Windsor Sewer Workers Rescue a Large Ball Python

This is CTV News. Good evening and thank you for joining us. The city of Windsor sewage treatment staff have their eyes peeled after their latest find. A worker pulled a three and a half foot long ball python from a treatment plant on Friday. CTV's Robert Lotheian has been looking into this for us. Robert, so how exactly did it get there? Well, Stephanie, it's the answer everyone is currently trying to figure out. Staff have previously found some interesting things like money, jewelry, and even small snakes coming through the system, but they've never seen one this large and even more surprisingly still alive.

It's certainly not what you would expect to come out of Windsor's sewer system, a nearly 4 foot long ball python pulled from the Little River pollution control plant by worker Jeff Miller. He just inspects everything and lo and behold, he found this uh snake in the bin and uh we're surprising him too. The snake was found during the initial screening process where influence flows in. It was quite a lucky snake, put it that way. Because it's still alive, staff suspected entered the system not far from the plant.

How it got into the sewer collection system is unknown. Um I'm guessing it came in through one of the curbside catch basins. Um, I doubt that it came through somebody's toilet. I really think that this was a case of an escape artist here uh of this one getting out of someone's home uh or enclosure. The snake is now in the mend at the local humane society where staff have named it Wilbur. Believed to be a male, he arrived dehydrated with cuts and scrapes. So, we'll do a full shed and once Wilbur has a full shed, then we will introduce

feeding. Uh, surprisingly they don't have to eat that often. Uh, but we got to make sure that Wilbur can see their food. So, we've got to ditch those eye caps. Windsor bylaws stop residents from keeping an exotic pet like a ball python. And so far, nobody has claimed ownership of Wilbur. So, you got to be really careful with one of these little ones that they can't get out. So, um, you know, if it were the case of someone abandoning it, we would never want to see that, especially with an animal that's not native to the area and has a hard time surviving. Now, while I may be deathly afraid of snakes, like Wilbur here, they likely came from

a home that is very much missing them. So, at this point, the Humane Society is still urging people to keep the word out there and see if there is an owner that is looking to bring Wilbur home. And no offense to Wilbur, but as you can probably tell there, I am fairly certain he will be showing up in my nightmares for the foreseeable future. Fortunately for him, he will spend the next couple of weeks recovering and then possibly looking for a new home. Stephanie. Okay. You did look quite comfortable though, Robert, holding it. Not at all. Not our chance. Okay, Robert, with our top story tonight. Thank you. Now, last year we introduced you to Riverside resident Chris Jacobson and his backyard cameras

offering a rare look inside an eastern screech owl nest. Well, now there's a new milestone to celebrate. The newest owletes have begun venturing out on their own, taking its first flights into the world. And as CTV's Travis Fortnham reports, every exciting moment was captured on camera. In a Windsor backyard, a month-old eastern screech owl works up the courage to leave the nest for the very first time. A monumental step in an owlet's life, one its sibling took earlier this same spring morning. Now it's taking in the world from a nearby branch. Their departure all caught on cameras set up throughout Chris Jacobson's backyard.

I don't think I ever saw an owl before this started. And uh and now I kind of live in the owl house all winter and all through the spring. It's like I'm there. Jacobson built his first backyard owl house 8 years ago after noticing the birds seemed to love the neighborhood. The cameras came a few years later. To see exactly what they go through and how they raise their young is [snorts] it's pretty touching. And now he shares regular video updates through nesting season, offering thousands of people from all over a rare upclose look at the mysterious birds.

I try to post in the morning and people get to see that first thing in the morning and hopefully they see it before all the crazy news that's going on in the world and it just seems to make their day. Jacobson says a female owl typically moves into the house in the fall, spending the winter there. Mating season begins in late February. This year, four owlets hatched in early May. This one's already left the nest, becoming the 16th young owl to fledge from Jacobson's backyard since he put up that first owlhouse. With this little guy getting ready to be the 17th, and

two more still waiting inside. And then by fall, we'll have another adult here and it'll start all over again. For Jacobson, the project has become more than a hobby. It fills his days in retirement, connects him with people across North America, and gives others a chance to start their day with a little wildlife wonder. Travis Forham, CTV News. In other news, as communities across Canada mark National Accessibility Week, a Wheatly woman is raising concerns about employees using accessible parking spaces at a Leington gas station. CTV's Chris Campbell explains. You know, they're not just a gas bar.

