One man was charged with impaired driving when Greater Sudbury Police conducted impaired driving spot checks in Chelmsford and on Paris Street in Sudbury on Saturday. Police say they stopped more than 300 vehicles at the two locations, and issued several provincial offence notices One driver was charged with drunk driving was found to have almost three times the legal limit of alcohol in his system.

A 52-year-old Sudbury man was arrested and is being held in custody after Greater Sudbury Police responded to a shoplifting complaint at Dumas' Independent Grocer on Lorne Street on Saturday. Police arrived to find a man had been restrained by store security after he tried to leave the story with $32 in stolen items.

The Sudbury & District Health Unit has removed the warning signs it posted Aug. 20, advising against swimming at Sauble Mouth Park Beach in Massey. The most recent water samples taken at the beach were within acceptable bacteriological water quality standards for bathing beaches.

On Saturday, Ontario Provincial Police located the body of a man who had been missing on Mule Lake.  Robert Gauthier, 73, was from Windsor, and had been at a family cottage when he went missing Friday while fishing..  Police say Gauthier was not wearing a personal flotation device.

More than 100 adventure-seekers were rescued from a cruise ship stranded in Canada's far North Sunday.  The Clipper Adventurer cruise ship was exploring the Northwest Passage when it ran aground on an uncharted rock off the coast of western Nunavut.  The ship's 110 passengers and 69 crew members are all said to be fine. 

Hurricane Earl lashed the northern Leeward Islands with heavy rain and strong winds Monday after strengthening into a Category 2 storm. The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Earl could become a major hurricane during the day. Earl could bring battering waves and storm surges of up to 1.2 metres above normal on some islands.

Chalk it up to a learning experience for Blue Jays left-hander Marc Rzepczynski. While Detroit's Rick Porcello held Toronto to three hits -- including a solo homer by John McDonald -- over seven innings, Rzepczynski struggled in a 10-4 loss to the Tigers at Rogers Centre.

Rain wasn't the reason Michelle Wie was drenched after winning her second career victory at the CN Canadian Women's Open on Sunday. After the 20-year-old Hawaiian shot a 2-under-par 70 for a three-stroke victory, her long-time friend and fellow American player Christina Kim sprayed her with champagne on the 18th green.

The Edmonton Oilers have signed 21-year old forward Sam Gagner to a two-year, $4.55 million contract.   In 68 games played last season, Gagner scored 15 goals and posted 26 assists.

Two men were arrested after a Hanmer man returned home to find a break-in at his residence. The resident had come home and witnessed the two men leaving his house. Police found the two men in the area. They were both carrying housebreaking tools and property stolen from the residence. The two Sudbury men were charged with break and enter, possession of stolen property and possession of housebreaking tools.  The 28-year-old man was wanted on a withdrawal of a surety warrant. The 21-year-old man was found to be breaching a probation order and was charged with breach.

Greater Sudbury Police conducted a traffic blitz in Walden recently and say they were "appalled" by what they saw. One man who was stopped for speeding was found to be a disqualified driver for impaired driving. He was charged and had his vehicle impounded for 45 days. A total of 79 charges were laid.

A North Bay man died an accidental death Tuesday while helping a friend move an appliance. the 81-year-old was helping a friend move a stove down some stairs. The stove slipped off the dolly causing the man to fall down the stairs, hitting his head. He was taken to North Bay and District Hospital where he died of his injuries Police are not releasing the victim's name pending notification of next of kin.

An alleged attempt to steal copper wiring from a Wainfleet transformer turned deadly early Wednesday morning for a 33-year-old Welland man. He was electrocuted at a ground-level transformer box that had high voltage warning signs on its door. The man was accompanied by Darryll Smith, 36, and Laura Stanyar, 39, both of Welland, They have been charged with theft under $5,000 and could face up to two years in jail if convicted. The name of the dead man is being withheld by police pending notification of the next of kin.

Two Ottawa residents were charged with terror-related offences during a brief appearance at an Ottawa courthouse on Thursday as the RCMP prepared to update the public on their months-long investigation.  They were identified to the court as Ottawa residents Hiva Alizadeh and Ahmed Misbahuddin.  The charges laid against the suspects include conspiracy, committing an act for the purposes of terrorism, and providing or making property available for the purposes of terrorism.  The arrests of the first two suspects accompanied two separate Wednesday raids in west-end Ottawa: one took place at a townhouse, the other occurred at a highrise apartment building.

