The Central Newfoundland Morning Show from CBC Radio Nfld. and Labrador (Highlights)

Last May, the provincial government formed a committee of cabinet ministers to help displaced fish plant workers move away from the fishing industry. In the Central region, there are hundreds of workers in Little Bay Island, Port Union and Jackson's Arm who need to find a new direction in their lives. Now, four months into the process, workers have experienced their first summer without at least the hope their local plants would reopen. Here to give us an update on the work the government committee is doing is fisheries minister Darin King, who chairs the committee.

Last week we heard from the president of the province's nurses union. That group is upset because their members will no longer receive funding from health boards to travel to training sessions and workshops. But it's not just nurses who are having their training cut back. That left us wondering whether care at Central Health would be affected.. I contacted Karen McGrath, the C-E-O of Central Health, to find out more.

A lot of newcomers arrive in this province and fall in love right away. That's what happened to Diane Thorpe of Ontario. She arrived in Bonavista, bought a small home on the ocean, and has lived there for 9 years already. But soon, Thorpe will be packing her things and heading home. She's 69 years-old and worries about getting older in a community where she says likens the health care system to "third world medicine" Diane Thorpe joins me on the line now from Bonavista:

We all learned it in school...but how much French do you remember? For some of us, that probably depends on the kind of French teacher you had growing up. Which means students at Dorset Collegiate in Pilley's Island have really lucked out. Their French teacher, Danielle Winsor, has been named this year's Teacher of the Year, according to the group Canadian Parents for French. Jessica Doria-Brown reached the top teacher in Pilley's Island to find out more about the award:

Former premier Brian Peckford left politics in this province in 1989. For most of the time since then, he's been living and working in British Columbia. That doesn't mean he's lost touch with events in his home province, however. Now, he's released his memoirs, detailing his youth growing up in rural Newfoundland, his early years of work and his time in politics. He also clarifies modern Canadian history and his role in the constitution debate in 1981.

Back in April, we brought you the story of Life Unlimited for Older Adults. That's the Springdale organization that runs the Red Leaf Centre and hosts too many community programs to list. They were forced to shut down many of those programs when funding for their coordinator ran out - and they couldn't identify any more funding sources. Well, a couple weeks ago, they were able to rehire their coordinator and are back in business. Gloria Sheppard is one of the team leaders at Life Unlimited for Older Adults.

Tomorrow is election day in Natuashish and Sheshatshiu. People in the two Labrador communities are going to the polls to elect new leaders for the Innu Nation. Some in Natuahish say the election is aggravating the ongoing social problems in the community. Last week, we heard about the increase in gas-sniffing. Now, there are allegations that alcohol is being used to buy votes in the dry community. John Gaudi is in Natuashish this morning.

The town of Gander is holding a by-election Monday, to fill a council seat vacated by Nicole Lanning in August. There are four candidates vying for the position, and they've all been campaigning pretty hard in the last few weeks. We invited all four into our studio to introduce themselves and tell voters what they can offer the town. Here's what they had to say:

This time it's nurses who are feeling the sting of budget restraints. The provincial nurses association says they're being told that if they want to take part in professional development conferences, they'll have to cover the cost themselves. In fact, the association says they are also being told ...time spent in training will be taken out of their annual leave. Debbie Forward is the President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Nurses' Union and she's on the line with more on this.

Residents of Ogilvie Street in Gander are asking the town council for more tests. They are worried that the results of testing dome in that area aover whether a potential housing development there will be harmful to Little Cobb's Pond were not thorough enough. A second study may put the development in jeopardy. Rob Anstey is a Gander town councillor and he is in our studio.

The death of a pastor, his wife and one of their two sons shocked and saddened the entire province in April. Shannon Wheaton, his wife Trena Thompson-Wheaton, and their 2 year old son Ben were in a truck that was involved in a head-on collision on Alberta's Highway 63. Their 3 year old son Timothy survived the crash. The family was from central Newfoundland, and Shannon had been a popular youth minister at a church in Grand Falls-Windsor. That church is holding a fundraiser for Timothy, who is now being cared for by his grandfather. The CBC's David Newell spoke to Pastor Melissa Hodder of Windsor Pentocostal Church to find out more.

Today... Seniors who top up their personal care home subsidies want things to stay as they are. We'll hear from Health Minister Susan Sullivan, as well as a personal care home owner. And the town of Champney's West has a fun and fishy idea to attract visitors. we'll find out the latest about their aquarium proposal.

Today... The province wants to crack down on seniors in personal care homes who top up their subsidies in order to get a private room. We'll hear from the resident of a local home, as well as a family member who says her father would be devestated if he had to move. And we'll talk to a local hockey association about the new rules that say parents must take a behaviour course before their kids can play.

Today...The court orders a new trial for a man convicted of drowning his twin daughters a decade ago. We'll find out why Nelson Hart has been granted a new trial. And free tickets to a wrestling show given to primary school kids in Grand Falls - Windsor weren't met with thanks from some parents. We'll hear from a parent and the head of Nova Central School Board.

Today...Donating our organs after we die is not something we often think about. We'll hear from a man who is trying to raise awareness about that cause, and a grieving father who is finding some comfort knowing his son helped a number of people after his passing earlier this month. Newfoundland and Labrador hockey brass came together in Grand Falls-Windsor this past weekend. We'll find out what they talked about. And our political panel to weighs in with their thoughts on what's happening in the political world.