CTV Kitchener | Breaking News. Politics and Crime

A security guard gestures as people arrive at the City of Toronto operated mass COVID-19 vaccination site in East York Town Centre, servicing the Thorncliffe Park community, an area disproportionally impacted by COVID-19, Wednesday, March 24, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston

Region of Waterloo identifies first case of B.1.351 variant, adds 114 new COVID-19 cases

Region of Waterloo Public Health has confirmed its first case of the B.1.351 variant first detected in South Africa. 9

Brantford police on scene of a homicide investigation. (Tyler Calver/CTV Kitchener) (Apr. 14, 2021)

Man dies of gunshot wounds, homicide investigation underway in Brantford

Brantford police are conducting a homicide investigation after a 20-year-old man died from gunshot wounds. 2

A sign advertises a Bitcoin automated teller machine, ATM, at a shop in Halifax on Wednesday, February 4, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

Victim loses nearly $350K in Bitcoin fraud: Stratford police

Stratford police are investigating a Bitcoin fraud where the victim allegedly lost nearly $350,000.

Paramedics and ambulances spill out of the Emergency ramp at Michael Garron Hospital in Toronto on Monday, April 12, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Ontario reports more than 4,100 new COVID-19 cases, ICU admissions near 650

COVID-19 case numbers in Ontario have climbed back above the 4,000 mark as the number of patients in intensive care continues to climb. 9

Masks produced by Swenco, Ltd. (Supplied: Swenco, Ltd.)

Company gets $1.9M loan for PPE production, concerns about supply chain continue

A local company manufacturing PPE has ramped up production of surgical masks thanks to a $1.9-million loan from the federal government.

A nurse gives the first COVID-19 vaccine in Edmonton, to Sahra Kaahiye in Edmonton on Tuesday, December 15, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

No plans to lower age for COVID-19 vaccine pre-registration in Waterloo Region

Waterloo Region's top doctor said that there are no plans to lower the pre-registration age for COVID-19 vaccines. 79

Expensive bicycles stolen, less expensive bikes left behind as replacements: Guelph police

Guelph police are investigating two break-and-enter thefts they say involved expensive mountain bicycles being stolen, but with entirely different and cheaper bikes left behind in their place.

Jaxon Steffler and the keychains he's making as a fundraiser

'Keychains for Kelly': How a boy is helping raise money for a stranger with cancer

A young boy from St. Marys, Ont. is raising money for another family dealing with a devastating cancer diagnosis.

Cambridge city council discusses scattering ashes on Grand River

The Hindu community is asking the City of Cambridge for permission to spread ashes over the Grand River following cremations. 2

Willow Garlow, 14, was last seen on April 9 (Supplied: WRPS)

Police searching for teen last seen in Waterloo

Regional police are searching for a teen who went missing in Waterloo last week.

Officials carry out a controlled burn at the rare Research Reserve on April 14, 2021 (Dan Lauckner / CTV News Kitchener)

Prescribed burn near Cambridge will help revive natural habitat, officials say

The rare Charitable Research Reserve carried out a prescribed burn on about 18.5 hectares of land near Blair Road on Wednesday afternoon. 1

A driver slammed into the Palmerston, Ont. Foodland grocery store on April 14, 2021. (OPP)

No injuries after driver crashes into Palmerston grocery store

No one was hurt after a driver slammed into the front of a Palmerston, Ont. grocery store.

Hydro One electricity transmission lines are seen south of Chesley, Ont., on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Colin Perkel

Ontario not offering off-peak hydro rates during stay-at-home order

CTV News Toronto has learned the provincial government will not be offering off-peak hydro rates during the province’s second, month-long stay-at-home order – as it did in January.

A Hamilton police cruiser is featured in this file photo. (Andrew Collins)

Hamilton police officer charged with sexual assault causing bodily harm

A Hamilton police officer has been arrested and charged with sexual assault causing bodily harm after an investigation by the province’s police watchdog.

Jules Mccusker receives a BioNTech Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine from Dr. Shauna Martiniuk, right, an emergency doctor with Mount Sinai Hospital, as Jowite Bydlowska, left, sits alongside him at a pop-up vaccination clinic run by the Waakebiness-Bryce Institute for Indigenous Health and the University of Toronto Dalla Lana School of Health, in Toronto, Saturday, April 10, 2021. The vaccination centre serves Toronto's Indigenous community. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Ontario should allow every resident to pre-register for COVID-19 vaccine, group says

Four public health experts and a Toronto city councillor are calling on the province to implement a system that would allow everyone to pre-register to get the COVID-19 vaccine in an effort to address confusion over how and when to book a shot. 11

A videographer looks through his camera during the 2020 Juno Award nominee press conference in Toronto on January 28, 2020. Organizers behind the annual celebration of Canadian music say they've decided to "hold off indefinitely" on revealing who picked up this year's Junos trophies, as the country deals with the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Juno Awards postpone 50th anniversary show date to June 6 amid COVID-19 pandemic

Organizers of the Juno Awards say they're postponing this year's 50th anniversary show in Toronto until June 6 as COVID-19 cases rage.

Elderly woman injured during carjacking incident in Woodstock

An elderly woman was injured during a carjacking in Woodstock Monday night.

Regional police looking for suspects after attempted robbery in Kitchener

Three suspects are at large following an attempted robbery in Kitchener, according to officials.

A man walks past a COVID-19 retail supplies sign during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Friday, February 5, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Region of Waterloo reports more than 100 new cases of COVID-19

Health officials in Waterloo Region reported 121 more COVID-19 cases on Tuesday. 9

The blood clots seen in a handful of people vaccinated with AstraZeneca are described by the French Medicines Agency (ANSM) as 'highly untypical.' (AFP)

AstraZeneca very safe, effective, with extremely rare risk of clots: Health Canada

There is enough evidence to say the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine may cause very rare blood clots but the shot is still extremely safe, very effective and will remain on the Canadian market, Health Canada said Wednesday. 25

The Huron Perth Public Health building is shown in this file image (Natalie van Rooy / CTV News Kitchener)

'No clinics currently open to book appointments' for COVID-19 vaccine in Huron Perth

Huron Perth Public Health isn't currently booking new appointments for COVID-19 vaccines due to supply shortages. 35

St. Mary's General Hospital in Kitchener, Ont., is seen on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2014. (David Imrie / CTV Kitchener)

3 COVID-19 cases linked to outbreak at St. Mary's General Hospital

St. Mary's General Hospital has declared a COVID-19 outbreak on the fourth floor.

COVID-19 vaccination clinic opens in Ayr

Ayr has taken a step forward in the vaccine front with the opening of a COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the North Dumfries Community Health Centre. 1

Step forward in Cambridge school's parking issue

A long time issue at Moffat Creek Public School in Cambridge is looking to be solved by the municipalities. 1

Public health contacting impacted Telus customers to book COVID-19 vaccine appointments

Regional officials said they'll be reaching out to some Telus customers to book COVID-19 vaccination appointments after some telephone numbers were blocked from receiving messages following pre-registration. 33

A vial of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India and provided through the global COVAX initiative, is removed from a portable cold storage box in preparation for a vaccination, in Machakos, Kenya, Wednesday, March 24, 2021. (AP / Brian Inganga)

Doctors' message for anyone worried by blood clot news: 'They're good vaccines'

In the wake of the first reported blood clot in Canada linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine, many doctors are emphasizing that undergoing the risk of an exceedingly rare adverse response to a vaccine is far more safe than risking contracting COVID-19. 25