It's like a variety store. Joanie Larivier says she first noticed vehicles regularly parked in the accessible spot outside the mobile gas station on Talbot Street East while stopping at the store. She later learned the vehicles belong to employees. Well, I was trying to come into the store uh to get a pop or and a snack and noticed that somebody was in the accessible parking spot. And when I drive by every day, I've noticed vehicles parked in that spot. And when I learned that it was employees, I went to talk to um the store about it. Larivier says she has spent months raising concerns with the store, corporate representatives, police, and municipal bylaw officials, but says she has yet to see a resolution. That's very rude. Like, unless you

actually have an impairment and a permit to actually be legal to park there, you shouldn't be parking there. While gathering video for this story, CTV News observed what appeared to be an employee vehicle parking in the designated accessible parking space. A person was seen entering the business through an employee entrance before later returning and moving the vehicle to another parking space. In a statement, the municipality of Lamington says accessible parking spaces are essential for residents and visitors with disabilities and that concerns regarding their misuse are taken seriously. The municipality also confirms it is aware of the complaint and is investigating the matter, but says it cannot give comment further while the investigation is ongoing. They

did add that residents who have concerns regarding the misuse of an accessible parking space may report the matter to the municipalities by law enforcement division or the OP. For La Rivier, the issue is about accessibility. when I'm having bad days and have a hard time with walking and distance, um that accessible parking spot really means the big difference to me. Liberier says accessible spaces should remain available for customers who rely on them. I want them to know that it's not okay.

It they need to not park there. They need to stop. CTV News reached out to the mobile station and Exon Mobile for comment, but have not received a response as of news time. Chris Campbell, CTV News. Reminder, prices at the pump are expected to rise by 8 cents tomorrow, according to Canadians for Affordable Energy, so fill up tonight if you can. Our harsh winter might be a distant memory for most of us. But Essex County wine makers are only just realizing the full extent of its wrath. One serious cold snap in January, followed by a frigid February, froze thousands of vines, and they won't be producing

grapes this season. Here's Michelle Mleski. Spring has sprung in Essex County, but old man winter left his mark. The whole area of Lake Erie Northshore suffered really damaging cold. We hit - 24 and then some places out here like Peely Island hit - 28°. For some vines, that's 10° colder than they can stand. We had bud survival anywhere from 0% for the Merllo to maybe 18% for the Gamwire. What's worse, all of the Merllo vines at Cooper Hawk are dead. They'll need to be ripped out and new ones replanted. It's a similar situation at Sprucewood Shores. When we did our bud counts this year, we found 100% mortality.

Steve Mitchell says it's the most popular grape varieties impacted. Chardonnay, penogrigio, Merllo, Cab Soveno. None of those vines will bear local fruit this year. So why are these vines so healthy? This is our Marquette and the Marquette is a very cold hearty vine planted along with a grape called Petite Pearl as a result of the effect of the polar vortex more than a decade ago. These varieties are good down to minus30 Celsius. They make excellent wine. The biggest problem for us was no one knows what they are. And so we looked at it as an opportunity for the future.

Fear not wine lovers. Essex County wine makers are farmers, so they're prepared for situations like this. We have about 28 months of supply of finished wines, either in bulk or in barrels or bottles, and we're going to buy some fruit from Niagara this year to keep it going. Michelle Mleski, CTV News. More than a year after a rooftop fire forced the closure of one popular community rink on the city's east end, the ice is almost ready to welcome skaters. Once again, Bob Bellich Chico has the latest. Crews have been working to repair damage caused by a fire at the WFCU Center last April. It destroyed solar panels, damaged the roof, and left the AM800 CKLW community rink out of service. Now, after months of repair, the facility is

nearing a return to action. We're excited about it. After 14 months off, the trick now is reestablishing the sport at the Capri Pizzeria Recreation Complex, where its second season after being relocated from Rosland was cut short. We want all those curlers who didn't curl last year to come back and curl, and we're certainly looking at developing the sport. Um, there's room for new curlers to come on board, learn how to curl. We can't wait to get this going. The roof above the AM800 rink is repaired, and there is no water infiltration. The only thing missing are the solar panels.