At least three people have been injured in what police are calling a shootout in northwest Toronto, the latest episode in what has been a bloody 48 hours in the city. A 17-year-old boy was shot in the face, but police said he was lucky. The bullet grazed his lips and he is expected to recover from his injuries. A 19-year-old sustained more serious injuries when he was shot in the chest, but was upgraded to stable condition early Thursday.  A third person was hit in the legs.  The latest shooting brings the toll of gunfire victims in the last two days in the city to seven, including one death.

The United Nations says it's reviewing security measures for its aid workers helping with flood relief efforts in Pakistan. The move comes after a warning from the U.S. that Taliban insurgents are planning to attack foreigners there. It focuses on Tehrik-e Taliban, which is considered the most radical and violent militant group in Pakistan All of this is a further blow to aid workers who are already battling plenty of logistical challenges. The UN says more than 17 million people have been affected by the floods, and about 1.2 million homes have been destroyed, leaving five million people homeless.

Playing the first group out, Tiger Woods fired a six-under 65 Thursday to grab the early lead during the first round of The Barclays, the first FedExCup playoff event. Woods, playing the first round after his divorce was finalized, carded seven birdies and a lone bogey at Ridgewood Country Club. The world No. 1 needs to finish inside the top 57 this week in order to advance to the second playoff event, the Deutsche Bank Championship.

Canadian women's hockey star Hayley Wickenheiser says the 2014 Sochi Olympics will be her last as a player on the national team. The 32-year-old forward has been a member of the Canadian women's team for 17 years. She was captain of the Olympic team that won gold at the 2010 Vancouver Games.

Officials at the federal courthouse in Washington, D.C., say that seven-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens will be arraigned on Monday afternoon on criminal charges. The former pitcher will appear before U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton for allegedly lying to Congress about his use of steroids.

A 57-year-old pedestrian is in Sudbury Regional Hospital in critical condition after he was struck by a vehicle in the Van Horne Drive and Nelson Street area of the city.  In a release, Greater Sudbury Police said the man was hit just before 9 p.m. Tuesday. Officers are investigating.

A man was arrested and barred from four area golf courses after police said he used a forged green fees voucher. Greater Sudbury Police responded to the fraud complaint at Cedar Green Golf Course in Garson on Monday about 5:30 p.m. The man was found on the 12th tee, where he was arrested

Figures from a mass of G20-related court appearances show the Crown withdrew charges against 58 people. A group of 304 people were scheduled to appear in a northwest Toronto courthouse Monday facing charges stemming from incidents that occurred during the summit. The remainder of the crush of people that descended on the courthouse Monday have had their cases adjourned.

Nearly half of the 96 passengers and crew aboard a Chinese passenger jet died Tuesday, after the aircraft overshot a runway and caught fire in the northwest part of the country. 42 people were killed and another 54 were injured when the plane crashed in Yichun city. There was heavy fog in the area at the time. 

Recovering from the floods still battering Pakistan will take at least three years, President Asif Ali Zardari said as the waters swept south after leaving millions homeless. The floods that began nearly a month ago with hammering monsoon rains in the northwest have affected more than 17 million people, the United Nations estimates.

If Marc Rzepczynski ever wondered why they're called the Bronx Bombers he knows now. The New York Yankees hammered the Toronto Blue Jays left-hander for three home runs in a four-run third inning en route to an 11-5 victory Tuesday night at Rogers Centre.

Chris Johnson's infield single scored the go-ahead run in the 16th inning, as the Houston Astros pulled out a 4-2 win over the Phillies in a battle of attrition at Citizens Bank Park. The game was the longest of each team's season, lasted five hours and 20 minutes, and forced both teams to empty their benches.

