(OTTAWA, ON) – Cybercriminals are ramping up text-based scams to steal personal and banking information. This tactic, known as “smishing”, a combination of “SMS” (short message service) and phishing, relies on deceptive text messages to trick recipients into clicking malicious links or calling fraudulent numbers.
Smishing messages often appear to come from financial institutions, courier companies, online retailers or government agencies. Clicking on these links can lead to identity theft, financial fraud or malware being installed on your device. Examples of smishing attempts are available in the additional content section to help Ontarians recognize these scams.
In 2024, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) received almost 9,500 reports of identity fraud and over 3,900 reports of personal information theft.
How to Protect Yourself from Smishing Scams:
· Do not click on links, reply to messages or call numbers from unknown senders.
· Report suspicious texts by forwarding them to 7726 (SPAM).
· Delete all suspicious messages immediately.
· Keep your smartphone secure by updating your operating system and security software.
· Use multi-factor authentication for banking, social media and other sensitive accounts.
· Verify any unexpected text messages by checking official websites or contacting organizations directly.
For more information on fraud prevention, visit opp.ca and sfo.opp.ca.
If you suspect fraudulent activity or have been a victim of fraud, report it immediately to your local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or online via the Fraud Reporting System.
Midhurst/March 31, 2025 – As the County and our area municipalities and cities respond to the ice storm, please find helpful information below to assist residents in need. This information is relevant as of 12:00 p.m. on March 31, 2025. For the most up-to-date information on services and supports to assist residents in need, please visit our website simcoe.ca/IceStorm.
Emergency Warming Centres Emergency Warming Centres have been opened in many communities, including Tay, Barrie, Orillia, and Midland. Regular Shelters and Winter Warming Centres remain open during this time.
Waste Drop-Off Sites To support the cleanup process from the March 30th ice storm that affected homes and businesses across the region, County of Simcoe waste drop-off sites will be accepting brush debris, free of charge, from March 31 through April 5, 2025. Timing and extensions will be determined as cleanups continue.
The County anticipates that all regular waste drop-off sites will be open as per their regular operating schedules, although some may operate without power. Where necessary due to potential power outages, for additional materials (beyond brush debris), it is possible that some sites may only be accepting cash transactions and may be based on volume rates (rather than scaled rates).
Waste Collection Waste collections for regular Monday routes will continue where possible. If areas are missed due to debris or ongoing road closures on March 31st, residents are to leave material curbside and we will attempt to collect those locations during the week up to and including Friday, April 4, 2025.
We would like to remind residents that all food and organic waste (packaging removed) can go in the organic green cart.
Brush Waste Curbside Collection
In an effort to clean up the significant quantities of brush in the County of Simcoe leaf and yard waste trucks will only be accepting bundled brush not in bags from April 14th to 25th. We ask residents to be patient as, due to volume, not all material may be able to be collected within the first few weeks of yard waste collection.
Brush waste will be collected curbside bi-weekly starting the week of April 14th. To participate, residents are asked to place material out on the Monday of your garbage week by 7 a.m.
For curbside collection, brush must be bundled as follows:
Secured with natural twine
No larger than 2 meters in length and 30 cm in diameter (logs are not accepted at the curb)
Individual branches should not exceed 7 cm in diameter
Brush that is not bundled or exceeds size limits may be left behind. Unbundled brush, large branches and logs are accepted at all County Waste Facilities. Brush debris will be accepted free of charge at Waste Facilities, from March 31 through April 5, 2025. Timing and extensions will be determined as cleanups continue.
LINX Transit All LINX Transit routes are currently operating across the County, however, delays can be expected to regular schedules.
Forestry Residents are being advised to avoid entering County Forests until further notice.
Social and Community Services Offices Some Social & Community Services offices, including Barrie and Midland, may be closed due to ongoing power outages. Orillia is open as they are able to operate using backup power.
