News
Copy by Craig Foster
Nicholson Catholic College in Belleville will reopen Monday after being shuttered last week due to measles exposure. The secondary school posted on its website on Sunday evening that classes would resume as usual including all off-site tech classes which had also been cancelled. The alert also included a possible exposure on VIA Rail Train 66, Car 3 on April 4 from 5:10 p.m. to 8 p.m. The closures came as Hastings County continues to grapple with a measles outbreak involving 32 reported cases. On Friday, the South East Health Unit warned about possible exposures in Picton, Bloomfield and Trenton.
Belleville council may turn to higher-than-projected revenue from its Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) program to help it
deal with a higher-than-expected budget from Hastings County. Hastings County’s bill to the city for this year is almost $760,000 more than what was projected during Belleville’s budgeting process. However, Hastings County collects all Provincial Offence Act revenue coming from parking and speeding tickets in Belleville and then returns a significant portion of it to the city. On Monday (April 14), council will see that ASE speed cameras brought in almost $400,000 more in revenue than what the city projected last year, at just over $1 million. The speed cameras were only operational for five months. The county is expecting close to $2.5 million in ticket revenue for this year, much higher than the $1.8 million projected by the city in the 2025 budget. Council will be asked to approve using $620,000 in speeding ticket revenue to cover most of Hastings County’s budget increase with the rest coming from its Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve Fund. In the past, council agreed to put any surplus money from the ASE program toward the costs of buying and renovating the building to hold The Bridge Integrated Services Hub for the vulnerable population.
Officials with Tri-Board Transportation, the organization that oversees student transportation for three regional
school boards, are working to cut costs in future years. Monday, Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board’s (HPEDSB) Physical Planning, Finance and Building Committee will see a report showing that after the 2026-27 school year the board could be facing a $2.9 million deficit. For this year, the transportation deficit is estimated at $1.1 million but that will be covered by provincial “transition funding” of $1.8 million. The provincial funding is expected to end in two years. Tri-Board has hired a transportation analyst, struck a Special Education Transportation Group and is working with the province to find cost efficiencies. Tri-Board Transportation, through individual bus companies, provides student transportation for HPEDSB, the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board and the Limestone District School Board.
The Federal Aviation Administration said Sunday that the helicopter tour company whose sightseeing chopper broke apart in flight and crashed in New York, killing the pilot and a family of five visitors from Spain, is shutting down operations immediately. The FAA, in a statement posted on X, also said it would launch an immediate review of New York Helicopter Tours’ operating license and safety record. The move came hours after New York Sen. Chuck Schumer had called on federal authorities to revoke the operating permits of New York Helicopter Tours.
Bay of Quinte’s four federal election candidates will debate at the Empire Theatre Tuesday night. The event is being hosted by the Belleville Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Central Lakes Association of Realtors and will be moderated by BCC President Chris Auger. Conservative Ryan Williams, Liberal Chris Malette, the NDP’s Kate Crothers, and Erica Charlton of the Green Party have all been invited. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tuesday with the debate starting at 7. Questions for the candidates can be submitted at the door or online in advance. The federal election is on April 28.
Sports
Rory McIlroy turned what could have been another major collapse into his grandest moment of all when he hit wedge to 3 feet for birdie in a sudden-death playoff against Justin Rose to become — finally — a Masters champion and take his place in golf history as the sixth player with the career Grand Slam. Canadas Corey Connors finished tied for 8th
The Winnipeg Jets claimed the franchise’s first Presidents’ Trophy on Sunday even though they lost 4-1 to the Edmonton Oilers.
Yegor Sharangovich broke a tie at 1:30 of the third period with the first of his two goals and the Calgary Flames beat the San Jose Sharks 5-2 on Sunday night to bolster their late playoff push.
Myles Straw drove in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning to cap a comeback that carried the Toronto Blue Jays past the Baltimore Orioles 7-6
Keldon Johnson had 23 points, Stephon Castle added 20, and the San Antonio Spurs rallied from a 22-point deficit to beat the Toronto Raptors 125-118