The National Football League has fined wide receiver Chad Ochocinco US$25,000 for the timing of his tweets. The use of cellphones, computers or other electronic equipment by players and coaches is prohibited from 90 minutes before kickoff through the end of the game

Greater Sudbury Police are looking to the public to help find 16-year-old Ashlea Moreau, who was reported missing on Sunday afternoon.  According to police, Moreau has lived in Sudbury for about two weeks and has no known family or friends in town.  She is described as 5'6", 150 pounds with a medium build.  She was wearing a black shirt with a large grey skull on it and black skinny jeans.  Her hair is black with purple highlights.  She was wearing wrist elastics, converse style black shoes and a black messenger bag with red anarchy symbols on it.  She was last seen getting on a bus downtown.  Anyone with information is asked to call police or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

Three people were injured in a car crash on Highway 17 near Spanish just before 7:00 Monday morning.  A westbound car driven by a 17-year old male from Webbwood crossed the centre line hitting an eastbound pick up truck.  The car then spun around and collided with a van that was also traveling eastbound.  The young man was airlifted to Sudbury Regional Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.  The driver and passenger of the van were taken to Espanola General Hospital with minor injuries.  The driver of the truck and two passengers in the westbound car were not injured.  No charges had been laid as of Monday afternoon and police continue to investigate the cause of the crash.

RCMP say five people had to be rescued after they were thrown overboard when a whale upset their small boat in the Bay of Fundy off New Brunswick.   The group of local residents were watching a pod of whales when one of the finbacks swam under the boat, flipping it and dumping everyone into the water.  A nearby fishing vessel rescued all five people and returned them safely to shore.  None of the five were wearing personal flotation devices at the time.

Delegates at the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police conference have voted resoundingly to support the long-gun registry, and now plan to lobby to save it from being scrapped.  The Association hopes to wage a public relations campaign in the coming weeks to boost public support as well as lobby politicians who support eliminating the registry.  Police across the country use the information contained in the registry thousands of times daily.  The information is used to conduct criminal investigations, to keep communities safe, and to keep the police officers safe.

The federal job safety agency fined Sea World Orlando $75,000 on Monday for three violations uncovered while investigating the February death of a trainer who was grabbed by a killer whale and dragged underwater.  The heaviest violation, $70,000, was for exposing workers to drowning hazards when interacting with killer whales.  The whale responsible for the trainer's death had known aggressive tendencies.  He was one of three orcas blamed in the death of a trainer in 1991 at Sealand near Victoria, BC.  He was also involved in the death of a civilian who sneaked by Sea World Orlando security.

AND IN SPORTS:

Jose Bautista was upset when a pitch in the sixth inning came too close to his head. Two innings later, he found the best way to take his frustration out on the New York Yankees as he hit his second homer of the game, his 40^th of the season.  The hit broke a 2-2 tie as the Toronto Blue Jays downed the Yankees 3-2 last night.  Reliever Scott Downs picked up the win with Brandon Morrow delivering a solid 12-strikeout performance over six innings.

After nine months of turmoil, in a hearing that lasted no more than 10 minutes, a Florida judge officially declared Tiger Woods and his wife Elin Nordgren divorced.  It was Thanksgiving night when Woods drove his SUV over a fire hydrant into a tree setting off shocking revelations about his extra marital affairs.  Woods' life and golf game have been in disarray ever since.

More than 300 delegates have gathered at the world hockey summit in Toronto to kick off a four-day event designed to draw some of the sport's biggest names into an open public forum.  Last night Hayley Wickenheiser was on one of four rotating panels, asked to discuss the "state of the game" alongside Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman, long-time player-agent Don Baizley and German men's team head coach Uwe Krupp.

On Saturday, Greater Sudbury Police discovered four, five-foot high marijuana plants were found growing on the back deck of a Talon Street residence.   A search of the residence resulted in more marijuana found inside the home in plan view.  A 52-year old woman and a 54-year old man were charged with production of marijuana and possession of marijuana.  The value of the drugs seized was more than $5,000.

Greater Sudbury Police found two wanted men at a Richard Street residence over the weekend.  At around 6:00 Saturday evening police went to the residence to look for a wanted man.  While waiting for a search warrant they witnessed a man fleeing from a basement window.  A foot chase resulted in the arrest of Dustin Roy, 23 wanted for flight from police and dangerous driving.  Sunday morning police searched the residence.  Robert Petryna, 31 was arrested on warrants for theft under and breach of probation.  Police also found a shotgun that had been stolen from the North Bay area.  Both men now also face weapons charges.

Twelve people were taken to hospital and one person is dead after a bus crash in western Ontario early Sunday morning, less than 24 hours after four people on that bus, all firefighters, were injured in a separate accident. The bus hit a guardrail just outside Woodstock, Ontario on Highway 401.  The bus then spun into the ditch killing one woman.  The passengers included four firefighters from Napanee who were injured Saturday night in a crash on the Highway 401 near London.  The original accident happened as the four were returning from a firefighter competition in Windsor.

