 Hours
London Boy Dies in Pedestrian Accident
Florida Animal Conservationist Shacks-Up With Lions

UWO Reopens After Holiday
After two weeks off, the university reopened today. All services on campus are running as usual and classes have resumed. As of 9:30am, most students were also able to access online registration for class wrangling. Online sessions will expire January 8th at which time all add/drops will be paper form. Make changes online now to avoid line ups later!

Flood Concerns Continue
It was looking hit or miss as to whether all of UWO's parking lots would be open today as unseasonably warm temperatures melted the exceptional ammount of snow we had from December's storms, swelling the Thames. The river broke its banks all over the city including the usual flood plains behind Elgin on campus. Parking lots are all open today though many footpaths along the river remain closed. Residents across London including students are reminded to be cautious around bodies of water. Temperatures have been hovering at just below freezing throughout the day and further melting causing further flooding is possible.

USC Gives Away Almost 2500 Books In 2 Hours
The University Students Council welcomed back students today with a bit of a gift. Free books! Tables were set up for around 9 am this morning and then covered in old editions of textbooks. In a little over two hours, all of the books had found new homes. Nicole Fassina, who handles Communications for the USC, says the books were leftovers from when the bookstore changed hands to the university. It was estimated that there wer close to 2500 books for students to chose from. The even was originally planned for two days, but with no promotion, the very presence of a 'free books' sign ensured that the stock got used up.Fassina says that while this plethora of books was a one time thing, providing students with free things is a step in the right direction for the USC.

Local Holiday Closures
In the city of London, garbage pick up resumes tomorrow after a holiday today. With New Years landing on a Saturday, City Hall, government services and banks were closed and mail delivery was suspended today. Garbage and recycling resumes regular pick up starting with zone D tomorrow morning. There is no container limit for this pick up cycle with the regular limit of 4 bags being set aside to help with the amount of trash generated over the holidays. A reminder that garbage and recycling should be put out on a flat surface for pick up as opposed to atop snowbanks.

London Boy Dies in Pedestrian Accident
The new year did not start quietly for London police. Two separate pedestrian accidents occur ed over the weekend with one resulting in the death of a 18 year old London boy. He and a friend were walking in the direction of traffic around 4am on Saturday morning when they were struck by a westbound vehicle near Cheapside and McNay. The driver remained at the scene of the incidents and while an investigation continues, no charges have been laid.

Police Investigating Hit-and-Run
Meanwhile police are looking for eye witnesses to a hit-and-run from earlier that evening. A London man and woman were walking together when a vehicle struck the man in the back sending him to hospital with life threatening injuries. His condition has since improved to serious. Police say the vehicle may have been an older model green van and asking for anyone with information regarding the incident to come forward.

Canada's Top Earning CEOs Still Top Wages
The state of Canada's economy seems to be open for debate but what has been made clear by a recent report is that Canada's top earners have not faced the same crunch many Canadians felt after the recession. The incomes of the 100 top earning CEOs in Canada did drop slightly from last year but their average salary for 2009 was 6.6 million dollars. This according to a study released today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. The report claims that the CEOs only had to work until 2:30pm today to earn the average yearly income of a Canadian, which is 42,988 dollars. The study also shows that the gap between top wage earners and average Canadians has grown over the last decade with the income of the top 100 gaining nearly 53 percent in the same 10 years the average Canadian only gained about 4 per cent more yearly.

Florida Animal Conservationist Shacks-Up With Lions
A very dedicated animal enthusiast in Florida has decided to experience the lion's share for 30 days. Since Saturday, James Jablon has been living with two African lions, sharing meals, hanging out with the lions, and even sleeping in their den. This is all taking place at Jablon's wildlife rehabilitation centre. His brave act is being livestreamed over the web - to check it out google Wildlife Rehabilitation of Hernando. Jablon is living with the lions in the hope of attracting attention and funds to his efforts in rehabilitating and providing homes for ill-concieved exotic pets.

94.9 CHRW News for Friday, December 17, 2010

2010-12-17T16:04:00.002-05:00

Presented by Gian Verano

Written by Gian Verano and Ashley Bushfield

LOCAL HEADLINES

Library Service and Exams Schedule Updates at UWO

Charges laid in Early Morning Crash

$16 Million Hale-Trafalgar Overpass Opened.