Paramedic Services Paramedics are upstaffed following the ice storm. They are prioritizing calls and navigating road impacts to respond as quickly as possible.
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Up-to-date Information For the most up-to-date information on services and supports to assist residents in need, please visit our website at simcoe.ca/IceStorm
The 2 X JUNO nominated Johnny Max Band are playing songs form their new upcoming 8th album, as well as their Roadhouse Soul songs and are sharing the stage with the amazing Shawn Kellerman!!
Shawn has toured the world with the likes of Bobby Rush and Lucky Peterson, as well as songs from his new album “Hell’s Kitchen”…
This is going to be a great evening of Blues, Roots & Soul music!!
“They have a treasure trove of, I think, some 30 million people’s genetic data, and that is deeply personal. But it’s also potentially valuable genetic information of 30 million people,” information and privacy commissioner Kerry Hatfield told CBC.
Why Delete Data?
23andMe, known for DNA test kits, has filed for bankruptcy and is seeking a buyer as of March 31, 2025. This uncertainty means your genetic data, which is highly sensitive, could be sold or managed differently by a new owner. Deleting your data ensures it isn’t included in any sale, safeguarding your privacy.
How to Delete Data
Customers can log into their account, navigate to settings, and follow the steps to permanently delete their data. This process is irreversible and can also include discarding saliva samples. It’s recommended to download any data you want to keep before deletion.
Unexpected Detail: Legal Protections
While 23andMe states any new owner must comply with applicable laws, these laws vary by region and may not fully protect your data, especially outside HIPAA-covered entities like 23andMe, adding urgency to delete your information.
Comprehensive Analysis on Deleting 23andMe Data Before Sale
As of March 31, 2025, 23andMe, a prominent DNA testing company, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, initiating a process to find a buyer, which has sparked significant privacy concerns among its 15 million customers. This note explores why customers should consider deleting their genetic data before the potential sale, detailing the process, legal implications, and broader privacy risks, ensuring a thorough understanding for informed decision-making.
Data Usage Changes: The new owner could use data for research or sell it to third parties without consent, unlike 23andMe’s current practices, which allow opting out of research (Privacy and Data Protection – 23andMe).
Privacy and Security: Previous data breaches, like the 2023 incident affecting 5.5 million customers, highlight vulnerabilities (How to… delete your 23andMe data | MIT Technology Review). A new owner might not maintain the same security standards.
Customers can delete their data through a straightforward process, as outlined in 23andMe’s customer care resources. Below is a detailed table of steps, based on available guidance:
Action
Steps
Additional Notes
Delete 23andMe Account and Data
1. Log in to account<br>2. Navigate to “Settings” section<br>3. Click on “23andMe Data” at bottom, then “View”<br>4. Download genetic data for personal use<br>5. Scroll to “Delete Data” section, click “Permanently Delete Data”
Website may be slow or glitchy due to high traffic (noted by CA AG Rob Bonta)
Discard Saliva Sample
If previously opted to retain, request discard under account settings, “Preferences”
–
Withdraw Consent for Third-Party Research
Under “Research and Product Consents,” withdraw consent
23andMe’s privacy policy states that in a sale, customer data may be transferred, but new owners must comply with applicable laws (Legal – Privacy Statement – 23andMe). However, federal protections are limited:
Given the uncertainty surrounding 23andMe’s sale and the sensitive nature of genetic data, deleting your information before the sale is a prudent step to safeguard privacy. The process is accessible, and while there are trade-offs, the potential risks of data transfer outweigh the benefits of retention under new, unknown ownership.