The Harper government says it will match the funds donated by Canadians for flood relief in Pakistan, where 20 million people have been affected and an estimated six million have been left homeless.   The dollar for dollar initiative will apply to all qualifying donations made between August 2^nd and September 12^th.  Prior to Sunday's announcement, Canada had pledged $33 million for flood relief in Pakistan.  Pakistan has received in excess of $800million US in pledges and donations. 

On August 17^th the Almaguin Highlands OPP Detachment responded to a report of a stolen pickup truck belonging to Sturgeon Falls Brush Cutting Ltd taken from a construction site north of South River.  The owner of the truck observed it later that day traveling southbound on Highway 11.  Police located the vehicle, stopped and arrested the driver.  Billy-Joe McCabe of Strong Township is charged with theft of a motor vehicle under $5000; two counts of Breach of probation; and driving a motor vehicle while license is suspended.  McCabe was remanded into custody and will attend a bail hearing today to answer to the charges.

Pioneer Construction of Sudbury has won a $7.1-million contract to resurface a section of Highway 17 near Coniston.  Eleven kilometers of Highway 17 southeast bypass will be resurfaced from the junction of Municipal Road 55 near Coniston to the Highway 69 interchange.  The project, which also includes the rehabilitation of bridges over the Canadian Pacific Railway and at the Highway 69 Interchange, will create about 50 jobs.  Work will commence later this month with completion expected for the fall of 2011.

A Montreal teenager was charged Tuesday with the premeditated murder of his little sister.  18-year old Maor Attar who is in hospital with unspecified injuries was charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of his 14-year old sister.  He was arraigned by telephone and will remain in custody until his next court appearance on September 8^th.  Attar pled not guilty.  Police initially treated Attar as an important witness before classifying him as a suspect on Tuesday.

As fires move across large swaths of BC's dense forests, there are new warnings about air quality in communities as far away as Alberta.  The thick smoke is a "very high health risk" with many residents and businesses keeping their doors and windows shut.  High winds have fanned more than 270 wildfires across the province.  If current weather conditions continue it is expected the smoke will get much worse.  A smoky haze shrouded Calgary and Edmonton as well.

A 35-kilometre invisible mist of oil is meandering far below the surface of the Gulf of Mexico, where it will probably loiter for months or more, scientists reported Thursday in the first conclusive evidence of an underwater plume from the BP spill.  Earlier this month top federal officials declared the oil spill mostly "gone".  The chemical ingredients of the oil exist more than half a mile below the surface.  The cold water is slowing the pace at which the oil is breaking down making it last longer.  The depth of the plume is where the most popular Gulf fish like red snapper, tuna and mackerel as well as small fish and crustaceans live.

AND IN SPORTS:

Anthony Calvillo threw two touchdown passes to S.J. Green to stake Montreal to a 24-0 first half lead before he was carted off the field with an apparent rib injury, but the Alouettes held on to beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 39-17 on Thursday night.  A hit by Winnipeg defensive end Odell Willis with just under 5:00 left to play in the second quarter put Calvillo out.  He lay motionless for several minutes, as it seemed he fell on the football damaging his ribs. 

Moving to the Rogers Cup - Kim Clijsters keeps on winning.  The former #1 from Bree, Belgium beat Kaia Kanepi of Estonia 6-2, 6-1 to advance to the quarter finals and extending her winning run to seven matches.  Clijsters will face 8^th seeded Vera Zvonareva in today's quarter-finals.  Clijsters is coming off a victory last week in Cincinnati when she beat Maria Sharapova in a three set final. 

Roger Clemens told a House Committee in 2008 "Let me be clear. I have never taken steroids or HGH".  Now it appears the Hall of Famer, baseball's seven-time Cy Young winner may go to prison after being indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday for allegedly lying to Congress.  The six-count indictment alleges that Clemens obstructed a congressional inquiry with 15 different statements made under oath, including denials that he had ever used steroids or human growth hormone.

Rink Street in Copper Cliff is closed because of a house fire at the corner of Rink and Union streets.  Motorists are asked to avoid the area.  Three people live in the home but no one was home when the blaze broke out Monday afternoon. 

