Inlinks published an update to its keyword topic research tool that finds and clusters keywords by intent.
The tool is available today for all subscribers. Here’s what’s new.
Keyword Research
In the early to mid 2000’s keyword research tools focused on keyword volume because search engines didn’t distinguish user intent very well.
That began to change in 2013 with the introduction of the Hummingbird update, which introduced natural language searching and a more semantic understanding of search queries, with an increasing focus on intent.
Keyword research tools largely remained the same to this day, producing lists of keywords ordered by search volume and CPC.
Inlinks Keyword & Topic Research Tool
What Inlinks is launching is a tool that takes the next step forward to recognizing the context of keywords and the user intent.
Inlinks then uses those signals to generate clusters of keyword variations based around topics, plus suggestions for questions that need answering.
Meaningful User Intent Data
User intent is traditionally classified as belonging to four or five different categories such as navigational, transactional, informational, and so on.
Inlinks dispenses with those labels and categorizes user intent using highly specific verbs, resulting in keywords that are more specific than general labels.
Inlinks uses the example of the keyword phrase “renewable energy” to demonstrate how topic research is able to distinguish between users who want to “use” renewable energy from users who want to “generate” it.
Being able to select keyword variations related to generating renewable energy is more useful than grouping those keywords into a category, such as informational or transactional, with a group of other keywords that aren’t necessarily related to your topic.
Identifying intents by the verbs helps drill down to the right keyword topics.
Screenshot of Keyword Topic Drill-down
Inlinks Content Plan
The content plan functionality introduces a new way of considering content.
A useful approach the tool takes is to show what kind of context the competitor headlines are in.
Returning to the example of renewable energy the tool will list competitor headlines and in a column to the right list what the related topics are. Related topics can be tools, storage, photovoltaic, solar, industry and so on that can be chosen for a content plan, according to what’s relevant to you.
In the example of the keyword phrase, renewable energy, each selected topic can then form the topics for web pages. Or the topics can be used to form the backbone of topic categories for an entire website.
The tool is thus another way to explore multiple topic clusters that can then be selected to be placed in the editor tool to next form a content plan.
Inlinks Topic and Keyword Research
Researching keyword topics by using verbs to identify relevant topics is an innovative approach to speeding up the process of creating content.
Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Monday game. I apologize for the jokes written in my delirium in advance. Have questions? Ask me during my office hours on Twitch weekday mornings from 9 am-11 am ET.
I wanted to take a moment to outline my thoughts on Spencer Striderproper after he made his first start for Atlanta via 4.1 IP, 5 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 39% CSW, 72 pitches against the Diamondbacks. I wasn’t expecting a whole lot from this one based on a low expected pitch count and with Coors next, it wasn’t going to be a fun week for Strider managers.
That said, I think it’s worth it to still grab Strider, even if you won’t start him until a week from Friday against the Pirates. I know, it’s a long time for a stash, but he clearly has a ceiling you want to chase. His four-seamer tallied a 41% CSW and a 76% strike rate here, while his changeup and slider each earned strikes. Luck wasn’t on his side, but he’s not as erratic as you think and he’s armed with an incredible heater.
This is an impact starter that can push the needle if you have the roster spot available. Snitker wants Strider to nail down the 5th spot in the Atlanta rotation and I don’t see him losing it across the next few weeks. Take the chance, make it happen, and you could be popping the corks in September.
Let’s see how every other SP did Monday:
Pablo López(MIA)@ COL(ND) –6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 5 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 99 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. MY MAN SURVIVED COORS. You love to see it.
Wells wells wells, look what we have here. He executed the BSBpretty well(s) with sliders down and four-seamers up…and it returned just three strikeouts. I’m not sold and you can Fargo forgo Wells.
The curveball made a presence in this one — sweet — and the cutter was solid, too. I’m glad to see Thompson looking more like his 2021 self, but he’s still a Frozen Bananato me until he has that start to turn heads, even if this was against the Dodgers.
Smyly left this one early with an oblique injury. Poor guy — he not only had his cutter working, but he was also 1.5 ticks harder on his fastball, too. Man, this was the best he’s looked all year. That’s rough.