(Orillia, ON) – Members across Central Region of the Ontario Provincial Police have been busy with increased calls for service due to the freezing rain that hit the region since March 29, 2025. The Freezing rain continued throughout the majority of the day on March 30, 2025 and has caused significant damage to trees and power lines throughout. High winds entered the region throughout the night and into the early hours of March 31, 2025, causing additional damage to trees and power lines. OPP and other emergency crews remain diligent in our efforts to keep individuals safe and crews are working tirelessly to restore power to those affected. Multiple localities throughout the region remain in states of emergency, including the City of Orillia, The City of Peterborough, the District of Muskoka and the Township of Oro-Medonte. The District of Muskoka and the Township of Oro-Medonte have closed all city facilities. Residents are encouraged to visit the following pages for further updates:
Downed power lines and trees continue to cause issues throughout many areas. The public is urged to stay a minimum of 10 meters away from all downed lines as there is no way to tell weather the wire is live. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid walking close to trees as many are heavily damaged and unstable. Branches and trees are still actively coming down throughout the area. Though roadways are clear of ice there remains significant amounts of debris scattered across many roads and there remains many road closures due to surface water, debris, downed trees and power lines. We are urging residents to stay off the roadways and to avoid unnecessary travel.
Important Safety Tips:
Avoid Travel: If at all possible, remain indoors. Roads are hazardous, and conditions are likely to worsen as the freezing rain continues.
Falling Trees & Power Lines:
If you encounter downed trees or power lines, do not call 911 unless it is a life-threatening emergency. Emergency lines must be kept open for critical situations.
For non-emergency downed power lines, please contact Hydro One at 1-800-434-1235.
Residents are advised to stay tuned to local news and weather updates, as well as monitor your local City/Township and Emergency Services social media channels for the latest information on the ongoing weather event. Power is steadily being restored throughout the region as crews work diligently, residents are asked to remain patient as some could still be without power for the next 24 hours.
Stay safe, stay informed, and please help keep emergency lines open for those in urgent need.
Industry Scandal: The Loss Of Nutrients – Sixty years of producing standardized fruit and vegetables and creating industrial hybrids have had a dramatic impact on their nutritional content.
Sixty years of producing standardized fruit and vegetables and creating industrial hybrids have had a dramatic impact on their nutritional content. In the past 50 years, vegetables have lost 27% of their vitamin C and nearly half of their iron. Take the tomato. Through multiple hybridizations, scientists are constantly producing redder, smoother, firmer fruit. But in the process, it has lost a quarter of its calcium and more than half of its vitamins. The seeds that produce the fruits and vegetables we consume are now the property of a handful of multinationals, like Bayer, and Dow-Dupont, who own them. These multinationals have their seeds produced predominantly in India, where workers are paid just a handful of rupees while the company has a turnover of more than 2 billion euros. A globalized business where the seed sells for more than gold.
According to FAO, worldwide, 75% of the cultivated varieties have disappeared in the past 100 years. Loss of nutrients, privatization of life, We reveal the industrialists’ great monopoly over our fruit and veg.
While we’re all busy with our earthly concerns, this astronomical busybody is up there tuning into the universe’s gossip channel, nodding along as Betelgeuse dishes the dirt on Rigel’s latest supernova fashion disaster or giggling when the Little Dipper shares a joke that’s been traveling across the cosmos for light-years. Talk about having friends in high places—Orion’s social network extends literally billions of miles in every direction!
Each week, Orion shares starry secrets with you, written in their notebook with glittery gel pens and decorated with tiny star stickers. The planets are Orion’s friends, and they tell Orion all sorts of helpful hints to pass along to you!
Your Cosmic Forecast: Week of March 30, 2025
Aries (March 21 – April 19): The Headfirst Honcho Hilarity
Your inner ram, usually a straightforward battering ram, has discovered the joys of springy trampolines this week. Expect to launch yourself into conversations with the confidence of someone who’s actually done their research, only to realize halfway through you’re just making things up with impressive conviction. You might also attempt to multitask while exercising, leading to spectacular feats of accidental yoga involving dropped weights and bewildered onlookers. Be wary of automatic doors – they will sense your impulsive approach and likely retaliate. Your lucky escape route: Blaming it on Mercury being in retrograde… even though it very clearly isn’t.
