All kinds of music require volume. It has to be listened to loud. But how loud and for how long? Here’s a quick guide.

• If you listen to music for long periods of time, 85 dB is about the maximum. You can listen for up to eight hours with no damage to your hearing.
• But turn things up to 88 dB, and the tolerance drops to around four hours.
• At 91 dB, two hours, max. If you’re at 94 dB, you’d better stop after an hour. Beyond that, things can get dangerous.
• If sound pressure levels are at 100 dB, you may suffer hearing damage in as little as 15 minutes.
• And if things are at 110 dB or beyond, damage starts within a few minutes. If you’re near the speakers, problems start within seconds.

© 2026 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

TORONTO – Hayley Wickenheiser and the Toronto Maple Leafs are parting ways after the hockey legend spent eight seasons working in the NHL team’s front office.

Wickenheiser said in an Instagram post Thursday that the move came after “several discussions” with new Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka.

She said she had expected to continue in an impactful role with the club, but the leadership group “envisioned a different path.”

Wickenheiser joined the Maple Leafs as assistant director of player development in August 2018, shortly after the end of her stellar playing career.

She was named an assistant general manager in July 2022.

Wickenheiser led Canada to four Olympic titles and seven world championships over her playing career. She is Canada’s career points leader with 168 goals and 211 assists in 276 games.

She was one of a handful of front-office employees let go this week.

“As part of our ongoing evaluation of the organization, we have made the difficult decision to part ways with some valued colleagues,” Chayka said in a statement. “These decisions were not easy and are not a reflection of the commitment of the impacted people. We are sincerely grateful for everything they have contributed to this organization and wish them nothing but the very best in the future.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 09, 2026.

© 2026 The Canadian Press

Jesse Lamont’s walk into the musical life was not planned. In fact, it was a total fluke dating back to high school.

“I told him that he should do the musical because it’s a great way to get to know people and it’s really fun,” says Zoe Stradeski, Lamont’s older sister. “He said, ‘No thank you, I want to keep my lunch money.’ So I signed him up without him knowing.”

The 23-year-old is now an award-winning performer, claiming gold at the 2026 Penticton Elvis Festival after 18 months as an Elvis tribute artist.

Lamont who is based in Regina, says it was fate that he was actually good at performing.

“The talk at the dinner table that night was ‘Jesse can actually sing,'” he says.

Following that, Lamont threw himself into the local musical theatre community, starting by getting himself a voice teacher to hone his craft and also getting involved with Sask Express, a group dedicated to shaping performers.

“This Elvis stuff, it came as a bit of a fluke as well. They made me do an Elvis number and one night I’m singing karaoke at a bar and someone comes up to me and shakes my hand and we start talking,” he says.

He was offered a unique opportunity to perform at a fundraiser, but there was one catch: he had to perform as Elvis and he’s been doing that ever since.

“My entire family has been really supportive and really proud of me, which is great,” he says. Lamont adds that his mom has even helped create his onstage outfits and he hopes to keep growing and fostering his craft.

Sania Ali has more details in the video above.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

A 39-year-old man is facing a charge of aggravated assault after an incident that left a child in hospital.

Winnipeg police were contacted Monday after a preschool-aged child was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Through an investigation, officers learned the child was being cared for by a man at a home in the 300 block of Thames Avenue when the injuries occurred, according to a police news release.

The man contacted emergency services and the child was taken to hospital by paramedics, police said.

On Tuesday, investigators returned to the home and arrested the man.

He now faces one charge of aggravated assault and remains in custody.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

A fire set at a Walmart in south Winnipeg caused millions of dollars’ worth of damage and resulted in charges, including arson with disregard for human life.

Police said a suspect deliberately set fire to products in the bedding section of the St. Vital Centre Walmart at around 7 p.m. Monday. The flames grew quickly, resulting in thick, black smoke spreading through the store, prompting around 200 customers to evacuate, according to a Winnipeg police news release.

“While the fire spread, the suspect attended an attached fast-food restaurant, helped himself to a beverage from the soft drink machine, and sat down at one of the tables,” the release said.

Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Services responded to the call and ensured no other fires were set.

Property damage is estimated to be valued at more than $10 million, police said.

Ronald Marmito Amigo, 47, was arrested on Thursday, in the 300 block of Furby Street without incident.

Officers found, and confiscated, “a small amount” of methamphetamine and a lighter during the arrest, police said.

Amigo faces charges of arson with disregard for human life, arson causing damage to property and possession of incendiary material, among other offences.

Amigo remains in police custody.

