We got the receipts for the TVDSB's jaunt to Toronto, and the numbers aren't good.

$38,444.22 for 18 executives to meet at the SkyDome hotel and maybe watch a few ballgames - all while the board is facing a multi-million dollar deficit.

Not great!

Bill Tucker, who retired as Education Director in 2013, is back! He takes over for the embattled Mark Fisher, who is now "on leave" from the role.

Tucker joins Craig on the podcast to discuss the spending scandal, how to repair trust in the community and more.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Busy week in the news!

Craig is joined by London city councillor Hadleigh McAlister, political insider Ryan Gauss and London Abused Women's Centre executive Director Jennifer Dunn for the Friday Round Table as they break it all down.

They start with the mess over at the Thames Valley District School Board, as Mark Fisher is "on leave" and Bill Tucker returns. Also, the trip Fisher and 17 other TVDSB executives took to Rogers Centre came in at a cost of more than $38,000.

Then, they look at the struggles of local food banks, proposed parking lot to housing conversions in the downtown core, the proposed Canada Life Place name change at Budweiser Gardens, the NDP potentially pulling the plug on the carbon tax and what celebrity endorsements mean in 2024.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Mark Fisher (apparently) out. Bill Tucker in.

Big changes at the Thames Valley District School Board in the wake of the Blue Jays trip spending scandal.

What's next for the board? What's happening in the classroom?

EFTO Thames Valley President Craig Smith joins Craig on the podcast to discuss.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

300 episodes!

Hard to believe, but here we are. Episode 300, nearly three years after the podcast launched.

Who else but former city councillor Cheryl Miller could Craig have on for this milestone? They're joined by London Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis and Green Party candidate Carol Dyck to talk about the week's top stories.

They discuss Jagmeet Singh pulling out of the supply agreement with the Justin Trudeau Liberals, whether that means an election is around the corner and how the local races may shape up.

Then, the conversation shifts to some building issues at city hall. First, how tall should London buildings be? Then, the criticism over the renovictions by-law - coming from both sides of the issue.

They wrap up with the changes at London Health Sciences Centre, which include 59 managers losing their jobs and 71 more being restructured into new roles. Then, they look at the latest with the Thames Valley District School Board.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Should council have asked for a quicker redesign for Hamilton Road between Adelaide and Highbury?

Ward 1 councillor Hadleigh McAlister thinks so.

He joined Craig at the Covent Garden Market studio to discuss that stretch of road, the council debate surrounding it and a larger view of road safety in London.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by the Covent Garden Market and Downtown London.

On this week's round table, Craig is joined by a panel of former Thames Centre Deputy Mayor Kelly Elliott, lawyer and former school board trustee Matthew Newton-Reid an former federal NDP candidate Shawna Lewkowitz to break down the top stories of the week.

First, they look at the Thames Valley District School Board - which is in the middle of a scandal after Education Director Mark Fisher and 17 other executives took a trip to Toronto and stayed at the former SkyDome hotel for three nights - while the Blue Jays were playing!

What should trustees do next?

Then, they discuss the rising cost of getting high school students to class on LTC busses and whether Canadians actually want a federal election - followed by some surprises in local nomination races.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

The Ford government says they're closing 10 supervised consumption sites province-wide.

London's isn't closing, but advocates are concerned about the future of the local facility based on the Ford government's actions.

Middlesex-London Health Unit Associate Medical Officer of Health Dr. Joanne Kearon joined Craig on the podcast to explain why supervised consumption and harm reduction are in the best interest of public health.

Then, Craig (15:20) shares his thoughts on the Ford government's decision and how the discussion around these sites has been hijacked.

PhD candidate AJ Wray joins Craig to talk about a wide variety of stories in London this week.

First, they talk about Petronella McNorgan, who woman who was sentenced this week for hitting a troop of Girl Guides with her car back in 2021. Why can't a judge take away her license for life?

They also talk about transit villages in London (10:48), AJ's belief that London needs to invest in a subway system (13:00) and NIMBYs not thinking long-term (17:30) and planning around universities (22:33).

The wrap up by discussing immigration and the temporary foreign workers program (27:51).

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig welcomes United Way President and CEO Kelly Ziegner and the father-son duo of Roger and Nathan Caranci to the Covent Garden Market studio.

They discuss the rising cost of living in Canada, an effort to cut taxes at London City Hall, and the temporary foreign workers program coming under scrutiny.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market. 

A report unearthed by CBC last week told some upsetting stories of racism within London Police. Chief Thai Truong says the service will do better, but, will his words match the results?

Indigenous activist Frances Moore and anti-oppression consultant Mojdeh Cox joined Craig in the studio to dive into the report and share their thoughts.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.