Taurus (April 20 – May 20): The Accumulation Antics
That sensible, grounded Taurus is temporarily possessed by the spirit of a particularly acquisitive magpie. You’ll find yourself inexplicably drawn to collecting things you have absolutely no use for. That chipped mug with the questionable stain? It speaks to you. The flyer for a mime convention from three years ago? A historical artifact! Your attempts to declutter will be met with fierce internal resistance, as if each discarded item carries a vital piece of your soul (or at least a decent amount of dust). Your overflowing junk drawer’s new name: “The Vault of Untapped Potential.”
Gemini (May 21 – June 20): The Dueling Dialogue Disaster
Your brain, usually a bustling marketplace of ideas, will resemble a chaotic debate club where everyone is talking at once and nobody is listening. You’ll start sentences with one intention and finish them with a completely unrelated thought, leaving your conversational partners in a state of polite bewilderment. Decisions, even simple ones like what socks to wear, will feel like negotiating a complex international treaty. You might even find yourself leaving yourself multiple voicemails, each contradicting the last. Your emergency mental reset button: Singing the alphabet backwards… loudly.
Cancer (June 21 – July 22): The Sob Story Spectacular (of Small Stuff)
That normally sturdy crab shell will be feeling a tad permeable this week, letting in all sorts of unexpected emotional currents. You might well up at a particularly poignant commercial for toilet paper, or feel a surge of profound sadness when you realize your favorite brand of cereal is out of stock. Your empathy levels will be so high, you might even find yourself apologizing to inanimate objects you accidentally bump into. Your self-care strategy: Building a fort out of blankets and binge-watching cat videos. Tears optional (but likely).
Leo (July 23 – August 22): The Royal Reign of Ridiculousness
Your inner lion is feeling particularly dramatic and expects to be treated accordingly. You might demand a standing ovation for successfully microwaving popcorn or stage elaborate entrances into mundane rooms. Your pronouncements will be delivered with theatrical flair, even if you’re just asking where the remote control is. Be prepared for bewildered stares from those who haven’t quite grasped the magnitude of your everyday heroism. Your royal decree for the week: “Let there be snacks… and admiration!”
Virgo (August 23 – September 22): The Microscopic Meltdown
Your keen eye for detail, usually a superpower, will be temporarily hijacked by the forces of utter triviality. You’ll spend an inordinate amount of time alphabetizing your spice rack by their Latin names, color-coding your sock drawer by thread count, and meticulously analyzing the dust particles in sunbeams. Any deviation from your self-imposed standards of perfection will result in a minor internal crisis. Your coping mechanism: Reminding yourself that the universe itself is probably full of mismatched socks and unalphabetized nebulae.
Libra (September 23 – October 22): The Scale-Tipping Torture
Your quest for balance will resemble a frantic tightrope walk over a pit of indecision. Choosing what to wear will feel like selecting the fate of nations. Ordering food will involve an elaborate pros and cons list for every single item on the menu. You might even find yourself weighing the moral implications of taking the last biscuit from the plate for an extended period. Your mantra for regaining equilibrium: “Heads or tails… and if I don’t like it, we’ll do best out of three.”
Scorpio (October 23 – November 21): The Cloak and Dagger Comedy
Your natural air of mystery will be so intense this week, people will suspect you of knowing the secret recipe for the universe (or at least the whereabouts of the office stapler). You’ll find yourself drawn to shadowy corners and hushed conversations, even if the most clandestine activity you’re involved in is trying to sneak an extra cookie. Be careful not to accidentally start any unfounded rumors – your knowing glances might be misinterpreted as evidence of a vast conspiracy. Your secret weapon: A perfectly timed, enigmatic smirk.
Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21): The Foot-in-Mouth Fiesta
Your adventurous spirit extends to your verbal expression this week, resulting in a delightful (and occasionally awkward) series of unfiltered pronouncements. You’ll speak your mind with the enthusiasm of a puppy who’s just discovered a mud puddle, often without fully considering the consequences. Expect a few surprised reactions and the occasional need for a hasty retreat. Your apology strategy: A wide-eyed innocent look and the excuse that you’re “just being honest…ly a bit clueless.”