Valdez, thank you for showing everyone what you’re supposed to do when you get a matchup against the Athletics. With the Royals up next, you have to feel great about this, especially with whiffs returning to the hook. Very Valdezating. Validezing. Vadezliding. It confirms things.
Ryan Feltner(COL)vs MIA(W) –7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 94 pitches.
Whoa whoa whoa, look at this. Feltner raised his velocity some more to 95 mph and earned a 32% CSW on his four-seamer, while his slider, curve, and sinker all saw massive velocity upticks — three full on the hook, and nearly three on the sinker. Huh. Welp, Antonio Senzatelalooks to be returning this week so Feltner is apparently out and there wouldn’t be a good road start to comfortably take a chance anyway.
While the slider returned just 1/18 whiffs, Plesac went — get this — 13/13 strikes with his changeup. That’s insane. I don’t think I’ve seen that before. I was looking for that pitch to return in this one and despite it not earning a single whiff, it makes me wonder if this is enough for a deep stream against the Orioles next. Fortune favors the bold…
OH MY. That’s a Golden Goalas Ashby’s changeup was as amazing as ever, earning 10/31 whiffs and a 42% CSW, while the slider took a bit of a backseat for just 52% strikes, getting saved more as a whiff pitch out of the zone and using thee excellent slow ball and hook for non-heaters over the plate. This was everything we dreamed of from Ashby and I’m dang happy it’s here. Yes, you can expect a YouTube breakdown on him tomorrow because DUH. Go get him anywhere you still can.
Matt Swarmer(CHC)vs MIL(ND) –6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 92 pitches.
Hey this guy’s got a solid breaker, earning 10/49 whiffs on the slider here and surviving against the Brewers. His heater is awfully pedestrian at 91 mph, though, and if Swarmer gets more chances, I wouldn’t take one on him. If he records twelve outs next time, maybe I’d lead with him and call it Four, The Swarm. Yes, that’s a Starcraft joke. Please clap.
Whoa, I’m shocked this worked, especially with Otto relying heavily on a knuckle-curve 23% of the time for a 52% CSW. Normally it’s the slide piece getting the attention, but he featured it just 12% of the time. Weird. I adore the hook, of course, but I hate the heaters. I think there’s too much risk here still, sadly.
This was essentially a bullpen game and I can’t tell y’all, in my moment of “old man yells at cloud.” how much I despise them. I WANT MORE PROPER STARTERS DANGIT.
That’s a nice surprise from Gibson who had his slider doing great things here, while the rest earned outs constantly. He gets the Angels next and I’d be hesitant to throw the die a second time.
Gallen placed his changeup super well at the bottom of the zone and while he allowed two hits with it and few whiffs, I’m encouraged at his feel for the pitch moving forward. Meanwhile, the heater was the bigger culprit as he featured too many in the heart of the plate and it led to the high WHIP. Overall, I’m cool with this outing, though, and it does give me hope Gallen can break out proper in future starts.
I watched this one with the Twitch crowd during today’s List stream and promptly jinxed him after his first two frames. Look at those four-seamer locations, though, and I can see how Small could carve up lineups with that four-seamer paired with his changeup located down properly. That’s not what we got from the slow ball, though, and it all fell apart in the third. Small likely doesn’t hang around the team — they have to fill Brandon Woodruff’s start this week with someone else + they have a day off next week — but I’ll be keeping an eye for his return in the summer.
Ayyyyy this was great, even if it came with some Careful, Icarusin the ninth. Just 3/35 slider whiffs isn’t, but it earned a lot of strikes while the sinker and changeup were fantastic. I don’t think this is a standard affair for Webb — it may be the highest strikeout total he reaches all season — but if he’s able to keep up the changeup whiffs (and hopefully up the slider whiffs), I can consider him Top 20 again. It’s likely Webb is a ~22% strikeout guy across the year and while there’s nothing wrong with that, it hold him back from being a legit Top 15 starter.
Jonathan Heasley(KC)@ CLE(ND) –6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 89 pitches.