** This has been the last newscast for 2010. We'll resume January 3rd of next year. Happy Holidays!

94.9 CHRW News - Tuesday December 14, 2010

2010-12-14T16:40:00.002-05:00

Presented by Ashley Bushfield

Written by Kyle Hutcheson and Ashley Bushfield

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Helicopter Rescue Mission Underway on 402
More Snow Coming To London
New Storm Spurs Closures

Helicopter Rescue Mission Underway on 402
Stranded motorists on Highway 402 have been reached by military helicopter and the rescue mission is underway. The warden of Emergency Management Ontario, Steve Arnold issued a Red Alert for southwestern Ontario, on Monday night. This was necessary for the region to receive assistance from the military. The Canadian Army sent two helicopters from CFB Trenton today to assist in rescue operations but the visibility so poor this morning it took until the early afternoon to begin lifting people out of the area.

More Snow Coming To London
Environment Canada tells us to expect a lot more snow overnight as the storm system locked in over Ontario moves closer to London. Places just west of here, like Dorchester, have already experienced the rather heavy snow fall associated with the weather pattern. The storm is predicted to be in full force over the city overnight tonight and into tomorrow morning. Some parts of the city could see an additional 40 cm of accumulation by Thursday.

New Storm Spurs Closures
Some schools in the region were closed today after weather caused the bus services to be cancelled. Wheable Adult Education Centre is closed with all evening classes cancelled. The Thames Valley Disctrict School Board meeting has also been cancelled. The school board is advising parents to contact schools for cancellation notices for school concerts or after school activities. For a second day, all high school sports games in the region were cancelled. The county has issued a message asking motorists to stay off the roads and for residents to stay home if possible. They are also asking that neighbours check on vulnerable people in their communities. County Road 39 west of Strathroy has been closed. County Road 6 between Calvert and Townsend Line has also been closed. The Blackwater Bridge remains open at this time with Canada-bound traffic being diverted away from the 402.

Schulich To Improve 'Hands On' Experience
The Ontario government will be investing over $3 million into Western's Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry. The money comes in an effort to improve hands on patient care. New programs involving simulation centres and mock visits will be developed using the funds. Across the province, the government is spending $20 million for similar programming at other medical schools. They will also be spending an additional $35 million on laboratory and equipment specialization at Ontario medical schools over a three year period.

Earl Jones Victims Protest, Sue RBC
Victims of Earl Jones rallied outside the Royal Bank of Canada's headquarters in Montreal today. Jones is currently serving 11 years on a fraud conviction after stealing over $50 million dollars in a Ponzi scheme. The victims are pursuing a $40 million dollar class-action suit that claims the the Royal Bank was aware that Jones' accounts were being used improperly. Jones also used RBC letterhead and logos to legitimize his actions. The group of victims claim that RBC was willfully neglectful in the case by giving Jones complete access to their funds.

Assange Granted Bail
Wikileaks founder, Julian Assange, was granted bail today by a British judge for 200,000 pounds. Conditions of his release include a curfew and wearing an electronic monitoring device at all time. Supporters gathered outside the hearing asking the authorities to 'free Assange'. Interpol recently put the Wikileaks founder on the most wanted list after Swedish authorities issued warrants for his arrest relating to two alleged sexual offences. Assange awaits an extradition hearing.

Italian Politics Turn Riotous
Violent protests erupted in Rome after Italian Prime Minster Silvio Berlusconi survived two confidence votes yesterday. Riot police at the scene apparently used tear gas to control the crowd. So far close to one hundred people are reported injured including police personnel and protesters. Had the Italian Prime minister lost, he would have been asked to resign from office only halfway through his 5 year term. The confidence votes follow the prime minster's fallout with a political ally as well as allegations of scandals involving women.

94.9 CHRW News - Monday December 13, 2010

2010-12-13T14:49:00.006-05:00

Presented by Ashley Bushfield
Written by Ashley Bushfield

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USC Soph Applications Now Open
CAS To Cut Services By 25%
Charity Imposters Going Door-To-Door

USC Soph Applications Now Open
Applications are now open for the University Students Council's Orientation Staff. Every year,hundreds of upper year students apply to be Sophs for O-week at Western. Sophs help facilitate the transition into university for first year students. Standard Soph tasks include helping frosh move into residence, shepherding students, and generally hyping up what Western has to offer. Students interested in applying can visit the USC's website for more info.