We replaced all the ring all the lights on this rink. So, we have 24 brand new lights, uh, LED lights that are programmable. Cory Elliot, manager of arenas, says the city normally takes ice out of one of the rinks during the summer months and will be closing the green shield rink. That is convenient because there still might be work needed to the low E ceiling in that rink. Low E stands for low emission and the ceiling is designed to reduce heat transfer by reflecting radiant heat. We just got the report yesterday. So, we just need to go through it and see exactly what work

needs to be done and whether it can be done during normal office or build building hours. Um, and to make sure that we don't have to cancel any of the use. With critical work complete, the city anticipates normal arena operations to continue this summer with the AM800 and Corporal Grenof work continues in the background. We'll have all the ice back as of Labor Day. Bob Bichico, CTV News. And with spring set to end in less than three weeks, the team behind the Gordy How International Bridge is sticking to its timeline, even if it's still not saying exactly when the crossing will open. In a statement to CTV News, the

Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority says the project remains on track for a spring opening. But with no date announced, the authority says testing, commissioning, and quality reviews are still underway and will help determine when the bridge is ready to welcome traffic. The six lane crossing was originally expected to open last year before being pushed to this spring. CTV meteorologist Julie Ageten has your full weather details coming up in 2 minutes time. So hard to believe still that she's not going to walk through that door. Still ahead, one mother speaks out after her daughter died by suicide linked to salesman Kenneth Law, who pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting suicide on Friday.

Meteorologist Julie Agetson joins us now for her extended look at the forecast. Julie, thanks so much, Stephanie. It was a banner day across the area. The daytime high hitting 25 degrees, coming in close to where we should be for this time of year, but low humidity. It's rare in Windsor that we see days like this and backtoback days with lots of sunshine and comfortable conditions. This forecast has delivered some outstanding weather that continues into tomorrow. Tomorrow we do have another beautiful day on the way and the sunshine and dry conditions will hold until Friday. Overnight, clear, comfortable. Winds will be light and variable. Temperature will dip down about 10° in the city. And

as we head to the outlying counties and rural areas, 8 to 9. As we look across the Great Lakes, high pressure firmly in control. We are under this upper level pattern that's been blocked up and that's meant much of the same. So just days of sunshine and dry conditions. We've been without the humidity as I mentioned. It's going to slowly creep in, but we should be pretty good until Thursday, Friday, and that's when you'll really start to notice a major change. So, as we take a look at the Great Lakes tonight, you can see skies are beautiful and clear. We go to the western periphery of this blocking pattern where we've had some heavy rainfall in Alberta, rounds of rain, upwards of 135

millimeters of rain has fallen in parts of that province, south, and central areas of Alberta. And you can see it continuing. So, that's what happens when we get under these blocks. So, we get the uh beautiful conditions if you're on the right side of it. And then uh both book ends of the block, we see rainfall and cooler conditions. And that's what's happening out east as well. As we head into tomorrow, maintaining our stronghold with beautiful conditions and sunshine, but you can start to see the cloud cover and the rainfall off to the northwest. This is indicating that the block is starting to break down and that means that conditions will change. We'll start to see a southerntherly flow. The

winds will be shifting and that will usher in the warmer temperatures. So, as we head into your Wednesday afternoon, 27 degrees, heating up, a bit warmer than it was out there today. We'll hit 30° as we roll into your Thursday. Mainly sunny on Friday and 30. You can see this is going to get hot. It'll start to feel like the mid30s heading into your Saturday. A chance for showers. We'll be looking for rain. It's been extremely dry and we've put so many of these days back to back. We'll be needing some rainfall. Unfortunately, the timing not ideal over the weekend. Probability, I think, a bit low on Saturday. I might ramp that up tomorrow in terms of this weather system looking

to produce some rainfall as we head into your Sunday. A 40% chance of showers and carrying into Monday. Daytime highs as we head into early next week. Quite summerlike from 27 to 29 degrees. I'll be back before the end of the show to recap your forecast, but lots of sunshine heading into tomorrow. Steph, back to you. Okay, thank you Julie. Now, trade talks were front and center today as Minister Dominic Leblanc, who leads Canada's trade file, is in Washington. Ahead of a he highstakes meeting, he sent a letter to the United States and Mexico calling for a long-term renewal of the continental trade agreement. Here is CTV's Abigail Bean.