You’ll take a VPQSfrom Heasley all day…if you’re into that kind of league. For the rest of us, this is three strikeouts on a stick. Please take the stick back.
Nick Martinez(SD)@ STL(L) –6.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 93 pitches.
That’s a VVPQSand you’re wondering why you still care at all about Martinez. Look, I was a fan at the start of the year and I’ve been past it for a while. H*ck, there’s a chance he heads back to long relief after this one with Mike Clevingerpossibly returning before his next start. There are better options out there.
Paul Blackburn(OAK)vs HOU(L) –6.2 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 34% CSW, 91 pitches.
I’m glad he was able to keep the WHIP low, but I can’t shake the thought that Blackburn is a Tobyand nothing more. Boston is next and it could be more of the same, but if there is one thing that will keep him afloat it’s that curveball, which returned a 55% CSW here. I hope he’s got it.
He went 31% sliders (yay!) but his four-seamer went 4/34 CSW and that’s an atrocity. We need that heater to do a bit more work than that, or his slider has to hit 40% usage.
You know, I bet Brieske played a few games on the playground back in the day. I’m thinking Beau jacks on the asphalt. Wow, Nick. Wow. Annnnyway he doesn’t do enough to warrant your attention so let’s move on and forget I ever mentioned the two-sport legend.
David Peterson(NYM)vs WSH(ND) –4.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 4 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 88 pitches.
Womp womp. I was hoping the improved slider would stick as Peterson was our reluctant streamer, but sadly it went just 2/19 whiffs and he struggled across the board. And now it’s the Dodgers? Absolutely not.
He allowed a three-run bomb in the second and to his credit, he stuck it out for six frames to limit the damage. Thing is, it’s still 0/31 whiffs on the four-seamer (sigh) and I’m worried like all of you are, even after lowering him on The List today. Get it together Buehler, we know you’re better than this.
Blegh. The slider was horrific in this one and the normal three-way split between fastball/cutter/slider turned into a four-seamer focus that made none of us happy. That’s a pair of high ERA outings now, but I’d stick with it against the White Sox next. I think his stuff speaks to better nights than this.
Simone Johnson doesn’t get the fuss over what WWE calls her because she says it doesn’t change anything that her family has accomplished.
Simone Johnson has a new ring name, as she will now be known as “Ava Raine” in WWE. Johnson, who is the daughter of The Rock, has responded to fan criticism over WWE changing her name and speculation that the company would pass up on acknowledging her family’s legacy. Johnson says she hopes to put this to bed, but she doesn’t understand why fans have such an issue with generational talent trying to stand out on their own instead of using their family name.
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“i probably sound like a broken record & hopefully this is the last i’ll mention this but i don’t understand why people being portrayed as separate individuals from their family name is such a heated topic. a name doesn’t discredit any prior accomplishments from any family,” Johnson wrote.
WWE announced the signing of Simone Johnson in February 2020; she has not yet made her in-ring debut. Johnson was recently renamed “Ava Raine”, a name that WWE recently applied to trademark.
i probably sound like a broken record & hopefully this is the last i’ll mention this but i don’t understand why people being portrayed as separate individuals from their family name is such a heated topic.
a name doesn’t discredit any prior accomplishments from any family 🤷🏽♀️ https://t.co/vsr44PeUqc
CEDAR FALLS — The newly adopted downtown zoning code had been a hotly debated topic before and after the November election in Cedar Falls.
While discussions haven’t been as regular, they’ve popped up the last five months. Amendments have been proposed by the City Council and, in some cases, reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
In one instance, an amendment was adopted into law by the council.
On Thursday evening, the 11-2-1 Pirates traveled south to Foss Park to face off with the 14-3 Stormin’ Pointers. On Thursday, Hudson had beaten Union 4-1 and had taken down the Pointers in the semifinals last year.
The new zoning code was adopted on a 4-3 vote in November. It replaced language that hadn’t been updated since the 1970s.
It also brought forth standards that were based on “form,” like facade, rather than use and has been described as being “more clear and objective.”
On Jan. 18, the council initially recommended eliminating new shared parking requirements in the zoning code.
