Hamilton Spectator

In episode 29 of the Newsroom Insider, host David Crosbie talks to Matthew Van Dongen about the challenges facing a city built around an escarpment. How can Hamilton gird itself against mass-scale erosion? What does living above or below the edge of the Mountain mean? Previous podcasts at thespec.com/newsroom-insider. Subscribe to Newsroom Insider podcast on iTunes.

In episode 28 of the Newsroom Insider, host David Crosbie talks to reporter Joanna Frketich about the disconcerting levels of lead in drinking water of some Hamilton schools and daycares. Following a report published by the Toronto Star, over 600 Ontario schools were found to have exceeded the guidelines. Previous podcasts at thespec.com/newsroom-insider. Subscribe to Newsroom Insider podcast on iTunes.

Spectator reporter Teviah Moro speaks with Hamiltonians who make their living collecting and recycling scrap material.

In episode 26 of the Hamilton Spectator's Newsroom Insider, host David Crosbie talks to Jon Wells about the sentencing of Guy McPhee. Guy McPhee struck and killed Hamilton teacher Jay Keddy in December 2015. Keddy was riding his bicycle home from work when McPhee collided with him on the Claremont Access. McPhee was found guilty in July of careless driving, and was sentenced September 8. Previous podcasts at thespec.com/newsroom-insider. Subscribe to Newsroom Insider podcast on iTunes.

Reporter Steve Buist talks about the Hamilton Spectator series on concussion research 

In episode 25 of the Hamilton Spectator's Newsroom Insider, host David Crosbie talks to Susan Clairmont about convicted killer Robert Badgerow. Badgerow made history when he became the first person in Canada to be charged four times for the same first-degree murder. He was found guilty in the fall of 2016, and has since filed an appeal. As of August 24, an Ontario appeal court has granted him bail while waiting on that appeal. Which means that he will soon be out of jail, back home with his family. Previous podcasts at thespec.com/newsroom-insider. Subscribe to Newsroom Insider podcast on iTunes.

In episode 24 of the Hamilton Spectator's Newsroom Insider, host David Crosbie talks to Jon Wells about a follow-up to his recent story regarding a Hamilton doctor who was murdered 100 years ago. A relative of Dr. MacRobbie, whose homicide was never solved, contacted Jon to provide further details. Then Natalie Paddon talks about Coun. Donna Skelly's motion asking the Hamilton Waterfront Trust to attend an upcoming meeting and discuss its finances. The Trust owes hundreds of thousands of dollars in back taxes to the city.  Previous podcasts at thespec.com/newsroom-insider. Subscribe to Newsroom Insider podcast on iTunes.

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne met with the Hamilton Spectator editorial board for an hour-long discussion Monday, August 14. She was accompanied by Hamilton MPP Ted McMeekin. Joining  the discussion were Spectator Editor Paul Berton, Managing Editor Howard Elliott, columnist Andrew Dreschel and reporter Natalie Paddon. Previous podcasts at thespec.com/newsroom-insider. Subscribe to Newsroom Insider podcast on iTunes.

In episode 23 of the Newsroom Insider, Spectator managing editor Jim Poling and reporter Mark McNeil discuss coverage of the upcoming 75th anniversary of the Dieppe Raid, in which nearly 200 young Hamilton men from the RHLI died on the beach during a failed raid of German-held Europe. McNeil will be in Europe for the Aug. 19 anniversary. Previous podcasts at thespec.com/newsroom-insider. Subscribe to Newsroom Insider podcast on iTunes.

In Episode 22 of The Hamilton Spectator's Newsroom Insider podcast, reporter Jon Wells discusses his latest true crime feature, the 100-year old unsolved murder of Dr. Douglas MacRobbie. Jon also chats with Aaron Blake, the local man who has been exhaustively researching the case and even unearthed the stone in Hamilton Cemetery where MacRobbie lies. They sat down inside the old Crescent Oil building on Cannon Street at Bay, where MacRobbie was killed, and where, some say, the doctor's restless ghost can be felt. Previous podcasts at thespec.com/newsroom-insider. Subscribe to Newsroom Insider podcast on iTunes.

