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In cities and towns across Ontario — and at Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill — our journalists work for you. Their mission is to dig for answers and tell you what they find.

This new feature — ‘Closer Look’ — is a chance to hear directly from those reporters and editors. These conversations go beyond the headlines, helping viewers better understand how we gather the details that land in your local news feed.

On tonight's episode: Why the provincial budget was sweet news for Ontario's craft cider producers.

For years, craft cider makers have been lobbying the province, arguing that they don't get the same tax treatment as craft breweries.

But that all changed last week, when the Ford government's latest budget included some big news for the industry.

Starting on August 1, the government will harmonize the taxes levied on craft cider with those levied on craft beer, which means the markup on cider at the LCBO will be reduced from 60.6 per cent to 32 per cent.

SEE: Provincial budget delivers tax fairness for Ontario cider makers

CollingwoodToday reporter Chris Fell joins us tonight with all the details. You can read his latest coverage HERE.

Stay tuned for more episodes of ‘Closer Look’ every weeknight at 7 p.m. ​You can find all our previous segments HERE.

Want to see more video features from Village Media? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Send us a text

In cities and towns across Ontario — and at Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill — our journalists work for you. Their mission is to dig for answers and tell you what they find.

This new feature — ‘Closer Look’ — is a chance to hear directly from those reporters and editors. These conversations go beyond the headlines, helping viewers better understand how we gather the details that land in your local news feed.

On tonight's episode: A not-so-flattering story about Sunshine Girls.

First unveiled in 1971, Sunshine Girls have been a regular feature in the pages of the The Toronto Sun ever since. But when COVID-19 hit, the newspaper stopped photographing new subjects — choosing instead to re-run some of the same shots over and over again, both in print and online.

As TorontoToday reporter Alex Flood discovered, some women who posed years ago are not happy that their photos and outdated write-ups are being recycled. “It’s distasteful,” said one former Sunshine Girl.

SEE: Photos of Toronto Sun 'Sunshine Girls' are being rerun again and again — critics call it the 'death rattle' for tabloid news

Flood joins us tonight from downtown Toronto to talk about how his story came together, and what the reaction has been. You can read his article HERE.

Stay tuned for more episodes of ‘Closer Look’ every weeknight at 7 p.m. ​You can find all our previous segments HERE.

Want to see more video features from Village Media? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Send us a text

In cities and towns across Ontario — and at Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill — our journalists work for you. Their mission is to dig for answers and tell you what they find.

This new feature — ‘Closer Look’ — is a chance to hear directly from those reporters and editors. These conversations go beyond the headlines, helping viewers better understand how we gather the details that land in your local news feed.

On tonight's episode: Stolen memories.

As a goalie on Canada's national sledge hockey team, Paul Rosen enjoyed plenty of success — including a Paralympic gold medal in 2006 and a world championship two years later.

But Rosen has also been open about his battle with mental health and addiction, hoping his story — laid bare in his recently released book, Never Give Up — helps others who might be struggling.

This month, the former goalie received some devastating news: someone broke into his Newmarket storage locker and stole $30,000 worth of sports memorabilia — including hockey jerseys signed by stars Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby, as well as the prized glove he wore when playing for Team Canada at the Paralympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy.

SEE: Local Paralympian hopes for return of stolen memorabilia, equipment

In typical fashion, Rosen is trying not to focus on the negative.

“As much as this is not the greatest thing in the world, it still is property," he said. "It still is items. It’s not life, and I’m just moving on right now."

NewmarketToday reporter Joseph Quigley covered the story and joins us tonight with all the details. You can read his latest coverage HERE.

Stay tuned for more episodes of ‘Closer Look’ every weeknight at 7 p.m. ​You can find all our previous segments HERE.

Want to see more video features from Village Media? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Send us a text

In cities and towns across Ontario — and at Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill — our journalists work for you. Their mission is to dig for answers and tell you what they find.

This new feature — ‘Closer Look’ — is a chance to hear directly from those reporters and editors. These conversations go beyond the headlines, helping viewers better understand how we gather the details that land in your local news feed.

On tonight's episode: When a dog attacks.

A Guelph mom is looking for some accountability after a neighbour's dog lunged at her nine-year-old daughter and bit her in the face.

The little girl needed four stitches in her left cheek.

Brianne Perna said she contacted the Guelph Humane Society, bylaw, public health, the legal clinic and the Landlord and Tenant Board, but has received few answers about what should happen to the dog and its owner.

“Nobody seems to care, and this dog is going to kill someone, and I'm just trying to stop that from happening,” she said.

SEE: Calls for accountability after dog bites nine-year-old in the face

GuelphToday reporter Santana Bellantoni covered the story and joins us tonight with all the details. You can read her latest coverage HERE.

Stay tuned for more episodes of ‘Closer Look’ every weeknight at 7 p.m. ​You can find all our previous segments HERE.

Want to see more video features from Village Media? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Send us a text

Tonight on 'Closer Look': One of the greatest female baseball players of all time made history on Sunday at Christie Pits in Toronto, pitching two scoreless innings on a team full of men.

In cities and towns across Ontario — and at Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill — our journalists work for you. Their mission is to dig for answers and tell you what they find.

This new feature — ‘Closer Look’ — is a chance to hear directly from those reporters and editors. These conversations go beyond the headlines, helping viewers better understand how we gather the details that land in your local news feed.

On tonight's episode: Breaking the glass ceiling — with a fastball.

