Thursday, April 18

Name day: Laura, Jadviga

Public broadcasting of Latvia
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Dinija Jemeļjanova

Latvian Television

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Border reinforcement will not bother locals: National Guard
Border reinforcement will not bother locals: National Guard
The plan to strengthen the Latvian eastern border involves creating various barriers to stop the potential enemy at the border and prevent it from moving further. National Guard commander Kaspars Pudāns told Latvian Television on March 11 that road digging and anti-tank mines would not disrupt local residents or businesses.
Farmers might continue protests in Rīga next week
Farmers might continue protests in Rīga next week
Latvian farmers are considering carrying protests over to the capital city Rīga next week. Farmers met with Prime Minister Evika Siliņa (New Unity) on Wednesday, February 7, and noted that this was a good first step towards achieving solutions. 
Corruption cops pay visit to Rēzekne City Council
Corruption cops pay visit to Rēzekne City Council
Representatives of the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) visited the city council of Rēzekne on Tuesday, February 6, and “implemented criminal procedural activities, including searches and interrogations,” KNAB confirmed to Latvian Television February 7.
Ministry mulls takeover of Latvian regional hospitals
Ministry mulls takeover of Latvian regional hospitals
The Ministry of Health (VM) has pledged this year to assess the usefulness of becoming a shareholder in regional health institutions. A couple of years ago it saved the “Ludza Medical Center” from debts, Latvian Television reported January 14.
Daugavpils hospital struggles to scrape by
Daugavpils hospital struggles to scrape by
Daugavpils Regional Hospital has repeatedly reported its financial troubles, and now it owes not only suppliers but also employees. Doctors whose salaries exceed €2,000 will get some of their pay next year, Latvian Television reported December 18.
Green light given for industrial parks in four cities
Green light given for industrial parks in four cities
Jelgava, Ventspils, Liepaja, and Daugavpils have been given the green light for the construction of industrial parks – multi-million projects have been supported to receive funding from the Recovery Fund. Daugavpils could be more attractive to investors than other regions because of lower wage levels there, Latvian Television reports.
Rēzekne is smoking as woodchip piles burn for week
Rēzekne is smoking as woodchip piles burn for week
A pile of woodchips has been smoldering for six days in Rēzekne. Smoke and the smell of burning spreads in the city's northern neighborhoods. Firefighters are working at the scene, urging locals not to stay outdoors unnecessarily. The heap of woodchips was initially about 15,000 cubic meters in bulk, Latvian Television reported on December 6.
Family members charged with murder of seven-year-old
Family members charged with murder of seven-year-old
In the murder case of seven-year-old Justīne Reinikova, the prosecutor has officially charged the father and stepmother with cruel and violent treatment of a child, as well as murder under aggravating circumstances, Latvian Television reported December 1.
Rēzekne's councilors boycott meetings to achieve dissolution
Rēzekne's councilors boycott meetings to achieve dissolution
On Thursday, November 16, the meeting of the Rēzekne City Council had been boycotted by members of the ruling coalition, so for the third time, the sitting could not take place due to a lack of quorum. Six out of 13 members were present, Latvian Radio and Latvian Television reported.
Industrial park plans in eastern Latvia cause environment concerns
Industrial park plans in eastern Latvia cause environment concerns
The municipality of Augšdaugava in east Latvia wants to acquire 256 hectares of state forest land and has been discussing this idea in the Saeima for half a year. The municipality wants to create an industrial park there. No specific companies that will work there or estimates of the benefit have been prepared, Latvian Television reported November 5.
Rēzekne suspected of arbitrarily calculating teacher wages
Rēzekne suspected of arbitrarily calculating teacher wages
In Rēzekne, teachers' salaries might not have been calculated as provided for in the Cabinet of Ministers Regulations, the Latvian Education and Science Workers' Union (LIZDA) has stated. The Ministry of Education and Science (IZM) has also added to the concerns. Rezekne Head of Education does not agree with the allegations, Latvian Television reported November 1.
Missing mother and daughter found in Belarus
Missing mother and daughter found in Belarus
Svetlana Ižika and her three-year-old daughter Karīna, whose whereabouts had been unknown since October 2, have been found in Belarus, the Latvian State Police (VP) said on Thursday, October 26. 
PM Siliņa visits Latvia's eastern border
PM Siliņa visits Latvia's eastern border
On Thursday, October 19, the Prime Minister Evika Siliņa visited the Latvian eastern external border at Opuļi and Robežnieki. Infrastructure-building jobs are moving forward at different paces, the PM concluded after her visit, Latvian Television reported.
Russia limits access through Latvia's Vientuļi border crossing point
Russia limits access through Latvia's Vientuļi border crossing point