Applications For King's Cultural Festival Now Open
King's University College also has applications open for its annual cultural festival. King's is looking for performers from diverse backgrounds to participate in this year's event. Participants can be skilled in any art particular to their culture including poetry, dance, and music. The event is billed as one of King's biggest with an expected audience of about 500 people. Click the link to apply.

CAS To Cut Services By 25%
In its ongoing budget crisis, the local Children’s Aid Society ( CAS) says it will trim services to keep its doors open. Dealing with a $4.2 million deficit, CAS says it will reduce the number of children in its care by a quarter to stay operational. Over the next four years, 220 children will have to be cut from its caseload. CAS is considering several plans to decide which children will be removed from its services with no decision made yet.

Charity Imposters Going Door-To-Door
Look out for Salvation Army representatives coming door-to-door because they aren't actually with the Salvation Army. The local Sally Ann has received several reports of someone soliciting door-to-door for donations to the charity. They have reminded Londoners that during the Christmas season they only collect money in the kettles located across the city.

Snow Storm Outside London Forces Closures
London remains under a snow squall warning today and while we didn't see any closures or shut downs within the city limits, winter weather is affecting neighbouring counties. A fairly major storm hit west of London, closing all schools in the Strathroy area. Police closed the 402 at Kerwood Road due to white out conditions, stranding a few hundred motorists in the early afternoon. Highway 21 was also closed between Goderich and Amberley. Environment Canada is calling for about 20 cm of accumulation in some areas from the current system.

Barriere Lake Algonquin First Nation: Indian Act Election 'Undemocratic'
A delegation from Barriere Lake Algonquin First Nation travelled to Ottawa today to deliver a copy of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. They planned to deliver the document along with a community resolution to Prime Minister Harper and the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, John Duncan. The community is concerned with an Indian Act election process on their reserve in August of this year which they are calling undemocratic. Most of the community boycotted the election with only 12 ballots cast. Four councillors and a Chief were acclaimed by the election though the Chief has since stepped down over concerns about the legitimacy of the vote. The NDP came out strongly in favour of the Barriere Lake people with MP for Timmins & James Bay, Charlie Angus, calling for a reconcilliation.

Does a Debt Crisis Loom in Canada?
As we settle into shopping-est season of them all, Canadians may have a debt problem on their hands. Last quarter, Canada's debt-to-income ration surpassed that of the US. Canadians are now carrying 148 % of our combined income in debt. This is not much but definitely more than America's 147.2% ratio. And in this time of credit, Bank of Canada Governor, Mark Carny, is warning Canadians to not feel too comfortable about low interest rates. He is not predicting when a hike to our lending rate will come, but he did warn that it could be very steep leaving some borrowers with debt loads they can't handle. This announcement comes on the heels of a warning last week that another recession could be coming to Canada as a result of the rocky state of the European economy.

Obama's Health Care Legislation Partially Unconstitutional
Part of Barack Obama's healthcare bill has been deemed unconstitutional. A Virginia judge says the part in Obama's health plan that requires citizens to purchase health insurance or face a fine is not supported by the consitution. He did not however strike down the law entirely. The case will now go to the US Supreme Court to decide. This is only one of many court challenges Obama's healthcare law has faced with it already surviving proceedings in Michigan and in another Virginia court room.

94.9 CHRW News for Friday, December 10, 2010

2010-12-10T15:32:00.005-05:00

Presented by Gian Verano

Written by Gian Verano and Ashley Bushfield

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Local Headlines

UWO 2010 FALL EXAM SEASON KICKS OFF

Exam season starts today at Western and for those looking to cram all night, a reminder that Weldon and Kings' libraries will be open 24/7 during the exam perios. Students will also have access to the UCC all day and night for the duration of the exams. For those worried about getting home in the wee hours, student council is also offering a shuttle service from December 10 to the 20th.

Visit www.usc.uwo.ca for a full schedule and for drop-off locations.

