NL reported 4 deaths from COVID-19 this past Wednesday and said there was an increase of 11 cases in the last week.

There also a spike of 14 who were hospital, with people in critical care.

Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Janice Fitzgerald said there’s expectations of more hospitalizations due, from BA-5 subvariant of Omicron.

The province reported 443 new COVID-19 cases in the past week, 62 on Thursday, 59 on Friday, 76 on Saturday, 38 on Sunday, 42 on Monday, 60 on Tuesday and 106 last Wednesday.

A new program has been launched to help people with disabilities access adaptive technology.

The Coalition of Persons with Disabilities Newfoundland and Labrador, funded by the Northpine Foundation, has created an Adaptive Technology Program that aims to support people with all forms of disabilities.

Adaptive technology is something that makes it easier for people with disabilities to access items such as wheelchairs, walkers, computer technical aids and learning disability software.

The Executive Director of COD-NL, Nancy Reid, says the program can have a significant impact on peoples’ lives. She says this is about the removal of barriers.

Applications are open and will be accepted until August 26 online, by email at codnl.ca, or phone at 597-8596.

Story courtesy of VOCM.

The Nain Inuit Community Government has a few things on the go this summer.

Beni Ittulak is the Manager for the town council.

She says thanks to funds from Nunatsiavut Government, they will have solar panels installed to the Jeremias Sillitt Community Centre.

They’re also going to be repairing the lower roof of the JS and will be putting up a warehouse next to the building.

Ittulak says that they were hoping to be able to repair the waterlines this summer but it will be going to tender.

They’ll also be doing repairs at the subdivision, and will have the pylons up as they’ll be doing a sewer capacity study.

Ittulak adds that they tore down the Martin Hall yesterday.

The National Inuit Youth Council is excited to host the 2022 Virtual National Inuit Youth Summit (NIYS): Inuit Empowering Inuit.

It will be taking place online between Monday, July 25th to Thursday the 28th, 2022 from 1pm to 4:30pm. The NIYS will provide an opportunity for Inuit youth (ages 13-35) to come together to learn, share and strengthen confidence and resilience.

Throughout the Summit, participants will:

• Connect with Inuit youth and share reflections on issues of mutual importance;
• Build leadership skills, life skills, and traditional Inuit skills, knowledge, and customs;
• Hear from Inuit leaders and changemakers; and
• Find inspiration, feel empowered and build confidence.

The NIYS will include a line-up of inspirational keynote speakers, engaging workshops and panels, and amazing performances.

Registration is now open at itk.swoogo.com/NIYS2022.

You can contact Alexandra Pierick, NIYS Coordinator at NIYC@itk.ca or call 1-778-350-9763.

The Junior Canadian Rangers along the coast done an enhanced training session in Nain at the beginning of this month.

The OK Radio spoke with Captain David Tracey of the fifth patrol group and Sergeant Kim Andersen of the Canadian Rangers.

He says the weather was not cooperating, so they went to the Jens Haven Memorial School gym to continue their training.

Captain Tracey says they went out to Master Corporal Stephen Morris’ cabin to do some fishing.

Click here to hear more on the Junior Canadian Rangers’ training.

The 4th Annual Tom C Jararuse Dart Tournament will be going ahead in Hopedale next month.

This will be on the weekend of August 19 and 20, 2022 at the Nanuk Centre.

You can register your team before August 18th, 2022.

Teams must consist of 2 male and 2 female, and $25 per player.

Prizes will consist of cash prizes, merchandise, and other prizes will be won.

1st place winners will win $2000 and hoodies plus team on the plaque
2nd place will win$ 1000 and T-shirts, and
3rd place will win $600 and toques

Other prizes will be won for 180, most tons, most finishes.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to contact Maggie Jararuse through Facebook or by phone at 933-3476.

The Provincial Government is now accepting applications for the Community Enhancement Employment Program. Not-for-profit organizations and local governments that wish to sponsor projects funded by the program are eligible to apply.

The Community Enhancement Employment Program provides funding to eligible sponsors including municipalities; Inuit Community Governments, local service districts, community and economic development organizations, and other non-profit organizations.

Individuals can be employed for up to 400 hours in order to become eligible for employment insurance benefits. In 2021-22, the program provided funding for 195 projects, supporting approximately 900 workers.

Applications for the 2022-23 Community Enhancement Employment Program are available at gov.nl.ca/mpa/ceep.

Applicants can also email employmentsupport@gov.nl.ca or call toll free 1-866-508-5500.

The deadline for receipt of applications is August 5, 2022.

Gasoline is back below $2 a litre in parts of Newfoundland as the Public Utilities Board dropped the price of fuel by 6.4 cents per litre Thursday.

In Labrador, with the decrease, motorists will pay $2.35 in the Straits, $2.39 in the South, $2.16 in Central, $2.01 in Western, and $2.04 in Churchill Falls.

Nearly all other fuel types have decreased in price as well.

Diesel dropped by 1.4 cents per litre, furnace oil decreased by 1.18 cents per litre, stove heating oil in Newfoundland dipped by 1.18 cents per litre, while propane fell by 0.7 cents per litre. Stove oil rose in Labrador by 0.32 cents per litre.

The maximum prices “reflect the change in the average benchmark price of the products over the current pricing period,” wrote the PUB in its weekly news release.

The cost of living has soared again, to nobody’s surprise.

Inflation in Canada is at its highest in almost 40 years, topping the 8% mark to sit at 8.1 in June based on year-over-year numbers.

The last time inflation was higher that 8.1% was in 1983, a time when interest rates were well into double digits.

The Bank of Canada increased its prime rate by full percentage point last week to 2.5% in order to cool the economy and get inflation down.

There’s a lot of work ongoing at the Makkovik Fish Plant.

Angel Chaulk is the Clerk.

She says a total of 80,240 lbs of snow crab has been landed.

There are 32 employees working and 10 of those are summer students.

Chaulk added three snow crab long liners are busy fishing.

At the Nain fish plant, a total of 6,742 lbs char was landed.

Deidi Kohlmeister is the Superintendent.

She says there are 20 employees working, plus 2 summer students.

A total of 2,608 lbs of green scallops have been landed and 24 lbs of scallop meats.

Kohlmeister adds that there are 7 char licensed fishermen fishing.

The Torngat 1 scallop long liner also has two crewmembers including the Captain.