For new development projects that contain apartments or upper-floor commercial uses, a certain number of shared parking spaces had to be provided. To meet the requirement, they had to be available for public use at least 12 hours per day.
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A second initial recommendation from the council was increasing a requirement for residential parking spots to one parking space per bedroom.
That pertained to only mixed-use and multi-unit buildings where, under the new code, 0.5 spaces per bedroom along with 0.25 spaces per bedroom for shared parking were required.
Those two proposed amendments were reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission, and on March 7 the council upheld the commission’s first recommendation to not erase the shared parking requirements.
Some criteria for shared parking will be discussed at future commission meetings, because of direction given by the City Council Feb. 21 and March 7.
After three readings, the council adopted the second commission recommendation for a code amendment to increase the residential parking requirement to 0.75 spots per bedroom, but no less than one space per unit.
College will remodel 20,000 square feet at TechWorks to create manufacturing training facility with plans for it to open in January.
Other recommendations
The council also initially requested the Planning and Zoning Commission be “added back into the process” for reviewing site plans, as opposed to having city staff review them.
The commission ended up recommending Wednesday that it review all “new buildings” in the more urban areas “to confirm staff administrative review decisions.”
A public hearing was scheduled for the June 8 commission meeting. If it moves forward, the council will consider that proposed amendment in three readings at future meetings.
Staff also will provide a monthly report to the commission on all site plans under administrative review in the downtown, “so that the commission can monitor, ask questions, discuss concerns, and if necessary initiate code amendments if problems arise.”
The council will consider that amendment in three readings at future meetings.
And, finally, the Planning and Zoning Commission will review another of council’s initial amendment recommendations from March 21, allowing for vinyl siding on any new single family dwelling and any new residential multi-unit buildings with less than seven units.
Standards do not allow vinyl siding for commercial, mixed-use and multi-family residential buildings with more than six units and the new code expanded that prohibition to include any new multi-family residential building and any new single family dwelling.
Soccer Cedar Falls vs. Prairie 1
Cedar Falls players celebrate after senior Sydney Herzmann, center, scores in the second period against Prairie on Tuesday at the Cedar Valley Soccer Complex.
Soccer Cedar Falls vs. Prairie 2
Cedar Falls senior Elma Bajrektarevic dribbles the ball down field against Prairie on Tuesday at the Cedar Valley Soccer Complex.
Soccer Cedar Falls vs. Prairie 3
Cedar Falls senior Emmajean Roling makes a pass against Prairie on Tuesday at the Cedar Valley Soccer Complex.
Soccer Cedar Falls vs. Prairie 4
Cedar Falls senior Avery Fleshner dribbles the ball as Prairie freshman Emery Smith defends on Tuesday at the Cedar Valley Soccer Complex.
Soccer Cedar Falls vs. Prairie 5
Cedar Falls senior Elma Bajrektarevic collides with Prairie goalkeeper Emily Bohlken as she attempts to head the ball into the goal on Tuesday at the Cedar Valley Soccer Complex.
Soccer Cedar Falls vs. Prairie 6
Cedar Falls sophomore Grace Fober moves the ball down field against Prairie on Tuesday at the Cedar Valley Soccer Complex.
Soccer Cedar Falls vs. Prairie 7
Cedar Falls senior Avery Fleshner makes a pass against Prairie on Tuesday at the Cedar Valley Soccer Complex.
Soccer Cedar Falls vs. Prairie 8
Cedar Falls senior Emmajean Roling moves the ball down field against Prairie on Tuesday at the Cedar Valley Soccer Complex.
Soccer Cedar Falls vs. Prairie 9
Cedar Falls players celebrate after scoring against Prairie on Tuesday at the Cedar Valley Soccer Complex.
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Photos: Cedar Falls girls soccer defeats Prairie in Class 3A semifinal
Photos from Cedar Falls girls soccer's 4-0 victory against Prairie in the Class 3A semifinal at the Cedar Valley Soccer Complex on Tuesday.