BRAIN MATTERS LAUNCH

A new program for Grade 12 biology students held its launch today at the University Hospital. Brain matters, a collaborative effort spearheaded by the Epilepsy Support Centre of London, is based on the success of a Grade 5 curriculum.

Interviews with:

Dr. Jorge Burnero, Medical Adviser of the project

Mary Secco, Executive Director of the Epilepsy Support Centre of London

94.9 CHRW News - Thursday December 9, 2010

2010-12-09T14:43:00.006-05:00

Presented by Ashley Bushfield
Written by Ashley Bushfield

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Schools Reopen in London: UWO Exams Will Run As Scheduled
LTC Resumes Operation; Stops Still Not All Clear
Ploughed Streets Still Pose Danger in London

Schools Reopen in London: UWO Exams Will Run As Scheduled
Things are back to business as usual in the Forest City. Schools including the University and Fanshawe have reopened. All affiliate colleges at UWO are open as well and the exam period will start as scheduled on Friday December 10. A website featuring FAQs for students wondering about rescheduled exams or missed classes says it is up to professors to determine how outstanding course work will be addressed. The website urges students to check UWO email and WebCT for more information.

LTC Resumes Operation; Stops Still Not All Clear
The LTC is also operating as close to usual as possible right now. They have asked bus patrons to stand in cleared areas as close to bus stops as possible and flag down the bus driver as necessary. Crews have cleared many bus stops in the city but they will not be completed the process until early in the week of December 13th.

Ploughed Streets Still Pose Danger in London
City officials say that have done their best to plough every street but have asked Londoners to call into the city if their street has been missed. Snow has fallen since many streets were first ploughed and conditions are still dangerous in some areas. Over 500 car collisions have been reported in the region since the storm began on Sunday including the seventeen vehicle pile up that blocked westbound lanes of the 401 near Woodstock for four hours yesterday. Police are asking people to only travel as necessary and to slow down and drive safely. They are also asking that motorists to be conscious of the fact that pedestrians may be walking on roads with sidewalks still largely unploughed.

Garbage and Recyclying Pick Resumes With Saturday Collection
Garbage and recycling pick up has also been restored. Today Zone D was collected, tomorrow Zone E will receive pick up with crews operating Saturday to collect in Zone F. Londoners are asked to put their garbage and recycling bins on a level surface and not on snow banks.

Boler Mountain To Open Early
Snow may have caused many organizations to close their doors for a couple of days, but for Boler Mountain, the snow fall has enabled them to open earlier than usual. Starting Saturday at 10am, Boler’s ski and snowboarding trails will be open to the public.

Media Ban On Stafford Trial Lifted
The media ban on the Tori Stafford trial has been lifted. Today details of Stafford’s last day began leaking into the media via courtroom records, particularly the testimony of one of the girl’s convicted killers, Terri-Lynne McLintic. Around 10 am this morning the Supreme Court of Canada passed the decision that some information about the case would be made public including a timeline of events and the fact that McLintic plead guilty and was sentenced to 25 years without parole for her role in Stafford’s murder. The media ban was first imposed in April of this year by the Woodstock judge hearing the case. Tori Stafford went missing in Woodstock on April 8 2009. Her body was found on July 19th, after McClintic was indentified and charged. Also charged for the murder is McClintic’s boyfriend of the time, Michael Thomas Rafferty.

Cyber Attackers Defend Internet Freedom, WikiLeaks
Anonymous WikiLeaks backers are threatening further cyber attacks. Many websites have been victims of concerted hacking apparently in retaliation for non-compliance with the open internet spokessite WikiLeaks. MasterCard, PayPal and the government of Sweden’s websites are among the targets of hackers who claim to be protecting Internet freedom. So far, the attacks are limited to shutting down regular operations for periods of time. There is no indication that the severity of the attacks will increase, but it seems like more sites can expect to be hit. Meanwhile, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange awaits an extradition hearing in the other London to determine whether t he Australian native will be sent to face serious sexual assault charges in Sweden.

9000 Pound Tuition Spurs Rowdy Protest, Government Resignations
Today in England, student protesters have taken to the streets again as the government voted in favour of increasing tuition caps to up to 9000 pounds a year. The protests seem to have turned violent with Scotland Yard reporting that 6 officers were injured in the demonstrations today in Westminster. The increase could see some university fees tripling and three ministerial aides have reportedly resigned because of the issue. The increase passed by a margin of 21 votes.