Russia has significantly restricted entry into the country through Vientuļi (Ludonka) border crossing point since Friday night, which was still open to border crossers until its October 16 closure, so queues of people and vehicles are forming in Latvia, the Ministry of Interior (IeM) and Latvian Television reported October 14.
Border offenders break into farmhouse; public asked to report sightings
Border offenders break into farmhouse; public asked to report sightings
The house of the border area Ludza municipality resident Jānis Sjakste has been broken into twice by border offender groups now. The perpetrators have been detained, but the feeling of insecurity has remained. State Border Guard said that there were not many such cases, but abandoned farmhouses were getting more attention, Latvian Television reported October 13.
Border Guard: offenders are better-prepared
Border Guard: offenders are better-prepared
It has been another tense weekend in the Latvian-Belarusian border area. A total of 471 cases of illegal crossing attempts were recorded over the weekend. Recent sightings by border guards show larger groups of 20-30 people trying to cross the border at the same time, Latvian Television reported October 2.
Solar panel owners might have to reconsider their capacities
Solar panel owners might have to reconsider their capacities
The Ministry of Climate and Energy (KEM) has prepared amendments to the Electricity Market Law, which stipulates that no more than 20% of the solar electricity produced by the user will be able to be sold to the network. The state has decided that the current system is not beneficial, Latvian Television reported on September 28.
Latvian-Belarusian border fence builders accused of nonpayment
Latvian-Belarusian border fence builders accused of nonpayment
The owners of guesthouses in the border area of Belarus say they have been waiting at least half a year for payment from the builders of the fence of the eastern border of Latvia. The promised wages for winter work in swampy areas have also allegedly not been received by workers. The general contractor, Citrus Solutions, says subcontractors have not been left in debt, Latvian Television reported September 23.
Twelve-kilometer line on Latvian-Belarusian border
Twelve-kilometer line on Latvian-Belarusian border
After the closure of the border crossing point in Silene, the Pāternieki border point has become the only one to cross the border between Latvia and Belarus. As a result, lorry queues have grown significantly, Latvian Television reported on September 22.
Authority: Russian-registered cars should disappear
Authority: Russian-registered cars should disappear
The number of cars registered in Russia in Latvia should decrease in the near future, but there is no indication of this happening currently, the Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD) told Latvian Television September 18.
Daugavpils hospital warns of impending bankruptcy
Daugavpils hospital warns of impending bankruptcy
Daugavpils Regional Hospital again raises alarm about money shortages. At the beginning of the year, when the hospital first warned of impending bankruptcy, it was estimated to lack €10 million this year. “Tightening the belt” and receiving aid from the country have reduced the figure to €7.6 million. The largest shareholder – the municipality – is concerned about the hospital nearing insolvency, Latvian Television reported September 4.
Daugavpils municipal employees penalized for insufficient Latvian skill
Daugavpils municipal employees penalized for insufficient Latvian skill
An examination of the State Language Center has revealed that four Daugavpils Education Board accountants do not speak the official state language – Latvian – at the required level. The inspection at the administration started after a complaint was received, Latvian Television reported on September 2.
No major damage caused by storms in Latvia
No major damage caused by storms in Latvia
The thunderstorms tearing through Vidzeme, Sēlija, and Latgale regions of Latvia over the past two days have left behind mostly fallen trees but not significant damage, Latvian Television reports.
Roadblock military drills near Latvia-Belarus border Monday
Roadblock military drills near Latvia-Belarus border Monday
On Monday, August 28, the training of the National Armed Forces in the border area “Namejs Wall” was completed with a highway-blocking exercise. Soldiers practiced stopping and delaying an enemy approaching, for example, from the Belarusian side, Latvian Television reported.
Latgalian language in Latgale's schools lacks funding
Latgalian language in Latgale's schools lacks funding
For two years, funding from two sources was available for teaching the language of Latvia's eastern region – Latgalian language – in schools. This year, there are no more of them. Latgalian associations and teachers are demanding permanent funding, Latvian Television reported on August 19.
New refugee center opens doors in Liepna
New refugee center opens doors in Liepna
At the end of August, the new asylum-seeker accommodation center in Liepna, Alūksne municipality, will house its first 50 inhabitants, Latvian Television and Latvian Radio reported on August 17.
Rēzekne to fill budget gap with staff layoffs
Rēzekne to fill budget gap with staff layoffs
Due to a three-million hole in the city budget, Rēzekne City plans to dismiss or reduce loads for around 60 employees as part of an 'optimization' of the system, Latvian Television reported August 7.