An Alaskan Airlines plane experienced a mid-flight cabin panel blowout, leading to an emergency landing of a brand-new Boeing 737 MAX-9 jetliner. All passengers and crew on board returned to the airport safely, but U.S. federal officials have ordered the immediate grounding of all Boeing 737 MAX-9 jetliners — raising safety concerns. A powerful winter storm is sweeping through parts of the U.S. and Canada, unleashing snow and freezing rain along the East Coast. The storm is set to hit Atlantic Canada on Sunday and Nova Scotians are preparing for its arrival. And, as Saturday marks three years since the Republican riots at Washington’s Capitol Building, a recent report suggests that Americans’ views of the attack are becoming increasingly extreme and divided. Plus, while some communities are enjoying warmer temperatures and a lack of snow, experts in the agriculture sector are concerned about the dry conditions being experienced and their potential impact on crops and the overall health of the industry. Also, Manitobans celebrated New Year’s Day with the provincial fuel tax holiday as the province’s NDP government lifted the 14-cent-a-litre provincial tax on gasoline, natural gas and diesel fuel. Premier Wab Kinew spoke about the pause and what it could mean for the future of the federal carbon tax in Manitoba. Additionally, a recent report found that over a quarter of monitored animal species, including the critically endangered gorilla, are facing a threat of extinction. However, there is hope for the subspecies of mountain gorillas, as their numbers are slowly rebounding.