94.9 CHRW News - Friday, December 3, 2010

2010-12-03T16:49:00.005-05:00

Presented by Kyle Hutcheson

Written by Kyle Hutcheson

Liberal MP claims Canadian Military should not be Above the Law
Charity Choir Concert Chimes with the Christmas Spirit
Local Police Initiate Festive Ride Program this Weekend

Charity Choir Concert Chimes with the Christmas Spirit
December's just started, but if you're already in the Christmas mood, The King's University Chamber Choir presents its inaugural concert "Sing We of Christmas" this evening at the Chapel at Windermere on the Mount. Admission will be free at the door, but guests are encouraged to bring donations of cash or non-perishable food items. "Sing we of Christmas" starts tonight at 8 p.m. Be sure to check it out.

Local Police Initiate Festive Ride Program this Weekend
Police will be out in full force this weekend, as this year's Festive Ride Program kicks off with the help of 44 thousand dollars in provincial funding. As the holiday season begins people will be in a more festive mood. But this also leads to a spike in drinking and driving. Police say more than half of the fatalities on London roads were the direct result of an impaired driver. More than 40, 000 vehicles will be stopped as part of the program’s random vehicle checks.

Step forward for Mental Health Issues
Local non-profit organization Mind Your Mind has just released Tree of Life - a multilingual interactive tool that lets users create online mental wellness action plans for their lives. Diani Ali is the Content Development and Administration officer for Mind your Mind. She spoke of the tool's aim.

When users log on there will be various multimedia tools available to them, in addition to resources they can access if they need help regarding mental health issues. The tool was made in collaboration with the National Aboriginal Health Organization and is focused on providing first nations people with resources that are sensitive to their culture.

The "Tree of Life" resource is available at mindyourmind dot ca slash toolbox www.mindyourmind.ca/toolbox

Wikileaks Founder to be Targeted by International Politicians
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange says that Tom Flanagan should be charged with incitement to commit murder. The former senior advisor to the prime minister called for Assange to be assasinated in a live question and answer Friday on the website of the Guardian newspaper. Flanagan said that the US President should quote "put out a contract". Flanagan did tell CBC that he did not intend to advocate or propose the assasination of Assange. However he claims thats Wikileaks has been harmful to diplomacy and endangered people's lives. Assange maintains that their is no credible allegation that a person has come to harm as a result of Wikileaks activities. Interpol has issued a warrant for Assange's arrest.

Liberal MP claims Canadian Military should not be Above the Law
A liberal MP claims that Canadian military forces should be subject to same level of oversight as law enforcement agencies. The claims coms after a joint closed-door investigation by CBC and Radio-Canada into Canada's covert elite Joint Task Force (JTF2) unit in Afghanistan. Dominic Leblanc, the Liberal party's defence critic, said oversight could occur without compromising the elite task force. Leblanc says it remains in the best interest of Canadian security for the unit to stay highly secretive, however it should not be above the law.

Groundbreaking Victory for Farmers and the Environment
A United States judge recently ordered Monsanto to destroy their genetically modified crop of sugar beet seed plants. The ruling cites potential for environmental harm. It is estimated that 95% of the sugar beet crop has been genetically modified to be resistant to the weed killer Roundup. Environmental groups had shown that genetically modified sugar beets could cross-polinate with other crops. This comes as groundbreaking and important victory for farmers and the environment.

Israeli fire brings together International Community
Israeli firefighters still struggle with the worst-forest fire in the country's history. The fire has displaced over 12,000 people, with the official death toll at 42. Authorities raised the possibility of arson. Turkey pledged aid disregarding political tension in the region. Greece and Britain sent planes and crews, with more help on the way from the United States, Russia, Egypt, Jordan, Spain, and Romania. A hospital, three prisons, and a university had to be evacuated by police. The fire is said to be many times worse than a fire that had occured in 1989.