In Episode 21 of The Hamilton spectator’s Newsroom Insider, host Joanna Frketich talks to columnist Susan Clairmont about an opportunity for the public to take part in a unique photo project called Left Behind. The Spectator project is the result of the outpouring of emotion that resulted from Clairmont’s July 10 column about Nicole Patenaude, a 20-year-old woman who jumped off a bridge onto Hwy. 403 and died. Clairmont was overwhelmed by the response from readers. Frketich also discusses with reporter Jon Wells why some people are willing to take chances that could result in injury or death while others are risk averse. Finally, reporter Natalie Paddon speaks about her investigative reports into the Hamilton Waterfront Trust, raising issues of transparency and accountability.  Previous podcasts at thespec.com/newsroom-insider. Subscribe to Newsroom Insider podcast on iTunes.

In Episode 19 of The Hamilton Spectator's Newsroom Insider, host David Crosbie talks to award-winning reporter Joanna Frketich about the background of a doctor who recently began practicing in the Hamilton area. Dr. Stefan Joseph Konasiewicz has a clinic in Hamilton, as well as in Toronto, Newmarket, and Richmond Hill.  But he also has a history in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Texas that allegedly led to the death of one patient, left another a quadriplegic and resulted in fractured vertebrae for a third. Previous podcasts at thespec.com/newsroom-insider. Subscribe to Newsroom Insider podcast on iTunes.

In Episode 18 of The Hamilton Spectator's Newsroom Insider podcast, host David Crosbie talks to award-winning columnist Susan Clairmont about the tragic story of Nicole Patenaude, a 20-year-old Hamilton woman who killed herself in May. Susan has spent months researching the details of Nicole's life and death and has conducted extensive interviews with Nicole's remarkable family.  What emerges, in spite of the circumstances, is a story of hope. Previous podcasts at thespec.com/newsroom-insider. Subscribe to Newsroom Insider podcast on iTunes.

In Episode 17 of The Hamilton Spectator's Newsroom Insider podcast, award-winning reporter Joanna Frketich talks about her investigative series "EQAO: The Math Problem," that points to evidence suggesting a generation of students are falling behind the mathematics curve. Plus, Jon Wells argues in an essay that Hamilton is the most Canadian city there is, and editor-in-chief Paul Berton talks about the Spec's 88-page special section marking the nation's 150th birthday. Previous podcasts at thespec.com/newsroom-insider Subscribe to Newsroom Insider podcast on iTunes.

In episode 16 of the Hamilton Spectator Newroom Insider podcast, host Teviah Moro talks to reporter Steve Milton about the history of lacrosse and the significance of spirituality in the sport. Despite their passionate proselytizers, hockey and soccer aren’t “religions” so much as secular fanaticisms. They do not spring from spiritual roots, and the sense of the divine is not inherent to the game itself, as it is in lacrosse. Previous podcasts at thespec.com/newsroom-insider. Subscribe to Newsroom Insider podcast on iTunes.

In episode 15 of the Hamilton Spectator Newroom Insider podcast, host Natalie Paddon talks to reporter Jon Wells about a particularly heated dispute between neighbours. Hamilton police are called to respond to neighbour issues daily; last year the city’s bylaw department fielded nearly 2,000 calls complaining about unkempt lawns alone. But these complaints seldom lead to the arrest of a citizen in their 70s. Previous podcasts at thespec.com/newsroom-insider. Subscribe to Newsroom Insider podcast on iTunes.

In this podcast extra, Jon Wells and Amy Kenny on the blockbuster movie raking in dollars and sparking debate. Gal Gadot as the Amazonian goddess is beautiful; is she also a feminist icon? Previous podcasts at thespec.com/newsroom-insider. Subscribe to Newsroom Insider podcast on iTunes.

In Episode 14 of The Hamilton Spectator's Newsroom Insider podcast, host Joanna Frketich talks with Spectator reporter Mark McNeil about The Carports of Pleasant Valley running June 2 to June 25 at the Carnegie Gallery and managing editor Jim Poling about The Spectator’s investigation into the rising threat of street drugs laced with deadly substances. Previous podcasts at thespec.com/newsroom-insider. Subscribe to Newsroom Insider podcast on iTunes.

Spectator reporter Jon Wells, author of the book "Post-Mortem," on how convicted killer Mohan Ramkissoon blew his chance for parole and why a grieving woman in New York City says he should never be released. Previous podcasts at thespec.com/newsroom-insider. Subscribe to Newsroom Insider podcast on iTunes.