A third woman was sexually assaulted while walking in Chelmsford, Greater Sudbury Police said.  The woman was approached by a man Sunday evening while walking in the Errington Avenue area.  The man touched her inappropriately and then fled the area.  The woman was not injured.  The man is described as between 20 and 30, 5'4" to 5'7", with short, dark, straight hair.  He was wearing a dark blue or black baseball cap with the peak pulled down to conceal his face.  He was clean-shaven and was wearing a back t-shirt and dark jeans.  Two similar incidents took place within 10 minutes of each other in the same area on August 5^th. 

Housing sales dropped by 30 per cent nationwide last month, largely due to a new tax in British Columbia and Ontario experts say deterred homebuyers in two of the country's hottest housing markets.  BC and Ontario account for roughly 85% of the slump after the implementation of the HST.  The two provinces typically represent more than half of the country's sales.  The decline also comes hot on the heels of an interest rate hike as well as tighter mortgage rules.

Family members of two Alberta seniors missing for more than a month are raising funds for a reward they hope will lead to information that will crack the case.  The family of Lyle and Marie McCann are hoping the $11,000 raised to far will keep the case in the forefront of the public's mind.  An anonymous donor had already given them $10,000 to add to the $1,000 raised by the family.  The McCanns, both in their 70's, have been missing since July 3^rd and their burning RV was found July 5^th. 

More than 3.5 million children are at risk of water-borne diseases in Pakistan following the worst flooding in the county's history.  A severe shortage of clean water has put the children at risk of diseases such as watery diarrhea, dysentery and cholera.   The UN has appealed to the international community for $460-million in relief, of which 60 per cent has already been collected.   The floods began two weeks ag0 affecting some 20 million people.  At least 1,500 people have died in the flooding.

AND IN SPORTS:

Shaun Marcum is getting used to losing no-hit bids late in the game.  Marcum pitched a one-hitter, allowing only a home run to Conor Jackson leading off the seventh inning, and Jose Bautista hit a homer that required a post-game ruling to lift the Blue Jays over the Oakland Athletics, 3-1 on Monday night.  Bautista hit his 37^th home run in the fourth inning. 

It was a tough opening day for Canadians at the Rogers Cup.  Local favourites Aleksandra Wozniak and Stephanie Dubois lost their first-round matches Monday night in front of a disappointed centre-court crowd at Uniprix Stadium, while both Canadian doubles teams were also eliminated on the first day of the US$2-million tennis tournament.

Steven Jyles knows the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are facing a ton of adversity right now, but the quarterback is confident they can get out of their funk.  The Bombers have lost three straight as they head into Montreal for game day on Thursday.  The Bombers now sit in last place in the CFL East Division with a 2 and 5 record.  Jyles will make his fourth start this season in place of the injured Buck Pierce.

Shortly before 3:00 Sunday morning a minivan traveling westbound on Highway 17 near Verner crossed the centre line and rolled in the ditch on the south side of the highway.  The driver and one passenger, who were wearing their seatbelts, did not sustain any injuries.  A third man, 41-year old Hannah Nelson was not wearing his seatbelt and was ejected.  He was pronounced dead at West Nipissing Hospital.  The driver, 48 year old Hank Van Goch of Georgetown was arrested and charged with Impaired Operation of a Motor Vehicle Causing Death and with Driving a Motor Vehicle - No licence.

A 16-year-old male has been charged after a pellet gun and baton were found in the Nepahwin Beach area Sunday morning.  Greater Sudbury Police were investigating another matter around 5:00 Sunday morning when they discovered the pellot pistol in a holster and a collapsible baton on a lifeguard stand at the Nepahwin beach.  The items were connected to the 16-year old male who had been masquerading as a security guard in the area.  The youth has been charged with weapons offences and obstructing police.

A Hamilton, Ont. man is facing several charges after taking an early-morning motorcycle ride wearing nothing but a T-shirt.  Police discovered the 40-year old man around 4:00 Sunday morning with on a city street dotted with shops and homes.  A chase ensued with police catching up with the nearly nude man a short time later.  The man had been drinking but was not impaired.  Despite his nudity, the pants-free rider was not charged with indecent exposure.  He faces several charges including flight from police, dangerous driving and failing to wear a helmet.

A 29-year-old man from Ottawa is facing three criminal charges after a small fire was lit outside Prime Minister Stephen Harper's official residence Saturday night.  The man was arrested after witnesses spotted him igniting liquid on the sidewalk outside 24 Sussex Drive.  The suspect has mental health issues and will be referred to the appropriate court.  Police have confirmed the prime minister and his family were never in any danger.  Daniel Skahan, who is from Ottawa, is facing charges of mischief under $5,000, possession of an incendiary material and failure to comply.