Mustang Men's Hockey Secured Victory over Brock Badgers
Rookie Steeve Reese (London, Ont.) skated away with two goals and one assist in the men’s hockey team’s 6-4 victory over the Brock Badgers last night. This ends the 2010 portion of their season.
Also scoring were Matt Paltridge, Yashar Farmanara, Kyle Lamb and Brandon Greenside.
Goalie Anthony Grieco secured the win after replacing Josh Unice at the end of the first frame. He turned aside 11 shots as the Mustangs outshot the Badgers 35-25.
The Mustangs have a rematch against Brock University to start the if next year. The game takes place Jan. 7th at 7:15 p.m.

Beyond The Cheers - December 2, 2010

2010-12-03T15:59:00.003-05:00

Blowing the Whistle on Biased Officiating

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Is there biased officiating in sports?

Many of us certainly think so as we sit on the sidelines watching our kids play. Officials, at times, seemingly bow to pressure from the stands when making a call - or not.
Why?

There's some pop psychology from people like Calgary Flames Coach Mike Keenan, claiming that officials are, subconsciously, influenced by the crowd. But Stephen Walkom, the NHL's director of officiating, believes that referees don't hear the crowd when they're in the zone. "I think there is more conscious pressure on the players to play better and harder in front of their home crowd than what affects the referee," said Walkom. "Players are conditioned early on that playing at home is our ice and that nobody beats us in our house."
Statistics show:

Home teams had 11.5 per cent more man advantages than did visitors.

National Hockey League teams have won 55% more points and games at home than on the road last season.

Minor Hockey organizations report over 65% more points at a home game as opposed to road game wins.

Penalties or biased calls against the home team are 55% less than those against the visiting team in soccer, football, baseball and hockey.

It is unfortunate that any grievance with respect to poor officiating, most times, falls on deaf ears due to the brotherhood of the officiating world.
How do organizations squeeze the slanted calls out of an official?

Be sure to listen to this hot conversation when we blow the whistle on biased officiating in sports with an anonymous hockey official, Jeffrey Reed and Jim Sandlak on BEYONDtheCheers.

CHRW News in Review - November 30, 2010

2010-12-03T11:48:00.002-05:00

Bill C-311, Environmental Demonstration, Deported from Isreal, Women & AIDS...

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Contributors:
Ed von Aderkas
Gian Verano
Ashley Bushfield

On this week's CHRW NiR, the features were played in some sort of narrative. To start, Ed von Aderkas brings us information about Bill C-311 , or the Climate Change Accountability Act,along with a reaction from Candian Liberal Senator John Cowan. After the stunning defeat of the Bill in the Senate, the newsroom conversations largely centred around the state of Canada's democratic system. Usual discussions about the Senate - do we need it? should it be elected? - were accompanied by questions about our constitution and whether or not it is a sufficient and well-functioning document. Senator Cowan highlights these areas in his responses to Ed as well.

Following this was Kira Lamont's account of her experience the day the Bill was defeated. She, along with 5 other Canadian women, spent some of that day in a backroom of the Canadian Parliament awaiting Ottawa police who fined them for trespassing and banned them from Parliament property for one year. All for staging a peacful sit-in in the Rotunda of Parliament demanding environmental accountability from the government. This story also had folks around here pondering the state of Canada's democratic system.

Next was Stefan Christoff offering an account of being denied entry to Israel and his subsequent deportation to Jordan. Christoff was told that he wasn't allowed to enter the country because of his activities with certain protest groups. I asked if the fact that Isreali border agents knew about his activities in Canada surprised him. His response was to state concern over the state of democracy in Israel. (He also offers an account of the state of Palestinian refugees in Jordan in the podcast. This angle of the Palestinian story is one I feel could use more attention)

Finally, Gian Verano brought us an interview with Daniel Pugh of the Regional HIV/AIDS Connection (formerly AIDS Committee of London). Leading up to World AIDS day there was a lot of coverage and press given to alleviating the impact of AIDS in Africa. Gian's interview, I think, allows us to remember that AIDS is a problem here in Canada too. All too often we look beyond our borders to focus on problems that often times we make worse, or at least not better, by not acknowledging our particular cultural standpoint. Not that we should give up international aid and causes. Just that we should start taking greater ownership of the problems we have here - like the state of our democratic system.

For the next NiR: aboriginal mental health, WikiLeaks, & more...