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Jacob Boon

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Cornwallis tarp already removed

Cornwallis tarp already removed

The Coast — Only a few hours after being covered up, the statue of Edward Cornwallis has already been unveiled. Municipal workers, under orders from mayor Mike Savage, draped the controversial monument with a black tarp during a protest early Saturday afternoon.

Mayor and Mi'kmaq Chiefs oppose plans to topple Cornwallis statue

Mayor and Mi'kmaq Chiefs oppose plans to topple Cornwallis statue

The Coast — Mayor Mike Savage says both he and the Nova Scotia Assembly of Mi'kmaq Chiefs are against a protest planned to topple the statue of Edward Cornwallis. "If Mi'kmaq activists and their supporters take down the Cornwallis statue before we are given an opportunity to cooperatively forge a better way forward, we will set back progress that is already being made," Savage writes in a press release.

Council's summer vacation power handoff

Council's summer vacation power handoff

The Coast — Restricting how much the CAO can spend when council's not around is really harshing Steve Craig's summer vibes. The deputy mayor wants to give unlimited spending authority back to HRM's chief administrative officer, five months after those powers were taken away because of the potential for misuse.

Bloomfield withering on the vine

Bloomfield withering on the vine

The Coast — Halifax is still trying to figure out what to do with Bloomfield, more than a year after the province walked away from redeveloping the former north-end school. A staff report before Regional Council on Tuesday recommended once again selling off the Agricola Street property as surplus.

Council promises new home for Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre

Council promises new home for Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre

The Coast — Plans for a brand new Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre are one step closer to becoming a reality thanks to a surprise motion from Halifax Regional Council.

Liberals win second majority in close election

Liberals win second majority in close election

The Coast — It was a night of twists and turns, but the Liberal Party will once again form Nova Scotia's government. The victory was bittersweet, though. Stephen McNeil's second mandate lost several important seats, and just barely held onto the party's majority at Province House. Still, the premier-designate called the night's results "democracy at its best."

Liberals not offering details on Harrietsfield cleanup plans

Liberals not offering details on Harrietsfield cleanup plans

The Coast — Whatever plans the Liberal party has for cleaning up toxic water in Harrietsfield, HRM knows as much about it as the general public. In a Facebook Live announcement on Wednesday, incumbent MLA candidate Brendan Maguire announced the province and HRM would be working together to finally flush out toxic heavy metals leaking from the RDM Recycling facility on Old Sambro Road into the area's drinking water.

What's next for the NDP?

What's next for the NDP?

The Coast — So it's the homestretch of the provincial election and a guy, a proud NDP supporter, asks Gary Burrill how it's all going. "We're going to put our head down and give her all we've got," the party leader replies. The guy, Burrill later recalls, wasn't too impressed with that answer.

When will Jamie Baillie be premier?

When will Jamie Baillie be premier?

The Coast — Failure is not an option for Jamie Baillie. "Oh, we're going to win," he says. "I'm in this to win." This election will be the Progressive Conservative leader's second attempt to form a government. He might not get a third. The goal is a PC majority.

Uniacke Square security cameras slammed as invasion of privacy

Uniacke Square security cameras slammed as invasion of privacy

The Coast — There are far better ways to improve standards of living in Uniacke Square than throwing up dehumanizing security cameras. So says Josh Creighton, who used to live in the public housing community.

Kyley Harris back on Liberals' campaign team

Kyley Harris back on Liberals' campaign team

The Coast — Lying about an assault cost Kyley Harris his job. Three years later, he appears to have climbed back up the career ladder and is once again director of communications for the Liberals. Harris was working as communications director for the Premier's Office in 2014 when he was charged with assault after striking a woman in the face during a domestic argument.

Andrew Younger resigns over allNovaScotia article

Andrew Younger resigns over allNovaScotia article

The Coast — Just days into a re-election campaign, Andrew Younger has suddenly resigned from public life. In a lengthy statement posted on Facebook, the former MLA for Dartmouth East says he's withdrawing from the current provincial election due to "unsettling and offensive" breaches of his privacy.