Two Canadians are among six people killed in a multi-vehicle accident on Interstate 80 in Jasper County, Iowa.  It appears the 19-year old driver of a westbound minivan fell asleep at the wheel, hitting a semi and crossing the median.  It was then struck head-on by a van driven by 41-year old Kenneth Payetta of Whitby, Ontario.  Payetta was killed as was a 16-year old passenger whose name wasn't released. 

AND IN SPORTS:

Knowing they'll face Edmonton twice more this season, the Calgary Stampeders chose their words carefully in the wake of their 56-15 romp over the Eskimos on Sunday. Henry Burris threw for 305 yards and three touchdowns as the Stampeders easily won this season's first instalment of the CFL's Battle of Alberta and laid their worst licking on the Eskimos ever.  The Stamps sit atop the league with a 6 and 1 record and the Esks are tied with BC at the bottom with 1 and 6.

Martin Kaymer's name is etched on the side of the Wanamaker Trophy.  A 7 on the final hole kept Dustin Johnson out of the playoff which Kaymer won over Bubba Watson.  It was a tiny patch of sand well right of the 18^th where Johnson gently placed his four iron behind the ball, unaware that it was part of a bunker.  Johnson ended up with a two stroke penalty for grounding his club in a bunker outside the ropes with the resulting controversial finish.

Tomas Kaberle isn't going anywhere, at least not without his approval.  The Toronto Maple Leafs were unable to close a deal for their offensive defenceman.  With Kaberle's no trade clause kicking in, the control now rests with Kaberle.  The 32-year old has one year remaining on his contract.

A 47-year-old Greater Sudbury man has been charged with three counts of criminal harassment after a local teen was befriended and then watched and followed over a period of months.   The man allegedly befriended a 14-year old girl last fall and communicated with her by texting on her cell phone.  The man would then go to locations where the teen was and send text messages that she was being watched.  Other young people have been approached by this man who calls himself "Ray".  Anyone with information on this matter or similar incidents is asked to call police.

The giant hogweed plant, that has sap known to blister human skin, has gotten a lot of media attention recently, but Algoma area residents might not have much to worry about.  A biologist with the Ministry of Natural Resouces confirmed that Elliot Lake is the only community in Algoma to have confirmed sightings of the plant.  There are also confirmed reports of the giant hogweed in Sudbury and on Manitoulin.  The plant averages 18 feet in height, flowers once in its lifetime and reproduces only by seed.  If is often found at roadsides, stream banks and waste areas and is often mistaken for cow parsnip which grows up to 8 feet tall.

Facing a public backlash and possible legal action, the Conservatives have decided to add three linguistic questions to the short-form census and drop the threat of jail time for those who refuse to participate.  An Ottawa group had issued a legal challenge to the government to block the National Household Survey from replacing the long-form census, arguing the census is crucial to the delivery of French-language services. The Federal Court agreed to fast-track the case and set a hearing date for Sept. 27-28.

Mike Beaulieu, an Anson, Maine man has been arrested in New Brunswick on charges that he accosted a couple at gunpoint in Pennsylvania's Allegheny National Forest, tied up the man and raped the woman.  A criminal complaint was filed by state police on Monday charging Beaulieu with several crimes including rape, aggravated assault, unlawful restraint and carrying an unlicensed firearm in an alleged attack on August 3^rd. 

Wildfires threatened to stir radioactive particles left over from the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster back into the air over western Russia, and authorities boosted forest patrols to keep the flames from contaminated areas.  Officials are concerned the radioactive dust could be harmful, even though the doses would likely be small.  At least six wildfires were spotted and extinguished in the region that suffered the most during the Chernobyl explosion in 1986.

AND IN SPORTS:

The Toronto Blue Jays continued to look lost against the Boston Red Sox as Shaun Marcum buried the Jays early by getting pounded for season highs of four homes and eight earned runs on the way to a devastating 10-1 loss yesterday.  Adam Lind had three hits which was one of the few positives for the Jays who feel to 2-9 this season against the Red Sox.  The series finale plays out this afternoon.

