Stephen Wentzell

Anchor/Reporter, News 95.7

Backup Producer, The Rick Howe Show

Contributor, The Nova Scotia Advocate

The Signal •

When crime reporting does no justice

Journalists need to consider their relationship with police.

Dr. Yusef Salaam knows firsthand how dangerous irresponsible news coverage can be. He served more than six years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.

Salaam is one of the Central Park Five, now also known as the Exonerated Five. The 1989 Central Park jogger case shocked Americans when a vicious attack by a serial killer left a New York woman comatose for 12 days.

On the precipice of a record year of homicides, New York Police use
The Signal •

Brave new world

Recovering from a substance use disorder is an achievement. This is why Julie Melanson of Halifax is celebrating today.

Christmas is Julie Melanson’s favourite holiday. She has a small family who always look forward to this time of year. No matter what personal troubles and turmoil they’re facing, Julie’s family leaves it at the door. It’s not so much about the gifts as togetherness and her aunt’s famous seafood chowder.

After dinner and a Secret Santa-style game of Yankee Swap, the family lis
CBC •

Here's how many COVID-19 vaccines Ontario can administer daily | News

Ontario's COVID-19 vaccine rollout has reached a crucial moment, with more supply arriving every week and the province saying it's on track to administer at least one dose to 65 per cent of adults by the end of May.

But three weeks after Ontario's top doctor said the province could administer "well over" 500,000 vaccinations per day with ample supply, the province is nowhere near that level.

Health officials say the daily average in recent weeks is 97,200, while the daily record set just yeste
CBC •

COVID-19 the 'perfect storm' for people battling hoarding disorder | News

Canadians who hoard have been finding it difficult to control their disorder this past year due to COVID-19 restrictions that have cut them off from the support they need.

They are "already among our most isolated clients ... and the pandemic just made that all so much harder," said Lucie Hager, the associate regional manager for community support programs at VHA Home HealthCare, a charitable organization in Toronto that "offers 24/7 support services to people of all ages and cultural backgroun
The Signal •

Halifax man who tried to bury his mother in his backyard found not criminally responsible in her death

Halifax man who tried to bury his mother in his backyard found not criminally responsible in her death

Editor's Note: Content warning: This story contains details of graphic violence that may be unsettling for some readers.

A Halifax man has been found not criminally responsible by way of mental disorder in the 2019 death of his mother.

The decision was handed down Wednesday morning at the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia in Halifax.

Linda Lamontagne, 65, was found dead at a Willow Street reside
The Signal •

Three candidates are running for premier in Nova Scotia. Where do they stand?

Voting began Monday to determine who will be the next premier of Nova Scotia. Stephen McNeil is stepping down as Liberal leader after more than seven years as premier and 17 years in politics. Three candidates are vying for the leadership.

Iain Rankin, MLA for Timberlea-Prospect, was first elected in 2013. In 2017, Rankin was appointed minister of Environment, a position he would hold for a year. During his time as minister of Environment, he commissioned a site assessment related to contaminat
The Signal •

Not-criminally responsible hearing begins in Halifax homicide case

Halifax man who tried to bury his mother in his backyard returns to court

Editor's Note: Content warning: This story contains details of graphic violence that may be unsettling for some readers.

A 26-year old Halifax man accused of killing his mother and attempting to bury her in his backyard returned to court Wednesday for a not-criminally responsible (NCR) hearing.

Linda Lamontagne, 65, was found dead at a Willow Street residence on Oct. 22, 2019. Later that day, her son, Ryan Richard Lamon
The Signal •

N.S. Deputy Premier Karen Casey announces retirement

Casey, MLA for Colchester-North and minister of finance and treasury board, will not run in the next provincial election.

“My name will not be on the ballot,” she told reporters after cabinet on Thursday.

“It’s time for somebody else to represent Colchester-North.”

While Casey said she wasn’t one to shy away from challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic and Portapique tragedy made 2020 what she called “probably the most emotional and most tragic,” of her political career.

“It was great to be part o
The Signal •

Black youth writing workshop coming to Halifax

A virtual workshop for young Black writers is coming to Halifax, just in time for African Heritage Month.

Andre Fenton, a Halifax author, filmmaker and spoken-word artist, is gearing up for the sold-out four-week workshop. Black YA (Young Adults) Matters focuses on coming-of-age storytelling and helping young Black writers in the province hone their craft as writers.

“”We’re going to look at a lot of different kinds of Black identities,” Fenton said, “since there is no definitive Black experie
The Coast Halifax •

Extinction Rebellion shuts down Macdonald bridge

Nearly 100 protestors from across the province descended upon the Angus L. Macdonald bridge early Monday morning to demand action addressing the climate crisis.

The #BridgeOut demonstration, organized by climate justice activists from Extinction Rebellion Nova Scotia had demands for government to close the Alton Natural Gas Storage Project by October 4 (they didn’t), enforce the early 2020 deadline for the Northern Pulp Boat Harbour project and to close all coal, gas and biomass generators in t