Soccer Cedar Falls vs. Prairie 1
Cedar Falls players celebrate after senior Sydney Herzmann, center, scores in the second period against Prairie on Tuesday at the Cedar Valley Soccer Complex.
Soccer Cedar Falls vs. Prairie 2
Cedar Falls senior Elma Bajrektarevic dribbles the ball down field against Prairie on Tuesday at the Cedar Valley Soccer Complex.
Soccer Cedar Falls vs. Prairie 3
Cedar Falls senior Emmajean Roling makes a pass against Prairie on Tuesday at the Cedar Valley Soccer Complex.
Soccer Cedar Falls vs. Prairie 4
Cedar Falls senior Avery Fleshner dribbles the ball as Prairie freshman Emery Smith defends on Tuesday at the Cedar Valley Soccer Complex.
Soccer Cedar Falls vs. Prairie 5
Cedar Falls senior Elma Bajrektarevic collides with Prairie goalkeeper Emily Bohlken as she attempts to head the ball into the goal on Tuesday at the Cedar Valley Soccer Complex.
Soccer Cedar Falls vs. Prairie 6
Cedar Falls sophomore Grace Fober moves the ball down field against Prairie on Tuesday at the Cedar Valley Soccer Complex.
Soccer Cedar Falls vs. Prairie 7
Cedar Falls senior Avery Fleshner makes a pass against Prairie on Tuesday at the Cedar Valley Soccer Complex.
Soccer Cedar Falls vs. Prairie 8
Cedar Falls senior Emmajean Roling moves the ball down field against Prairie on Tuesday at the Cedar Valley Soccer Complex.
Soccer Cedar Falls vs. Prairie 9
Cedar Falls players celebrate after scoring against Prairie on Tuesday at the Cedar Valley Soccer Complex.
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CANBERRA, Australia, May 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In the Australian market, famous brands are mostly concerned about the creation of ecosphere for their peripheral products, and launch from time to time peripheral ecosphere derivatives.
The attention of Australian consumers to companies' ecosphere has prompted Chery to launch on Australian Facebook platform the interactive topic of OMODA Ecosphere Peripheral Design of Smart Wearable Devices for Sports, which has drawn Australian Chery fans into a heated discussion on this social media topic and aroused among them strong interest in OMODA ecosphere. In the discussion of this social media interactive topic, Facebook users are invited to share their views on OMODA ecosphere peripherals, and Australian online users may participate in the design discussion of OMODA smart wearable devices, so Chery OMODA and Australian consumers can create together the future ecosphere peripherals.
OMODA originates in Latin, where "O" means new and "MODA" trendy and in fashion, and, therefore, the word expresses an unquestionable attitude and strength of a new generation hardcore vogue. OMODA 5, Chery's first global model, adopts the Art in Motion design language, has the inspiration of changing light and shadow forged in the car body, and presents a surreal and miraculous vision.
This global model of OMODA, diverse, inclusive and customer-centric, merges user creativity, radiates trendy technology and aims to be a futuristic high-tech vehicle to satisfy Australian consumers' pursuit of vanguard fashion and diversified technologies.
The conversation about cyclist safety has been a top priority for many after the deaths of two cyclists on the Rickenbacker Causeway about two weeks ago.
It's a broad topic and covers an array of different issues that both cyclists and drivers say need to be addressed to improve safety on the road for everyone.
A local cyclist shared cellphone video with NBC 6 that shows an apparent road rage situation on Key Biscayne.
The cell phone video is from February of this year. It shows an outraged driver honking loudly at a cyclist in the roadway. The driver can be seen driving directly into the bicycle lane.
"She was just riding for leisure by herself, and I was terrified that she was going to get hit by this woman for no reason," said Kate, who asked us not to use her last name. She took the cellphone video. "I just took my phone out to try and get her license plate."
The Mayor of Key Biscayne confirmed that the police are looking into the incident.
Kate rides the Rickenbacker regularly and says she encounters similar behavior constantly.
She says she's been on edge lately, especially after those two cyclists were killed.
"Especially lately, I have anxiety about it. I go to ride my bike, (looks over her shoulder) like, is somebody coming? Just watch out for me."