Minister, what are the goals of this meeting? The goals of this meeting is to be able to tell you uh how well it's gone when we finish uh at uh 5:00 this afternoon. The Canada US trade minister and chief negotiator in Washington to talk with the top US trade rep Jameson Greer Dominic Leblon issued a letter to the US and Mexico officially stating Canada's recommendation for a 16-year renewal of the Canada US Mexico free trade agreement. We took stock of the work that the Americans want to do uh with Canada and the work that we're prepared to do uh over the coming weeks. I remain optimistic about the work that we can do with the Americans.

While a delegation from Manitoba was also here Tuesday separately meeting with other US trade officials, there's clearly a path forward. There's clearly an importance for both countries as well to find a solution to this. So, you know, I think we heard uh clearly some of those what some of those irritants were. Uh I think there's a path that we can make these kind of go away as well. Then the US has made its irritants known. The VO ban supply management and the online streaming act high on the list with one source today quoting frustration from US officials who said dealing with Canada has been a roller coaster.

He seems to go and socialize and come back empty-handed while the Mexicans have been in formal negotiations eating our lunch for the last 6 months. I am concerned that Mr. Leblanc goes down uh at a time when Mark Carney has led us into the only recession in the G7. The prime minister meanwhile tried to downplay the idea Mexico is further ahead in talks. There's a series of uh issues uh technical issues that uh they have with Mexico they have with us which is why there's a bifurcated uh discussion. So 30 issues uh or so with us more than almost 60 I think with Mexico at current count. Uh and so we're

working through a series of those issues. Mexico has already wrapped up one round of trade talks with the US with two more set, leaving many worried about where that leaves Canada ahead of a July 1st deadline. Abigail Bean, CTV News, Washington. And this comes as the US president has found a new reason to revive his 51st date rhetoric. The news that Canada is in a technical recession. Here's CTV's Rachel Aello. The US president is added again, taking to Truth Social last night to call Canada the 51st state. A message amplified this morning by the American ambassador to Canada. Prime Minister Mark Carney said despite the rhetoric, it's an administration Canada has to

work with. We take the administration as it is uh and are working together in a number of uh areas. Canada strong. This less than a week after Carney said a strong Canada would help make America great again. And that line was one US ambassador Pete Hora said was worth repeating. Asked what he makes of Donald Trump using recession talk to revive the annexation taunt, Pierre Palev called it ridiculous. We have to make sure that we don't allow ridiculous comments like that to distract us from the very real suffering that Canadians are experiencing. The regret that Mr. Carney has created, this weakness uh going into formal negotiations.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford also pushed back while noting Ontario created 380% more jobs than the US per capita in April. Yeah, here he goes again. Here goes President Trump again. 51st state. I get tired of that guy. These Canadians weren't worried about the US trying to use our economic slowdown as leverage. Got lots of opportunities here. We are a country with minerals. We are country with professionals. Canadians will have none of it. Does Trump even know what leverage is? This is not just Canada that's uh experiencing the economic uh issues.

It's a worldwide thing. While the Canadians we spoke to didn't express the same concerns today the opposition called on Carney to present a plan to reverse the recession so that Canada can go into this summer's trade talks in a better economic position. Rachel Aello CTV News Ottawa Canada's main stock index reached a new record high today helped by gains in the energy sector. In Toronto, the TSX gained 435 points. In New York, the Dow added 228. The Nasdaq is up 7. The Canadian dollar gained a modest 200ths of a cent. On commodity markets, gold is up more than $13 an ounce and oil added 160 a barrel.

Start your day with the latest local news. By signing up for our newsletter, you'll get direct local content straight from ctvsor to your inbox, including top stories, the forecast, and videos. You can sign up at ctvnewsor.ca. A daughter's suicide left her family consumed with grief. But as her parents and W5 followed clues about what happened before her death, a picture emerged of who may have aided her. Someone you may have seen on our program before. John Woodward on the change her family is now calling for to help protect other vulnerable people.