A day after Hamilton city council voted to build a new stadium for the 2015 Pan Am Games at a West Harbour site that the Tiger-Cats opposed, the CFL team has said that they are not willing to talk to the city about playing games at that site.  Team owner said the team thinks the site is a massive mistake and could end the Ticats in Hamilton.  The Ticats position leaves the club with no place to play after its lease at Ivor Wynne Stadium runs out in 2011.

The Toronto Raptors acquired forward Julian Wright from the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday in exchange for guard Marco Belinellil.  Wright at 6'8", 225 pounds averaged 8.1 points and 4.6 rebounds in 68 games with New Orleans last season.  Wright was the 13th pick in the 2007 NBA draft and has averaged 4.0 points and 2.3 rebounds in 179 career games.

The real work is only just starting for Canada at the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka under-18 hockey tournament.  Canada finished off the round robin with a 6-1 win over Slovakia setting them up for Friday's semi final against the Czech Republic.  The two faced each other in an exhibition game before the tourney with Canada pulling out an overtime win.  In round robin action the Canadians have outscored their opponents 19-7.

A Sudbury man has been charged with stunt driving after a bizarre incident early Tuesday on Highway 401 near Cambrian.  Officers received a call just after 1:00 Tuesday morning about a late model Lexus going eastbound on Highway 401 with people riding in the trunk.  Reports included a passenger standing in the vehicle with his torso extended through the vehicle's sunroof.  When officers stopped the vehicle they found two passengers riding in the trunk which is contravention of the Highway Traffic Act.  Dylan Cropper, 19, has been charged with stunt driving and driving while suspended.

Confessed murderer Travis Esquimaux, 24, was led away to serve a life sentence for the brutal execution-style murder of Buzwah resident Lawrence (Tate) Lewis during a 2009 home invasion.  Esquimaux showed little emotion during the day long reading of victim impact statements.  It will be 15 years before Esquimaux can apply for release.  Jordon Trudeau, 28 of Wikwemikong and Patrique Raymond Garreau, 20 of Sudbury received a 10 and 8 year sentence respectively for their part in the home invasion and weapons charges.

Authorities Tuesday focused on western Montana and southwest Canada in the search for an escaped convict from Arizona and his suspected accomplice who fashion themselves a present-day "Bonnie and Clyde."   There have been reports that the accomplice, Casslyn Welch was spotted in St. Mary, Montana and also Glacier National Park which abuts the Canadian border.   The border patrol has acknowledged it is impossible to completely secure the entire border. 

John Leeman, a former inmate who worked on one of six prison farms that Ottawa plans to close says the program teaches prisoners valuable job and life skills.  Leeman maintains the job skills learned in prison helped him find meaningful employment when he was released.  The government's decision to close the farms has met with strong opposition from supporters of the programs.  The Public Safety Minister says fewer than 1% of those inmates who work on the farms continue with farming work once they're released.

Former U.S. Senator Ted Stevens was one of five people killed Monday in a plane crash in southwest Alaska, a family spokesperson has confirmed.  The aircraft was carrying nine passengers including Stevens and former NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe.  Stevens, the longest-serving Republican senator ever, survived a plane crash at Anchorage International Airport in 1978. His wife, Ann, died in the crash, along with several others.  The plane when down in a remote area and is very difficult to reach.  Blustery weather has also slowed rescue efforts. 

AND IN SPORTS:

The Toronto Blue Jays were back at it Tuesday night after enjoying one of those rare weekends that can make even the most hardened of skeptics dream just a little bit.  After a memorable sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays, the Jays met their AL East Foe, the Boston Red Sox.  But no one has been tougher on the Blue Jays this year than the Red Sox, and that trend continued in a 7-5 loss. 

After winning the first match he had played in more than a month, Roger Federer reclined in a snow-white track suit emblazoned with his initials and tried to explain what it was he still wanted to accomplish in his career.  Federer dispatched Argentine challenger Juan Ignacio Chela with a 7-6, 6-3 win on centre court.  Federer is ranked no. 3 on the ATP World Tour and has made Toronto his first step in an attempted climb back to no. 1.

Arbitrator Richard Bloch's ruling to side with the NHL on voiding Ilya Kovalchuk's contract on Monday could affect other such front-ended hockey contracts.  The league is still looking into Roberto Luongo's 12-year contract that was signed last fall.  They are also looking at Chris Pronger, Marc Savard and Marian Hossa.  The NHL Players' Association argued that those four deals were approved and that Kovalchuk's deal should be approved as well.