Since the deadly crash, there have been some immediate changes on the Rickenbacker. There are orange cones along the bike lanes, more enforcement efforts and a new 35 mph speed limit.
However, Key Biscayne Mayor Mike Davey says he doesn't think the lower speed limit will solve the problem.
"I don't believe that's the way to solve things," said Davey. "The issues we've had, the tragedies we've had have not been caused by speed. They've had other causes."
The mayor offered his vision of a long-term solution.
"We've got to get a separation between cars and bicycles," he said.
He says the village has been in communication with the mayor of Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami.
For the residents of Key Biscayne, he says, there's another problem that needs to be addressed.
"There's a frustration on the Key that the efforts have not been there with regard, specifically the 'pelotons.' That's been the biggest frustration," said the Mayor.
Someone shared a video on Instagram showing a pack of cyclists (often called "pelotons") riding along the Causeway. Some of them are seen cutting over into the far left lane of traffic. Drivers commented online about the dangers they say this creates.
Eli Stiers is a local attorney and on the board of the Florida Bicycle Association.
He says cyclists and bicyclists do have the right to be in the roadway.
"A cyclist is a vehicle. They have all the rights and responsibilities of a car and when there is a bike lane, a cyclist has a responsibility to stay in the bike lane," explained Stiers. "But you can leave the bike lane if there is an obstruction in the bike lane. And obstructions can be many things. It can be a branch...but it could also be a slower cyclist."
He said the Instagram video was taken at a tricky spot, but says some of the cyclists were clearly in the wrong.
"To folks traveling in the far left lane of vehicular traffic, there's just no excuse for that," Stiers said.
He says there is a "discrepancy of power" on the road, and a car driving into the bike lane can be deadly for a cyclist.
"Everyone needs to share the road, and when I say share the road, I mean be responsible, engage in law-abiding conduct, cyclist and drivers," Stiers said.
Some of the hottest topics during the 2018 Ontario election campaign have barely blipped on the radar in this race — and hydro rates are at the top of the list.
The rising cost of electricity dominated the waning days of the provincial Liberal government and the last provincial campaign, which saw the soon-to-be-victorious Progressive Conservatives promise to drop the rates by 12 per cent.
But in the four years since, hydro rates have actually gone up by about four per cent.
"It's high! I live in an 1,100-square-foot house. There's only two of us and it's $280 a month," said Valerie Kennedy, a 61-year-old retiree who lives in Englehart.
"Yeah, you have to think about doing your laundry in the evening, when you'd like to be having a glass of wine."
Valerie Kennedy, 61, says the electricity bill for her 1,100-square-foot home in Englehart is $280 per month. (Erik White/CBC )
The PCs now say the 12 per cent referred to how much the cost of power would have gone up if the Liberals had stayed in office for another four years.
The three main parties are not making specific promises about hydro rates in this election and instead are pledging to lower electricity bills by helping people retrofit their homes.
Warren Mabee, director of the Queen's Institute for Energy and Environmental Policy in Kingston, Ont., says voters are too busy shelling out more for gasoline to worry about their hydro costs.
"Almost a doubling of gas prices that we've seen in some areas has a much bigger impact on a household budget over the course of a month than the rate changes we've seen on the electricity front," he said.
Much of the outrage over hydro rates four years ago landed on the desk of Glenn Thibeault, at the time the Sudbury MPP and Liberal energy minister, who says he isn't surprised that it's faded as an issue in this election.
"Back then, the opposition did a very good job of painting the energy issue into a corner where we were always explaining and defending," he said.
Glenn Thibeault was Sudbury's MPP and Liberal energy minister at the height of outrage over rising hydro rates in 2018. (CBC)
"The old saying in politics is when you're explaining, you're losing. And to help people understand the electricity system, you have to explain it. Well, the five minutes it would take me to explain it, people would still be frustrated."
Thibeault said he is pleased to see that the PC government has kept the hydro subsidy program he helped bring in, although it no longer goes by the Liberal name "the Fair Hydro Plan."