St. Vital Centre said the store will be closed until further notice.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

National projections show it could be a “challenging” wildfire season for Canada.

According to federal ministers, who provided an update on Thursday, there have been more than 3,100 wildfires so far this year and nearly 800 are currently burning. Sixty of those fires are considered out of control.

Emergency Preparedness Minister Eleanor Olszewski said that despite it being a “challenging” season, this year’s wildfire season has “not reached the scale seen in 2025.”

Whether it be camping, barbecuing or just enjoying the great outdoors, local officials in the Maritimes say people should exercise caution.

“The risk is increasing due to the temperatures this summer,” said John Lowe, Halifax Fire’s District 5 chief.

This year, Lowe says the municipality has been on par with previous years.

Throughout Nova Scotia, 92 fires have been reported with none currently burning.

And despite an early start to wildfire season in New Brunswick with 300 fires reported so far, the provincial dashboard shows only one currently burning.

August forecast

The national forecast shows the Maritime provinces are expected to fare better than most other regions in the country. Quebec, Ontario and the Northwest Territories are projected to receive the most intense fire weather conditions in July and August.

Nova Scotia will be at a slightly higher risk, with Halifax, Cumberland, Colchester, and Cape Breton “above normal” this month and rising to “well above normal” in August.

“We’re well prepared. There’s been huge investments over the last number of years,” said Natural Resources Minister Tory Rushton.

“We have four new helicopters, water bombers, we also now have an agreement with the fixed wing that are stationed and are our fixed wing for the season.”

The Maritimes will also benefit from above-normal precipitation in July. However, temperatures are expected to remain high, and officials say things can take a turn quickly.

Last summer’s devastating wildfire in the Annapolis Valley burned though 8,500 hectares, destroyed 20 homes and forced the evacuation of hundreds.

“I know that it’s in the back of my mind whenever I drive up to West Dalhousie,” said Annapolis County Deputy Warden Dustin Enslow.

“It’s been definitely devastating, especially for the 20 families that lost their homes, but our county came together.”

Wildfire precautions

Human activity is a main factor in wildfires, but when provincial restrictions allow for it, Lowe says there are ways to burn safely.

“When you are having a fire, make sure you use seasoned dry wood to keep down sparks,” he said.

“Make sure you have buckets of water or a garden hose handy, a responsible adult to extinguish if need be. And before you finish at the end of the night, make sure your fire is completely out.”

Enslow echoes the importance of being responsible, because his community knows the impact of wildfires too well.

“It only takes one spark,” he said.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

PepsiCo reported its beverage sales in North America have been falling as rising inflation and higher gas prices force consumers to keep up with the cost of living.

The food giant is the maker of dozens of food and beverage brands, including Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew and Gatorade, as well as snacks like Doritos and Lays potato chips.

In the second quarter of this year, PepsiCo said beverage sales in North America fell four per cent in the second quarter compared to a year earlier, while the market’s food sales volumes were essentially unchanged.

“Performance moderated with consumer budgets tightening due to rising inflationary pressures,” said CEO Ramon Laguarta in the earnings release Thursday.

Since February, PepsiCo has cut prices on brands such as Lay’s and Doritos by up to 15 per cent in North America to lure back budget-conscious consumers, who are increasingly shifting toward cheaper alternatives and smaller pack sizes amid persistent inflation concerns.

PepsiCo’s results underscore the challenges facing packaged food companies as they cut prices and invest heavily in healthier offerings to adapt to shifting consumer preferences and the rise of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs.

Consumers in Canada saw food and non-alcoholic drink inflation accelerate to 4.4 per cent in May, up from a year earlier, according to Statistics Canada.

High gas prices also weighed on consumers amid the war in Iran, leaving less cash to buy snacks and drinks after filling up at the pump.

“What we learn is that, yes, because of the consumer environment and the fact that gasoline prices were higher, consumers felt a little bit more the economic impact,” said Laguarta in a conference call with analysts after the earnings release.

“I think the consumer is worse than what we had anticipated, and it’s driven mainly by gas prices.”

Already trying to win over cost-conscious consumers, food and beverage producers face the added challenge of rising fuel costs.

“We’re seeing the consumer changing behaviours, basically an acceleration of some of the behaviours we saw in the past,” said Laguarta.

“Will it change in the coming months? It all depends on the price of gas. Clearly that’s something that is beyond our control.”

Dollarama reported earnings last month, and said at the time that consumer confidence “appears to be weakening” amid higher gas prices.

Walmart also highlighted in May that it was noticing lower-income consumers are being “more budget conscious and perhaps navigating financial distress.”