Memories of her daughter are still so fresh for Susan Dalon O'Grady. So hard to believe still that she's not going to walk through that door. Anakah Dan O'Grady was headed for a career as a genetic counselor. But behind the scenes, the 22-year-old student was depressed, worried funding cuts would take away a research job. He lost hope, I guess, because there was sort of too many things at the time going on at wrong at the same time. Anakah died by suicide in April. Devastating for family and friends. It's a loss that you could never outlive because she was supposed to outlive me, right? As her parents were in shock and grief,

they found out she got the job after all. What was it like for you to get that news that if she'd hung on for just a little bit longer? It was like heartbreaking to find that out. Susan wanted to dig deeper into what happened and put together a picture of Anakah's final days. So, she called her bank and got Anakah's credit card statements. And there on March 23rd, is a charge for Mono Bank, a financial institution in Ukraine that she didn't recognize, but we did. The amount, about 124 Canadians, is 3,87960 in Ukrainian currency. When you include service charges, the amount is within pennies of what is sold on a

Ukrainian-based website that uses Monobank and sells a poison known as SN. The same poison the W5 has tied to 150 deaths around the world related to Ontario-based suicide kit salesman Kenneth Law, who pleaded guilty to aiding in abetting suicide on Friday. The same poison coroners across Canada have linked to 29 deaths since Law was put behind bars. I want to talk to you about the poison you're selling. The same poison that the man who runs the Ukrainian website, Leonid Zakutenko, has faced questions about before. The BBC approached him in Kev in 2024.

Two years later, he told W5 he regularly sells to Canada. Orady wanted to know more and started texting Zakutenko directly. She wrote, "Can you please tell us details about the purchase?" The answer. I'm truly heartbroken for you and my thoughts are with you and your family during this incredibly difficult time. What's it like to hear that from the man who sold your daughter the substance? No. I mean, it was horrible. My daughter's life was worth $123 Canadian to you, or probably less cuz of shipping. Oh, Grady doesn't think that website or other online forums that appear to be recommending it should be accessible in

Canada. Her records show Anakah first accessed one of those forums when she was just 17. Protecting children on the internet is something Canada's government says it's been working on in trying to pass an online harms bill, but it's been slowgoing. The bill has died in procedural rules since it was introduced 5 years ago. University of Calgary law professor Emily Laidaw has consulted on a more recent version. That's the intention of the bill is that it would make things better and potentially avoid what happened to um to that girl. Then on Monday, a surprise development. Zaku Tenko's website was taken down. It's not clear if he's trying to sell through other means.

O'Grady wants certainty he's out of business, but in the meantime, she has a message for parents. Even if someone hears the story and talks to their kid and say, "How's it going?" And please know that people want to help you. Trust me, people really want to help you. Um, and we then it's worth it. Hoping more deaths can be prevented while these deadly products are still for sale. John Woodward, CTV News Toronto. Discussion here at Windsor City Hall. Windsor's top stories. A major project is about to get underway. Breaking news alerts.

Severe weather is a possibility. And watch live. Good evening and thank you for joining us. Download the CTV News app. Uber has released its 2026 lost and found index, offering a look at the items riders left behind in vehicles across Canada over the past year. And Windsor has been named the second most forgetful city. Phones, wallets, and bags topped the list of the most commonly forgotten items. But Uber says some riders also left behind some unusual things. They include a 15pound frozen turkey in Toronto, a full set of goalie pads in Edmonton, and a violin hardcase in Montreal. Uber says Saskatoon has taken the top spot at Canada's most forgetful city. Julie joins us one last time with her exclusive 7-day forecast.

Thanks so much, Stephanie. Lots of sunshine heading into your Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Our beautiful stretch of weather holds, but we will see warming temperatures and getting hot by Thursday. Daytime high expected to hit 30°. It'll be one of the hottest days we've seen so far this season, that's for sure. And it'll start to feel like the low30s. The next opportunity for rain not arriving until Friday night. We have some showers in the forecast Saturday and Sunday. Daytime highs over the weekend, 25 to 27 and 28 to 29 heading into early next week as we settle into a nice summerlike pattern. That's a wrap on your forecast tonight.

We'll see you again soon. Finally tonight, an interesting find. A collection of late 19th century wine that for many years was hidden away under a chapel floor of a Czech castle has been painstakingly restored. The 133 bottles were hidden at the end of the Second World War by the owners of the castle. Most bottles date from 1892 to 1899 and weren't discovered until 1985. The very humid and very cold seller provided good conditions for conserving the wine that could fetch thousands of dollars today. It will be going on display at the castle. That's your news for tonight. Thank you for joining us. See you right back here tomorrow night.