School closures
School closures in rural areas across Ontario was also a hot topic toward the end of the 15-year term of the Liberal government, which brought in a moratorium that the Ford government has kept in place.
In this election, the parties have been more focused on how much they're spending to maintain and renovate school buildings.
But some northern Ontario towns are waiting and worrying to see when their school could next be on the chopping block — especially with four school boards competing for a dwindling number of students.
Levack and Larchwood elementary schools in the Onaping area of Greater Sudbury have come up for accommodation review several times, most recently seeing Grade 7 and 8 move to Chelmsford.
Levack mother Chantelle Gorham says she hasn't become complacent during years of school closure moratoriums, worrying about the future of Levack and Larchwood elementary schools. (Olivia Stefanovich/CBC)
"Being from a small town, we're always fighting for our services, for our education, for our recreational facilities. It's all we know, unfortunately," said Chantelle Gorham, a Levack mother with two children in school.
"It's something we're always on guard for, and to be honest, it's draining to always have to fight for these services."
'Hallway health care'
Overcrowding in hospitals became one of the favourite talking points of opposition parties in the 2018 election campaign, branding it as "hallway health care" or "hallway medicine."
Both the Tories and the NDP vowed to put an end to it, and the New Democrats are still promising that in the 2022 campaign.
In Sudbury, Health Sciences North still has dozens of patients being cared for in "non-conventional" spaces, including hallways, offices and a downtown Sudbury hotel.
Patient beds set up in hallways at Sudbury's Health Sciences North have become common over the past few years. (Health Sciences North )
CEO Dominic Giroux said Sudbury is in a somewhat "unique" situation, because the hospital was built with 31 per cent fewer beds than what the city had before, unlike the "right-sized" hospitals built in North Bay and Thunder Bay.
"Pretty much everything we've asked for in the last four years in terms of short-term capacity solutions have been approved," he said.
The $36 million received for 198 temporary beds makes him "optimistic" that the province will pay for further expansion of Health Sciences North — especially considering the population over 70 is expected to go up by 35 per cent in the next eight years.
"We will need more space," Giroux said.
Resource revenue sharing
Northern Ontario mining towns have long complained that they don't get enough property tax from their primary industries to properly repair roads and other infrastructure.
In the 2018 election, the Progressive Conservatives promised to share some of the millions the province collects from mining and forestry with northern cities and towns.
In the fall of 2021, it announced a $15-million fund that sees every municipality in the region get a cheque every year.
"I must admit I was pleasantly surprised, because it kept being put off," said Rick Owen, a town councillor in Kirkland Lake, which received $220,000 this year.
"Nowhere near what the original promise was. It does help, but we have to push harder to get that amount increased."
In this election, the Liberals are promising to give five per cent of the total mining tax revenue to northern communities, while New Democrats say they would give everything the province collects from mines and forests to First Nations.
Broadband internet
All three main parties in the Ontario election say they will bring broadband internet, through fibre-optic cable and other methods, to everyone in the province by 2025. (Erik White/CBC )
The would-be premiers in the 2018 election talked about expanding high-speed internet across Ontario, with the Conservatives pledging $315 million and the NDP looking to spend $1 billion.
But after two years of a pandemic where people worked and went to school from home, the major parties are being much more specific in this campaign.
The PCs, NDP and Liberals all say they will bring broadband internet to every home and business in the province by 2025.
"Not going to happen by 2025. There's no way," said Geoff Hatton, president of Sudbury-based NetSpectrum.
"You'd have to be building those projects now."
Geoff Hatton, president and CEO of NetSpectrum in Sudbury, says there's no way everyone in Ontario will be on high-speed internet in three years, but he says progress is being made. (Erik White/CBC )
But Hatton said in the two years since COVID-19 hit, there has been an influx of federal and provincial funding that has helped his company improve internet service in Wahnapitae First Nation, East Ferris, Redbridge, St. Charles and other small northern communities.
"We can certainly make an improvement, and I think it's been going that way," he said, noting that some of the provincial contracts are geared only to the big three telecom companies, not local providers like NetSpectrum.
"I don't see this is as being a temporary action item for any government."
