The London Free Press Podcast

Host Rachel Gilbert spoke with LFP sportswriter Ryan Pyette on the eve of the 2024-25 Ontario Hockey League season about what fans can expect from teams across the OHL, and especially from the London Knights.

Host Rachel Gilbert spoke with LFP digital editor Patrick Maloney about the ongoing reporting, led by Heather Rivers, on the Thames Valley District school board's $39,000 retreat scandal and the looming Queen's Park "operational audit"

Host Rachel Gilbert spoke with LFP city hall reporter Jack Moulton about a developer bringing the spotlight back on London's infamous Towers of Spite nearly two decades later, and city politicians' plans for higher apartment towers and stacked townhouses across the city.

Host Rachel Gilbert spoke with LFP justice reporter Jane Sims about the latest legal drama around Jesse Bleck and a health update on Tristan Roby, the then-teenage cyclist left with a catastrophic brain injury after being struck by Bleck's car.

Fresh off covering the Summer Olympics in Paris, Free Press sports reporter Ryan Pyette spoke with host Rachel Gilbert about the Games and then about the season ahead for the powerhouse Western Mustangs football team.

Host Rachel Gilbert spoke with reporter Jonathan Juha about his story on Statistics Canada figures relating to the effects of inflation on people, with a focus on homeowners, and the perspective of one local social-service agency.

Host Rachel Gilbert spoke with LFP reporter Jonathan Juha about the London builder who has embraced a unique home design they feel may help ease the local housing affordability crisis.

Host Rachel Gilbert spoke with reporter Norman De Bono about the tragic death of 14-year-old Omer Buz, who drowned at Port Stanley during a visit to the beach with his family – just the latest tragedy they've endured.

Host Rachel Gilbert spoke with reporter Jonathan Juha, who wrote about a new analysis suggesting expensive housing is hurting London as a destination for immigrants and people from other parts of Ontario.

Host Rachel Gilbert spoke with LFP's Noah Brennan and Patrick Maloney about Brennan's story on a London youth baseball league forced to erect banners on the fencing behind home plate to curb parental abuse of umpires – some of whom are kids themselves.

Host Rachel Gilbert spoke with LFP reporter Brian Williams, who wrote about NHL star Ryan O'Reilly and the Lake Huron mega-mansion he's selling for $7.9 million.

Host Rachel Gilbert spoke with LFP court reporter Jane Sims, who covered the sentencing of Londoner Jesse Bleck -- five years after he struck teenage cyclist Tristan Roby, who suffered catastrophic injuries, in a hit-and-run crash.

Host Rachel Gilbert spoke with LFP reporter Jonathan Juha, who has written about city hall's proposed plan to curb "renovictions" – which occur when landlords push out renters to allow for lengthy renovations, knowing they won't return and a new tenant can then be charged higher rent.

Host Rachel Gilbert spoke with LFP reporter Jonathan Juha, who reported on figures that show a growing trend in the red-hot local real estate market: Many first-time homebuyers are actually only able to buy because their parents are on the mortgage, too.

Host Rachel Gilbert spoke with LFP sportswriter Ryan Pyette to get a preview of the 2024 Memorial Cup, which will be contested by the London Knights, Moose Jaw Warriors, Saginaw Spirit and Drummondville Voltigeurs.

Host Rachel Gilbert spoke with LFP reporter Randy Richmond about the just-announced coroner's inquest that will examine the deaths of eight men at London's provincial jail, the Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre, between 2017 and 2021.

Host Rachel Gilbert spoke with LFP city hall reporter Jack Moulton about the open letter from local social agencies that called for an end to Coun. Susan Stevenson's public criticisms

Host Rachel Gilbert spoke with LFP reporter Jennifer Bieman, who has examined the questions that remain after a flaming train spectacularly rolled through London

Host Rachel Gilbert spoke with LFP reporter Norman De Bono, who first broke the story of Volkswagen's electric-vehicle battery plant coming to St. Thomas and continues to examine the EV market, including cooling interest from vehicle buyers.

Host Rachel Gilbert spoke with LFP city hall reporter Jack Moulton about a highrise planned near northwest London's Oakridge neighbourhood and the potential for ever-growing congestion in a community already facing traffic headaches.

Host Rachel Gilbert spoke with LFP sportswriter Ryan Pyette on the eve of the Ontario Hockey League playoffs and examined a key question: Are the London Knights good enough to win the Memorial Cup this spring?

Host Rachel Gilbert spoke with LFP reporter Randy Richmond about his years-long investigation into Londoner Darko Jovanovich, described by one judge as "a con man extraordinaire."

Host Rachel Gilbert spoke with LFP reporter Norman De Bono about his stories examining construction of houses and apartment highrises, and how it's not nearly enough to match London's population growth.

Host Rachel Gilbert spoke with LFP sportswriter Ryan Pyette about a season of change for the London Lightning, who've had an up-and-down year so far in their new loop, the Basketball Super League

Host Rachel Gilbert spoke with LFP city hall reporter Jack Moulton about the 28% year-over-year increase proposed for the 2024 London police budget and the pushback from some taxpayers.