Capricorn (December 22 – January 19): The Rebellion of the Responsible
That diligent, goal-oriented Capricorn within is staging a minor mutiny. The siren call of procrastination and the allure of comfortable leisurewear will be surprisingly strong. You might find yourself strategically “misplacing” important documents or experiencing a sudden, inexplicable urge to learn how to play the ukulele instead of finishing that report. Embrace the brief rebellion, but remember that deadlines still exist in this dimension. Your secret indulgence: Five extra minutes of doing absolutely nothing… with your socks on the wrong feet.
Aquarius (January 20 – February 18): The Brainwave Bonanza of Bizarreness
Your innovative mind will be firing on all cylinders, generating ideas that range from the groundbreaking to the utterly baffling. You might invent a self-folding laundry system powered by static electricity (that occasionally sets off the smoke alarm) or propose a new international currency based on bottle caps. While some of your concepts might leave others scratching their heads, don’t be discouraged – you’re just thinking several light-years ahead of the curve. Your explanation to bewildered onlookers: “It’s all about the synergy of unconventional paradigms!”
Pisces (February 19 – March 20): The Fantastical Fish Floundering
Your already vivid imagination will be on a full-blown psychedelic vacation this week. You might have lengthy philosophical debates with your houseplants, believe that your pet has developed the ability to communicate telepathically (and is judging your snack choices), or get lost in elaborate daydreams that would make Lewis Carroll proud. Just be mindful of the line between delightful fantasy and accidentally walking into traffic while contemplating the existential angst of a goldfish. Your grounding technique: Remembering where you parked your car… hopefully.
Enjoy this expanded dose of cosmic comedy! May your week be filled with laughter and only mildly embarrassing moments.
This video is the first release from a month-long international filming and research trip I took this summer.
It’s a project that’s been long in the making. I had the privilege of spending a week in Nuuk, meeting locals, doing research, making observations, and exploring a beautiful and fascinating city.
Myself and my brother, Quinn the Cameraman – / @quinnthecameraman – have been working on a number of films about our trip and the countries we visited. Many, though not all, of the photos of Nuuk, Iceland, and Denmark included were taken by us on location.
I hope you enjoy this as much as I did making it. -Carter
The Collingwood and The Blue Mountains Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police advise of the following Road Closure:
Grey Road 119 from Banks to the roundabout at Gord Canning Drive
21st Sideroad from the 7th Line to the 4th Line.
4th Line from 21st Sideroad up to Banks
Location: The Blue Mountains
Brief Description of Event: dangerous road conditions with wires down across the roadway in different areas. Please avoid those areas.
Estimated duration of Road Advisory: no estimate available for the time required to complete the repairs and roadways to be cleared. Will update media when info becomes available.
OPP Media Contact: PC Martin Hachey
The O.P.P. will distribute details and updates of the road advisory as information becomes available.
Please do not call O.P.P. Provincial Communication Centres for road advisory updates or road condition information.
Visit the Ontario Ministry of Transportation website at ontario.ca/511, twitter @511Ontario or call 511 traveller’s information such as winter road conditions, construction reports, road closures, traffic reports, traffic cameras and interactive mapping.
A new media release has been made by the OPP for Collingwood. The release content is below. If you wish to unsubscribe from these alerts, log into the OPP News Release Portal and select “Manage Account”.
Top FDA vaccine official Dr. Peter Marks is resigning from the department. Former George W. Bush adviser, Pete Seat, weighs in on why he doesn’t agree with Dr. Marks’ decision. CNN
Peter Marks is an American hematologist oncologist who has served as the director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research within the Food and Drug Administration. He was appointed to the position in 2016 after previously serving as deputy director. Among other duties, Marks oversaw the FDA vaccine program. Wikipedia