Ayami Sato is widely considered one of the best female baseball players of all time. The 35-year-old superstar pitcher previously led her home country of Japan to six World Cup championships before coming overseas for a new challenge.

On Sunday, Sato accomplished another milestone: becoming the first woman to ever play for a professional men’s baseball team in Canada.

She tossed two scoreless innings for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the Intercounty Baseball League, leaving the mound to a huge ovation from the crowd at Christie Pits.

SEE: Glass ceiling smashed: Toronto pitcher makes baseball history in Christie Pits

TorontoToday reporter Alex Flood covered the historic game and joins us tonight with all the details. You can read his latest coverage HERE.

Stay tuned for more episodes of ‘Closer Look’ every weeknight at 7 p.m. ​You can find all our previous segments HERE.

Want to see more video features from Village Media? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Send us a text

Tonight on 'Closer Look': BarrieToday reporter-photographer Kevin Lamb is being recognized for a series of powerful stories that put a face on the homelessness crisis in his community.

In cities and towns across Ontario — and at Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill — our journalists work for you. Their mission is to dig for answers and tell you what they find.

This new feature — ‘Closer Look’ — is a chance to hear directly from those reporters and editors. These conversations go beyond the headlines, helping viewers better understand how we gather the details that land in your local news feed.

On tonight's episode: Local journalism that makes an impact.

SEE: BarrieToday reporter up for national award for homelessness coverage

One of our Village Media staffers has been nominated for a national award for a series of articles that put a face on the homelessness crisis in his community.

BarrieToday reporter-photographer Kevin Lamb is nominated for Best News Coverage (Community Publication) at the 10th annual Digital Publishing Awards for the following stories that focused on one person in particular: a 75-year-old local known as ‘Rick the Mayor.’

• ‘I don’t live like this — I hate it’: Barrie shed dwellers battle elements
• ‘Very sad’: Homeless community mourns loss of Rick, ‘The Mayor’
• ‘Good soul’: Rick ‘The Mayor’ mourned at outdoor service
• ‘They just aren’t as fortunate’: Good Samaritans offer food, land

BarrieToday editor Raymond Bowe says Lamb has a special way of getting people to open up.

"Kevin is a quiet guy with keen listening skills, which is critical while interviewing people, especially when trying to get them to speak openly about their situation, often in less-than-ideal circumstances," Bowe said. "He cares, and that comes through in his reporting."

Lamb joins us tonight to talk about his nomination, and how he brought such powerful stories to light.

Stay tuned for more episodes of ‘Closer Look’ every weeknight at 7 p.m. ​You can find all our previous segments HERE.

Want to see more video features from Village Media? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

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Tonight on 'Closer Look': The owner of a landmark Orillia building ravaged by a massive blaze showed empathy for the convicted arsonist in court — 'Let this be the fire that ignites change for you'.

​In cities and towns across Ontario — and at Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill — our journalists work for you. Their mission is to dig for answers and tell you what they find.

This new feature — ‘Closer Look’ — is a chance to hear directly from those reporters and editors. These conversations go beyond the headlines, helping viewers better understand how we gather the details that land in your local news feed.

On tonight's episode: Compassion for a convicted arsonist.

In January, a massive fire ripped through a landmark building in downtown Orillia, causing $6 million in damage and displacing numerous tenants.

SEE: Aerial photos capture devastation of downtown fire

Brandon Costa, a 35-year-old homeless man, pleaded guilty this week to arson.

According to a joint submission of the facts presented in court, Costa was captured on camera lighting a fire in a vestibule of the building in order to stay warm. Within minutes, the blaze was out of control.

SEE: 'Major arson': Homeless man pleads guilty to setting $6M fire that destroyed landmark Orillia building

Costa is expected to be sentenced on May 13. In the meantime, the owner of the now-demolished building says he hopes Costa's conviction will be a turning point in his life.

“Let this be the fire that ignites change for you,” Dr. Jeffrey Pitcher wrote in his victim impact statement, which was read aloud in court.

BarrieToday court reporter Peter Robinson covered the guilty plea and joins us tonight with all the details. You can read his latest coverage HERE.

Stay tuned for more episodes of ‘Closer Look’ every weeknight at 7 p.m. ​You can find all our previous segments HERE.

Want to see more video features from Village Media? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

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Tonight on 'Closer Look': After months of debate, a piece of Northern Ontario nostalgia is on the move.

​In cities and towns across Ontario — and at Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill — our journalists work for you. Their mission is to dig for answers and tell you what they find.

This new feature — ‘Closer Look’ — is a chance to hear directly from those reporters and editors. These conversations go beyond the headlines, helping viewers better understand how we gather the details that land in your local news feed.

On tonight's episode: A new chapter for "The Storyteller."

For countless travellers along Highway 11, "Guy-Paul Treefall" — otherwise known as "The Storyteller" — has been a longtime landmark. But now in desperate need of some fixing, the statue left the Town of Iroquois Falls in a difficult spot: Repair, relocate or replace?

Last week, local councillors made a final decision: the well-known statue is being moved to a new spot at the town's museum.

SEE: Highway 11 landmark officially has a new home

TimminsToday reporter Marissa Lentz-McGrath has been covering the statue saga and joins us tonight with the latest details. You can read her latest coverage HERE.

Stay tuned for more episodes of ‘Closer Look’ every weeknight at 7 p.m. ​You can find all our previous segments HERE.

Want to see more video features from Village Media? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.