Pepsi referred in its earnings release that it continues to make what it calls “affordability initiatives.”

Laguarta told analysts Thursday that the company is working to “make sure that our brands are in consumers’ lives in the portions and prices that consumers can afford today.”

On the positive side of the ledger, PepsiCo said its organic revenue, or sales from its core food and beverage products, increased by 2.4 per cent in the second quarter compared to a year earlier. This was mainly the result of higher sales in international markets like Germany, Poland, the U.K, India and China, among others.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

A male suspect is in custody after he allegedly threw what law enforcement says was a Molotov cocktail at a person in a wheelchair near police headquarters in Oklahoma City.

Surveillance footage shared on Facebook by the Oklahoma City Police Department shows the victim crossing an intersection when the suspect, who is visible elsewhere at the intersection, turns around and approaches the victim.

The suspect appears to pull an object from his pocket, setting an incendiary device alight and throwing it directly at the victim, who is momentarily engulfed in flames.

Passing vehicles are also seen stopping in front of the flames, and several witnesses are visible exiting their vehicles.

The alleged incident occurred around 8:00 a.m. on July 2, according to Oklahoma County Detention Centre records.

A nearby officer and bystander pulled the victim from the fire while a second detective detained the suspect, who was arrested and charged with arson, assault with intent to kill and assault and battery with a deadly weapon, according to law enforcement’s Facebook statement and the Oklahoma County Detention Centre inmate database.

The suspect has been identified as Alexander Emery, 38.

Oklahoma City Fire Department personnel arrived and provided medical aid to the victim, who sustained minor injuries, the statement added.

Fox News reported that the victim was allegedly pushed from their wheelchair. At one point in the surveillance footage, the victim appears to be sitting in the middle of the road, beside the wheelchair.

Police commended the quick response by officers and witnesses, who, the statement said, “showed the absolute best of our community and our first responders.”

“OKCPD detectives and a quick-thinking bystander immediately rushed into danger to help the victim and take the suspect into custody on the spot,” it continued.

Police did not provide a motive for the incident, but called it “terrifying.”

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

A former Fredericton Police Force auxiliary officer who was facing sexual assault and child pornography-related charges has had those charges withdrawn by the New Brunswick Crown Prosecutor’s Office.

Robert Hartlen, 56, was charged in May.

At the time, the Fredericton Police Force said the three charges were the result of an investigation initiated by its special crimes unit.

The force said Hartlen was a volunteer member of their auxiliary program from 2010 to 2015, and that the alleged offences did not occur during that time.

During a scheduled court appearance Thursday morning, the Crown said it was withdrawing all the charges.

In an emailed statement, a Department of Justice spokesperson said there was no longer a reasonable likelihood of conviction after reviewing additional information and the completion of a post-charge reassessment.

“The Crown has an ongoing duty to reassess charges after they have been laid to ensure that the reasonable likelihood charge approval standard continues to be met,” spokesperson Paul Bradley wrote.

“This duty runs from the beginning to the end of a case, and the Crown has an obligation to terminate a prosecution if there is no longer a reasonable likelihood of conviction.”

The Fredericton Police Force said in its own statement that it accepts the Crown’s decision, although “this outcome is not what we anticipated.”

“We respect the Crown’s obligation to proceed only where there is a reasonable likelihood of conviction,” the force wrote in a release.

“We also recognize the impact that cases like this have on victims, families, and the broader community. Maintaining public confidence is fundamental to our work, growth, and progress as an organization. This matter is not connected to any other previous or current investigations or charges and does not impact any other files.”

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

RCMP say they have contacted Nova Scotia’s police watchdog after an officer discharged their firearm while responding to a report of an armed person.

Officers originally responded to a report of a man with a weapon on Wednesday evening in Chelsea, N.S.

An Alert Ready emergency alert was sent at around 6 p.m. for residents in Lunenburg and Queens counties, asking them to lock their doors and not to pick up hitchhikers.

At 9 p.m., RCMP said they had cancelled the alert because officers “no longer believe there’s a risk to public safety.”

In a Thursday update, RCMP said there was a report at 9 a.m. of a person with a weapon on Highway 210 near Chelsea, N.S.

“Officers identified the man as the same person associated to an ongoing investigation about a suspicious person potentially in possession of a weapon from the previous day,” RCMP noted, adding the suspect was the subject of the emergency alert.

“During the RCMP response, an officer discharged their firearm. The man sustained injuries consistent with a gun shot wound. Officers provided first aid on scene.”

RCMP said they’ve referred the matter to the Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT), which investigates all serious incidents involving police in Nova Scotia.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.