Fort Frances Times Online Edition - January 18, 2016

Causeway Cougars’ goalie Carter Payne and defenceman Holden Dvorak were intent on not letting this puck find its way into the net during the second period of the all-Fort Frances ‘B’ final against Gillons’ at the local Atom ‘A’ tournament yesterday at the Ice For Kids Arena. Gillons’ prevailed with a 6-1 victory.

Logan McFayden, left, and Jesse Marschalk went head-to-head during the third round of the “Magic: The Gathering” pre-release Oath of the Gatewatch event on Saturday afternoon at the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre.

Shawn Morrison picked up a tree on Scott Street during the Fort Frances Fire Brigade’s annual Christmas tree pick-up Saturday. Teams spent the afternoon collecting the trees, which were taken to the wood chipper at Daryl’s Custom Landscapes Ltd. They also collected money to donate to a local charity.

SAINT ANDREWS, N.B.—Canada’s infrastructure minister says the federal government is considering changing the way it traditionally funds construction projects and pick up more of the tab.

Most infrastructure projects that receive federal funding require provinces and municipalities to pony up matching funds, splitting the costs three ways.

OTTAWA—Even though they’re responsible for a string of atrocities and affiliated with the grand-daddy of terrorist groups, al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb largely has flown under the radar in terms of public perception of extremists.

WINNIPEG—The Manitoba government has named a northern lake after an RCMP officer who was killed in the line of duty.

The body of water, about 45 km north of Flin Flon, has been named Lake Strongquill.

It commemorates RCMP Cst. Dennis Strongquill, who was shot and killed during a routine traffic stop in 2001.

OTTAWA—The Supreme Court has added four months to the federal government’s deadline for producing a new law on doctor-assisted death—but with an exemption for anyone who wants to ask a judge to end their life earlier.

The Liberal government had argued it needed the original Feb. 6 deadline extended by six months in order to have the time to craft a proper law.

OTTAWA Nearly a third of young Canadians admit they are “not at all knowledgeable” about retirement savings plans, according to a survey done for TD Bank.

The report also suggested that a large proportion of those aged 18 to 33 are uninformed about what registered retirement savings plans can and cannot be used for.

NEW YORK Pregnant women should avoid travelling to Latin America and Caribbean countries that have outbreaks of a tropical illness linked to birth defects, health officials said Friday.

CHICAGO—Patrick Kane had a big grin on his face as he skated around the back of the net to congratulate Artemi Panarin on his nifty pass in the third period.

Lots of smiles for the Chicago Blackhawks these days.

The Blackhawks matched a franchise record with their 11th-straight victory—using two goals from Jonathan Toews to beat the slumping Montreal Canadiens 5-2 yesterday.

HONOLULU—Whether he was playing money games with the other caddies in Argentina, or playing mini-tours on his long road to the big leagues in golf, Fabian Gomez couldn’t recall ever making seven-straight birdies.

He won’t forget yesterday in the Sony Open.

DENVER—The last time Tom Brady and the New England Patriots came to Denver, Peyton Manning watched the game on television from inside the locker-room.

Not next Sunday, though. The Broncos’ quarterback will take in his customary spot in the huddle.

Manning meets Brady for a 17th time—with a trip to Super Bowl 50 at stake.

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—Cam Newton. Larry Fitzgerald.

Two of the biggest stars playing for the two highest-scoring teams with a Super Bowl berth on the line.

Welcome to the NFC championship game—the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers this Sunday in Charlotte, N.C.

LOS ANGELES After successfully delivering a U.S.-European ocean-monitoring satellite into orbit, a Space X rocket made a hard landing on a floating barge in the roiling Pacific, breaking a support leg and toppling over Sunday.

SEOUL, Korea, Republic Of North Korea has launched an estimated 1 million propaganda leaflets by balloon into South Korea amid increased tension between the rivals following the North’s recent nuclear test, Seoul officials said Monday.

WASHINGTON Diplomatic triumph or travesty, America’s relationship with one of its most intractable foes took two giant leaps forward this weekend when Iran released four Americans in a prisoner swap after locking in last summer’s nuclear deal and receiving some $100 billion in sanctions relief.

DAVOS, Switzerland The world’s political and business elite are being urged to do more than pay lip service to growing inequalities around the world as they head off for this week’s World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos.

WASHINGTON The amount of man-made heat energy absorbed by the seas has doubled since 1997, a study released Monday showed.

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso Burkina Faso began three days of national mourning Sunday and the president said security would be stepped up in the capital and the country’s borders after al-Qaida militants in a vehicle from neighbouring Niger killed at least 28 people in an attack on a hotel and cafe popular with foreigners.

This Valentine’s Day, take a pass on the expected. As in, ditch the restaurant reservations. You’re just going to get overcharged for so-so food, anyway.

I’m not sure how it happened, but the microwave mug muffin is suddenly an internet sensation. I’m a believer in making muffins in large batches and freezing, so I admit I’ve only taken interest in the individually-made microwave version recently.