Halifax advised province against outpatient clinic's Bayers Lake location

Halifax advised province against outpatient clinic's Bayers Lake location

The Coast — Halifax planning staff told the province that the location of its new outpatient clinic had significant transportation and community-building challenges which "would be difficult to overcome." "Evidently," says the councillor for Halifax South Downtown, that advice was ignored. "It doesn't really meet any of our goals," says Waye Mason.

Poet laureate heartened by council's Cornwallis vote

Poet laureate heartened by council's Cornwallis vote

The Coast — While Halifax Regional Council was debating the legacy of Edward Cornwallis on Tuesday afternoon, Rebecca Thomas was following along from the other side of the country. The municipality's poet laureate is in Vancouver this week, competing in the Canadian Individual Poetry Slam.

Police still looking for $8,900 in misplaced cash

Police still looking for $8,900 in misplaced cash

The Coast — Progress is being made tracking down thousands of dollars that went missing from the police department's evidence control system. Halifax Regional Police has located over 90 percent of the $104,289 in cash evidence that couldn't be found in last summer's drug exhibit audit.

Chronicle Herald buys all TC newspapers in Atlantic Canada

Chronicle Herald buys all TC newspapers in Atlantic Canada

The Coast — In one of the biggest Atlantic Canadian media stories in recent memory, the Chronicle Herald has purchased all of Transcontinental's 28 newspapers, websites and four of its printing plants. All of Transcontinental's media outlets in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador have been sold and will operate-along with the Herald 's seven publications-as a newly created media company dubbed SaltWire Network Inc.

Maybe don't turn yourself in at Voluntary Surrender Day

Maybe don't turn yourself in at Voluntary Surrender Day

The Coast — Anyone with an outstanding warrant might want to think twice before attending this weekend's Voluntary Surrender Day. There's "not much" benefit to the accused, says lawyer Trevor McGuigan. "You have no obligation to turn yourself in." Halifax Regional Police will be holding its inaugural surrender event this Saturday, April 29, at the Dartmouth North Community Centre.

Council Report Card 2017

Council Report Card 2017

The Coast — There's a new council in town. Last fall's election went and disrupted the political DNA at City Hall. Some heavy hitters-at least in terms of career lengths-are gone from council chambers and a new team of fresh, young faces are finding their footing and taking over the city's reins.

CAO harassment complaints still shrouded in secrecy

CAO harassment complaints still shrouded in secrecy

The Coast — The public has no right to know about an ongoing controversy surrounding Halifax's top bureaucrat, says councillor Bill Karsten. "You embarrass yourself for even talking about it," Karsten told reporters Tuesday at City Hall.

Halifax CAO's Beaverton parody prompts harassment complaint

Halifax CAO's Beaverton parody prompts harassment complaint

The Coast — Chief administrative officer Jacques Dubé's attempt at humour is no laughing matter at city hall. Sources with knowledge of the situation confirm a harassment complaint has been made against the CAO over a text message he sent two months ago to one of his employees.

Fraying at the edges

Fraying at the edges

The Coast — There were more people at the zombie walk last year than the AIDS walk. Dressed in tattered costumes and gruesome make-up, over 100 people shambled around the downtown on September 25.

Don't @ me: Why Halifax police are turning to social media to improve public relations

Don't @ me: Why Halifax police are turning to social media to improve public relations

The Coast — The day before Valentine's Day, during a severe snowfall, the@HfxRegPolice Twitter account sent out a reminder to residents that it's illegal to walk on the street. "No, that's not what the law says at all," responded Ben Wedge, a transportation advocate and former member of Halifax's Crosswalk Safety Advisory Committee.

Police accidentally release social media passwords to The Coast

Police accidentally release social media passwords to The Coast

The Coast — It took several months of trying and a Freedom of Information request to get ahold of the police department's Drug Exhibit Audit last year. Far easier than obtaining that public report was gaining access to the department's private social media passwords, which Halifax Regional Police mistakenly and unknowingly released to The Coast.

Lack of outrage over missing evidence surprises American policing expert

Lack of outrage over missing evidence surprises American policing expert

The Coast — Maybe it's our Canadian politeness, but one of America's leading experts on evidence control is surprised by the lack of public outcry after hearing Halifax Regional Police have misplaced nearly 3,000 exhibits. "Here in the US, they would have challenged every case in the vault," says Joseph Latta, executive director of the International Association for Property and Evidence (IAPE).
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